Old Sony Bravia Dying - What to Replace It with?

Hi, not a big consumer of things so not up on the latest in TV's.

I have an old Sony Bravia KD55X9300E from 2017. It was fine til a few days ago when it started flickering colour when I activate the UI via remote - whatever it's called, looks like - it's variable, sometimes floods the screen, sometimes freezes - activations from the remote can clear the flickering or move it on so I can see the UI to operate it. The OS still operates and video is mostly fine in Kodi or VLC - though since 'upgrading' to the 2023 firmware OS/UI functioning is mildly erratic and video quality is poorer/motion stutter/HDR washed out a little/black bars turned gray, etc.

I've tried all the 'remedies' I could find on google, short of taking it apart to check for dust build up under heat vents, or loosened connections, etc. It's been in variable - not controlled - Brisbane coastal environment since 2017, hi temps, cold winter, humidity - not wind or rain. :-) I used to keep it on standby to maintain minimum temps to mitigate condensation but for the last couple years have been turning it off at power.

Anyway, looks like it might be time for a new TV. Gotta keep the cost down, on a pension, but don't want to underspend and buy some trouble either.

Looking at Sony on eBay they have box damaged and refurbed and seconds. and here

Just looking for a 55" to do as good a job or better than my old one. Only using it for movies and TV series off USB - my library.

Any advice or directions from the experts would be appreciated.

TIA …

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Sony Australia
Sony Australia

Comments

  • TCL minileds, the C7K would be the way to go when it's on sale. Or look at the hisense minileds.

    Miniled is a great price point between FALD (the sony ones you have there) and OLED, I would go a decent miniled over a Sony FALD considering they're similar price. You'll really notice the quality of colour and darkness of blacks. Depends what quality the movies and TV series you have on your USB though, garbage in, garbage out.

    • Thanks. Yes, gigo. I aim for QxR's standard but will also upgrade if a TV can do better with better input. Vision is still my best sense …

  • Thanks for comments guys.

    Retravision also have a couple Hisense Mini LED 55" TVs around the same price as the https://www.retravision.com.au/tcl-55inch-c7k-premium-qd-min…https://www.retravision.com.au/hisense-55inch-u7qau-uled-min…https://www.retravision.com.au/hisense-55inch-u6qau-pro-uled…

    Any opinions on those compared?

  • +2

    Get something with Google TV pre built in it.

  • +1

    I like Hisense TVs. I got a 65in Qled model (forgotten its marketing term) to replace a dead plasma TV 5 years ago. No picture quality degradation I can see compared to plasma. It's no OLED but it's half their price after all.

  • +1

    Went to JB last Xmas to get a Hisense miniled for another room. They convinced me the TCL mini-led had a better and faster OS and had happier customers. Already have an LG Oled 2017. Couldn’t be happier with the TCL - great blacks and much better in a bright room than the Oled. The TCL has google TV built in, and the inbuilt sound is not bad (but i do use external amp and speakers). So in a bright room the TCL wins, dark room I don’t really notice much difference - the blacks are both good, the TCL is brighter. If I had to replace the LG soon TCL would be high on my pick list, although I see LG now have mini-leds now. Rtings.com have detailed reviews.

    • Faster is better, Google TV is too. Can't believe how slow the Sony always was/is still.

  • Have you tried turning it on and off again.

    • Just tried and it still won't work when it's "off again".

      • Haha …

    • I've jumped through all the hoops this last week, they are numerous. It's why I'm here now. 👍

      The firmware 'upgrade' actually made it all worse/glitchy functioning and harder to navigate below the interference.

      • Factory reset to revert the firmware?

  • Mini LEDs and overall peak brightness shouldn't be your only benchmarks. Depending on your use case, the motion processing engine can play a larger role in your enjoyment of your viewing content.

    I haven't tried TCLs outside of the viewing on the showroom floor, but I have a Samsung S90D QD-OLED and I prefer my older Sony X95J for watching movies. I've tuned the S90D to its recommended settings, but the Sony just feels and looks far more natural and the picture quality is outstanding.

    • Yes indeed, good motion flow is one of the top wants. Seems the TCL reco'd by @jv and @oscargamer above https://www.retravision.com.au/tcl-55inch-c7k-premium-qd-min… covers that.

    • Yes Sony's motion processing is just top, hard to quantify unless you've seen it shown properly.

      Also I trust Sony's Google TV. Im still using a 2016 Sony TV with Google and it does what I need still.

      Heard and seen everyone jump up and down about TVs from other brands over the years and the end result is alway the same: regret. Because those manufacturers always end up adding ridiculous ads or cut back on features. With Sony you get a solid run.

  • +1

    Just go with upgraded version of sony!

    • Which one though, and why not the TCL linked above? Everything's an upgrade from 2017, right?

      • Its all depends on your budget. I would at least go for OLED version.

  • +1

    I've been using an entry level Samsung 'Crystal' UHD TV from 2020 and it's been fantastic. Built in Airplay and Apps, can also use Stremio + Realdebrid using the TV OS itself, no need for additional devices.
    Seem like a good deal for the price as well.

    Current model below. Compared to friends who have much more expensive TV's I really don't notice enough of a difference considering they paid at least triple the price for theirs.

    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/samsung-55-u8500f-crystal…

  • +1

    If you enjoy watching animals, want stunning colours, smooth motion, and content that never repeats, you honestly can’t go past the latest model of fishtank.

  • I bought a Sony "box damaged" soundbar last week and it's great. No damage to the actual unit, just a dent in the corner of the box.

    • Box damaged is a reasonable option, but if you don't know the ins and outs of their TVs the choice is bewildering.

      • I'm sure the choices are endless.

        I bought my Sony 75" in the 2018 OzBargain deal. When it dies I'll probably get a top of the range TCL rather than a mid-range Sony

        • I'm leaning towards the first recommendation here, the TCL 55" C7K Premium QD. Price will probably come down too in the next couple months, maybe.

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