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.

[Tarpii]

Had an issue today where the volume controls became responsive, any ideas
what causes this? Needed to perform a power cycle before it cleared..

[Csg3060]

Try sideview app. It might "wake up the tv". It worked for me. A lousy workaround until next, and for me, last fw..

[willapp]

For me the sound sync issues seem to be limited to specific apps - Youtube and Now TV (via casting) are the worst and never is the audio properly in sync with the picture. Netflix seems to be fine most of the time. These problems exist regardless of whether the TV has been recently rebooted, and it's the same via the internal speaker and via HDMI ARC to my sound system.

I think what annoys me the most is the slowdown within a few days of use and often ending up having to switch off at the mains because the remote power button becomes unresponsive. Also recently there's been a new issue where sometimes it just won't output sound to the external audio system even though ARC should switch it over automatically - when I turn the sound system off it switches back to internal speakers and that works fine, but I turn it back on again, the TV says "Audio system active" but no sound comes out and this too requires a full power cycle to fix. Really it's a joke on a £2k piece of equipment that it works this poorly.

Went in to JL yesterday and getting an engineer visit on Thursday - I'm not expecting them to fix anything but apparently they can't start any refund/replacement process until they have an engineer's report confirming that it's not something they can fix. Happy to go through the motions but I won't be satisfied until they take it back and give me a Samsung instead!

[Tarzion]

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@willapp wrote:

I think what annoys me the most is the slowdown within a few days of use and often ending up having to switch off at the mains because the remote power button becomes unresponsive. Also recently there's been a new issue where sometimes it just won't output sound to the external audio system even though ARC should switch it over automatically - when I turn the sound system off it switches back to internal speakers and that works fine, but I turn it back on again, the TV says "Audio system active" but no sound comes out and this too requires a full power cycle to fix. Really it's a joke on a £2k piece of equipment that it works this poorly.

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It's easier to switch the AV on and off rather than the TV.

[julianblack]

Hi willapp.

How long have you had the TV? Is it longer than 90 days?

I went into my local JL to organise the return after having struggled with
the Sony KD4-9X8305C for about 10 weeks. When asked by the technical support
guy what my issues with the TV were I presented him with a printed list of
13 items. He read the list then immediately agreed to the return and full
refund towards a replacement TV without any further comment.

Subsequent trips to JL have quietly entertained me with the number of
returned sets dotted around.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning all

A new firmware has been released for UK and EU.  This is to address some if the issues, pip/pap and HDD recording is still targetted for end of March.

More details:

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/content/cnt-hn/prd-tvhc/android-tv-features-uk-02-feb-2016

Thank you

[elraouk]

Thanks for the info.  Anyone brave enough to try it? 

[Shodney]

IMPORTANT: After installation of the new software package the TV will carry out a considerable amount of background activities to ensure the internal systems are updated.

That sounds interesting. Suggests it might be doing more than the usual update...

Have to wait and see - I'll set it going on my lunch break

Cheers.

[Tarzion]

I had the 2169 version of the EU firmware, which included all the fixes and it had messed up my TV.

I might give it a try and see if the issue still persists.

If it does, then I will return my TV and go for another model.

[rnbetsy]

How big were the previous updates? This is 1.5gig