I doubt I’m the only guy who owns a Sony KDF-50E3000 TV. For your sake, I hope not, because the 50-inch HDTV produces the most beautiful HD picture I’ve ever seen – even though it’s coming up on its third birthday.
But my beloved TV is also a rear projection model (albeit a very thin one), which means that after every few thousand hours of use (4000 or so), its projection lamp must be replaced. Two weeks ago I noticed a bit of a decline in the brightness of its picture. A couple of days later, I got the on-screen message:
Lamp nearing end of life…
So, I needed to purchase a replacement. The replacement lamp, model number XL-2500, works in several Sony HDTVs, including the KDF-37H100, KDF-46E3000, and my TV, the KDF-50E3000. The list price for the part was $161. Ouch. Did not want to pay that.
So, as is so often the case when it comes time for me to purchase anything that costs more than $19, I started looking for the lowest price online. I ended up finding a new, in-box replacement XL-2500 lamp on eBay for $79.
The lamp arrived today and I installed it in about 90 seconds (you can find replacement instructions in the PDF user manual on page 43). Painless. The former brightness has returned and all is well – facts made all the better by my having saved a few bucks.
Here’s to another 4000 beautiful hours.
Update
While writing this post, I also found the replacement XL-2500 on Amazon for $80 shipped, which I don’t believe was available when I ordered the lamp on eBay last week; if it was, I missed it.
February 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Thanks for the info. on the lamp. I have the Sony KDF-37H1000 and the replace lamp light comes on when we first turn on the t.v. So I’m in the market for a new one. I didn’t want to pay nearly $200 for one so you’ve been a ‘great’ help. How do I go about ordering one? Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Mark Miller