Share your experience!
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.
I've largley had no issues with the TV that others have mentioned here - it's been good and the update in December made the remote much more responsive.
I do however no also have the "tv switching on" problem - rather annoying in the middle of the night having to keep turning it off. Only started happening sice the last update.
Hi All
Thanks for the feedback around disabling Daydream so far. Can anyone tell me if the TV starting up completely by itself keeps happening, or does it stop after one or two occasions? Let’s not confuse this with a random reboot while TV is on, or LED being on whilst the TV is supposed to be off which I think are different issues.
Cheers
It's been 3 weeks since I wrote a letter of complaint to Sony.
Even with my calling them last week to check on progress I received stupid emails back from tech support saying ' have you tried this, have you tried that '. Sony needs to take my complaint seriously and I am waiting for that response.
At the time of writing this, 482 pages / over 4,800 posts about the 2015 Sony Android sets on this forum with 10 per page = problems.
Historically having been a loyal Sony customer and one of the reasons I invested £800 on a TV which didn't work but now has only marginally improved, but devoid of Sony taking my complaint seriously I’ll the list on here the issues I've experienced at first hand since purchasing the set in October:
POSTIVES:
Well-lit pictures with good sources creates an amazing picture; the “potential” of extensive list of Smart features of a Android-powered TV; range of apps; physical design; 4k; the "potential" of YouView; the "potential" of HDD recording.
NEGATIVES:
And since adding the February firmware, the set “seems” to be more responsive, but :
So, issues will continue.
Currys customer services have said if I talk to the store manager I could return the set – but I am not expecting a great conversation and I'm sure I will be forced to argue my point.
One of the things I said to Sony in my letter is the longevity of firmware updates. We're getting firmware updates now on a technical device which will continually need to be maintained/updated. In 1 or 2 years those firmware updates will cease. With a set today with so many issues those bugs will continue and get worse. I envisage not being able to “enjoy” your TV for 8 years but it’ll be defunct in 2 years time.
Sony - you have received your last warning.
My PlayStation I understand, they only have HDMI 1.4c so couldn't possibly output a 4K Stream.
But my KD-49X8305C is a 2015 model with the HEVC built in (And the HDMI is 2.0).:smileyconfused:
So why does the PlayStation app only offer HD when the set has a HEVC Decoder built in?
Do I honestly have to purchase one of those FMP-X10's just to get access to the 4K library and not just the SD and HD stuff?:smileyplain:
Thanks for the reply though. I'd rather gain access to the Sony Library and pay for 4K films than have to resort to downloading them from the pirate bay.:smileymrgreen:
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kind regards
Richard:smileycool:
I can't remember if it's a default app or I downloaded it, but you can get the PlayStation Video app on the TV. I knew that my PS4 doesn't have a HDMI 2.0 output, so that obviously means there's no way it will be able to support 4K output ( I think? Or is it, 30fps 4K on HDMI 1.4 and you need 2.0 to output 60fps?).
I really wouldn't buy a Sony device, I think it's only available in the US and at an extortionate price. I want to know if this service will be coming to our TV's and our country :
I'm prepared to wait, as there isn't really any solid 4K content yet anyway, nothing to do with Sony.
Thank you for your reply. I will remember to go back over the posts on the forum and leave you a few likes to help you rank up a bit quicker
1) yrp, HDMI 1.4c wont do 4K, in anything but stills - There is an app that does this on the PS4 though.
2) That FMP-X10. I was intending to get it just to rip the app of it and try and side load it into my Bravia somehow. All I want is access to the Sony ULtra 4K Library of Films (Ah, Saturday Night's here we come)
As for getting one - They are only around £50.00 on eBay some days, with the power adapter and cables too.
I have searched the Internet, the google play store and multiple Sony sites to get that Playsyation Video app that has the 4K option, but no joy.
3) I was hoping to run it, if I get one, from behind an unlimited VPN I have so hopefully Sony will think I'm in New York and let me log in that way.....(plausible?)
My set is a X83C 49" 4K and I use it as a 4K Monitor for my Custom PC which happily does 4K.
I will go and check out the itunes store and the windows store next to see if I can get that 4K option enabled app via them next.
But, as one of our major selling points on these displays is the HEVC Decoder built in, you'd think the native app would feature the 4K app..:smileyalert:
On the subject of my display - Kodi says its a ARMV7 Processor Rev 0 (v7l) which when I google it, comes up as dual core - others have reported that theirs ( same model, just recently built - have quad cores) Any ideas if this is actually true, as that would peve me off now end to have just brought the lesser model - as I suspect the 4K app now only will come with the quad core.
ADIA64 says Im running a 2x ARM Cortex-A17, which is different to what Kodi says again, so I will have to Google that aswell too.
What model is yours?
Kind regards
Richard
Thanks for the likes!!
My TV is KD-49X8305C, it's interesting that you've seen the FMP-X10 media player quite a lot cheaper than I thought it was. I thought I saw it for something like $500 and US only. I'll have a look at it, but I'll wait until Sony confirm whether or not their Ultra service will be coming out our TV's.
I had a look at Kodi again, and it was measuring the CPU usage, and it gave a reading for 2 cores. I haven't got ADIA64, I'll download when I'm next at the TV. I tried googling the ARMv7 Processor rev 0 (v71) and I seemed to get mixed results of people sayings it's dual core and some saying it's quad core.
Another thing that might confuse matters, is that if you look on your PC it might include the virtual cores in the description. For instance, I know I've got a dual core processor in my laptop, but when I look at the details it says :
Intel® Core™ i3-2310M CPU @ 2.10GHz × 4.
I really don't think it's a problem with the hardware though, if you download the nightly version of Kodi, that will allow you to play 4K files. And then as a test you can install an addon and watch a clip from Big Buck Bunny in 4K.
On the Kodi version direct from the Google Play Store this video lagged A LOT. Then I installed the latest version which hasn't been officially released yet, and it was perfectly smooth.
I Bought my KD49X8305 early December and apart from the first week of owning it I've had very few problems but I have sky HD so it's mainly used as a monitor although not solely.
Following the update last week it has randomly switched itself on 3 times, I checked sync settings under External inputs but nothing had changed.
The first time it happened the TV had been off since the previous evening and switched on just after I booted up my computer.
As both are on the same network I wondered if it might be the cause but havent been able to reproduce it so maybe it's just a coincidence.
The third time was last night 10 minutes after I had switched it off (Just habit but I always switch off with the button at the back of the set)
Apart from that no other problems but I think it needed recording here because Sony will be reading this thread even though they won't be responding.
I would urge everyone else that hasn't reported their problems to do so and be as specific as possible and at least state the model number as I beleive or at least hope it might help us all in the end.
@Quinnicus wrote:Hi All
Thanks for the feedback around disabling Daydream so far. Can anyone tell me if the TV starting up completely by itself keeps happening, or does it stop after one or two occasions? Let’s not confuse this with a random reboot while TV is on, or LED being on whilst the TV is supposed to be off which I think are different issues.
Cheers
Happened with me just once (so far), on Sunday at 2am. Using the latest firmware.
The cpu in these TV's are Dual Core, not Quad core. My CPU usage on the home screen last night was idling between 3-5% cpu usage.
This is what's powering my 55XD8509C :
Dual Core CPU : MediaTek MT5890 (Cortex A17 - ARMv7) - REV : R0p0
GPU: ARM Mali-T624
OpenGL API : OpenGL ES 3.1
EGL Version : 1.4 Android META-EGL
Memory : 1.5 GB
Storage: 8 GB
Also, reading through this thread with people moaning that their TV's are using too much ram..........It's Android. It's not Windows. Android is MEANT to use as much ram as it can get it's hands on. High ram usage on Android is a GOOD thing.
I have made a US Playstation account and Japanese account on my UK PS4.
I have logged into my US account and downloaded the Dramafever PS4 app to my UK PS4 and I can then happily use my UK account to load up the app and I use a VPN to access the US content in the UK with no problem at all.
I was also easily able to watch the "Powers" US only TV show straight from the US Playstation store with zero problems.
If you want to access PS4 US Streaming 4K movies, I would have thought that making sure that your VPN is able to stream a consistant 16-20mbs will be the only thing stopping you.
I personally buy US top up cards in $ to put credit on my US account.