Mitsubishi LT-52249 review (52" LCD TV)

The LT-249 series also includes a feature unique to Mitsubishi called NetCommand that basically lets the TV act as a universal remote control. To use this feature, you'll need to purchase optional IR blasters (about $15 for the two-device version and $26 for four devices) and program the system. It uses preset remote codes and can also learn additional codes, much like a universal remote. It has the added advantage of letting you stash your gear in a cabinet (line of sight isn't required) and you can operate it via the TV's onscreen display. We didn't test this feature.

The TV's back panel includes four HDMI jacks and two component-video connections, spread across two separate areas. The second bay is recessed for wall mounting.

Connectivity on the LT-249 series is as extensive as we'd expect from a flagship HDTV. The TV's back panel includes four HDMI ports, two component-video inputs (either can accept composite-video connections instead), an antenna input, and analog stereo and digital coaxial (not optical) audio outputs. In a separate recessed bay, two HDMI and one component input, along with the antenna input, are housed facing downward to ease wall mounting. One of the component/composite inputs is also associated with a digital coaxial audio input, so you can feed surround sound from a device that doesn't have HDMI (although the more common optical-type jack would be preferable). A side-panel bay includes a third component-video input that can also accept composite-video, but doesn't offer another HDMI jack. There's also no analog PC connection; however, a side-panel USB port is available for digital photos and music, as well as an Ethernet jack to connect to the interactive services.

The side panel adds a third component-video and a USB port, but no HDMI connection.

Performance
The picture on the Mitsubishi LT-249 series was among the better examples of a standard-backlit LCD TV, with relatively deep black levels and mostly accurate color, although we certainly would have liked to see improved uniformity across the screen. Its sound quality was better than any TV we've reviewed, despite a weak surround effect and the need for a subwoofer. Overall it compared well with the better small sound bars we've tested.

Video performance: During the TV's setup, we determined that "Natural" came closest to providing an accurate picture among the three standard picture presets. Therefore, we used the Natural setting for our Before measurements in the Geek box. The sets main problem was a distinct bluish tinge to dark areas, along with a relatively dark gamma compared with our target of 2.2. For our standard calibration, we took advantage of the advanced picture settings to tweak the grayscale a bit. However, we couldn't do much about the blue in dark areas and gamma actually got darker overall (2.5, despite us choosing the 2.0 setting in the menu; the lowest 1.8 setting was less accutrate). We also took advantage of the CMS to tweak red, green, and cyan slightly, bringing the color points quite close to the HDTV standard.

Our side-by-side comparison pitted the Mitsubishi against a few other higher-end HDTVs we had on-hand, including the Sony KDL-52XBR9, the Samsung LN52B750, the Panasonic TC-P50V10, and the LG 47LH90. Our reference display was the Pioneer PRO-111FD, and we watched "The Dark Knight" on Blu-ray Disc for most of our image quality tests.

Black level: For a standard-backlit LCD, the Mitsubishi delivered among the deepest shades of black we've seen. It came up just short of the Samsung B750 and bested the Sony XBR9 by a hair, overall, but the two plasmas and the LED-backlit LG got darker, as expected. The differences were subtle among the three standard LCDs, but they became most visible in scenes with more black areas, such as the nighttime cityscape at the beginning of Chapter 2, the shadows on the rooftop around Commissioner Gordon, and, as usual, the letterbox bars. In brighter scenes, such as when the Scarecrow steps out of the van in the parking garage, the black level differences evened out until they were nearly indistinguishable between the three standard LCDs.

Details in the shadows, such as the body armor of Batman and his assailants and the exterior of the Batmobile, were quite good, albeit a bit darker and less natural than on the plasmas or the LG. The Samsung and Sony tended to obscure more details than the Mitsubishi in shadows.

Color accuracy: The LT-249 performed relatively well in this department. We appreciated its even grayscale in brighter scenes. This allowed flesh tones like the face of Bruce Wayne's date in Chapter 5 to appear relatively natural, if a bit paler than our reference and most of the other sets. The Mitsubishi's primary and secondary colors were very good, as evidenced by the color of the sea under Wayne's yacht and the jungle in the background. Its green saturation was a bit off because of tweaks we made to the CMS to improve accuracy. Overall, its color saturation was a notch below the Samsung's and about the same as the Sony's, and, again, the plasmas and LG were superior.

The major issue with the LT-249's color accuracy was the bluish cast to dark areas and shadows, a common issue with LCDs. The issue was worse on the blacks of the Samsung than on the Mitsubishi, but the Sony was best among the three standard LCDs.

Video processing: Mitsubishi's 10-step Smooth Film Motion setting it included on the LT-249 affects the amount of smoothness introduced into motion (dejudder) and the amount of motion resolution (antiblur). We wish there was a way to separate the two, as there is on dejudder-equipped Samsung and Toshiba LCDs, but at least you can dial in the amount of smoothing you prefer. We prefer "0."

In our motion resolution tests, the "0" setting delivered between 300 lines and 400 lines, similar to a standard 60Hz LCD. Increasing the setting to "1" scored just about 600 lines, similar to a 120Hz set. Higher settings increased the score proportionately, until the "10" setting maxed out at about 1,080 lines, as good as we've seen from any display. As usual, it was tough to see any blurring regardless of the setting in program material as opposed to test patterns.

Higher settings' dejudder effect became more and more objectionable to our eyes as the smoothing increased, and, as usual, the incidence of artifacts went up along with the setting. At 10, we noticed plenty of breakup around moving images, for example in the grid of the ceiling in batman's hideout in Chapter 7, along with faint halos around Wayne and Alfred's forms. As we turned down the smoothness, the artifacts became rare and less obvious, although the smoothing was still apparent in any setting above zero.

We were happy to see that the LT-249 correctly handled 1080p/24 content when we chose the zero setting. We confirmed this with the flyover scene of the Intrepid from "I Am Legend," where the motion showed the cadence of film without the hitching motion characterized by 2:3 pull-down.

Uniformity: The Mitsubishi fell short of the other sets in our lineup, exhibiting brighter spots in the upper right and left corners that were quite obvious in dark scenes and in the letterbox bars. Much less obvious, the edges of the screen appeared slightly brighter than the middle, although we appreciated that the set otherwise lacked the fainter bright spot variations we saw on the Sony.

We didn't see much difference in off-angle performance between the Mitsubishi and the Sony, and both seemed to preserve black levels a bit better than either the Samsung or the LG--although the differences were slight.

Bright lighting: The Mitsubishi LT-249 uses a glossy screen that, although not quite as shiny as the one on the Samsung, still reflects ambient light sources strongly. In a well-lit room, brighter objects like the open windows in our test facility or a viewer's white shirt were more distracting than on the other sets aside from the Samsung. On the other hand, the Mitsubishi preserved black levels in bright scenes better than the Panasonic plasma, but not as well as the Samsung.

Standard-definition: Showing standard-definition sources the Mitsubishi performed well. When we disabled the SharpEdge function, it delivered every line of the DVD format and the details in the grass and stone bridge from our test disc looked as sharp as we expected them to. The LT-249 series removed more jaggies from diagonal edges and moving lines, as well as from a waving American flag, than any of the other sets aside from the Samsung, which it tied. Its noise reduction was a mixed bag. In many noisy scenes, we didn't notice much effect in any but the "high" setting, which softened the image a bit, while in others Low and Medium were more effective.

PC: With a PC connected via HDMI, the set performed as expected, delivering every line of a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution source with no overscan or edge enhancement.

Power consumption: We did not test the power consumption of the 52-inch LT-52249 series, but we did test the 46-inch model. For more information, refer to the review of the Mitsubishi LT-46249.

How we test TVs.

Audio performance: The LT-249's auto speaker setup routine is similar to that of the average sound bar's. You connect and place the supplied calibration microphone, initiate Mitsubishi's test-tone regimen, and about a minute later you'll be good to go.

The "Master and Commander" Blu-ray Disc immediately demonstrated the LT-249's clarity and lively dynamic performance. Its dialog was crisp and clear, but during the film's naval battle scenes we noted a distinct lack of bass. The LT-249 may have 18 speaker drivers, but 18 tiny drivers can't generate deep bass. Mitsubishi sent us a subwoofer to use with the LT-249, and we recommend owners of this TV connect a sub for best results.

Mitsubishi sent us the Polk PSWi 225 wireless sub, and it really helped fill out the TV's sound. "Master and Commander" had more impact and the sound was now on par with what we get from the better midprice sound bars, like the Sony HT-CT100 (which comes with a subwoofer).

The thing is, though we heard surround effects during the LT-46249's speaker calibration, movie sound was limited to wide stereo, with very little sound projected forward of the speaker. K.D. Lang's "Ingenue" CD sounded gorgeous, but Bruce Springsteen's music revealed the smaller speaker bar's limitations when trying to rock out.

(Audio portions tested and written by CNET contributor Steve Guttenberg)