2015 Bravia Android TV Issues

[NickCo1979]

I thought I'd create a generic thread to cover off the issues being encountered on the 2015 Bravia Android TVs. I've listed my issues below with fixes / workarounds and responses from support. All comments and solutions welcome!

1) Hot Swap HDMI doesn't work - manifested by no input on HDMI channels 2, 3 and 4 on the KD-49X8305C. Workaround - reset the TV, either by holding down the remote power button for 5 seconds or by switching the TV off at the wall and then back on again. Further details on this thread: https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/kd-49x8305c-hdmi-2-3-4-inputs-not-working/td-p/1944435

2) HDD Recording doesn't work - error message states a system update is required but none is available when checking. Hopefully this will be fixed soon by a firmware update.

3) Netflix App doesn't work - this seems like the app has been deliberately disabled. So far a support case has only recommended that a factory reset be performed (took two days to get to that cracking piece of advice.....), with no improvement as a result. A temporary (albeit for advanced users only) workaround is provided by MikeLothian on this thread - https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/netflix-support-for-kd55x8509c-android-tv/td-p/1945360 

4) Sound lag and performance issues after the TV (KD-49X8305C) has been on standby for a while - manifested for me as stuttering and sound / picture sync issues in all apps (youtube, amazon instant video etc) and HDMI sources (PS4, seperate YouView box etc). Hopefully this will be fixed in a firmware update, at the moment workarounds involve either changing channels to get the sync to work or in my case having to turn the TV off and then on again at the socket.

As stated previously, all comments welcome. Personally I'm willing to give Sony a couple of weeks to fix this, but if it's not done soon I'll be sending my new TV back for a refund as it's not really fit for purpose.

[dhanpal.panwar]

Hi, am wondering has there been any improvements after these SW updates? Is it worth buying these TVs now?

I am after 49x8309.

Cheers, DP

[royabrown]

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@dhanpal.panwar wrote:

Hi, am wondering has there been any improvements after these SW updates? Is it worth buying these TVs now?

I am after 49x8309.

Cheers, DP

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You can see from the rate of slowdown in postings here that things are better.

But while there will always be postings about individual quirks that users experience when few or no other people see them, there is still a small rump of problems that are common, acknowledged by Sony, and remain to be fixed.

And the satellite on these sets is not Freesat, and may never be, and it doesn't coexist with YouView, which you need for the ITV and All4 Players, and you can't (yet? ever?) record from YouView, though you can now from Freeview.

So if any of these are job-stoppers for you, look elsewhere.

But if not, and you are buying now, you will be getting a 2016 set, whereas this long, long, thread is mostly about the 2015 sets - time for a fork, @Anonymous?

However, we have just bought a new UE32J6300 Samsung, which I had to Factory Reset as the EPG was taking minutes to appear at first switch-on, and on which the ability to select that the Smart functions do not autostart still seems to be missing 😞 

The factory reset seems to have worked, for the moment, and there is an undocumented(!) feature that the Smart button toggles the Smart overlay off, though I would still prefer that it never came on.

But if the EPG problems had continued, it would be going back today. And still will, if the problem recurs.

So no set is perfect. But we know that Sony continue to work on these sets, even the 2015 Sakuras, so I am hopeful that all the quirks will be ironed out, eventually.

[Anonymous]

@royabrown ive been thinking about a 2016 thread, but cant see the need for it yet.  Many issues on 2015 models also effect 2016 models and vice versa (for Android based TVs that is), with a couple of exceptions.  But if there is a need, im sure it will be created

[Slkmaniac]

I bought a 55X8505 just after Christmas and to be honest it's barely missed a beat. Anything that was a problem for me certainly has now been fixed so I'm happy. And I have always been more than happy with the quality of the picture.

I guess it's all down to what you do with the TV and what you expect from it. I watch most programs via a dedicated Freestat PVR as the HD quality is, in my opinion, better than Freeview. I watch the occasional movie streamed from my main PC over Ethernet using the built in video app. I occasionally watch stuff on YouTube. If I have any gripe at all it's that it's not very snappy jumping between different things, but it's not so slow that it bothers me, and in any case it's not something I do that often anyway.

I like it and and am happy with my Sony.

[adyjay33]

I would be wary saying about the rate of the slow down on this site is due to the improvements, I think many have just got fed up and given up or sent their TV's back.

These TV's still have major issues that Sony cant or dont want to sort out, if I were to make a choice again then Sony would not even be on my shopping list

Buy with caution and be prepared to waste a lot of time with these sets, they are unfit to sell.

[Garymjh]

The exaggeration of these posts is becoming stupid again. The tvs are not
'unfit to sell' and a few posts on a forum by a few people is not
indicative of the hundreds of thousands sold. If you look at Amazon most
reviews of these sets are five stars. There's a tendency on this thread to
think that because twenty or thirty people are reporting faults that every
android tv ever sold has a fault. It's absolute nonsense and as daft as it
is irritating.

[mk1.golf.1983]

I generally do not post on here any more but I do agree with Adyjay. 

After 11 months and 6 replacement Tv's I have just arranged a refund for my tv. The light bleed on the latest set is appalling, although I had put up with it for a while it is now getting worse. To add to that the software is still buggy with random lock ups and failure to start.

Technical support just ask to unplug the tv for 3 mins and then do a factory reset. No! No I will Not! Enough is enough.

Needless to say I will Never buy another Sony tv again.

Absolutely shocking Sony. You should be ashamed! 

[Garymjh]

You 'agree with adjay' because both of you think that because you personally have a problem with Sony that makes all their tv's 'not fit for purpose'  It's absurd. I was looking at a Samsung thread a few days ago with them all saying 'these new Samsung tvs are an absolute disgrace etc, I can't wait to get a Sony' They were just as daft too. 

[mk1.golf.1983]

It's my personal opinion based on my own experience. 

6 tv's in 11 months! 

And it is a public forum so do one!

[John1950Hitchin]

More useless said before posts to add to the post count. I am very happy with my TV end of story for me.