Here for informational purposes is a link to pinbwiz's AVSForum post of Viper's instructions on how he lessened his mura. It involves loosening screws on the set that may be stressing the LCD panel.

It appears to have had some reduction of the issue for some, and for others has caused a "flashlight" clouding to appear.

Consumer Reports Info

Found this post referencing Consumer Reports.

"
Last Monday I was supposed to have a service visit from a Best Buy Tech for my 46XBR2. He called me in the morning to schedule a time to come by. First I asked him what time he worked until, because you can only see this clouding problem when it's dark.............he only works until 3:00 P.M. So, I start to tell him all about it, and how it's not worth it to come over during the day. He was a nice guy, tells me he has a friend that works at Sony and he'll ask him what he knows about it.
A couple of days go by, call him...........nothing..... a couple more days......nothing, he says yesterday that he'll call him again and get back to me for sure.
He finally calls me back yesterday to tell me that its a big problem but, Sony doesn't want to replace the defective panels.
He then asks if I'm by a computer and tells me "I didn't give you this information".......
He takes me to the sight(can't post links yet) servic-asc.sel.sony, gives me his log- in info and tells me where to go until I see the following:

CONFIDENTIAL

Last Update
2/2/2007 Event ID
E32706397 Model
KDL40XBR2, KDL40XBR3, KDL46XBR2, KDL46XBR3
Subject
Light / Uneven Background with no input or very dark scenes

SYMPTOMS

Customer may describe the issue using one of the following words: Cloudy / White / Blotchy / Patchy / Mura / Halo / Uniformity

RESOLUTION

Sony cares deeply about the overall picture quality of our televisions in all viewing conditions and light settings. Sony's Bravia LCD line of televisions, which are among the brightest and most color rich televisions in the world, reflects our commitment to these high standards. To achieve this level of performance Sony utilizes a very bright backlight output and setting. With this exceptional brightness, under certain dark viewing conditions, especially blank screens with no video source, the screen may exhibit a slightly uneven uniformity. This condition is not usually visible under typical TV watching conditions such as movies or general television programming and should not affect your viewing experience. However, should you find that this condition does affect your enjoyment, there are a few settings that you can make to minimize this condition:

Setup Menu ' Light Sensor: ON
Setup Menu ' Power Saving: Low or High
Picture Menu ' Reduce the Backlight Level (Factory Setting: 10)
Combination of the above changes

If the customer is not satisfied by the above settings Sony has released a Self Service Software Update that will further minimize this condition. This Self Service Software Update will not need the Light Sensor or the Power Savings settings to be adjusted. All terms of their Sony limited warranty continue to apply. Sony will ship this Self Service Software Update directly to the customer and thus will not pay technicians to perform this update.

NOTE: The upgrade is to be performed by the end user (consumer) only. Should an authorized servicer perform the upgrade, there will be no reimbursement paid.

Note to technicians:

The upgrade for the Sony models will be performed by the end user (consumer) only. Should an authorized servicer perform the upgrade, there will be no reimbursement paid.

This is not a defective condition and Panel Replacement will not be authorized.

This solution is based primarily on changes to the USER settings and are intended to be performed by the customer. As such Sony will not pay a service claim on any issue resolved by this method nor for any panel replacement.

All Panel replacements will be reviewed and any found to be replaced for this condition under pretense will result in no reimbursement paid on the work order.

If the customer is not satisfied with this response, please have them call the Sony Call Center Support line: 1-800-222-7669


SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND GRAPHICS
symptom1.jpg
Name: symptom1.jpg
Description: Symptom 1
Size: 12506 bytes
symptom2.jpg
Name: symptom2.jpg
Description: Symptom 2
Size: 35427 bytes
Customer_Update_Instruction.pdf
Name: Customer_Update_Instruction.pdf
Description: Customer Update Instruction
Size: 2609317 bytes

MORE INFORMATION
o

Unit/Model Details
o

Links

Unit/Model Detail
Unit(s): SN Start SN End Factory Family Name Product Category
KDL40XBR2 ALL ALL STE FIX TVP
KDL40XBR3 ALL ALL STE FIX TVP
KDL46XBR2 ALL ALL STE FIX TVP
KDL46XBR3 ALL ALL STE FIX TVP

Links

Anode Removal Tool
Aperture Grill protection wire (Damper Wire)
Bent CRT pins
CRT return policy
CRT set-up
DC Power Supply for safety adjustments
Deleted CRT return policy (INTERNAL)
Ghosting (Due to cable and broadcast signal)
Instruction Manual NVM Jig
List of Telematic Adapters for Sony TV Chassis
Micro and ROM malfunctions possible
Model Chassis List
Multi System TV information
Noise on MTS stations
NVM Jig hook up list (SB31R15)
Operating Manual for Registration Control Jig
P/N for tape around Diffusion Screens
Poor Registration
Power turn on of non USA TVs
Preventing ESD damage to circuit boards during handling or shipping.
Purity Jig
Remote/Model Cross-reference List.
Standard glue for TV repair
TV Term, Video & Audio Connections
Did this information answer your question?
Yes
No
Comments:
"

Patch sent out, results not amazing

So it appears that the few members of the AVSForum that have received the Sony firmware patch (or have newer sets with the firmware updated apparently already updated) are reporting it is simply masking the problem, darkening the back light on blank inputs so as to make it seem less severe. This even occurs in dark scenes in movies/shows/games which is effectively making the picture quality suffer.

More info as we get it...

User BigPanda on the AVSForum thread has confirmed he has a January 2007 build XBR with clouding. Looks like the issue hasn't been remedied in the new years sets.

I took the plunge on Saturday last weekend, January 20, and purchased the KDL-46XBR2. After about 3 hours at my local Circuit City, haggling prices and almost getting the 52 inch, I ended up going to Best Buy on a last ditch effort.

They not only matched the haggling price, but gave me a lower 4-year service plan as well. After 3 hours at CC it took me 20 minutes and I was out the door with my new TV.

Took it home, left it in the box in my hall for a day until Sunday when I unpacked it. Wasting no time I plugged it in right there in the hall to check it out and see if I had any clouding or mura effects. It appeared not on any of the black inputs.

I prepared my and lugged it upstairs. After about 30 minutes of cleaning and cable hookup it was all set up. So far the blacks look uniform and crisp to me. I thought I noticed a slight whiff of clouding in the top left of the screen but it's only evident when a really bright scene cuts to black. I will investigate this more and post my findings here, but so far on any blank input the screen looks to be in good shape.

First picture is taken in normal lighting with camera flash. It's the Nintendo Wii's Opera web-browser.

The rest are in a completely dark room with no camera flash.

Picture Mode: Vivid
Input: Xbox 360 420p DVD
Backlight: Full

Interesting post on the AVSForum regarding using the VGA input and a solid black screen to "clear clouds."

It has been confirmed to NOT work, furthering our belief the defect is hardware-based.

" IT'S OFFICIAL! "PC input"MAKES NO DIFFERENCE whether you are watching through the PC input or any other inputs, THE CLOUDS ARE ALWAYS THERE, and will always be there....

I connected a PC via VGA to a 46" XBR2 AUGUST build(with slight clouding on left side). And I used a program called "DPT" http://www.dps.uk.com/freeware_DTP.htm
to test for dead or stuck pixels, it allows the screen to be completely black, with no windows borders showing on the outside. This program created the ideal Black screen to test for clouds.

People, make sure through a pc you have NO windows borders with START at the bottom of the screen, SCREEN must be completely BLACK. THIS is why the "DPT" program is useful.
In my tests, I had PICTURE turned up to max and Backlight to max... Clouds were clearly visible just like Cable thru HDMI and component!! The PC makes no difference!! The software Patch may also make no difference!! The panel is physically creating the clouds."

AVSForum user ransome posted this picture.

Sony 46" 1080p in front of Sharp 52" 1080p.Both with no image.Any light you see on the sharp is a reflection from my computer screen,it is solid and black.The Sony is from Oct 2006.

Sony posted this on 1/12

"

The Sony BRAVIA line of flat-panel LCD televisions reflects our commitment to the highest picture quality standards. The KDL-40XBR2/3 and KDL-46XBR2/3 series televisions have received exceptionally high ratings for picture performance from many well respected home theater sources, including the Editor’s Choice Award from CNET™ and critics at Sound & Vision Magazine.

To achieve this high level of performance and picture clarity, Sony utilizes a very bright backlight setting. This helps deliver the brightest picture possible, as well as exceptional picture clarity even in the darkest image sources.

However, the setting, under certain dark viewing conditions, especially blank screens with no video source, may cause the screens on some of these televisions to exhibit slightly uneven uniformity. This condition is not usually visible under typical viewing conditions, such as watching movies or television programming, and generally should not affect your viewing experience.

Should you find that this condition does affect your viewing enjoyment; there are a few settings that you can make to minimize this condition:

* Setup Menu --> Light Sensor: ON
* Setup Menu --> Power Saving: Low or High
* Picture Menu --> Reduce the Backlight Level (Factory Setting: 10)

A combination of the above changes may be applied as necessary.

If your television still does not meet with your approval after these setting adjustments, Sony Electronics will provide a Self Service Software Update that will further minimize the condition. Upon request, Sony will ship this update with directions directly to you when it becomes available in mid-February.

All terms of your Sony limited warranty continue to apply. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause, and we continue to stand behind our product and our loyal customers.

Please contact Sony at 1-800-222-SONY (7669) for more information."

See the page here.

Perhaps Sony is starting to take note of the issue!

Here are two more shots of a pristine XBR set with clouding/mura effect.

Experiencing a problem with your Sony set?

Send a letter to Consumer Reports.

We love to hear from our readers concerning what experiences they have encountered with a product or service. Our readers’ correspondences help shape the work that we do here at Consumers Union.

If you would like to share your experience with us, you may send it to our mailing address at:


Consumers Union
Attn: Customer Relations
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10703

Here's some comparisons of what is considered a good, non-defective screen vs. defective ones:


A good screen.

Cloudy.

Cloudy

Cloudy

Cloudy

Cloudy

Cloudy

Visible clouds in Star Wars.

I've created a Frappr map to get a worldwide view of people who have defective, replacements also defective and good LCD TV sets from Sony.

Sony Clouding Frappr Map

Interesting post from Kdogs on the AVSForum:

:So I'm at the Sony booth at CES today and I walk up to the rep standing in front of the new 70"LCD XBR.
"Have you fixed the mura production problems with your LCD fab in Mexico that affected the XBR 2 and 3 since August?"

Reply - "We are not aware of any issues. You can go over to the tvs on that wall playing Spiderman - they have a lot of black and you can see if you notice any lighting issues."

Interesting. So I walk over and a guy is asking the Sony rep about the clouding issues. He says the TV is beautiful but that in his research this is a big asterisk on the TV.

The reply - "I've heard about this. It's a bunch of internet crackpot bloggers. There are no problems with the TV."

I step into the conversation and explain that several hundred people on the AVS Forum have reported the problems. He basically says if it is a real problem then people can get it fixed as a warranty repair."

Further Understanding Mura

from the AVSForum has sent me two links to interesting Mura effect posts/articles.

Article 1

Article 2 (PDF file)

What Is Mura??

Excerpts From This Article



"Mura Effect type 1 corresponds to a lack of homogeneity in control circuit adjustments. From one cell to another color control can change and it will lead to permanent defects in intensity in displayed images.

Mura Effect type 2, or Cell Gap Mura comes in two forms. If liquid crystal cell sizes are superior to the normal size in an area of the panel, the images produced in this area will be brighter. This is a White Mura. In the opposite way, if the cell size is too small, it will be darker. This is a Black Mura. Cell distortions sometimes come from a « normal » defect in manufacturing, but most of the times are due to an impurity in the panel such as dust, a drop of some chemical or an accidental ionisation of liquid crystals, which then misalign. For the first two cases, it is possible to move the defect by gently pressing the panel with your fingers to move the Mura to the side from a useful area in the screen. In the case of ionisation, the defect can fade or even disappear with time. For us it was the opposite with the appearance of a Mura on two monitors after a few years of use (three and five years, respectively). It looks as if you were pushing on the screen with your fingers except now it´s permanent.

Mura Effect type 3 is related to distance or defects between the panel and liquid crystals. This occurs when the panel is sealed and side pressure is imperfect. If it´s too strong, cells are crushed and there is a bright halo in a corner along the panel."


(Images taken from here)

Price-slashing could be a culprit in the Mura effect. Is Sony is cutting costs on the quality of the parts, on their flagship top-of-the-line LCD tv no less? It is outright unacceptable.

Previous Digg Submission

We have submitted a new Digg article request, but in the meantime you can check out an older submission brought to my attention by AVSForum member Luna5.

What An LCD Screen SHOULD Look Like

AVSForum user Irunnoft has sent in photos of his cloudless September-manufactured KDL-40XBR2 set. Here is a prime example of what the Sony LCD displays SHOULD look like. He's taken full screen shots from movies and video game systems (like the PS3), as well as of the screen corners.

Links to the Flickr Gallery

Below are some good sample pictures from the above link of the crisp blanks in the XBR line. Note the absence of clouding in this set.





Low backlight

High backlight

Poster califfo1975 on the AVSForum states:

"I have called Sony France and I have been told that they are aware of this issue but that they consider that it is acceptable since within the tolerances....stronzate (as we say in Italian for bulls...).
I told the Sony woman that this was not satisfactory for me even if they consider 'normal', overall for a 3500 euros TV. I have decided to launch a disclaiming campaign against SONY: I have started today by sending an article to a LCD magazine here in France. I do not like their false superiority and sufficiency to the customers like us, and I believe that other people, not looking at internet forums, shall be made aware of this issue in order not to buy this TV and to be in the same disagreeable situation as us.

Regards
Manu"

Swizzir, an AVSForum member has collected a number of pictures taken by Bravia owners.

Here is a link to a Flickr Slideshow.

As you can see the effect ranges from barely visible to extreme in some cases. It is important to note on some of the less-noticeable occurrences that an almost uniformly black screen is visible. This is what all Bravias should look like.

A user on the AVSForum has a post detailing the recommended settings of a fellow forum user, and settings from Sony to decrease the mura effect.

"I played the HD-DVD Batman Begins (you know, the other DC Comic Hero besides Superman!) and paused the film in two spots. One spot is a dark scene in the movie (indoors, minimal lighting) and the other scene contains lots of light (outdoors and snow). I have paused the film in two locations and used the following settings:

Vivid (default factory settings)
Standard (default factory settings - BTW - this is the setting I use w/ some tweakage, but for the purpose of this photo shoot, I put Standard settings back to default)
Custom (this is where I dialed in your settings. I used minimal backlight, picture set to 90, light sensor ON and power saver HIGH)

Granted, the photography isn't the best in the world, but the camera setting was the same for all three test groups and the pictures speak for themselves.

Here they are in the following order: Vivid, Standard, Andrew's Settings (Custom)"

Sony's Official Statement

"Sony's Bravia LCD line of televisions are among the brightest and most color rich televisions in the world. To achieve this level of performance Sony utilizes a brighter backlight output and setting. With this exceptional brightness, under certain dark viewing conditions, especially blank screens with no video source, the backlight may exhibit a slight unevenness of uniformity. This condition is not usually visible under typical conditions such as watching movies or general television programming and should not affect your viewing experience."

Summary Of Problem

This blog has been created as a means to track credible information on the defects that have been reported in Sony LCD televisions.

Sony Response

Sony's official comment to it's owners that are experiencing clouding on their new XBRs* has amounted to one of the following:

a) If you can still return the TV, do so. (This is what I was told when I first called about my cloudy 40XBR2)

b) It is normal. The clouding is "normal" and "acceptable." It is neither of these two things. It is clearly a defect.

Several have speculated that the problem could be due to stress on the structural frame of the TV that is causing the panel to warp. Others have attributed the clouding/mura defect to the lack of quality control in the Mexican plant where these TVs are made. TVs that were manufactured before the move to the Mexican plant appear to be devoid of defects. One thing is for sure, there are many irate owners who demand Sony both acknowledge and fix the problem!

Here is a link to the AVSForum thread that was created 11/10/06 for discussion on the issue.

Official Sony 46" XBR LCD Uneven Backlight/Cloudy Thread




*The Sony XBR 40/46 inch and KDL-4xV2500 models have been reported to have clouding and mura defects from the screen backlight.