I had the opportunity to watch a Blu-Ray DVD on my friend's 2006 Mitsubishi DLP (unsure of model, sorry). Anyway, while watching the dark scenes, I noticed that all the shadows were solid black with no detail. Also, anytime the scene was remotely dark, the screen would appear grainy. Is this just a result of bad calibration, or is it a problem with older DLPs (that has been fixed in newer models?)

Opinions are always appreciated. Thanks!

My first thought would be improper contrast/brightness settings. Did you ask your friend to try to adjust them?

Better black levels and detail in dark scenes are benefits that can come from professional calibrations. Check out owner's reports in the link at the bottom of my post.

Using a calibration disk like DVE can be a big help too. There is a link to a DVE tutorial in the Eliab link at the bottom of my post.

The perception of better blacks can be improved by using a bias (back) light in a dark room.

you mean a light behind the TV?

you mean a light behind the TV?Yes, but a very dim one.