We discuss a blog about the top 20 reasons why Home Theater is better than the Movie Theater. Then we review the Mitsubishi WD-65831 65" 1080p DLP.
Mitsubishi 65 inch DLP (WD-65831)
If you have listened to this show for more than a couple of months you know that Ara has purchased a 65 inch
Mitsubishi DLP WD-65831 $2950 online (
Buy Now).
Many will remember the journey that got him there. He looked at the
SONY SXRD, JVC HD-ILA, and he even toyed with buying the Samsung LED
based DLP. In the end, one Saturday afternoon while hanging out in a
Magnolia store he saw the Mitsubishi and decided it was that TV that
was going into the Media Room.
Description
This is a 1080p TV with two HDMI inputs that accept 1080p picture
sources. In addition to the HDMI inputs the TV also supports PC DVI-I
(1), Component (3), S-Video, RCA and IEEE1394 (Front and Back). The TV
has 6-Color Light Engine and Mitsubishi's own TurboLight180 lamp system
that is supposed to provided high detail and bright vivid colors. You
can adjust the intensity and tint of each color independently and
separately for each input providing ultimate calibration options. The
TV is also CableCard ready so you won't need a digital set top box if
your cable provider supports the technology. The TV also has a memory
card reader for viewing your digital images on the screen. Finally, the
TV ships with two remote controls. One that is full featured and a
second simple remote that only include the most common control
functions.
The TV is large (40 3/4 x 58 1/2 x 19 13/16 99.0 lbs.). In fact, Ara's
wife was ready to send it back when it showed up. Oddly enough, after
about a month and a half of use, it no longer feels so large. With that
said, when you consider that the TV has a 65 inch screen and is just
under 20 inches deep its not as big as you think it would be. The TV is
aesthetically pleasing. It has a piano black finish with a thin bezel
that barely frames the screen. The matching base completes the look and
is quite functional. One note of warning. Be prepared to dust the TV
often as the black will show dust. The TV fits on the stand nicely and
both complement each other. The stand easily will support your
electronics and center channel speaker. Cable management is easy as
well.
Features (from Mitsubishi's Website):
- 1080P DLP Display
- Mitsubishi
Exclusive 6-Color Light Engine - generates yellow, cyan and magenta
directly for brighter colors, a wider range of colors and whiter whites.
- TurboLight180 - Our unique, patented optical design focuses light more efficiently to produce a 10% brighter on-screen image.
- High Contrast Picture
- Plush1080p - Mitsubishi's video scaling technology
- Tru1080p Processing
- 4D
Video Noise Reduction - Mitsubishi's exclusive 4D Video Noise Reduction
uses advanced algorithms to better identify video noise from fine
detail and correct the signal rather than distort it.
- PerfectColor
- ability to adjust the intensity of six separate colors independently
of each other and separately for every input.
- PerfecTint - ability to adjust the tint of six separate colors independently of each other and separately for every input.
- DeepField Imager - constantly adjusts brightness and contrast for optimum settings in all areas of the picture.
- SharpEdge - It enhances horizontal and vertical edges for stunning picture precision
- Video Modes: Brilliant / Bright / Natural
Setup:
Hooking the TV was straight forward. We connected the antenna to the
digital tuner and and ran our digital inputs (Satellite TV and
Up-converting DVD player) through our switching receiver and then into
the HDMI input. Once setup we scanned the digital airwaves and we were
ready to go. We used the DVE to calibrate the TV (see the settings at
the end of this writeup). But that was just our starting point. We
continued to tweak the picture until we had it just so. There are
settings on the TV like Video Noise Reduction, Sharp Edge, and Deep
Field that we just turned on and off to see if we liked the results.
For the record we turned Noise Reduction and Sharp Edge off. We left
Deep field on.
Performance:
The first thing we have to say about this TV is that you need to be
prepared to spend some time with it calibrating it. We typically say
you need to take any TV you buy off its default settings to get a good
picture, and that is true about this TV as well. However, if that is
all you do with this TV you will really be missing out (not to mention
spending too much money for the TV). With this TV we strongly recommend
doing a full calibration or hiring an ISF certified professional to do
it for you. Only then will it perform to its fullest capability. For
reference purposes we are including the calibration settings we used
for this review at the end of this review.
The 831 has some of the deepest blacks we have seen on a TV that isn't
a plasma, it has good color representation (after the Perfect Color and
Perfect Tint adjustments), and great detail in dark scenes. Watching HD
is like looking through your perfectly cleaned window. The detail is
amazing. Standard Definition looks pretty good but with such a large
screen its easy to see the flaws in the picture. The speakers on the TV
do a good job and sound surprisingly full. But to be honest with you
after the initial listen they have not been turned on since.
No (virtually no) rainbows! One of the issues with DLP TVs is an something known as Rainbows. From Wikipedia:
The DLP "Rainbow Effect"
This visual artifact is best described as brief flashes of perceived
red, blue, and green "shadows" observed most often when the projected
content features bright/white objects on a mostly dark/black background
(the scrolling end credits of many movies are a common example). In the
month and a half Ara has had this TV he has only seen two rainbows and
they were barely perceivable. In contrast, on his his second generation
DLP, Ara sees rainbows all the time.
Another
issue that affects Rear Projection TVs is something known as Silk
Screen Effect (SSE). Some viewers can see the texture of the screen in
front of the image. Its pretty bad on the default settings. It can be
minimized and almost eliminated by properly setting you contrast and
brightness. With that said it is still noticeable under certain viewing
conditions. In Ara's case it is most noticeable when watching hockey
and specifically when looking at the ice. But after calibration it has
not detracted from the overall look of the game.
One thing to
consider with DLPs is that their off angle viewing is not as good as
plasmas and some newer LCDs. The Mitsubishi does a good job at off
angle viewing and not so good with vertical angles. That is to say if
you play video games standing up this TV is not for you. For typical TV
and movie watching there will be no issues for almost anyone sitting in
front of the TV. If you have some seats way off to the side (beyond 145
degrees) your viewing experience will start to degrade.
Some
have complained about the fan noise of this TV. We measured it with a
Sound Pressure Meter right at the source of the fan and got a reading
of 65 dB. That's like putting your ear at the exhaust fan of the TV.
To put this in perspective 65 dB is right between clothes dryer (60 dB)
and a Vacuum Cleaner (70 dB). At a normal distance of 14 feet, the
meter read 49 dB. Which is just above a bedroom at night. So the fan is
not an issue. Any audio you have in your home theater system will be
well above the fan in a dead quiet room.
The WD-65831 is a bit pricey at just under $3000 (its still cheaper
than our first HDTVs that are still in use today. If you want the size
but don't want to spend the Money, Mitsubishi has a WD-65731 for $1940 (
Buy Now). It has many of the same features but a slightly less capable lamp system and light engine.
Final Thoughts:
This
is one of the best TVs we have seen and we look at allot of them. The
colors are bright and vivid. Dark scene detail is impressive and HD
looks real. But to get the most our of this TV you'll need to invest in
a Calibration DVD or have it professionally calibrated. The only real
complaints we have are that its a bit expensive and it needs the afore
mentioned calibration support.
Calibration Settings:
- Contrast: 20
- Brightness: 30
- Color: 36
- Tint: 34
- Sharpness: 24
- Color Temperature: Low
- Picture Mode: Natural
- Video Noise Reduction: Off
- Sharp Edge: Off
- Deep Field: On
Perfect Color
- Magenta: 32
- Red: 24
- Yellow: 31
- Green: 46
- Cyan: 32
- Blue: 32
Perfect Tint
- Magenta: 47
- Red: 29
- Yellow: 29
- Green: 55
- Cyan: 46
- Blue: 28
