[BradP]

So here we are, 2 months into 2010 with the new sets on the way in a month and I'm still not sure what to do.


I am nursing an old 65" Pioneer RPTV upstairs that is close to 10 years old. It's gotta go at some point. Already have a projector in another room but I LOVE big screens. We still watch a lot of TV in the living room though (where the Pio is) so I need a decent set there.


That said, I'd hate to put a 50" there, the room is too big. Even a 55" seems a little small. So now I'm up to looking at the 58's and 63's from Panasonic and Samsung.


Then, I start seeing the chatter on the 65 and 73 inch Mitsubishi DLPs. I don't care about hanging my TV on the wall. I wouldn't do it with a plasma or LCD anyway. Viewing angle and glare are decent concerns. However, these TVs seem to have a lot of love around here. Are at pretty low prices right now. And are allegedly 3D ready (at least more than any LCD or plasma I'd buy today).


What to do, what to do? Convince me. Do I buy now? Buy a smaller plasma/LCD? A bigger, cheaper Mitsu DLP? Wait another year?


Help me AVS, you're my only hope.

 

[mes444]

I am approaching having to make a similar decision soon myself. I'd much prefer a large LCD tv over DLP. I have both now and find the LCDs easier to look at and live with. My DLP has always required more care in the leaving the tv on 20 min. minimum for longest bulb life and not turning it on again for at least 30 min., some rainbowing for my eyes and all those moving parts just waiting to break down. That said, with the right care, my DLP is over 4 years old and still working well.


We were looking at the Sammy LCDs a few weeks ago. I have two already, but we were checking out the new ones. Their pics are great. It's almost like they are 3d, but aren't yet. But they top out at 55" and we want 60"...what to do?


I will get a DLP anyway if the price of a 60" drops below $700. If not, LCD 55" Sammy B650 around $1000ish.


If neither of those prices happen, 2010 LCD when my DLP finally dies next year or so (as they all do at about 5 yrs. max).


So that's my thinking. Big tv is nice but DLP is a big trade off with the quality of the LCDs now. Only worth it for very little money. Just my two cents.

 

[BradP]

What you say makes a lot of sense. I'm glad I'm not the only one stuck in the spot. Everything you say about DLPs are right. There are some really sweet LCDs once you get to the 55" size, but they're still not quite big enough for my room and tastes yet making anything but Plasma a tough call for me today. I have seen some beautiful LCDs at that 55" size though. But the price...I mean, I can buy almost 2 65" Mitsu DLPs for the same price.


Almost makes me want to buy the DLP, try and get a few bucks for the Pioneer RPTV to offset it, then just upgrade to the LCD/LED of my dreams in 2-3 years once they're back to a more reasonable price range.


Still though, tough call. I agree with what you are saying tho, these Mitsu DLPs drop a little further and that may be all I need to go over the edge.

 

[taz291819]

If Mits would produce a LED-based DLP, I wouldn't hesitate to get another DLP (currently have a Sammy).


If they don't, my next purchase will probably be a LED-based FP DLP.

 

[BradP]

I don't know a lot about the LED DLPs but I imagine they sort of offset the dimming at angles and such...Though I would imagine the price point may get to the point making them a less economical option. I gotta say the big draw with the Mits DLPs now is with a good sale I could score a 65" screen for under 1k. That's pretty good.

 

[Wesley Hester]



Quote:
Originally Posted by taz291819 /forum/post/18102449


If Mits would produce a LED-based DLP, I wouldn't hesitate to get another DLP (currently have a Sammy).


If they don't, my next purchase will probably be a LED-based FP DLP.

I've been thinking along the exact same lines myself. I mean an 82" wow! But fear of rainbows being seen by me or others: deal killer. I too have a Samsung LED-based DLP which (despite having to work on the power supply myself - twice) performs great and no rainbows ever. Only problem is it's a 56" and I want 72" or greater. Many of the new 3D HDTVs announced by all companies seem great but most are just 55" max that have been announced so far. In my main area I can use a stand or mount on the wall, it really isn't that big a deal to me personally. If there was an 82" Mits LED DLP out there, I would more than likely be looking for a bigger stand right about now.

 

[BradP]

I'm afraid of the rainbow effect too -- Is that something that you either see or don't, or is it sort of TV-specific? I have no idea if I'll see it or not.


I've been watching a Pioneer 65" RPTV for years without any professional califbration (never cleaned the guns either) so I'm sure it has potential but the glare is awful and I imagine that a Mits DLP can't be any worse than this, probably worlds better.


I just don't have the skills or cash to fix-up my CRT RPTV but at the same rate don't want to pay for a 50" plasma or LCD with my 13 foot viewing distance when I can get a bigger screen.


Tough to decide.

 

[rahull]



Quote:
Originally Posted by taz291819 /forum/post/18102449


If Mits would produce a LED-based DLP, I wouldn't hesitate to get another DLP (currently have a Sammy).


If they don't, my next purchase will probably be a LED-based FP DLP.

I would wait and see what Mits dose with LaserVue if anything. I too

have a Samsung 61" LED DLP (wish it was 73") and will compare it to most others.

 

[BradP]

So, so far it seems the general feeling here is, even at sub-$1000 prices, the 2009 Mits DLPs are not worth buying. That helps me in my decision.

 

[gtgray]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BradP /forum/post/18103347


So, so far it seems the general feeling here is, even at sub-$1000 prices, the 2009 Mits DLPs are not worth buying. That helps me in my decision.

I guess you can be presented any kind of information and come to a conclusion you already had. I totally diagree with you. I have LCD, DLP, and Plasma in the house. My dollars go to DLP. I just bought an 82, upgrading from a 72", upgrading from a 65" DLP. The different technologies all have their plusses and minuses.


If you need a set bigger than 65" the Mits is really the only working man's game in town. If 65" is the size you need get a Panny Plasma if your room lighting is amenable, they are relatively cheap... But a 73" Mits DLP if you have a little extra room can be bought at approximately half the price or the Panny plasma.


The street price on the high end 82" Mits DLP is 29 hundred dollars, the 84" Panny plasma is 29 thousand dollars. You do the math! There is nothing difficult about living with a DLP. If you are in a bright, bright, bright room, then get an LCD as big as you can afford and the story is over. If your room is big and not rediculously bright get a DLP. You will be astonished at how good they look in the home. They don't display well in a store but you don't stand 3 ft away from a TV set with tons of overhead flouresent lighting washing out the picture in your home.

 

[happy nightmares]



Quote:
Originally Posted by BradP /forum/post/18103347


So, so far it seems the general feeling here is, even at sub-$1000 prices, the 2009 Mits DLPs are not worth buying.

No, that is simply not true.


Most people are very happy with their 2009 Mits DLP sets. Some people here at the forum have purchased 2. I suggest you visit the owners thread instead of basing your opinion on a few brief comments regarding fear of rainbows (which by the way seem to be a non-issue for most people with these new models.)


Also, here's a recent professional review of the 2009 73-inch 837.

http://www.hometheatermag.com/rearpr...ojection_hdtv/


These are nice TVs. Period.

 

[gtgray]



Quote:
Originally Posted by rahull /forum/post/18103161


I would wait and see what Mits dose with LaserVue if anything. I too

have a Samsung 61" LED DLP (wish it was 73") and will compare it to most others.

You seem to be anti-bulb


Look the Mits bulbs are $99 dollars. They have brighter whites and deeper blacks that your Sammy. Who cares about the lamp bulb at $99. The Mits have the Darkchip 4 which is something Sammy only uses in itd 10 Thousand dollar projector. A projector which also uses a bulb not an led or laser. If a lamp and a Darkchip 4 are good enough for the top model 10 dollar Joe Kane special edition Sammy projectors it is good enough for me. Unless you see rainbows bad, the lamp and darkchip 4 is all the technology needed to produe picture quality no currently avialable TV can match. It is only a matter of optimization.


Mitsubishi could concentrate strictly on optimizing their sets, sizes and price points and stay competitive along time. Again, it is a Darkchip 4 and a lamp that is what drives one of the finest projectors in the world, what is really wrong with using that same technology in your TV set.


Put the Mits DLP on a stand that is appropriate for the size, and get it calibrated at least greyscale calibrated. and you will find what Mitsubish sells today is great stuff. I put my 72" Sammy lamp DLP in the spare bedroom relegated to very occasion duty. I replaced it with an 82837 82" Mits DLP, and frankly the Sammy is not in the same league. The Sammy had decent geometry and farily accurate color those were good things but it is not in the same planet as the 82" Mits. One is breathtaking at its best and the other was simply functional. Now the Sammy should have been better but they cost reduced and deleted the iris. No iris and the older TI chip meant poor blacks, and not much picture pop. It just doesn't have the contrast, the Mits on the other hand has got that WOW thing going, and depending on the size of the set, maybe a big WOW!

 

[happy nightmares]

I have to agree, the Mits 837's look better than Samsung's LED based units of the last couple years. That's not a knock against the Samsung LED sets because I like them too. I'm just saying the new Mits look better in my opinion.


And I don't care if the TV is powered by a bulb, LED or a tiny little person inside the cabinet holding a flashlight... it looks better.

 

[BradP]

Okay, thanks for the further posts. I thought that these sets were liked and that's why I was considering them in the first place. What the one poster said about a bright room does concern me somewhat though. I've been living with my Pioneer RPTV in this room for years now and it's a bit annoying during the day. I have an open floor plan in my living room, where this TV will go. 2 front windows, light from the front door, and a sliding glass door onto the back patio. Granted, I have blinds on all windows that can be drawn so light is not beaming in, but the room is definitely lit up during the day.


I was hoping, despite all this, that these Mitsus might handle the light as well as a plasma or LCD without glare. Now it's sounding like that light might be against me getting a DLP in there.


Regarding the Panasonic 65 inch plasma, I agree it's a nice set, but not at the current price which I see is basically 2.5 times more than the 65 inch Mitsu. That makes getting that TV a tough sell to me. If the price was more in line with the Mitsu it'd be a no brainer but we know that won't be true for some time.


I've got the space for the 73 and potentially even the 82 so maybe it would be smart to just wait it out and see if prices drop any further once new models start to arrive. Back on black Friday and even January prices on these sets were lower online, for some reason they seem to have jumped back up by a few hundred bucks over the last few weeks. I guess either they'll drop back to clearance levels or just be gone (which at least would make my decision easier.)

 

[happy nightmares]

Brad, sorry if it seemed like I (we) jumped on you. I did not intend to be rude, but after re-reading my comment it sounded kinda harsh.


We'll try to keep our DLP cheerleader outfits & poms-poms in the closet.

 

[BradP]

Don't be sorry at all. I wanted to hear from folks like you. I mean it's nice to hear everyone's opinion, and in most cases anyway, everyone has something of value to add. It's easy to see in just this thread that there are folks who love 'em and those who hate 'em. But I think the bottom line is, at least with the Mitsu DLPs which seem to have a lot of potential, there are enough cheerleaders for them to not fully discount them.


I mean, even if I decide I need newer tech like an LCD or plasma in a few years, if I can spend a lot less dough and get a 65 or a 73 inch picture for a few more years, and upgrade from my aging Pioneer RPTV, I think it makes a lot of sense.


Now if retailers would just drop the prices on these Mitsus again...

 

[mnilan]

Brad:

Two things - first, the DLP will do better than either an LCD or Plasma in terms of reflections and ability to deal with ambient light; second, the Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P65S1 65-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV is almost EXACTLY the same price as the 73" Mitsubishi at Amazon.

 

[BradP]

Oh heck I can find the 73 for hundreds cheaper than the 65 inch Viera Amazon price unless I am missing something...That would make my decision a little easier if I could get the 65 for the price I am seeing for the Mitsu 73...But I can't.

 

[Wesley Hester]

One big benefit of LED versus bulb is no color wheel spinning. That got me to purchase one second only to the elimination of possible rainbow-effect and longer "lamp life" so to speak.


Having said that though, I still want to see what Mits does this year with 82" sets along the lines of HDMI 1.4 and 3D if anything. Haven't looked at the Laser-based sets in detail but wouldn't rule them out either.

 

[georule]

If you don't have an urgent need for a new set, at this point I'd probably wait for the 2010 announcements from Mits just to see what will be new with those (hdmi 1.4 maybe?). They are probably only about two months away.


But I've bought two of the 2009s, eight months apart, so I guess I like them. Great value for the size. Pick a sale moment and you can get a 65" set for less than $1k; that's the kind of price/performance I find very attractive.


There is a little video in the FAQ linked in my sig in the general section giving a general feel for what rainbow effect is, tho it still won't tell you if you'll see it yourself.