Sony W3000 series thread

[ChrisGgr]

As I want to make things clear for everyone and trying to help this will be the W3000 thread.This happened to leave the "W3000 and X3000 announced"
and every tv have her own thread!!Hope that doesnt make problem!!
Available in 40",46" and 52"
SPECS
UPDATED FIRST POST ABOUT W3000-28/4/2008

Full HD 1080p tv(1920x1080)
16:9 widescreen
2.000:1 on screen contrast(some report that its 1.800:1 but on a european price search its says 2.000)
16.000:1 dynamic contrast
BRAVIA ENGINE EX
24p true cinema
S-force frond surround
10bit panel
3xHDMI 1.3
x.v color
8ms response time
Brushed metal design
2x Component in
2x RGB SCART in
and probably the usual Composite/S-Video pair on the side too.
PC / VGA Input
Digital Optical Out (probably just for the Digital tuner)

FULL SPECS
http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProdu...y =TVP+LCD+TV

MANUAL HERE
http://support.sony-europe.com/manua...#m=KDL-40W3000
REVIEW HERE

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/Sony-KDL40W3000/
SONY'S PRESS RELEASE

http://www.sony-europe.com/view/Show...site=odw_en_EU

W3000 FAQ

Does this tv has 100Hz motionflow?

Clearly no

Does W3000 have cured from clouding?
95% the answer is yes.Many owners in USA dont report clouding!!

Can this tv accept 1080p from VGA or Component?
Yes

BEST 40W3000 PRICE
£1199 TELEWORLD
http://www.teleworldplc.com/model.as...lID=217&Show=1
Also empire direct £1285
http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/conten...brand~sony.htm

Input the code below at cart
Voucher ID - EM3974
Usernmae - edsave

FW UPDATE FOR THE W3000
http://rapidshare.com/files/11025519...wares.zip.html

In the file there are also files for the X3000 series be careful to apply the correct file for your tv

PROCEDURE

I thought I would give a couple of pointers for Anyone flashing as I did make a bit of a cockup on Mine

The flash firmware is around 7MB so it would be tight on a 8MB memory stick
I used a Sony camcorder USB-PC copied off all the files except a small hidden 0 byte file (memstick.ind) So as windows reported just a FAT formated disc I would think that little file is all You need and created during sony's format process so I would think You might be able drop a 0byte text file and name it "memstick.ind" in the Root of a formated (in a card reader) memorystick if You have no sony device to hand

Set the TV to an unused AV input or Analog TV (not digital)

Power down TV fully (disconnect mains )

Insert memory card after lifting back the plastic dust cover

Reconnect Mains and press power button
after a couple of Mins You should get some Red and orange light activity then Tv will display Updating...that will go off and some more flashing lights

After about 10 Mins the TV will reboot and a little later display the AVinput channel You previously set

A few Mins later it would appear all is done

Might be worth waiting longer than I did here (although I dont think it will make any difference).... SEE NOTE A

Turn off TV (side button) and Disconnect mains for a min to fully reboot tv Remove Memory stick and Turn on TV

Now on start up I Got a Flashing Red LED ( No mention of that in the Instructions)

NOTE A
It would appear You do need the reboot here as the second part of the Firmware flash is done in the background and takes a further 10 Mins during which the red light will flash, I cannot reflash My TV to see If things can be done a different way at this second stage but I would suggest You just Power off/on the TV on from the side button and leave it for 10 Mins and the second stage which is actually an update of the ASUCA will complete which appears is updated from the TV's internal flash memory after the Memory stick is removed (apparently this process can auto restart if interupted) All the manual says is dont use Digital TV during this period... theres Me trying to retune fortunatly I did the analogue first and the light had stopped flashing by then

Now I have the Luxury of 2 Manuals and the second part of the process is clear as MUD but It does appear to need a second reboot before all the firmware modules report the new versions

I hope I have not Put anyone off updating as I'm sure It's pretty much safe as houses...It has to be as technicians have to be able to do it
Instructions made by Jakus

http://www.mediafire.com/?5gcujdzmbwq

COMPLETE FIX FOR THE GREEN PROBLEM

I will attempt to make this as simple as I can. We will attempt this in 2 steps. Step 1 will be upgrading the firmware of your TV. Step 2 will be to apply a fix to the gamma data of the TV. The steps must be done in the correct order. Needless to say if you aren't confident about doing this, then err on the side of caution and get an engineer to do it for you.

STEP 1 FIRMWARE UPDATE.

1.1 Select your model of TV and download the appropriate .zip file onto your computer. Download the correct firmware (a .zip file) for your TV from here.. http://www.box.net/shared/hhcr59z4wo

1.2 Extract the .zip file onto your computer and you will be left with a folder that looks like this "fix2_proto1"

1.3 Find a Sony MemoryStick Pro and format it using a Sony device (digital camera, camcorder) NOT A COMPUTER.

1.4 Copy the "fix2_proto1" folder to the MemoryStick so it is in the ROOT of the MemoryStick and not inside any other folders. Official advice is to NOT USE a MemoryStick with MagicGate but used a Sony MemoryStick that was "MagicGate" and it worked fine. I formatted it in my digital camera first not using a computer. I think that MagicGate software on PCs could create a secure partition on the stick and make it not readable and screw up the tv when it looked for the firmware. As it was it went fine for me.

1.5 Correctly eject or disconnect the MemoryStick from your computer.

1.6 With your TV turned off unplug all devices from your TV (RF Aerial, SCART, HDMI, Component etc)

1.7 Turn on your TV and select an unused AV channel (SCART or HDMI - NOT ANOLOGUE OR DIGITAL TV IMPUT)

1.7 Turn off your TV and then pull the power cord. There should now be NO CABLES going into your TV.

1.8 Insert the MemoryStick Pro into the Service port on the back of your TV by opening the little plastic dust flap. if you look into the port you should see which way the MemoryStick correctly goes in.

1.9 Plug back in your TV's power cord and then turn your TV back on.

1.10 Your TV should now have a black screen and be reading the MemoryStick, orange and red lights should appear and "UPDATING" should flash on your screen.

1.11 Depending on how old your software is will depend on the time it takes to update. If some of the TV's software modules are at the current version the updater will skip them and move to the next module until all old modules are updated.

1.12 The folder entitled "Sony Documents" in the Firmware folder (from the link) above has more information you may wish to read fully.

1.13 When the update is complete your TV should restart and come back to the unused AV channel you left it on. Turn off your TV and then pull the power cord out again. Remove the MemoryStick.

1.14 Plug back in all your AV equipment, cables etc and plug back in the powercord.

1.15 Your firmware should now be up to date. You can verify this by accessing the service menu. Turn the TV off... and using your remote press..

info (top right of the remote)
5
VOL +
power

you should see this

Digital: Program 2.14.585
Boot 0.27.9

ASUCA: Program 1.028
Kernel 1.000
Boot 1.004
Root 1.000

TV: Program 6.105
Data 6.002
Boot 1.000

BE: Program 1.014
Data 1.012
Boot 1.001

Now turn off your TV

turn on your TV again and press MENU on your remote and find SETTINGS. select SET-UP (picture of a tool) and the go to page two and PRODUCT INFORMATION.

You should see the following information:

1. KDL-40W3000

2. 4009752

3. WN-BC-A-HOJ-0-HKK-M

STEP 1 COMPLETE

STEP 2 GAMMA CORRECTION

2.1 Access the gamma correction instructions from this link http://www.box.net/shared/hhcr59z4wo

2.2 With your TV turned off unplug all devices from your TV (RF Aerial, SCART, HDMI, Component etc)

2.3 Follow the instructions from the Hi-Res images.

2.4 As per the last instruction on page two when the corrections have been made Press MUTE and then 0 to save the new gamma settings. Your TV should say "Writing" in red letters at the top while it does this. It wasn't that clear in the instructions so I thought I would clarify it here.

2.5 Turn your TV off with the remote

2.6 Plug back in all your AV equipment, cables etc

2.7 Turn your TV back on.

STEP 2 COMPLETE.


If anyone would like me to make any changes to this post, or any helpful hints based on your experience please let me know.

Thanks,

Dominic.

Instructions by dominic so huge thanks to him

[The Captain]

any idea on the main release date? Any prices? On the US forums, the V3000 has clouding, in fact almost all of them have it, and I'm pretty sure it's the same case with the W.....the actual panels will be almost identical, just the technology of the components will be different?

I think that clouding will be an issue on almost all of this years Sony panels. If they were going to fix it, they would have already done so. I think next years models may have been fixed, as this will now be almost 2 years of dodgy panels!

It's fine that there is no visible clouding in the daytime, but most people work, and only really watch tv at night.....so this is when the tv should be ideal....if you want to watch a film in "Cinema" conditions, then you will notice flashlights etc........

Let's hope I get a decent 40"D set on Friday, otherwise I'll have to go for the 32" again and leave it at that! Had enough! Thank God I went with John Lewis, could not imagine any other retailer putting up with me!

[ChrisGgr]

The V3000 has clouding,the W3000 clouding reports are far more less than the V3000!!!!Really confused

[The Captain]

But the W is newer, give it a month and it will be the same, just like last year, the V, W and X all had clouding....this year, the D and V also have it, and I will be surprised if it's not any different with the new W & X!

annoying, if only they could use Panasonic's panel!

[ChrisGgr]

Anyway there is definetely an improvement to the clouding issue!!!There are many happy owners of the W3000 in USA!!!!(V3000 owners are less)

[harshw]

Originally Posted by CHRISGEO

Anyway there is definetely an improvement to the clouding issue!!!There are many happy owners of the W3000 in USA!!!!(V3000 owners are less)

It was reported that Sony now dims the backlight when there is no input present, making it more difficult to see clouding. I hope that such is not the case with the W3000 and that they have *really* cured the clouds. If so, I might pick up one of these panels ...

[The Captain]

It appears that the V3000 has clouds just like the XBR4 (D3000 in the UK), the W3000 is more recent, and not many people have them, one person has mentioned clouding, but not a huge amount......but only time will tell.

[vic8]

I went to the Sony Galleria on Tottenham Court Road, to enquire about the W3000, but they werent giving anything away. However, one of the independent shops across the road told me they were expecting it at the end of September, and were confident this is when they'll get it.

Great news if true! Can anyone confirm this date though?

[Tekka]

I want this tv, but if it doenst have Motionflow, it is a dealbreaker for me.

It has 24p support, but what good is it if it doesnt have Motionflow?

[vic8]

Originally Posted by Tekka

I want this tv, but if it doenst have Motionflow, it is a dealbreaker for me.

It has 24p support, but what good is it if it doesnt have Motionflow?

Do you think Motionflow is that important then? I ask because I thought it could just be marketing.

I asked the Sony guy about whats better, the D or the W series, but he pretty much said its down to what you prefer, Motionflow or 1080p. The X-series is a possibility, but the X3500 is over £1800 on AudioVisual, and I'm not splurging that much.

I do however, want a tv ASAP as I'm getting a PS3 imminently.

[Tekka]

Originally Posted by vic8

Do you think Motionflow is that important then? I ask because I thought it could just be marketing.

I asked the Sony guy about whats better, the D or the W series, but he pretty much said its down to what you prefer, Motionflow or 1080p. The X-series is a possibility, but the X3500 is over £1800 on AudioVisual, and I'm not splurging that much.

I do however, want a tv ASAP as I'm getting a PS3 imminently.

If I had to choose between 1080p or Motionflow, I would choose Motionflow.
Because I get a headache pretty easily.

The X3000, should be a little cheaper. If I would buy an X3, I would go with the X3000, because it has the same features.

[vic8]

Originally Posted by Tekka

If I had to choose between 1080p or Motionflow, I would choose Motionflow.
Because I get a headache pretty easily.

The X3000, should be a little cheaper. If I would buy an X3, I would go with the X3000, because it has the same features.

Yeah I'm guessing £1700 online, but I dont think I can justify the extra £400 or whatever it will be.

I am guestting Sky this weekend, and will be watching a lot of football, which is why the exclusion of Motionflow on the W series is a pain, but I think I'll just guess this one.

Just bloody hope it comes out in September. Dont want to be playing Heavenly Sword on my CRT!

[djt111]

will this do 1080p over all inputs, or just hdmi?

Thanks

[karyboue]

The full range T3500, V3000, W3000, X3000 and X3500 is officially discribed with € prices and launch dates on the website of Sony ... Germany :
http://www.sony.de/view/ShowPressRel...site=odw_de_DE

Big photos of all models are enclosed in that zip : http://www.sony.de/res/attachment/fi...4310555186.zip

Can't help, I don't speak german.

[ChrisGgr]

Originally Posted by djt111

will this do 1080p over all inputs, or just hdmi?

Thanks

I think over all inputs!!