TV Popping Sound

By Scott Wilkinson • Posted: Jun 7, 2011

We bought a Sony XBR-52HX909 with full-array LED backlighting and local dimming, and we love it! But 30 seconds to a minute after turning it off, we hear a click/pop, almost like the sound you sometimes hear when turning off a fluorescent bulb. Is this typical of sets with full-array backlighting or most likely an internal issue?

John Diamantopoulos

I asked my Sony contact about this; here is his reply:

"In some of our Monolithic models (like the HX909) from 2010, we have heard reports of this noise. In our tests, we have not found it to be consistent, but one of our engineers has posited the theory that the glass exterior and plastic interior cool down at different rates after turning the set off. This may cause the housing to give off a pop or crackle sound. They assure me that it not coming from the LED lighting system."

If you have an A/V question, please send it to askscottwilkinson@gmail.com.

Comments

Submitted by Diamantj on June 7, 2011 - 12:39pm.

Scott

Thanks so much for your comments... I know you're busy!
One last thing, did anyone you mentioned this to indicate it was anything to be concerned over?
Hope not...

Oh yeah, I did notice this sound one time came on during an apparent firmware auto update after the set was off... So I'm wondering if it is somehow tied into checking for firmware updates as the set is turning off?

Submitted by Scott Wilkinson on June 7, 2011 - 2:19pm.

Sony says it's nothing to be concerned about. Also, the set can do automatic firmware updates in standby mode (i.e., when it's off), but my contact didn't know if the popping sound might be related to that. He's checking, and I'll post his reply when I get it.

Submitted by uavmatthewweflen on June 7, 2011 - 10:45pm.

If you only hear a "click" once after shutdown, it's definitely a transformer or some other such power source clicking off. Sony's Bravia sets stay "on" for a few minutes after you turn it "off" in order to stay "booted." You'll notice a difference in the performance of the menu system if you turn it right back on vs. turning it on a few hours later, i.e. the menu will not have to re-boot. If you have your TV set to "automatic software update" it will periodically turn on and off, connect to the internet, and look for an update. Given that these updates are usually months apart, it's pretty wasteful power-wise (up to 16w per year, or around $16 worth of power). Anyway, this will also generate the clicking noise intermittently.

If it's many pops and crackles of different volumes and durations, then it's the heat issue described above. You may want to turn your backlight settings down just to keep heat generation a bit lower (not that it's tremendous with an LED light source).