Looking for DLP Under $3,000

[GreyStreet41]

Id like to stay around 61"... but will jump up to the 73" if its a good deal. I was looking at the Samsung HL-T6187S.... but I'm not too familiar with the LED technology.

What is the best DLP out there for my price range? I've been looking at Samsung and Mitsubishi. What are your suggestions?

Thanks

 

[allargon]

Most will say the Samsungs have more accurate/almost dead on color accuracy when professionally (~$300) calibrated. A lot of people don't like the off-angle viewing with the LED Samsungs and feel you have to be looking dead-on at the display.

You can definitely get a 73" Mitsubishi for under $3k. You should even be able to get one from the Medallion line. Fry's often puts the 73734 on sale as well as the 73732 (last year's model). The 2009 model should be out shortly. Personally, I would look for a deal on the 73732 because it has cable card and firewire support. The 73734 supports deep color (Yawn) and has an extra HDMI port plus is half the weight (Okay, that's important!) of the 73732.

 

[GreyStreet41]

Samsung or Mitsubishi? Which is better?

 

[allargon]

Better is a relative term.

I prefer the features and (okay, the real deal) price of the Mitsubishi sets. However, most professionals like the image quality of the Samsungs after calibration. Check AVS. I've had zero problems with my Mitsubishi. However, many will argue otherwise for both the Samsungs and the Mitsubishis. It's up to you whether or not to get an extended warranty.

Fry's wanted to charge me $200 to warranty a set that I bought for $1500. I declined. It's been nearly a year--no issues.

 

[bandphan]

Samsung or Mitsubishi? Which is better?

You can pick up a Mitsubishi WD65833 Diamond 65" for around $2500, which imo are the best dlps. I just upgraded from a 57 diamond (or down graded in size) to a 50" plasma. With any purchase i recommend calibrating the set to your room,you will not regret it.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/Video-calibration.ep

 

[GreyStreet41]

You can pick up a Mitsubishi WD65833 Diamond 65" for around $2500, which imo are the best dlps. I just upgraded from a 57 diamond (or down graded in size) to a 50" plasma. With any purchase i recommend calibrating the set to your room,you will not regret it.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/Video-calibration.ep

You can use that DVD to calibrate instead of paying $300 to have it done?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I really like the Mits DLP. I have the Diamond 73'' and it has an awesome PQ. To my eyes, it looks every bit as good as my plasma and my LCD. The only fault is the off-axis veiwing which doesnt come into play from my setting area.

I just used the Avia disc to calibrate it.

 

[bandphan]

You can use that DVD to calibrate instead of paying $300 to have it done?

Dont get me wrong a pro has all the equipment to do it right, and its almost 400 down in sfla. but for around 50 bucks you can make a marked improvement.

 

[GreyStreet41]

Dont get me wrong a pro has all the equipment to do it right, and its almost 400 down in sfla. but for around 50 bucks you can make a marked improvement.

Thanks for your help. So what do they guys that charge $300-$400 do different than this DVD shows you to do?

IM going to go check out the Mitsubishi WD65833 today. Amazon.com has them for about $2200, and I can get my Best Buy to match online prices!

 

[GlocksRock]

I got my Mitsubishi WD-73733 from Amazon.com in late Dec. for $2500 shipped, they now have it for a bit less, but I don't think this price includes shipping since it's not sold by Amazon, but from someone else.

http://www.amazon.com/Mitsubishi-WD-73733-73-inch-1080p-HDTV/dp/B000P5A8D4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1208266256&sr=8-1

If you buy from amazon.com and amazon is the seller, if the price drops within 30 days of your purchase, email them and they will refund you the difference, that's what happened to me and I ended up getting a little money back.

I previously owned a Samsung 50" DLP and it was good. I was debating on whether to get another Samsung, or a Mitsubishi. Both had their issues, but I think the quality of the samsungs was lacking, and they cost more than I could get the Mitsu for, so I got the big 73" mitsu and so far it's been fantastic.

 

[itschris]

I can speak with a bit of knowledge here or at least a ridiculous amount of back and forth heartache on which DLP to get. I've literally read hundreds of pages on other forums about these tv's... the consensus: Despite being hell-bent on a Samsung because of the great priceing I was seeing, once I really got educated on them, I had to go a different direction. The LED Samsungs have a way to go yet, and current lamp based Samsungs have a rather serious bowing problem on the screen. I've looked at every TV myself, in multiple locations, and spent a stupid amount of time playing with all of them. For me, after everything I did, I came to the conclusion that the Mits WD 65833 Diamond was the TV for me. It looks fantastic with it's piano black finish and the picture is stunning. I just ordered mine for just under $2400. It's a no brainer.

 

[allargon]

Thanks for your help. So what do they guys that charge $300-$400 do different than this DVD shows you to do?

IM going to go check out the Mitsubishi WD65833 today. Amazon.com has them for about $2200, and I can get my Best Buy to match online prices!

Mitsubishi's are not really fully capable of being (easily) calibrated by end users. I have a Mitsubishi *AND* "Digital Video Essentials" on HD DVD. The issue is that the greyscale controls are in the (dangerous) service menu. Any really good calibration starts with greyscale before working its way out into contrast, color (gotta love the multiple colors and tint controls with the medallion and diamond models), tint, etc.

(Sharpness is a no brainer on non-LCD sets. Set it to zero and move on.)

I will disagree with Bandphan about the Diamond series as well. IMHO, it's better to get a Medallion (mid-range) than to spend the extra money on a piano black finish, high contrast screen plus a few other bells and whistles. You can often get a 73" Medallion at Fry's (sometimes Amazon) for around $2500.

 

[bandphan]

i will disagree with Bandphan about the Diamond series as well. IMHO, it's better to get a Medallion (mid-range) than to spend the extra money on a piano black finish, high contrast screen plus a few other bells and whistles. You can often get a 73" Medallion at Fry's (sometimes Amazon) for around $2500.

While i agree on the medallions picture being great and a good value, ill note that i upgraded my medallion to diamond. I had the medallion for 8 months and it was nice. And as the mentioned differences above, the one that was important to me was the brighter bulb. Picture detail was more obvious, especially in a bright room. As allagron mentioned custom callibration requires going into the service menu and caution should be taken anytime entering it. Once you have made a descion and you feel that custom calibration is what you want there are detailed instructions on how to do so. Both sets are nice and imo better than the sammys, so take into account your budget and conditions and pull the trigger.

good luck

 

[Soundman]

Did the OP decide? Samsung just released their new generation of LED DLP's. The good thing about them is less moving parts (no spinning color wheel) and no bulb to replace. This has been one of the negatives about DLP technology.They are suppose to also increase the viewing angle and increase brightness by as much as 40%. I saw the Samsung HL67A750 in BB. It's the 67" model. It looked pretty darn good. That might be an option considering the retail price of $2,499, and as low as $1,999 online. I'm actually looking at it myself. I'm still debating about going with a set like this or getting a 50" plasma. The price is about the same. However, I can't help but realize that the plasmas just looked better. Of course, being as the sets in the store are probably not calibrated correctly, this could be very misleading. Has anyone else seen this set? Do you think it can compare to a good plasma?

 

[AVRat]

jamiecid just purchase that TV and she seems very happy with it.

 

[Soundman]

jamiecid just purchase that TV and she seems very happy with it.

Allright!. Jamiecid, can we get a review please??? I have yet to see a thorough review on this set.

 

[Soundman]

Did the OP decide? Samsung just released their new generation of LED DLP's. The good thing about them is less moving parts (no spinning color wheel) and no bulb to replace. This has been one of the negatives about DLP technology.They are suppose to also increase the viewing angle and increase brightness by as much as 40%. I saw the Samsung HL67A750 in BB. It's the 67" model. It looked pretty darn good. That might be an option considering the retail price of $2,499, and as low as $1,999 online. I'm actually looking at it myself. I'm still debating about going with a set like this or getting a 50" plasma. The price is about the same. However, I can't help but realize that the plasmas just looked better. Of course, being as the sets in the store are probably not calibrated correctly, this could be very misleading. Has anyone else seen this set? Do you think it can compare to a good plasma?

Anyone else want to comment? Anyone have any experience with this TV?