Sony Says Goodbye to Rear-Projection TVs

Sony—consistently one of the top-rated rear-projection TV brands in our Ratings—says it will be getting out of that business once its inventories of products are depleted to focus on flat-panel LCD models. The company said it will continue to make front projectors.

With this rear-projection defection, Sony becomes the latest company to leave the microdisplay business to focus on flat-panel TVs. Earlier this year, Toshiba and Hitachi announced they would no longer make rear-projection sets. Philips left the business earlier.

Sony has used two technologies in its rear-projection sets. Lower-priced models used rear-projection LCD (also called 3LCD as its uses three LCD panels), while its higher-priced—and typically better-performing—models used SXRD technology, which is Sony's name for its implentation of LCoS. According to the company, it will continue to support its rear-projection TVs with parts and service for the foreseeable future.

There are still a number of companies, including Samsung, Mitsubishi, JVC and Panasonic, making rear-projection models. Samsung and Mitsubishi both use DLP technology, while Panasonic's sets are rear-projection LCD models. Ironically, there's still quite a bit of innovation going in the category. Samsung has several models that use LED backlights instead of conventional bulbs--LEDs don't require periodic replacement, and they're capable of a wider gamut of colors. At next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Mitsubishi is slated to unveil the first laser-lit model. Both companies also offer models that can be used to display 3D images when used with special glasses.

We'll be heading out to CES the week of January 7th, so make sure you check out our blogs for news from the show. Among other things, we'll be asking if any other companies intend to abandon the rear-projection business.—James K. Willcox

Comments

[ELBERT TURNER]

I RECENTLY CONTACTED SONY IN REGARDS TO A THIRD PROBLEM I HAD WITH KDS-R60BR2 MODEL, THE FIRST THE BULB WENT OUT THE SECOND YEAR. COST ME $400.00 BUCKS. BEFORE THE THIRD YEAR BEGAN THE GREEN SCREEN CAME UP, SONY REPLACED THE OPTICAL LENS FOR FREE. THE THIRD YEAR A SOLID VERTICAL LIND SHOWED UP WITH SOLID COLOR SCREEN, COST OF REPAIRS 1,200.00. I SETTLE WITH SONY FOR THE PART THAT COST $675.00 TO TRADE IN THE TV FOR A KDLSLXBR9 52 INCH. I GAVE THEM $675.00 AND THEY GAVE ME THE NEW TV. I DON"T KNOW IF THAT WERE A GOOD TRADE OR NOT BECAUSE THE TV I RECIEVED IS SMALLER, BUT I DO KNOW I WERE TIRED OF THE KDS-R60 MODEL.

[Scott McMonagle]

The class action settlement with Sony in East Michigan District court was related to Sony's claim that the models KDS-R50XBR1 and KDS-R60XBR1 were capable of 1080P when in fact (as I now understand it ) they are not. I purchased a KDS-R60XBR1 two years ago, with the understanding that the set had this capability and needless to say I am very disappointed. I just found this out yesterday on Sony's web site, which I went to for the solution to the "greenish screen" which I am experiencing. The settlement applies to the U.S. with no mention of sets sold in Canada. This set and stand cost me $6,000. I have not received any notification from Sony or Future Shop about this development and needless to say my purchase of a Sony Blue-Ray Player will be put on hold. On page 28 of the SXRD user manual for XBR1 it clearly states - Note that this TV displays all format types of picture in a resolution of 1920 dots x 1080 lines.

[Gerry Conway]

I have a 60" SXRD (KDSR60xbr2)purchased in November of 2006. The screen has turned greenish. I see that Sony has reached a settlement in a class action suit for this problem with the XBR1 version of this very expensive TV. Is there an action underway for the XBR2?