OT: Mitsubishi ships first Laser TV set

Coursedesign wrote on 12/12/2008, 6:14 PM

I saw this at Magnolia, but didn't know it was a Laser TV (and neither did the staff of course).

It had the best picture of any ATSC HDTV I have ever seen, by a wide margin. Enormously pleasant on a variety of source material, probably thanks partly to the 2x extended color space, and some je-ne-sais-quoi (to use a popular American expression) that was more difficult to pin down, probably from the 120 Hz scan.

[i]...claimed to reproduce up to two times the color of most current HDTVs, and at 135 W consume a third of the power used by an equivalent LCD, or a fourth of that used in a similar plasma set.

120Hz rendering, brightness 500 nits, 1080p resolution and x.v. Color.

65-inch model, costing $7,000 with a 73-inch coming.

I'll start saving. :O)

Comments

GaryAshorn wrote on 12/15/2008, 7:15 PM

I had read on these but have not seen one. I had to replace my Mitsubishi WS65712 this year. Rear projection HDTV. After learning the design flaw of Mitsubishi DM units, I chose to go another brand and went with the Samsung LED model. It was quite a difference and especially for the price. I have lots of windows and light so many of the plasma and LCDs just would not work plus in the 60 and above range DLPs are more cost effective. The LED DLP is really nice. But I hear the Laser units are even better. My only caution on the Mitsubishi is ask if they still use the DM module in their sets. If so, beware the GREEN BLINKING LIGHT OF DEATH. Well known on all their sets. Good pics, but costly to repair if the DM unit dies and mine did. Not worth fixing, though I will crack it myself and try. Mitsubishi does not give out the schematics for repairs to shops. So it is a swap replacement at about $1,000.00. So I bought a new one for $1,300.00 instead.

Gary

apit34356 wrote on 12/16/2008, 2:15 AM

Since the 80's , I loved the Mitsubishi large screens and have a few ;-) The down downside is maintenance cost when they fail but most of the failures that I have had were caused by "brown-outs" or lighting strikes that fried the protected isolation circuits that I put most of the toys on. ;-)

GaryAshorn wrote on 12/16/2008, 8:15 PM

I agree and mine was heavily protected with very heavy duty industrial units I have personnally tested with IEEE standards for let through voltage spikes etc. But mine was 5 years old and I think the DM just gave up the ghost. It may be the four caps on the board and I can try to replace them to revive it. However, it also has other issues. So I don't mine giving it a whirl and $5 of caps to try but after that, not worth trying. But I had an older 35 inch tube Mitsubishi that was great for almost 12 years. Good pics but costly to fix as you say.

Gary

MrEdit wrote on 12/17/2008, 8:14 AM

7k for a 65" is not bad at all. I've been interested in these for a while. Unless Sony releases a 40 something inch OLED at a decent price (haha yea right) I'll probably pick one of these up at Xmas next year.

Jay Gladwell wrote on 12/17/2008, 8:25 AM

Who, in this ecomony, is ready to run out and plop down seven grand for a "TV set"? Could their timing have been any worse?

JJKizak wrote on 12/17/2008, 8:40 AM

Cash is king for those who can afford to wait. The second wave of mortgage resets is about to hit, so hang on as it is going to blast away for the next two years.
JJK