I have the KF-60WE610. Bought in Dec 2003. Replaced the first lamp
burn out on Aug 2007. Has burned out again in only 1 year, probably
about 1,000 hours. Replacement lamp does not have either OSRAM or
Philips markings, but is Made in Japan. Lamp was replaced by circuit
city under warranty.

Given that the tv set is 5 years old and a lamp has burned out so
quickly, would it make sense to go ahead and replace the lamp ballast
(driver) as a preventive measure? I'm guessing these are subjected to
a harsh operating environment, degraded, and may have played a part in
the early lamp failure. Do lamp failures decline after ballast
replacement? The part is only $106 at the Sony site. The part
appears to have an upgraded part number, so it is possible that there
have been improvements in its design.