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.

[marco_polo_12345]

Mine took an age to power-up this morning, after about 20 seconds, the channel ID and sound came on, but no picture?!

Turned it off and back on again, another 20+ seconds, then a Sony symbol / dancing dots / Android logo?!

What's going on with it please? Is it broken?

[davidgv1]

Hi,

I took my TV back and claimed a full refund. A stunning picture, but what is that without the rest of the requirements?

Regards

Dave

Sent from my iPad

[NickCo1979]

Define "Broken"

If by broken you mean it doesn't do what it was advertised to do, if by broken you mean it is not capable of outputting sounds and picture in sync, if by broken you mean asking for help gets you a message to "try a factory reset" then yes, it's broken.

Otherwise that sounds "normal". I experience it a few times a day.

[motty79]

The issues I have with my TV (on the latest SW as of today) are:

1) Casting Youtube doesn't work properly - Does anybody else have this issue? If I cast a youtube video from my phone the audio is correct, but the video goes at half speed so by the end the video visuals are only half way through. The same videos work ok from my phone and from the youtube app on the tv, it is just casting that doesn't work properly. Usually on a reset the first video works ok but after that they don't work, and it is not all videos that do this, just 95% of them. I've just clearing the casting receiver app cache, factory reset etc but nothing seems to fix this. And it is only related to youtube, everything else I cast (movies, iplayer, bt sport etc) works fine. Anyone else have this issue or know how to fix it? It is driving me nuts because I find it much easier to cast youtube videos rather than try to use the TV app.

2) I get a blue semi circular flash of light at the bottom of the screen every 5 minutes or so when the TV has been used for a while. It seems restarting the TV (holding power button down) fixes it temporarily. Very annoying!

3) Losing lip sync as reported before. It seems to be worse for me with HD channels on the TV but I’ve also experienced it on external devices but a lot less often. The quickest way I’ve found to get the lip sync back is to press guide and then close.

4) The button to change AV input is sometimes unresponsive and does not call up the AV menu. Instead I have to press home and select the input that way.

5) Sometimes the guide and time are an hour out! It seems to forget we are currently in daylight savings/summer time! If the time is out , the guide is also an hour out so shows the correct program that is live, but it confuses the hell out of me! To make matters worse, when you get the information pop up while watching TV, sometimes that can be an hour out along with the guide, but sometimes that can be correct with the guide wrong. I didn’t think getting the time correct would be too hard!

6) General slowness to changing channels and getting the guide up as reported many times here.

I think some of these issues are unfortunately due to the general memory leaks and stability issues with Android Lollipop. I am still hopeful that Sony will fix their issues, and the general Android TV issues will get fixed when Android M comes out in Autumn; but will this TV get updated to the latest android version?? I still live in hope for a decent TV….

[davidgv1]

Hi,
I returned my TV for a full refund, as I did not have any faith in the Sony help desk that I spoke with. On the back of that, I wrote to watchdog complaining about a Sony released TV, that in effect had massive issues. Maybe if you contact watchdog, there will soon be a case to go back to Sony with, it maybe the only way to get these issues resolved. Sometime soon there will be a new model out, and they may just put the older model fixes on the back burner.

Cheers

David

Sent from my iPad

[hazeyb]

My retailer has agreed to give me a full refund, so its very likely my X8305C will be going back next week.  I really like the picture quality, but the software is really annoying the hell out of me and my wife.  Issues still being experienced on the latest firmware, and after a full factory reset;

1/ No picture, only sound on all inputs, both HDMI and internal tuners.  Can be resolved by a full reboot (off at the socket).  This shouldn't happen, its a TV, at the very least it should do TV.

2/ Using the guide causes the TV signal, via satellite,  to cut out for a couple of seconds at a time.

3/ EPG not populating, I only consistantly get now and next for the selected channel, only occasionally will a couple of other random channels will populate.

4/ Selecting the guide will, occassionally, result in having to reconnect to the wifi.  No other function causes this.

5/ Cannot move all channels where I want within the EPG,  I can move some, others refuse to move to the selected channel

6/ Vevo app, doesn't work at all, times out and tells me I may need to connect to the network, Youtube app is fine.

7/ Amazon Prime app cannot play back video smoothly.  It is awful.

8/ TV slow to respond to the remote.  Press a button, LED glows, TV beeps,  and then several seconds pass before the TV responds to the input.  This is even worse just after coming out of standby.  This behaviour is also inconsistent.

9/ Second satellite (sub) feed not consistantly detected.  Sometimes when setting up satellite it will complain its not connected, other times (because I've had to reset the box so oftern) it doesn't.  Probably doesn't need to work until they enable recording anyway, but would be a right pain to discover it was broken 3-4 months after buying the TV.

10/ General slow down, and judder across the home menus.  Again this is occasional and inconsistant as to when it occurs.

So now I've got to make the decision, wait it out and trust Sony to be able to sort all the issues.  The updates and communication so far make me believe that they are focussed on additional revenue streams (Playstation Now on 15th July as an example) than sorting out the promised, free, features.  Buy a 2015 TV from another manufacturer, some of whom may have similar issues with underdevelopment software.  Buy a 2014 TV, which will probably have most issues ironed out, but is more likely to lose functional apps sooner, i.e. youtube no longer functional on 2012 TVs.  Or finally sit on the money and see if any of the manufacturer can take a hint and produce a decent working TV at a future date,  this will involve going back to my 2007 not-in-anyway-smart TV, but at least it does the basic TV functionality well, without the interface getting in the way.

[NickCo1979]

I think the most reasonable strategy is to find a TV that has the picture quality you want without any smart capability and return your Sony Android TV for a refund. Then wait until someone brings out an Android TV stick that has been developed specifically for the job.

It's obvious now that Sony aren't capable of making the software work. The hardware is good but the fact the software was so awful both at launch and even now a few months later doesn't bode well for any future improvement.

[NickCo1979]

Plus it's a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to upgrade a stick / box than the TV every couple of years as the apps go obsolete.

[HairyFool]

I, like you was also in that quandry. Do I kick the thing ( I won't call it a TV because as such it is very poor) out or stick with it. Having looked at the alternatives I find the same issues as you. Are they really better or do/will they have similar issues.

In the end I am treating it as a display until it gets sorted. A Humax box is now attached to give decent FreeSat with working EPG, a Sony BD player which has a reasonable set of WORKING features such as network server discovery and iPlayer and a Sony HDD for recording.

It is only loyalty with Sony that makes me go through this faff, they don't deserve it and Sony needs to show some reciprocation in return. I cannot even register the stupid thing on their website.

[SuperShrimperLee]

Got fed up with my issues (TV was turning itself on standy randomly and the laughable TV/Radio/Porn issue)

I got a different TV from Currys (a Samsung 40 JU6445 which is exclusive to Currys, but is basically the JU6400 with a couple of different features)

Only problems I have found so far, is its not as good build quality as a Sony (By that I mean its a little plasticy and flimsy), some of the catch up players aren't there yet (ITV Player and Channel 5) and when on standby there is quite a bright LED light. Only had it a day so I might be able to turn the light off on a menu or something. The Sony did look nicer, but then looks aren't everything. Its whats inside that counts, and that there seems to be Sonys downfall.

Sony had a chance with my money, but I got fed up with the issues and bought myself a 4K for the same price they charged for a normal HD (I had the KDL-43W755CBU). At least this Samsung one has a decent TV guide (who'd have thought a TV would need a decent one of those) and its very quick flicking through the menu options etc so far........

I too have already raised a complaint to the BBCs Watchdog about this TV