65" DLP 1080P TV with best picture quality? (1 Viewer)

[Bill Barrington]

I think I'm ready to upgrade my 5 year old 56" 1080i RPTV to 1080P. I'm interested in upgrading to a 65" 1080P DLP TV. Here are some models I've been considering:

Toshiba 65HM167
Mitsubishi WDY657
Mitsubishi WD-65733
Mitsubishi WD-65833

These all seem similar in specs but I was wondering if anyone knew if one stood out above the rest as far as picture quality? Or, if there is some other brand/model that would be a better choice for optimum picture quality? I'm looking to obtain the best picture quality possible for under 3K.

The only TV feature I'm concerned with is picture quality. I will be using a Onkyo TX-SR805 with the TV so I'm not really concerned with inputs/outputs etc.. since I will be using just1 HDMI connection to the TV.

Thanks for any inputs or suggestions!!

 

[Ed Moxley]

Don't know a model number, but the new Samsungs with the LED light (instead of color wheel), are looking pretty good. I would definitely prefer these, over the color wheel models, personally.
Good luck!

 

[Bill Barrington]

Thanks, I did not know about the LED DLP tvs. They look great and seem like the way to go for DLP!

 

[Ed Moxley]

In my town, Sears has one (50"-60"). Your local Sears may have one too, so you can see one.

 

[SethH]

Samsung's LED sets look great, IMO. Another factor you may want to consider is that Toshiba is getting out of the DLP business altogether.

One other thing to consider depending on your timeframe: DLP sets powered by a laser light source are due out sometime this year. The laser light source is supposed to be less expensive than the LED's -- but it's yet to be seen how manufacturers will price the sets at retail. The laser sets will almost definitely deliver a better picture, but you may end up waiting the better part of 10 months to get your tv if you decide to wait.

 

[Bill Barrington]

Thanks for the info. My local Best Buy has a 61" Samsung LED DLP that I'm going to go look at. I've seen a Samsung color wheel model in action and that looked pretty nice itself! I can't wait to see the LED. I didn't know that DLP development was so active. I very well may wait for the Laser models to come out if the LED doesn't blow me away.

 

[Audioman321]

Samsung LED DLP sets are nice, you can just find a good price for your liked one.

 

[gene c]

I recently bought the 65" Toshiba and a 52" Mitsubishi (52631) and the Mits is clearly better built with more features but so far I like the picture of the Toshiba a little better. In all fairness, I haven't been watching the Mitsubishi too much lately as I've run into problems stretching the innards of my home-built entertainment center (measure twice, cut once?) to accept the 52" from a 35" tube. If I ever get the thing put back together again I hope to do a better job of calibrating it. But I'm very happy with the Toshiba ($1399.) so far. I also looked at Sony, Panasonic and JVC. They all have their ups and downs depending on who you ask.

 

[Bill Barrington]

Well I went with the Samsung 61" LED engine DLP. Just came today. I'm very happy with this set!! It looks amazing!!! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Dave>h]

Bill,

I would be very interested in hearing about the factors that lead you to choose the Samsung LED DLP over the others mentioned at the beginning of this thread.

Was it price? Build quality, features? What exactly drove you to the Samsung sets. Samsung wasn't even on your radar at the beginning of your search yet you ended up with one of their products.

Reason I am curious is that I own an older Samsung DLP HL-N61W and I have been toying with upgrading to the HL-T72 (or something like that) but wasn't sure if the upgrade in picture quality and features was going to be worth the $$.

Thaks for the input.

Dave

 

[Bill Barrington]

Dave,
When I originally posted I really didn't know too much about DLP other than that's the hardware format I was going to purchases because I needed a big set and I wanted to limit cost so I was looking for the best DLP (picturewise) for the $.

I had chosen the Toshiba and Mitsubishi models as a starting point because they were the ones readily available locally and came in 65". I wanted to learn as much as I could about the difference in picture quality between different brands/models before plunking down the cash.

When the LED DLPs were mentioned to me I had never heard of them. I began researching them and I liked what I saw. No bulb replacement, longer lasting, no color dulling over time and better clarity were some of the things I came across.

I then went into the local store and looked at it in action and compared with the Toshiba's and Mitsubishi dlp models they had going. In my opinion there was no comparison. The colors and clarity of the LED Samsung beat every other DLP in the store hands down and I also thought the Samsung was as good or better than some of the higher end plasmas and lcds at that size. The model I viewed at the store ended up being the one I went with (Samsung HL-T6187S).

I then researched this model as much as I could. I have yet to find a bad review for it. I found the set online at one of my favorite stores for over $700 cheaper than local stores so I went for it.

I ended up paying less for this tv than my old one 5 years ago. The cost was worth it for me for the great increase in picture quality I have received.

After 2 full days with it I can say I made the right decision. The tv is AMAZING.

As it turns out this set was the largest my current entertainment center would support so 65" wouldn't have been an option afterall...I'm perfectly happy with the 61".

Hope this helps. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Dave>h]

Bill,

Thanks very much for the input. I have the same size but obviously not LED.

How does it stand up with High def content?

Have you had it calibrated?

Enjoy your purchase!

Dave

 

[Bill Barrington]

The highdef images are incredible so far. I have watched a good part of the Planet Earth series on HD-DVD (1080i) and a few Blu-Ray movies at 1080p (Night At The Museum, Spiderman 3 and Casino Royale) and they were phenominal. The hd cable stations also look fantastic. I've watched some college basketball on it, lots of Discovery HD and American Idol. During American idol my wife and kids couldn't believe the picture quality. I haven't had it calibrated yet and I'm not sure I will but it is a possibility since I've heard it can perfect the set.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Bill,

You are definitely whetting my appetite for a similar upgrade I'm planning to do in a year or so. Great to hear it looks so good even though you're upgrading from a >50" 1080i RPTV (like I will be).

_Man_

 

[Paul.S]

Seth, might you have any links to articles about the laser DLPs?

 

[SethH]

Here's a link to the Mitsubishi page: Mitsubishi Electric Laser TV - Redefining Television with Laser Television

 

[Paul.S]

Thanks, Seth. As is too often the case, interested parties are now in a holding pattern for new information given that Mitsu of course did not and has not announce(d) sizes and prices.

Pardon the "cross examination," Bill, but I'm also interested in what are/were some of your reasons (and those of others here) that you would opt for a 61" (or 65") rear projection DLP when there are 1080p front projectors available at similar if not lower price points. Was it a space issue WRT to your entertainment center?

Some of the choices I'm looking at are the Panasonic PT-AE2000U and the Epson V11H245120.

 

[Bill Barrington]

Paul, for me a projector wasn't an option. The room that the tv went into wasn't practically setup to be wired for a projector and a projector wouldn't have worked well with my entertainment center so DLP was the choice for me to get most bang for buck. I'm still convinced I made a good choice. The Samsung is amazing and I'm very happy with the picture quality. It fits in very well with my setup. I posted a pic of if here where you can see how it fits in: Center chair reference - HTF Gallery

Good luck with your projector purchase!

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

The Mits' new laser DLP tech looks interesting though I'm guessing the price will probably still be a fair bit out of my range (for an RPTV) considering their current pricing for DLP RPTVs.

I'll likely end up w/ a Sammy LED DLP like Bill also though I might settle for 56", instead of 61", unless the pricing between them are too close to forgo the extra 5" come either holiday season later this year or the subsequent Super Bowl season.

Hadn't realized that the 1080p FPs have come down well below $3K streetwise. If they come down some more (say right around $2K) by time I'm ready to buy, I just might have to go that route instead (and maybe pair it w/ an inexpensive, smaller 720p LCD for more regular type viewing vs films and such that need the bigger screen).

_Man_

 

[SethH]

One of the most interesting thing about the laser tvs is that they are supposed to be less expensive to make than the current models. Who knows what that will translate to at retail, but the companies who manufacturer the lasers claim that the light source for these tvs will come in at about half the price of the light source for traditional bulb-based DLPs.