Mitsubishi's New Must-See DLP TV Fleet: Technological Convergence at its Best
Written: Oct 04 '04 (Updated Oct 20 '04)
Product Rating:
Sound:
Ease of Use:
Picture Quality:
Durability:
Pros: Sleek. Most features and best picture in class. Doubles as a 1280x720 PC Monitor.
Cons: Daylight glare. The user interface can take getting used to. Not much else.
The Bottom Line: Simply a great HDTV with future compatibility and best in class added value. Doubles as a top-flight hub for a next generation entertainment computing rig--at sub-plasma prices.
dxbari's Full Review: Mitsubishi WD-52525 52 in. HDTV DLP TV
Big Screen Television. For many years the concept was somewhat better than the reality. Big screen televisions were: blurry, grainy, unreliable, too difficult to calibrate, too bulky on the whole, and flat out expensive. Not to mention that in an age where video games are as likely to be displayed as a cable signal, the burn-in issue was particularly nettlesome. PC input was available on newer sets, however even the better sets were constrained to VGA (640x480 resolution). This meant for widescreen sets there'd be vertical stripes and the resolution would be insanely low for such a large screen. Put simply, once sets reached 17" diagonals anything less than XGA was considered underutilization. So one would think that a 70" screen that runs in VGA is just plain sad. All other things held constant, it is. This is not a criticism of the older tried and true projection technologies that have held the line for over two decades in the home consumer market, this is simply to say that the future has arrived and for those consumers that demand more utility now have options.
What is DLP and Why Consider It?
Recently this reviewer set out to buy a Big Screen TV (BSTV). He found a new place with a lot more room, and finally had enough space for the proper "home theater" he'd always wanted. It was time to upgrade from the 27" Magnavox TS2775 he's had since college (a great set that's paid for itself 1000 times over and still lives on in the guest room) and the time had arrived for a BSTV. He began to look everywhere. First to the classifieds, bulletin boards, and the eBays to see what was already out there and what could be had on the cheap. It became quickly apparent that buying new is the safest alternative and worth the sticker shock. BSTVs devalue much like cars do. It was also interesting to see how far standard projection set prices had fallen. New 60" sets from quality manufacturers were now ringing in at under $2000. The aforementioned 70" set from Mitsubishi (actually 73") that rang in at just under $3000 was nearly irresistible with an amazing picture. Then the research began. The deal-breakers: The cheaper projection sets were not forward compatible (with firewire ports, cable card slots, etc.), were not as extensible, still (still!) had the burn-in issue for video gaming and computing, and the screen only ran in VGA for PC input. Note: The burn-in is where the static portions of the screen (such as application toolbars and status/scoring information in games) cause a consistently uneven phosphor activation which over time results in the "ghosting" of the static images and phosphor imbalance--which essentially ruins the projection unit.
The alternatives:
- Big Tube: Heavy, brute force solution. Not enough of an upgrade over the standard set.
- LCD: Essentially a big active matrix laptop screen. With all of the same issues. Fast image motion blur. Contrast and darkness intensity issues on black patches. More limited viewing angles but a smaller depth footprint. A nice picture with soft edges, and the SONY models look great in the showroom, but the limitations offset the improvements especially given the cost.
- LCOS: The LCD-Flavor Betamax of our time. Looks good, but who cares if it has no true industry support?
- Plasma: These sets come as advertised (at least the high-end ones) and look stunning. They tend to be very light and thin, and many are wall mountable. Today's Star Trek technology. The deal-breaker is price. To get a quality set at a good size with all the bells and whistles, that would tip the scales at around $10,000 and up. Couple that with the fact that many plasmas also struggle with fast motion and pixelation/artifacting and the bleeding edge seems much less palatable.
- Super LCDs - Next generation LCD technology that addresses some of the issues of present LCD displays, but will be priced in the plasma range.
- DLP - TI's light processing technology that works in front and rear-projection configurations. The technology that drives movie-theater digital projection installations. On the scene for only a few years but is really making waves. Potentially the projection-flavor CD/DVD (in terms of popularity) of this technology generation.
Digital Light Processing (DLP) is taking the entertainment industry by storm. The Texas Instrument technology is relatively cheap, reliable, and the image quality is comparable to plasma. It can be used for both 720 and 1080 HDTV displays and is getting more popular by the day. The ruler of the DLP roost has been Samsung, and as of this writing they are in their third generation of DLP sets. There are others such as Panasonic, LG, and RCA which are cheaper but simply not in the upper tier in features or quality. Out of the others, LG (Zenith) is the best of the rest based on image quality. Of course this review is for a Mitsubishi set so at least one person in world voted for another brand. The remainder of this review will focus on the Mitsubishi set, the reviewer's selection process, and direct comparison between this set and its nearest peer, the Samsung HLN507W 50" DLP TV.
Pre-Purchase Evaluation Method
When making a purchase of a very specific nature, in this case finding the cornerstone of my next home theater and PC work center, I tend to go to a store where I'm able to "kick the tires" of many options at once. I first went to Best Buy, which has notoriously bad customer service but a reasonably layout for comparing different products and a decent selection. At first look, the Mitsubishi sets had the sharpest images and the SONYs had the most vibrant color. So I took a closer look at the SONY LCD sets, and there was one in particular that looked good from a price and picture perspective. The biggest problem was that I was looking for a PC input, which the one at Best Buy didn't have. [Note: In fairness, I discovered at Tweeter later on that the new model SONY LCDs did have a PC input but by then other factors had moved me toward DLP.] I also stood there long enough to notice that there was blurring and artifacting on the fast motion images. For a gamer and sports fan this was not a good feature, even if it was not as noticeable as on lesser sets. The Mitsubishi that stood out the most was the Mitsubishi WS-73513 73" set. The price was in the 3Ks and the image looked fantastic. Prior to knowing the company had DLPs on the way, I had thought about making a purchase. When I went back to make a final decision, luckily it was phased out. I then began to focus on the DLP sets, that while more expensive seemed to have sharper images and more vibrant color overall. The displays were comparable to plasmas--the plasmas I had not considered at all due to price at the high range and lack of performance at the mid-range and their propensity to burn out--and they had a smaller footprint than the regular projection sets. Essentially, my primary selection was criteria was how the image looked onscreen. If that didn't pass muster, the features were irrelevant to me. Next was whether or not it ran a PC input w/o the need for a converter and what resolution it would support. Anything less than 1024x768 would not be acceptable. The first two criteria eliminated all of the basic projection sets under $10,000, any LCD under $5000, and most DLPs (based on image quality). By this time, I had visited Circuit City (which had no sets I would consider), Tweeter, and a mall shop so expensive they will remain nameless.
Selection Method and Alternative Products
My biggest problem with the DLP selection was that the SAMSUNG models appeared to outperform all of the other sets I had seen to that point. This initial set did not include the Mitsubishis (which prior to July were not available on the U.S. East Coast in stores). This was a problem due to that fact I was conditioned to view all SAMSUNGs as one step above junk and technology powered by rubber bands and bubble gum. Plus, there was the matter that the cases were primarily silver and I wanted a black set to match my decor. After hearing the BB salesperson wander by five times in fifteen minutes saying "Silver is the color of the future!" I was quite disgruntled. Anyhow, I did further research and came to discover that SAMSUNG had apparently rehabilitated themselves and were now producing a quality product. Coupled with reviews from places such as CNET that stated they were on the whole the best performing and best selling sets and the SAMSUNGs were then on my radar. The Tweeter folks pretty much echoed that sentiment, and also had newer models coming in that BB wouldn't have right away. Plus, the 2003 50" model had just dipped below 3K in price. Now the hang-up was the SAMSUNG image did occasionally flake out, I really did want a black case, and the inputs were varied but not quite what I wanted. Then, a little serendipity intervened.
While driving past the Big Screen Store one day, I decided to drop in on a lark. They are primarily a Mitsubishi shop, but had some plasmas from other manufacturers, Panasonic LCDs (which looked pretty good, by the way), and LG DLPs (which also look pretty good, they are of a better quality than the LG sets--lower end models--at BB). I saw the WS-73513, which had now fallen below 3K as well, and was again tempted to buy it. But the reality was that I didn't have enough space in the room (in terms of depth) to comfortably fit it. Then the reality that PC-mode only ran VGA really sunk in. DLP it was. While looking at the LGs (which had a black case and image comparable to the Mitsubishi projection sets), the salesperson mentioned that Mitsubishi had DLP sets on the way that were more advanced than anything else on the market. They also had a larger color gamut and were designed to be used as PC monitors. A superior image and pc-friendly? Now I was listening. The catch was they weren't going to be around for about three to five weeks, and I wanted a set sooner--but decided to hold out since it was several thousand dollars on the line.
When the Mitsubishis arrived, they clearly had the superior image. The LG saturation was not as high, and at nearer distances the artifacting was much more pronounced on the LG sets. I could not find anything wrong with the Mitsubishi picture. CNET mentioned in their review that there was more noise than they would prefer in low light scenes in the black areas, but I did not notice anything similar in dark scenes in movies such as T2/T3 and similarly dark scenes and would think for most viewers it is a non-issue. I should also mentioned that there was no CNET review when I made my purchase. As a matter of fact, there was no review that I could find anywhere. In the end I made my decision to purchase based on my own research, Mitsubishi's reputation, and the simplest test of all--the WD-52525 just looked better. There is no fast motion blur, the set turns on faster, and the color is more vibrant. Eventually I was able to do a side-by-side comparison with the SAMSUNG sets. The SAMSUNG set is brighter by default, but the contrast in sharper on the Mitsubishi and color more true. The new model SAMSUNG tends to overemphasize the greens. The technology under the hood (e.g. chipsets) are comparable between the two, with Mitsubishi getting the nod on available native colors and the Mitsubishi has many more inputs and forward thinking technological compatibility. Plus, the set was majority black, save for the bottom front panel that is "silver of the future". For my needs, the Mitsubishi was the clear winner.
Product Environment/Appearance, Use, and Impressions
I did not purchase the custom stand for the television. Instead, I opted for a third party entertainment center. It is the Uptown Frosted Glass Entertainment Center that is available in Black or Beech. For the TV stand and audio piers I spent approximately $300, which is the same price as the Mitsubishi stand. In my opinion they are quite complimentary and I was able to fit all the components I needed in that setup with room to spare: a computer tower, several gaming consoles, wireless LAN router, cable modem, a full size component stereo, a VCR, a digital cable box, AV switch, and full size mixer/equalizer. This isn't a review of the entertainment center, but I'm providing links in case an owner of the WD-52525 is looking for one at a reasonable cost.
I also found that my old stereo front speakers would not fit in with the new equipment, so again taking the low cost route I opted for the Pioneer S-H453F-K speaker pair (my Epinions review of this product is available). They are a good match for the look for the TV and have great sound for the price ($150). You will have to check back next year for my review on the new stereo and speakers I'm upgrading to. My typical viewing distance is approximately ten feet. In can vary to about a foot further out, depending on how far back I have reclined in the La-Z-Boy or if I am seated further down the couch. At this distance the image is crisp and detailed, and I am able to use the TV as a PC monitor running in 1280x720 resolution. A regular 10/12 point font is readable at this distance and I am typing this review at this distance using the WD-52525 as a computer monitor.
The television is easy to set up. Simply plug in and use. The system inputs are clearly labeled and intuitively arranged, and set is solidly constructed. One really does have the impression that they are working with a computer that happens to also be a television in terms of build. The manual gives very clear instructions on the most common setup arrangements and tips on use, so even though the computer comparison is apt it is still a consumer electronics product and has a far simpler learning curve. I was impressed by it industrial strength look and feel because I am in the tech field and was interested in an Entertainment PC style arrangement. If you have been waiting for the right set, this is what you've been waiting for. In all honesty, I do not watch that much television, which means that the primary use I have for the television is a computer monitor. The ability to work comfortably while lounging in an easy chair with nothing but a wireless keyboard and mouse to clutter my space is a relief that I'm sure several of you out there can appreciate. One issue I do have is the amount of glare during the daylight hours with the windows open, but CNET has a suggestion on what to do about that and I can work around it.
When being used as a TV, I am still surprised at what I notice even with regular NTSC input and DVDs. High Definition content is of course outstanding, but the Mitsubishi also excels at regular viewing content. The screen sizing options are convenient to set (essentially one button operation), and if you feel the need to view it in a normal 4:3 aspect ratio, you do not have to worry about the burn-in that other technologies warn about (including LCD and plasma). As an example, I was watching the Truman Show DVD the other day, and noticed that Marlon (Truman's best friend play by Noah Emmerich) was very freckled in the opening "interview" scene. A very minor detail, but something I had never noticed that was very sharp. Movies you've had for years will be viewed in a completely different light. There isn't enough space for the details I noticed in T2 and Excalibur (movies I have scene countless times) after having bought this set. Also, the PIP/POP features are easy to use and look great. I often run PC/Gaming input next to TV input and both are extremely crisp. It also doesn't hurt that in side by side you are viewing two 25" inch displays embedded in the screen. I have my system configured so that I can pipe sound from one display through the stereo and the other through the TV so I can hear both. A feature I do not frequently use but is also nice is the ability to preview many different channels and to move the POP window to any position around the screen between and including the four corners with the directional arrows on the remote. To summarize, this TV is worth every penny I spent on it.
Special Gamers Note: Madden 2005 looks great on my PS2. Some older games load a little muddy because of the sprite/pixel size increase, especially if stretched, but newer games with a 16:9 aspect switch should look fine. On some games, you will have a wider point of view because the aspect correction brings in wider peripheral content. Even when stretched, from my regular viewing distance the older games still look good. In some cases, it may be more playable resized to 4:3, which again can be done without much though to burn-in. For the non-gamers, the burn-in issue is being emphasized to this extent because it has been the bane of a gamer's existence in the projection TV realm for nearly two decades. All in all, the games look sharper, equivalent to the gain that hooking up your system to a PC monitor provides.
Heat Dissipation
The WD-52525 has a cooling fan which is designed to extend the life of the unit. It activates when the unit reaches a specific temperature. If you own this television and the fan is active continually even when the set is powered down, refer to the note below. Be sure to pay heed to clearance recommendations in the documentation. The other major brands have sets that are fanless.
Special Note: About the Fan Noise: The first quick review up at Epinions was essentially a complaint about ever-present, shrill fan noise. Initially I had the same complaint. When the television was delivered, the fan started the second the unit was plugged in and did not stop. By the second day I was on the phone with Mitsubishi because a $4000 television should not be a source of annoyance while turned off. Initially technical support (yes, Mitsubishi's) said that the fan was supposed to be on all the time and that the fan noise was normal. The TV nearly went back. Ultimately, it was revealed that many of the first run production sets had left the factory with their primary cooling fan installed backwards. One comment left on the prior review was that it was a 15 minute fix. For my set it was more like an hour long fix, but I am glad to say that the fan is not on 24 hours a day (to my knowledge) and it is no longer noticeable when it is active. The service is essentially an in-home recall and the adjustment (not technically a repair since the units are not actually damaged) should be done by the Mitsubishi-certified service technician at no charge.
Timer/Sleep Mode
It has both features available, and I have tested both though I do not use them. If you like to fall asleep to the TV, or just happen to nod off during Leno, this may be a good way to conserve the lamp life. The lamp needs to replaced after approximately 6000 hours of use. The timer mode allows you to set when the TV should turn on. Both can be handled through the remote.
Sound Fields and System Size
The television has a stereo simulated surround field that is effective. The speakers are rated at 20 watts and the audio is clear. Initially I did use the TV without the stereo and no problems with the sound quality. I now run it through a surround stereo system, however. The size of the unit is quite compact for a screen of its size, and is comparable to that footprint of competitor units. It is fairly lightweight for its size, but does require two people to move safely. The stand it rests on in my home is rate for 240 pounds and accommodates it easily.
Interface and Remote
The onscreen user interface is Viewpoint software, which is a Graphical User-Interface (GUI) with a menu driven design. At first the interaction with the set can be daunting. The pictures and categories are clear, but "backing out" of a particular section of the menu is not always easy. The "TV Menu" button on the remote doubles as cancel for many functions where a "cancel" button may have been more clear. There are labeled picture icons for the different inputs that appear in a selection box onscreen. These icons can be selected by a directional arrow/toggle control in the center of the remote. One feature that is welcome is that there are several different ways to switch between device inputs (including a device switch that functions much like a volume adjustment button), so the user can learn whichever method is most comfortable. The PIP/POP feature buttons are all grouped together, which helps to prevent actions being taken on unintended inputs. It takes some getting used to, but with regular use the remote functions should become second nature. The remote control buttons are large and easy to read, and the shape of the buttons and the remote contours make it possible to use the remote without looking once the user is familiar with the layout. There is also a semi-concealed button on the right side of the remote that backlights the buttons on the top/face of the remote control. This helps when watching the TV in dim light conditions. The remote is tuned to act as a universal device that controls most types of AV equipment from well known manufacturers (and "other" frequencies). The form factor of the remote is rather large, but not unnecessarily so.
The following is an extended list of the range of features this unit offers--they are superior to all units in its price range at the time of purchase and comparable to more expensive units.
Features List
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(Source: C-NET, Epinions, and Owner's Manual)
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Technology:
Rear Projection DLP
Diagonal Size: 52 inches
CRT Type: Real Flat
HDTV Compatible with Integrated HDTV Tuner
16:9 Image Aspect Ratio
Rear Input Connectors: S-Video x 2, Component x 3, Composite x 2, DVI x 1, FireWire x 2, HDMI x 1, RF x 2, 1 x D-Sub (RGB PC--640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x720 res.), 1 x RS-232C, RGBHV (BNC) x 1, Audio (RCA) x 6
Front Input Connectors: S-Video x 1, Composite x 1, Audio (RCA) x 1, Firewire (IEEE 1394) x 1
Rear Output Connectors: Composite x 1, Audio (RCA) x 2
Headphone Jack Without Headphone Jack
Memory Card Slot CompactFlash Card Type I, Memory Stick, MMC Card, SD Card, SmartMedia Card
Comb filter 3D-Y/C digital
Compliant Standards UL
Additional Features Auto clock set, On- screen menu, JPEG photo playback, Progressive scanning (line doubling)
Universal IR Remote Control:
Remote Control Supported Devices:Supported Devices TV, VCR, Cable box, DVD player, AV receiver, Satellite TV system
Remote control features Learning, Back- lit buttons, Multi-brand compatibility
Audio Features:
Stereo Sound Output
Total output power 20 Watt
Controls (Bass, Treble, Balance, Etc.)
Auto volume adjustment
Video Features:
Analog video format NTSC,PAL
Analog video signal Composite video
Multi-channel preview Split screen, Picture- in- picture (PIP), Picture-on-picture (POP)
Color Temperature Control (and individual color adjustments)
Dual TV Tuner (HDTV and NTSC on both)
English, Spanish, and French Display Menu Language
Closed Caption Capability
Extended Data Service (XDS)
Channel Labeling
Parental Channel Lock
V-Chip Control
Widescreen Modes: HD, 16: 9, Zoom, Expand, Narrow, Stretch, Standard, Wide Expand, Stretch plus, Conventional 4:3
Width 49.6 in. x Depth 17.4 in. x Height 37.2 in.
Weight 132.3 lbs
What It Doesn't Do
There is not much this television does not do. In fact, it does everything advertised an a bit more with an eye toward future technology. Mitsubishi pulled out all the stops. I would have liked to have had a bit more flexibility on which sources could be displayed on the secondary window for PIP/POP, but that is a very slight issue. Occasionally the TV balks at going to split screen when running with the PC fullscreen input at resolutions higher than 640x480 (as mentioned earlier in the review I tend to run 1280x720, but this is correctable by adjusting the PC resolution or switching device inputs, going to PIP/POP and switching back. I would also prefer to be able to do more of the input adjustment without the screen flicker, but again that is a very minor issue. For a first generation product this unit is all aces.
Concluding Remarks
In closing, if you are looking for a hub for your next generation computing center--or just looking for a phenomenal television--the WD-52525 is your best bet. And this is only the base model. The differentiator between this and the 52725 is the Diamond Shield anti-glare screen attachment, and the 52825 is the internal HDD and high-pass-through screen shield. Aside from that, the changes are largely cosmetic. I am very satisfied with the purchase, and recommend the WD-52525 to those who may be in the market for a Big Screen Television.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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