First time poster in this thread. I need advice on a choice between these 2 sets for a surprise Xmas gift for my retired parents. From what I've read, both sets seem to have good PQ, according to previousl threads. It also appears the Sammy has a better black than the Mits, even when calibrated correctly. Mits have a high whine problem and possibly another issue (Geometry). I am not sure what common issues the Sammy has (Possibly bowing).

Does anyone have any recommendations to which set would be the better buy and why? Are there any other pros/cons to either set that is a deciding factor? What is the recommended EW for either set (3yrs or 5 yrs)? They will be viewing approx 10-15 ft from the set (in family room). Also, this set will be hooked up to Direct TV HD-20, Toshiba A-3 HD-DVD, and possibly I will add a Onkyo 805 in the spring/summer to the set.

My Dad is a Cowboys fan, so he needs the audio for sports. I need to pull the trigger this weekend for Xmas delivery to the folks. Any advice/recommedations on where to purchase would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance ..

Anyone? Really need advice to make a decision for this weekend.

Thanks in advance ..

Anyone? Really need advice to make a decision for this weekend.

Thanks in advance ..

Bump. I'm in the same boat.

I would really like some opinions on this too. People have complained about the short bulb life (2-3k hrs) of Mistu, but is that also not representative of DLP units in general? Since the Samsung is so damned hard to find locally I went with the 73733 at BestBuy (chose their warranty over Circuit City's). They came out about the same price give or take a couple hundred, and the BB warranty covers one lamp (while you have to buy a separate Lamp warranty when buying online, and I'm not big on RepairMaster/RepairTech). I'm more interested in the quality issues. I've heard the sound is crappy on the Mitsu, how does the Samsung sound compare? I know people are complaining about Lamp life, how does Samsung compare?

We've got people who own both, let's get some information flowing here please :)

I'll add my 2 cents on the Mitsu once it gets delivered. I figured worse case scenario, I'll return it within 30 days and get the Samsung.

Thanks.

I joined forum today just so I could provide opinion. I started reading this forum months ago and it helped me purchase the 7288 Samsung. I have no idea why Mits is so widely carried and similarly sized Samsung is no where to be found. I have a Sony 70 XBR RPTV purchased in 2004 and it had no peer at the time in terms of screen size and angle of viewing. I purchased a second home in Oct 07 and started my search for TV for that house. I actually ordered Sony 70 in XBR2 as seeing it in the store, there was no comparison to Mits. ANGLE OF VIEWING is the primary factor where Mits loses it. Then Sony stopped shipping that TV and my option was to wait for promised next Sony 70 in (which NEVER came) or go with something else.

Another AVS thread had some lucky guy who had a store with 70 in Sony and Samsung side by side. He said it took him 2 hours and he finally decided on Sony. I figured if it took him that long, they were pretty much the same. I bought the Samsung (online) having never seen one. I saw the 61 in version and concluded that angle of viewing was superior to what I was seeing in the store for that 73 in Mits.

TV arrived in December at new home (up North) and it is awesome (although I came back to Sunny FL a couple months ago and that TV is pretty lonesome right now). Crisp detail and viewability are just spectacular. I got back to FL home and my old Sony (1080i vs 1080p) just didn't have it anymore. I had been wanting to wait, but I decided to buy a SECOND 72 in Samsung for this house. Big reason was that Sony dropped out of the business and Samsung is being cautious about its presence in RPTV. After you have a 70 in TV you can NEVER downsize. Someday, other technologies will catch up, but for now, a TV this big is only affordable in RPTV.

So there you have it. Mits may look great straight on, but if viewing angle is an important consideration for you, like it was for me, you'll prefer the Samsung. I gambled on sight-unseen purchase and I am glad I did. I went back to store after I had my Samsung and that Mits just didn't measure up.

BTW, I do not have anything against Mitsubishi. In 1989, we bought the biggest CRT made at the time and it was by Mits. It worked fine all the way till I gave it away in 2006.