Sony Bravia W800C Series
Verified48 reviews
Say NO to software upgrades – Just wanted to provide an update on initial review of this now discontinued TV. Still would not touch another Sony , I went to Aldi and got a 50" cheapie for 1/7th of the price of a Sony . No fancy features but that works to this day , now as the kitchen TV. After Sony TV run out of warranty I pulled it apart and found that other then one of… Read more
the backlight LED strips drawing more current the hardware was fine. The issue was with Sony software updates which as a safety measure for newer TVs it lowered the threshold current where backlight would cause the TV to shutdown with error code. After contacting Sony to obtain one of their older versions I was informed that it was not possible to downgrade to an older versions of software which made the TV obsolete. Eventually I found a copy of earlier software on the net which I knew it would work with my TV and edited the line of code with version number and renamed the file to a higher number then what my Sony tv had at the time which tricked the tv into accepting it as a new upgrade. After rebooting the TV worked again and did so until a couple of months ago when tv finally died. The lesson I learned here is to say NO to any tv "updates" because the latest software is not always the best option for an older tv.
when did sony bravia kdl-55w800c 1st come out in sydney australia – when did sony bravia kdl-55w800c 1st come out in sydney australia , many years ago , and how much did it cost ? Show details
Great display and image, but Android OS shouldn't exist with TV's – Android OS was clearly not designed to operate this device correctly. Every 1-2 weeks since purchase (4 years ago) I need to power cycle the TV as it has these common issues; -Turns on and gets stuck on a random app, and wont respond. -WiFi drops off. -Digital TV vanishes from the device - re tuning wont bring channels back either. Tried to limit… Read more
the background apps to 4 max, and while this makes it feel better, it still breaks as per normal. Friends who also use Android TV's have the same issues.
Regretful purchase all around.
Positive reviews
Long lasting- Great quality – Bought this TV 6 years back. Never ever had an issue other than having to replace the report. Works great with 3D glasses. Great quality video. Support USB, Wireless, HDMI and other common connection methods. Show details
Sony Brava KDL -50W800C – The picture quality appears superior then my old equivalent Samsung (which blew the motherboard after 2 years). I'm surprised to read about the rebotting issue even though I have had it occur to me a few times over the last 5 years (since I purchased the tv) it has never been a long term problem. Maybe the firmware fixed my issues or I'm just lucky.
Decent TV with great operating system – Love the Android and all the Apps available, bought PS controls played some games from Play store. Bought second hand, used for 5 years. Android kept up to date for few years. After last update remote response became really delayed. But overall happy with purchase and served period. Still works fine, just upgraded to protector Show details
Negative reviews
Sony WAS a Premium brand TV – Bought this TV 6-8 years ago In-store from TGG. A 100 Mhz was supposed to be 'a class abovve'. NOT SO. Sony were considered to be a premium brand in the ilk of National (showing my age perhaps), Panasonic, Apple, and was thought to be a reliable & trouble free option. Nothing could have been further from the truth, from the experience with this… Read more
TV
I will never buy a Sony TV again. Since 6 months of age the TV has repeatedly lost its Wi-fi connection. The service people (european electronics) replaced all then boards and the wifi adapter.
It was great for 6 months, then started doing the same thing again with an additional message displayed 'unable to download'. Never found out why the message.
The wi-fi adapter was re-replaced by the same service company. Since then it has fallen out of warranty (original and the 3 month warranty from the service group). YES only 3 months reputation on it!!
Now we have to hard reset it at least 3 times a week. It rarely looses wifi (signal now a little stronger), however it refuses to return to 'digital tv category', IF I have been using an attached device (like foxtel or fetch). IT goes instead to 'Google streaming channels', of which I have little interest (less so now).
A reset is the ONLY thing that has a chance of bringing it back to normal...90% of the time.
It could also (when this occurs) advise that it has lost ALL digital channels, or none have been saved. A reset again returns the channel listing and perhaps even the digital txv category.
Will never buy this brand again, one of a number of brands that have lost the plot and their loyal; customer base, I am guessing.
a frustrating experience – Every time I go away and come back home it no longer recognises my phone or tablet, if I actually do manage to pair the next time I leave the house and come back I can no longer stream, an extremely frustraing experience, I will NEVER buy anything sony again.
Avoid Firm Ware Updates for Sony TVs – I purchased Bravia KDL - 55W800c TV (a smart TV) from Sony as it supported streaming features that I required. So, I am aggrieved that these features, which I paid for, were made unavailable with a recent Sony firm ware up-date and I can no longer stream media content from my computer. Furthermore, the Sony music and video apps no longer function… Read more
since the update so I can no longer connect to my computer from the TV.
While Sony admitted that it was their up-date that caused the problems, they were not prepared to fix the TV. Instead, they suggested that I install Plex Media Server. Which I did. Now the recent Plex Media Server up-dates are not compatible with this model.
As a consequence, I no longer own a Smart TV. I consider that Sony has damaged my property and caused it to become a dumb TV.
Recent reviews
Bad quality screen panel – 2 years, panel double picture. Sony says have to replace screen panel. Not worth it they said, buy a new one. Of course l will buy a new one, but not Sony. Show details
Don't buy this rubish – Since we bought this TV five years ago, we had nothing but issues, glitches, doesn't turn on...ect. sony customer service is ZERO. Had it repaired under the extended warranty from JBHFI but this rubish TV always have issues. if any one out there thinking of buying SONY TV please walk away as you are wasting your money. Also you get no support from Sony.
Same problem after 3 years – I got this tv 3 years ago almost 1300$ and after 3 years its suddenly stuck on SONY logo. Then i little bit search about the issue so i noticed there is too many same issue with this model. So apperaently this product has serious problem like a factory defect but Sony dont do anything for help their customer. People who got this tv, dont have to pay more then 400$ after 3 years to fix this factory defected product. Show details
Avoid at all costs – Purchased Sony Bravia Tv and its now just on 4 years old.LCD screen had to be replaced just after 2 years old, now the screen has gone again. Called Sony and sony says too old now and cant replace or repair, can offer a new one at a reduced rate. If a TV fails within 4 years and a screen has had to be replaced, the TV is not fit for its purpose.… Read more
It makes it an expensive tv even at sony reduced new offer rate, at approx $500 per year if we purchase sonys new offer. Sonys after sale service is terrible, especially when the warranty runs out, sony run out as well. Buyer beware.
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Reboot issue renders TV useless – Bought the TV in 2016 and despite the remote being slow & the TV updating itself about once a week, I was happy with it. Two weeks ago it started to reboot itself each day. Followed the troubleshooting guide on the Sony AU website and it became even worse and is now stuck in a continuous reboot. After telling Sony that I have tried a hard factory… Read more
reset about 7 - 8 times, they said a technician would need to come. Asked about the cost and they didn't know. Technician comes out, does a hard factory reset twice and says it is the motherboard and will cost $420 to repair with a 3 month warranty... With that warranty it is not worth it and I ended up paying $99 for a technician to do they same thing I did. I'm hugely disappointed with Sony, in addition to selling a TV that can only work for a few years, they have wasted my time and money by claiming to be completely unaware of the cause and cost to repair a seemingly common issue with their smart TV's. Lost all trust with this brand and will not buy Sony again.
Problems all the since I'v got this crap TV! TV repair man told me that Do not buy SONY Bravia! – If you don't waist your money and your time, DO NOT BUY SONY TV!!! The TV switched off suddenly, When you use time recording while watching youtube then the vioce come from TV and Youtube! Internet connection are faulty! Show details
Only lasted 3 years. Pathetic customer service and dishonest pricing – Picture quality was decent, the major issue here was reliability and customer service. The TV stopped working after merely 3 years, it is stuck in a startup loop when powered on. This seems to be an extremely common problem. Can't help but be reminded of the "Sony Timer" urban legend. Sony customer service initially offered a 15% discount on a… Read more
new TV as part of a trade-in deal, and asked me to pick a TV from their website. They kept following up daily after I said I'd think about it, as I am not so confident of the quality since the TV only lasted 3 years. The discount was then extended to 30%, so I thought I'd give them another chance.
When it came to processing the trade-in, Sony tells me the discount would be applied to the full retail price. Which is completely fine and expected, but the problem here is that their website was not showing RRP, it only displayed one price, which one would assume was the retail price as there were no indications of it being something else. But according to Sony, the price displayed was already-discounted, and when asked why the RRP was not displayed, they simply blamed it on "an IT issue". An online store that isn't able to clearly display original/discounted prices is simply pathetic.
The website price ended up being even cheaper than the price after a 30% "discount", and I was "advised" to purchase directly from the website as it is "more economical than the trade-in". Thank you Einstein. This offered me absolutely no incentive to proceed with the trade-in, as this was equivalent to just buying a replacement TV out of pocket.
At this point I feel the whole ordeal was very disingenuous on Sony's part, and there was zero effort in trying to retain an existing customer. I explained my frustrations but in the end there was no effort to improve the situation at all by Sony. Unfortunately it has been a complete waste of time but I've decided to recycle the TV and stay away from all Sony products in the future.
Sony Bravia KDL50W800C stops operating after 3 years – Purchased just 3 years ago, TV is stuck on a constant update loop. TV automatically turns on, the 4 update icons appear and start doing their thing... moments later the TV automatically shuts itself off and repeats the process. All of the online options like hard reset, holding buttons down while the plug is out dont work. Posting this review… Read more
now in the hope it will help others find an answer to this problem.
After searching the internet for answers to our TV problem we found that there are soooo many other people experiencing the very same issue with this TV and other similar Sony models.
Turns out its the motherboard and to replace it... well it isnt considered a cheap repair! Buying a new, cheaper brand TV with 3 times the warranty Sony offer would be the better option.
The TV itself while working...
Nice slim lightweight TV Looks nice and sleek Has Netflix installed and a list of other Apps as well.
Mirroring feature to connect device ms such as phones and tablets to play directly from the device... this feature was always a bit hit and miss. When it worked it was great.. we went through a patch where this feature just played up time and time again. Constantly updating to find a fix.
Functionally ... the TV was great when working, but to be honest... the picture quality isnt as great as a MUCH cheaper brand we also have in our house. I guess youd expect much more from a Sony with a much higher price tag.
All in all...
0 out of 5 stars.
Price tag should give a little more longevity. The cheaper Brands have got on average 3 times the longevity on the Sony... Sorry Sony... youve lost this families confidence!
Also taking into consideration the large number of people with the same issue... it really isn't good enough for what you pay for the 'higher end' Sony. Maybe Sony should rethink their Warranty to restore some faith in the Brand.
My Sony Bravia KDL50W800C stops operating just after 3 years – Mum just wants a TV that is easy enough to set up and does the job it should. After 3 years of light domestic use, it now keeps rebooting itself. As advised, we took it to the Sony Authorized Service Centre, it costs $55 to just do the check. Then we were given $350+ quote for the repair of the mainboard. I'm very disappointed because it simply fails to meet a reasonable expectation of a Sony TV. Show details
2yr 11mths it lasted – Interface is difficult to manage as the remote is slow, tv shell seems to carry voltage. Lasted almost 3yrs from purchasing of moderate use. Is now stuck in an endless cycle of rebooting. For the price I paid for the tv, it was really subpar for a brand like Sony. Show details
Stopped working after 3 years – It was an average TV when it was working. We are not a TV people and didn't use it that much, after three and half years suddenly decided not working any more. I'm really disappointed with Sony, for the money that I paid I was expecting more. Never ever buy Sony again. Even not deserve one star. Show details
sony doesn't keep their word – this tv functioned fine until right after the warranty expired the tv broke down, showing vertical lines and ghosting and being basically unusable. we were already dissappointed with this issue as it was not the first issue we've had with the tv, and so we immediately called sony to sort it out. After trying some troubleshooting options that didnt… Read more
help at all, sony said that the problem would be fixed if we got a Sony technician over to fix it; guaranteeing that the problem could be fixed. but of course the technician came, charged us around 100 dollars and didn't do a damn thing. He said the tv was in fact not fixable, and still charged us for his useless inspection. I definitely do not recommend this product or any sony product for that matter, as there are often problems and their conduct in essentially squeezing out a bit of extra money from us is disgraceful. DO NOT buy sony products until they show some actual intiative to keep their consumers satisfied with their products and company.
It was good when it worked. Broke down after 2 years. I wouldn't recommend – It was a wonderful tv the first two years that it worked, but considering the quality of brand and the price paid, I would hope that it was going to last longer than two years before it stopped working. The screen has lines and ghosting. It has been sent it for service but luckily we have a back up tv as it's still in service 6 weeks later and… Read more
with the estimation to be a 12 week service. Come on Sony! You want loyal customers, sticking to your products, you need to up the game in repairs.
Find out how Sony Bravia W800C Series compares to other Full HD TVs
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Stopped working in less than 2 years – Bought the TV from JB in end of Jul'16; was happy with the TV till one month back when suddenly it started giving vertical lines on the screen with the screen becoming pixalated with the video no longer visible, audio still remains ok. Pretty disappointed, was not expecting such a short life from a Sony product. Have contacted Sony support, but initial indications are of a faulty LED panel. Show details
Such a great 1080p TV – This TV was perfect for what I needed it for. I bought this particular model because of it's ultra-fast response times which are very handy for video games and the like. The colour and picture quality are superb for an older TV and even though it's only a 1080p panel I don't feel the overwhelming need to upgrade to something in 4K just yet. The… Read more
small bezels around the screen also give it a super sharp appearance that compliments any room. It also plays super well with other technology such as my PS4 Pro and my soundbar. Top notch Sony!
Best TV – Bought my first tv set in Australia from Dicksmith in 2015. It has nice colours, volume and picture quality. Smart tv with pair of 3d glasses gives a very good deal. Enjoyed throughout the 3D movies. However this model discontinued very quickly. I wish it can stays for logn so I can buy another one. Show details
Great TV, that great when the LCD failed after 22 months I liked it that much I didn't accept Sonys – TV has all the bells and whistles to be fair a bit too much for my needs, I found the menu hard to navigate, never have been able to record or watch a movie straight off a USB- I tried but it didn't work straight away so never progressed it. The TV had a 12 month warranty / Great TV, that great when the LCD failed after 22 months I liked it… Read more
that much I didn't accept Sonys offer of 25% off a new TV which they initially said was the cheaper option for repair than me paying for a new LCD screen. It wasn't until I pushed my issue further up the Sony chain of command saying that the TV was not 'fit for purpose' and that I own other smaller Sony TV's that are 4 and nearing 10 years old and the LCD screen is still serviceable, it took two weeks but Sony ended up replacing the Screen at their cost via a 3rd party TV repair agent.
Like they say the squeaky wheel gets the oil,.
Decent TV – Picture quality is decent and the speakers are good. Has enough HMDI ports but could do with another USB port (only has 2). The operating system is good enough though have had trouble finding all the relevant features. All in all, a fairly decent TV for the price I paid. Show details
Extremely annoying demo mood – I lost my remote. Seems like there is no use of this damn TV without the remote. I manually used HDMI for a while. But while I'm watching sometime through the HDMI the damn demo video keeps coming up. What the hell is wrong with Sony. There should have been buttons that i could use some features when i don't have remote. Show details
Great tv – I am really impressed with the picture quality . I use it for watching but also for gaming and the visuals are impeccable. The sound is also amazing but instead i have connected to my stereo. Plenty of ports for usb , hdmi etc . Tv is amazing for home theatre or even in your room Show details
Suffered from spatial shadows – Was a great tv except for two things, the 3D was appalling and ended up unusable and the spatial banding caused large dark blotchy shadows noticeable on a white background. Read around as is a common issue and I ended up refunding the tv for this reason. Buy a newer model, this isn't recommended. Show details
Hard to beat – This TV is a great all-rounder with a great picture and is great for gamers as it has the lowest input lag. It has 4 HDMI inputs as well which is rare to find. It also has 3D which I love but some people don't like having the feature for some reason. The stand looks great and doubles as a VESA stand if you want to wall mount it. The smart TV… Read more
function is terrible and slow as you'd expect and I'd recommend using another box for smart functions. The speakers are better than most but still, like all slim panel TV's, you should get a sound bar. Sony Bravias are known for lasting quality.
So far so good! – No real issues with the tv just yet... it has lost power a couple times for no apparent reason - have had to reset etc... is a little worrying but it hasn't happened for quite some months now.. other than that - Processor runs quite smooth, the family is quite happy with it! But next time we will go bigger! :) Show details
Smart TV breakdown after 1 year of use – Picture Quality: Good Speakers: Good Ports: OK for our requirements Operating System: Failed after 1 year of use. We have been satisfied with picture quality etc when the software broke down. Got a persistent message box in the middle of the screen "Unfortunately, Gamepadmanager has stopped". This prevents any access to other options (e.g.… Read more
Help) using the remote and the TV automatically re-starts about every 5 minutes. Could not get into settings, so recommendation to clear caches could not be followed. The engineer was called in and he could not fix it and said we should get it replaced. Fortunately we have extended warranty as we had the set for just over 1 year, so the TV is being replaced. Needless to say, we will not be getting this model again.
Very good TV – I was actually impressed with this TV! Perfect quality picture and with enough USB and HDMI ports for all my extras It works on android which is ok but I would love to see more software options. Overall great TV and defiantly don't regret buying it. Comes with built in Netflix app which is a great bonus! Show details
A mixture – Near-perfect picture quality even on freeze frame, audio is fair enough considering but the installed media player (needed to play from an external source) is inadequate. Problem solved by installing VLC Player but there is still a problem with the record function. Very annoying background hiss which I have been unable to remove. The after sales service was very good. Show details
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