Lamp in Hi Def TV

NeilGabriel

I have an older (6 years) Sony Wega 1080i rear projection and the picture seems to be getting darker. I assume this is the lamp (still the original)? Do I trust my eyes for when it needs to be replaced, or will the picture just disappear at some point? Thanks....

Upstatemax

The lamp is over due for a replacement... I think they are expected to last 3-4 years.

Like a car headlight, they will keep on dimming down and eventually die.

When mine did, I picked up a 50" plasma. :cool:

mufsoman

The bulb in my Sony SXRD when out suddenly one day without warning. Fortunately I had the extended warranty that covers one bulb replacement. The TV is now giving me a message that the bulb is due for replacement again, but still looks good, so I'm keeping it until either it substantially darkens or dies completely.

I would recommend doing an online search for your bulb to determine its cost. Some can be several hundred dollars. Then stop and think if its worth it to fix or go new like NielGabriel. I'm going to have a tough decision like this in the near future.......Good luck

cstmar01

I know a lot of people that had the same thing happen. Bulb startings going and its not a matter if it will but when.

Pretty soon it will die and it would be up to you if you wanted to spend the money towards another one or go with a new set. Depending on the cost it might just be easier going with a new set and doing a haul away with the old one, ect.

ryanjoachim

In my old 65" mitsu DLP (not that old, but older than my new LCD) the lamp lasted for 2 years before needing replacement. It kept getting darker and darker until it finally died.

steveinaz

NeilGabriel wrote: »

I have an older (6 years) Sony Wega 1080i rear projection and the picture seems to be getting darker. I assume this is the lamp (still the original)? Do I trust my eyes for when it needs to be replaced, or will the picture just disappear at some point? Thanks....

If you calibrated in the past, recheck your calibration---that will tell you for sure wether your lamp is dimming.

My DLP is 5 yrs old now, and contrast/brightness have not drifted from the original calibrated settings--this tells me the lamp is still operating properly.

PrazVT

My Dad's 3 year old 60" Panasonic rear proj LCD lamp went out about a month ago. I don't think it dimmed as it got older though - just went out one day. Covered by Costco though, so someone was out to our house to replace it about a week ago.

tonyb

NeilGabriel wrote: »

I have an older (6 years) Sony Wega 1080i rear projection and the picture seems to be getting darker. I assume this is the lamp (still the original)? Do I trust my eyes for when it needs to be replaced, or will the picture just disappear at some point? Thanks....

Man, I had a set liked that and hated it. Yes, the bulb will just go out one day,so best to make the decision to order one now, or move on to a better set. They never tell you at Sony that when you replace a bulb,you should also replace the starter unit for the bulb,another 150 bucks. Why? Because after spending the coin for a new bulb, if that starter unit goes,it takes out that new bulb you just replaced. If I were you,I'd move on to another set.

NeilGabriel

But I need a new motor for my boat!! How about going the projector route....this set is used almost exlcusively for movies and sprts.

Anyone use a projector exclusively for HT and no TV?

I know that I changed the brightness on the TV a couple weeks ago on Harry Brown (dark movie in a couple ways), and then did it again last night for Robin Hood...sometimes, you can't be sure if the movie is shot dark or it is the brightness or lamp....I have never replaed a bulb as this set is my first LCD set.

tonyb

Dude, go get yourself a Panny plasma,or a used Kuro, if you want a great pic without the bulb situation. Projectors are good too, just you still have the bulb costs,then a screen, and the cheaper models will have to be in a dark room to get a decent picture.

Changing the bulb yourself is easy, a couple screws thats it. There is a pic by pic illistration on how to do it on the web,google it. I watched the tech do it my first bulb change, and he charged 400 bucks, thats why I learned to do it myself for the cost of the bulb,around 130 bucks.

cstmar01

NeilGabriel wrote: »

But I need a new motor for my boat!! How about going the projector route....this set is used almost exlcusively for movies and sprts.

Anyone use a projector exclusively for HT and no TV?

I know that I changed the brightness on the TV a couple weeks ago on Harry Brown (dark movie in a couple ways), and then did it again last night for Robin Hood...sometimes, you can't be sure if the movie is shot dark or it is the brightness or lamp....I have never replaed a bulb as this set is my first LCD set.

I use a PJ only for HT and love it. All regular things (only sometimes sports on the PJ) will get played on TV in a different room. For me I love this as that way my PJ doesn't get used like crazy and I don't have to watch news all huge like.

Best thing I've done is move to a PJ system and the cost was like 1/3 for what I spent on my TV lol....granted I got a very great deal on a PJ but still for around 1K you can get some good intro PJ's new

steveinaz

You guys are classic...Neil ask about changing a bulb, and you're telling him to buy a new TV. That's like telling someone who needs an oil change, to buy a new car instead.

Watch out Neil, they LOVE to spend other peoples money...LOL. Buy a bulb, replace it, and enjoy. I have a spare bulb for my Samsung DLP, I think it was a "budget busting" $139.

damn kids.

PrazVT

yeah it's dangerous up in here. lol

Upstatemax

steveinaz wrote: »

You guys are classic...Neil ask about changing a bulb, and you're telling him to buy a new TV. That's like telling someone who needs an oil change, to buy a new car instead.

Watch out Neil, they LOVE to spend other peoples money...LOL. Buy a bulb, replace it, and enjoy. I have a spare bulb for my Samsung DLP, I think it was a "budget busting" $139.

damn kids.

If anything, it's like saying to replace your now old car when your engine blows... Would you drop $2,000 into a new engine on a car that's worth $1,500?

I picked up my Plasma after my bulb blew because even if I spent the nearly $200 to replace the bulb, I still had a 5-6 year old TV and could have something else go at anytime. I just did not see the sense in throwing $200 at a TV that was not even worth $200 anymore.

For LESS than what I spent on my Sony RP LCD 5 years ago, I got an up to date Samsung plasma... FAR better picture, 1080p, 1.5" thick and on the wall.

In all reality, if your TV is 5-6 years old now, you should be ready to replace it at anytime. Like it or not, TVs are throw away items now. Designed to last 3-5 years, and be prohibitive to repairs.