Brand: SONY
Category: TV
Document Type: Manual
Language: EN
Available Languages: EN , ES
Manual for KDE-42XBR950
Uploaded: Nov. 21, 2025, 8:10 p.m.
Warranty Information
Warranty information is included, but the specific period is not stated in the provided pages.
Setting Up: Install the TV, connect power and antenna/cable, and set up channels. Install optional equipment like VCRs, DVD players, or audio receivers using the provided instructions.
Basic Operation: Use the remote control or buttons on the unit to power on/off, adjust volume and channels, and navigate menus.
Features: Explore features like Twin View, Favorite Channels, Memory Stick Viewer, and program guides.
Troubleshooting and error codes
| Problem | Possible Remedies |
|---|---|
| Rotation not saved after Memory Stick is ejected or Memory Stick Viewer is closed | The Memory Stick might be locked. Unlock the Memory Stick and try rotating the image again. The file might not have information (EXIF data) that is usually generated when a digital camera records a photo. In this case, it is not possible to save the rotation. There might be insufficient space on the Memory Stick to save the rotated file. Try deleting one or more files and rotating the image again. |
| Cannot show (or hide) file information in full screen or slideshow | Set the File/Information option to On or Off (see pages 85 and 88). |
| Cannot see menu | Press to display the menu again. |
| Cannot hear audio while using Memory Stick | Check the TV's volume or Speaker (page 104) settings. To hear JPEG voice memo, select the Digital Camera Folders option and set the Filter option to Show All. |
| Not all MP3 files on Memory Stick are included when the Music/Complete List option is selected (page 89) | Check that the Music option is not to set to Off (see page 89). The maximum number of MP3 files the Memory Stick Viewer can display is 128. Make sure that the file is named with the file extension (.mp3). |
| MPEG1 movie does not playback correctly | Some variations of MPEG1 movies may not be compatible with the Memory Stick Viewer. |
| MPEG1 quality is poor when enlarged (page 87) | The quality of the movie when enlarged depends on the resolution of the MPEG1 file. See your camera's instruction manual for details. |
| MP3 files on the Memory Stick are not listed | Only MP3 files that are named with the file extension (.mp3) are displayed in the list. |
| Music files are playing in wrong order | MP3 files are played in alphabetical order, according to the folder in which they are stored. If you want to change the playlist order, rename your files alphabetically in the order in which you want them to play. |
| Cannot see MP3 list to play music | MP3 files on your Memory Stick only can be played as background music during a slideshow (see page 89). |
| Error message is displayed | No Memory Stick Memory Stick is locked Memory Stick Error Format Error |
| Error icon is displayed | ? The thumbnail is not DCF-compatible. ? The file is a JPEG or an MPEG1, but the thumbnail is unreadable. J The file is unreadable. |
| No picture (screen not lit), no sound | If your TV does not turn on, and a red light keeps flashing, your TV may need service. Call your local Sony Service Center. Make sure the AC power cord is plugged in. Press POWER on the front of the media receiver unit. Press TV/VIDEO to cycle through the connected video sources. Try another channel; it could be station trouble. |
| Dark, poor or no picture (screen lit), good sound | Press PIC OFF so that the PICTURE OFF LED on the display unit goes off. Make sure the display interface cable is connected to the display unit and the media receiver unit. |
| No color | Adjust the Color option in the Video menu (see page 100). |
| Only snow and noise appear on the screen | Check the antenna/cable connections. Try another channel; it could be station trouble. Press ANT to change the input mode (see page 56). |
| Dotted lines or stripes | Adjust the antenna. |
| Double images or ghosts | Move the TV away from noise sources such as cars, neon signs, or hair-dryers. Using a highly directional outdoor antenna or a cable may solve the problem. |
| Striped noise during playback/recording of a VCR | Video head interference. Keep your VCR away from the TV. Leave a space of 30 cm (11 7/8 inches) between your VCR and the TV to avoid noise. Avoid installing your VCR in front of the TV or at the side of the TV. |
| The screen flickers when turning on the TV. | This is caused by feature of the Plasma Display Panel, and does not indicate a malfunction of the TV. |
| "Black box" on screen | You have selected a text option in the Setup menu and no text is available. To turn off this feature, set the Caption Vision option to Off. If you were trying to select closed captioning, select CC1 instead of Text 1-4. |
| Black bands appear at the top and bottom of the screen | Some wide-screen programs are filmed in aspect ratios that are greater than 16:9 (this is especially common with theatrical releases). Your TV will show these programs with black bands at the top and bottom of the screen. For more details, check the documentation that came with your DVD (or contact your program provider). |
| Certain programs on DVD or other digital sources display a loss of detail, especially during fast-motion or dark scenes | The compression used by certain digital broadcasts and DVDs may cause your TV's screen to display less detail than usual, or cause artifacts (small blocks or dots, pixelations) to appear on your screen. This is due to your TV's large screen and ability to show very fine detail, and is normal for certain digitally recorded programs. Adjust the reality/clarity in the DRC Palette menu (see page 102) to optimize the picture while viewing these sources. |
| Good picture, no sound | Press MUTING so that Muting disappears from the screen (see page 56). Make sure the Speaker option is set to On in the Audio menu (see page 104). (For KDE55XBR950 and KDE61XBR950 only) Make sure the EXT SP switch at the rear of the display unit is set to OFF. |
| Audio noise | Communication problems may occur if the infrared communication equipment (e.g., infrared cordless headphones) is used near the TV. Please use headphones other than infrared cordless headphones. Also, if you use the infrared communication equipment other than infrared cordless headphones, move the infrared transceiver away from the TV until the noise is eliminated, or move the transmitter and receiver of the infrared communication equipment closer together. |
| Cannot gain enough volume when using a cable box | Increase the volume of the cable box using the cable box's remote control. Then press FUNCTION repeatedly until the TV indicator lights up and adjust the TV's volume. |
| Sound seems weak or insufficient | The TV's audio might be set to Auto SAP or Mono, when it might be better set to Stereo. In the Audio menu (see page 103), set the MTS setting to Stereo. If already set to Stereo, switch to Mono (which may reduce background noise during weak stereo broadcasts). |
| Cannot raise the volume on external speakers | If the Speaker option is set to Off and the Audio Out option is set to Fixed (in order to output the sound to your audio system) use your audio receiver to adjust the sound (see page 104). Or, to use the remote control, set the Audio Out option to Variable. To turn on the TV's speakers, set the Speaker option to On (see page 104). |
| Cannot receive upper channels (UHF) when using an antenna | Press ANT to select the VHF/UHF input. (see page 56) |
| TV is fixed to one channel | Use Auto Program in the Channel menu to add receivable channels that are not presently in the TV's memory (see page 107). |
| Cannot receive any channels when using cable | Use Auto Program in the Channel menu to add receivable channels that are not presently in the TV's memory (see page 107). Check your Channel Fix settings (see page 107). |
| Cannot receive or select channels | Use Auto Program in the Channel menu to add receivable channels that are not presently in the TV's memory (see page 107). Press ANT to select the CABLE input. (see page 56). |
| Some digital cable channels are not being displayed | Certain cable companies have limitations on the broadcast of digital cable channels. Check with your cable company for more information. The digital cable channel may be set to Hide in the Digital Setup menu (see page 76). |
| How to restore Video settings to factory settings | Press RESET on the remote control while in the Video menu (see page 100). |
| How to restore Audio settings to factory settings | Press RESET on the remote control while in the Audio menu (see page 103). |
| Cannot cycle through the other video equipment connected to the TV | Be sure the Video Label option is not set to Skip (see page 113). |
| Cannot operate menu | If a menu option appears in gray, this indicates that the menu option is not available. |
| Lost password | In the password screen (see page 109), enter the following master password: 4357. The master password clears your previous password; it cannot be used to temporarily unblock channels. |
| LED on the display unit is lit | The i.LINK STANDBY LED blinks when the signal from an i.LINK device is being shown. The POWER ON/STANDBY LED (see page 18) lights up when the TV is turned on. If the LED blinks continuously, this may indicate the TV needs a service. The TIMER LED (see page 18) indicates that the timer is set. When the timer is set, this LED will remain lit even when the TV is turned off. If the STANDBY LED blinks, disconnect the AC power cord and leave the TV for three minutes to check that it stops blinking. If the LED does not stop blinking, contact qualified Sony personnel. |
| The signal from a selected i.LINK device is not being displayed | If you have several i.LINK devices connected and operating at once, the TV may not be able to display the signal from the selected device. Turn the other i.LINK devices off, and reselect the desired i.LINK device. |