Sony first started marketing its HD LCD TVs as BRAVIA in 2005.
BRAVIA is the brand name for Sony's line of high-definition liquid crystal display, or LCD, screens. The name itself -- BRAVIA -- is actually an acronym: it stands for best resolution audio video integrated architecture. Because LCD technology is transmissive, all of the BRAVIA televisions require some sort of backlight to illuminate the colors and images on your screen. When these backlights fail, your picture may start to fade.
The Need for Backlights
The liquid crystals -- and the pixels they form -- in LCD screens are not able to illuminate themselves. Unlike cathode ray tube, or CRT, and plasma televisions, LCD TVs -- including Sony's BRAVIA line -- require an additional light source. These backlights, which are sometimes called lamps, are located behind the liquid crystal layer on BRAVIA televisions.
LED or CCFL
Sony uses two types of backlights in its BRAVIA televisions. The first type of backlight, seen primarily on the older BRAVIA models, is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, or CCFL. The second type of backlight, used on the newer BRAVIAs, is a light-emitting diode, or LED. The LED backlights are more energy-efficient than the CCFL backlights. An informal survey conducted by CNET Reviews found LED-powered TVs consume roughly $20 less in energy costs annually compared to CCFL-backlit TVs.
Dying Backlights
Sony claims its BRAVIA LCD TVs have a lifespan of up to 100,000 viewing hours. This means if you were to turn a brand new Sony BRAVIA on today -- and kept it on round the clock -- it should still be working more than 11 years from now. Backlights, however, don't have such longevity. The average LED backlight lasts roughly 50,000 viewing hours, while CCFL backlights last between 20,000 and 40,000 viewing hours. This means, regardless of what type of backlight your BRAVIA has, you can expect your original backlight to fail at least once during your TV's lifespan.
Symptoms of a Dying Backlight
A dimming picture on your BRAVIA's screen is a key indicator that your backlight is starting to fail; however, this isn't the only sign. Failing backlights -- both LEDs and CCFLs -- are prone to flickering, with the picture flashing in and out, leading up to complete backlight failure. Additionally, your TV's picture may appear to "turn off" while the audio remains fully functional: this is a symptom of impending backlight failure as well.
Inverter Failure
Both CCFL and LED backlights work in tandem with an inverter. This piece of equipment provides the power the lights need. In some cases, a problem with your inverter may prevent your BRAVIA's backlight from receiving the electricity it needs to fully illuminate your screen. Both failed inverters and backlights can be replaced, however this process includes removing the front panel of your television, disconnecting and reconnecting sensitive electrical circuits as well as soldering the new light into place.
