Jumbo HDTVs with budget price tags

Nov 18, 2008 12:34 PM

If you're hankering for a 60-inch or larger HDTV but want to spend less than $2,000, forget about buying a plasma or LCD set. But don't give up hope—a value-priced rear-projection TV (RPTV) might be just the ticket, as we noted in an earlier post, "Bigger screens for less bucks." The new microdisplay sets are much thinner than the bulky projection TVs of old, so you don't have to sacrifice floor space in the interests of frugality.

Mitsubishi, one of only two TV makers still offering RPTVs, recently introduced its new 735 Series of DLP TVs (click on the image for a closer look). The 60-inch WD-60735 ($1,500) and the 65-inch WD-65735 ($1,700) offer true 1920x1080 resolution as well as the ability to produce "3D video." Both sets use a proprietary "six-color light processor" designed to boost on-screen color fidelity.

In preliminary tests, our engineers found that both sets offered fine picture and sound. Here are some of their findings. For more on the pros and cons of rear-projection TVs, check out our free online HDTV Buying Guide.

HIGHS

Great picture. Both sets have very good HD image quality and take advantage of their 1080p resolution to produce fine detail. Grayscale was also impressive. Black levels are fairly deep, providing good contrast.
Great sound. The Mitsubishi's sound quality was judged to be very good and well balanced, what you’d hope for in a TV of this size.
Ample connections. Both models have many connectivity options, including three HDMI and one USB port for playback of JPEG files. Component-video inputs are easily accessible on the front of both TVs.
Easy to use. The menu, remote control, and rear panel on both sets are easy to use.

LOWS

Tricky to adjust. Getting the colors just right was not easy with the color and tint controls, though special color adjustment submenus allow users to better fine-tune color accuracy. We found a very narrow "window" for adjusting picture sharpness: Set the control even a bit lower than optimal and the images look blurry; a little higher and the details are over-sharpened.
Rainbows are still there. One drawback of most DLP sets that utilize the spinning color-wheel are the color flashes known as the "rainbow effect," which some viewers perceive and might find annoying. Our tests show that this artifact exists in both sets.
Costly bulb replacement. Both sets still use a conventional high-output lamp that needs to be replaced periodically—after a few years of regular use, according to the manufacturer. Cost: approximately $300 or more if you do it yourself.
Limited viewing angle. As with most RPTVs, the picture tends to dim as you move to the sides, so images look best when viewed head-on.

CR's take: Mitsubishi delivers solid performance with this pair of big screen rear projectors. Despite some quibbles as noted, these TVs deliver fine detail and very good color and contrast, resulting in image quality that will please most viewers. Mitsubishi also sells "premium flat panel" TVs HDTVs, but the 735s offer great value that might be especially appealing in today's economy.

For more help on shopping for TVs, see our free HDTV Buying Guide. For more money-saving tips, check out Tightwad Tod on CR’s Money Blog.