Sony BRAVIA V-Series KDL-52V5100 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony BRAVIA V-Series KDL-52V5100 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Black
Digital camera Review: Excellent new model
Summary: 5 Stars
I just hooked it up yesterday, to replace my 50" Samsung DLP that broke. I had a 32" Vizio in its place for the past month, waiting for this model. Overall, I am very pleased with the set. As usual, the HD channels look spectacular and the interface is tremendously better than that of the Vizio's. It is hooked up to a HD DVR cable box, but configuration was a breeze. The non-HD channels definitely take a huge hit, as they look pretty bad on this size screen. In reality I wish I could have just gotten a 50" since the 2" additional makes a big difference in the overall size, but I am still pleased with the TV and glad I waited for this model to get the improved contrast ratio and 120 refresh rate.Digital camera Review: False Marketing
Summary: 3 Stars
Even though the TV's box has a big "Dolby Digital" logo, and marketing specification claim DD, this TV cannot output DD 5.1 audio when using its ATSC or QAM tuner. I don't know how Sony can get away with this, promising something but not delivering it.
Other than this flaw, the picture quality is great, so I give 3 stars.
Digital camera Review: Fantastic piece of technology
Summary: 5 Stars
Didn't have an HD signal prior to it's delivery, but soon after, was installed. Picture was good without, but big difference now, it's wonderful! Fully satisfied with the set. Really need an HD signal to take advantage of it. Delivery/set-up service was fine.Digital camera Review: Frustrating Glitch Makes Nice TV Unreliable
Summary: 2 Stars
I posted this as a comment under the review titled: "This TV has very serious flaws! Sony is unresponsive!" but I think the issue here needs a review of its own.
I purchased my Sony BRAVIA V-Series KDL-52V5100 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV in December, 2009. Since that date my TV has, four times, been rendered blank and totally unresponsive to any input from the remote or on-set controls except power off. A 30-minute phone call to Sony support after the first incident did not resolve the issue; I had to attempt a work-around on my own - I'll explain that later.
After the fourth occurrence I arranged for a Sony-authorized service tech to examine the set. Listen to this: he told me he'd had many similar complaints. Apparently here in San Diego a certain HD channel occasionally triggers a glitch in the Sony TV circuitry causing the TV to go blank and unresponsive. Only by tricking the TV to disengage from this particular channel can you get the TV to work again. When he explained this to me I realized my favorite channel was this particular one and my set always froze when I was watching a program on that channel.
The service tech checked the current firmware on my set and saw it was the latest version available. In that case, said he, there was nothing he could do. He further said that Sony is aware of this problem and is working on a fix, but he wondered how they would notify owners and deliver the fix when available.
After the service call I contacted Sony Support to ask about how I would learn of the fix when it becomes available. I was directed to Customer Relations. In a phone conversation the representative claimed Sony was NOT aware of any such situation. The only remedies forthcoming from Customer Relations were to offer either the phone numbers of 2 more authorized service centers or a promise to have another Sony advisor call me. I requested both; the rep agreed. Then I repeated my statement that I know there are many Sony customers complaining about this, and I read to him some postings from an internet forum I'd discovered. The representative then said Sony now stands informed and aware. We'll see...
Anyone, including Sony Support and Customer Relations personnel, can do a Google search and find references to this and similar issues. Personally I've posted about this and gotten response from other Sony owners. But other TV manufacturers have had similar problems with some of their models; Sony isn't alone here. LG, for example, has had this type of problem with some of its sets (do a Google search) but, unlike the initial response from my Sony Customer Relations representative, has publicly acknowledged it.
My internet research seems to indicate this glitch occurs with other Sony models as well and in other locations - not just here in San Diego. As the original reviewer says, this may be a low-end Sony, but my $1200 seems pretty high-end to me!
Work-arounds I've culled from the internet:
1. Unplug the set and walk away for a while. I once did so for 48 hours and it came right back on.
2. Turn off the TV (you can do this with the remote or the on-set control), turn it back on and immediately begin madly punching the channel up/down button so the TV switches away from the poison channel before it can freeze the TV again.
3. Turn off the TV (this is ALL you can do with the remote or on-set control at this point!), disconnect the antenna cable from the set, turn the set back on, change the (now blank) channel up or down, re-connect the cable.
Voila! You've just spent $1200 to do your own TV troubleshooting - compliments of Sony Electronics Corp.
Digital camera Review: Good - Not Great
Summary: 4 Stars
Have had this TV for about a year now and am still glad I made the purchase, but there are a few drawbacks. Definitely need surround sound, or you'll be dissatisfied with the sound quality. I've had a similar experience as a few others with the faint fading color in and out of HD programs, but you really have to have a good eye or be watching for longer than an hour to really notice. Other than that, the picture quality is great and certainly fairs better with sporting events and fast moving movies than my 60Hz Samsung. The exterior seems a bit cheap looking, but once it's on the wall, you'll be drawn more to the picture than the cheap outside. It's already $400 cheaper than when I bought it, and if I had a need for another one, I wouldn't hesitate to buy this one at the current price (probably would go with LED if I was able to spend a bit more)