The Sony That Made Me Buy a Sharp AQUOS

After 30 years of buying and loving Sony TVs, my KF-50XBR800 was my last. A month after the warranty expired I started seeing a red shadow next to dark colored objects. Adjusting the sharpness controls from auto to #3 seemed to help, but after another few months that no longer solved the problem. I was told the image engine had gone bad and that it was $2,200 + to replace it. By then a new 50” 1080i HDTV cost about that much, so repairing it was pointless; after three years I had to give up on a TV that should have gone on for 8 - 10 years with only a bulb replacement.

I'm sure Sony still makes a great TV, but I couldn't reward their quality failure by giving them another $3,000.

Why write this now? Because I see some reviewers saying that it is still a good TV to buy used, and between the potential for failure and the cost of the bulbs, I suggest anyone considering it should think twice. As with other rear projection LCD TVs this one doesn't have a very wide viewing angle, and the blacks aren't very. Viewing it straight on without much other light on in the room is the only way to have a really good picture.