Mitsubishi WD-52525

Summary: I was motivated to buy this set because:
1) I got a great deal (paid $2699.99 - $500 mail in rebate = $2199.99 net on 04/14/05 from Best Buy)
2) It had the feature set I was looking for, especially the built in tuner, which was rare for DLP models at the time of purchase
3) Cnet rated it favorably

Overall I'm pleased with this set, but I have had my share of problems. I'm pretty picky, especially with expensive purchases, so bear that in mind when reading my critique. This review is based on about 2 months experience with the set.

First the problems:
The first unit had to be reset multiple times in one week (because it froze up), plus I noticed a small cluster of unlit pixels. I returned it to Best Buy and exhanged it for a second unit. The second unit had a later firmware version than the first (4.03 vs. 4.01), but it still had to be reset once shortly after I got it. I contacted Mitsubishi and they sent me a free firmware update (version 4.05). I don't trust that it will completely eliminate the need for resets, but so long as it's a rare event I can tolerate it. Later, while using the THX set up available on The Incredibles DVD, I noticed the screen alignment was titled (by about half an inch) and shifted down. I had a technician correct this (covered under warranty). Part of the adjustment was mechanical, and another part involved using the internal service menu. Now the screen alignment is fine. I've also noticed a faint, circular bright spot in the lower-middle of the screen that is sometimes noticable against a solid black background. I called Mitsubishi to inquire about about the bright spot (which is about 10" in diameter). I was told this is called a "hot spot" and is normal--it is the reflection of light from the lens.

Other gripes:
* The fact that the set has a reset button on the front panel sends warning sirens off in my head. I can understand having such a button, but putting it on the front panel is kind of like admitting that all the bugs have not been worked. People may be accustomed to such things with computers, but when it comes to TVs they're used to simplicity and reliability.
* A fan is always running, even when the unit is off. It's not very loud, but it is noticable in a quiet room and may bother some people. Fan noise is louder when the unit is on (perhaps due to a second fan) and can be heard during quiet scenes or low volume levels. You won't hear the fan in the showroom, but probably will in your home. I don't find this too bothersome, but it was something I did not expect.
* Changing digital channels is slow (~3 seconds). I've heard this is the case with all digital tuners, so it may just come with the territory. Nevertheless, this was not an issue with my old analog set.
* The removable protective screen produces a lot of glare. Personally, I watch TV (mostly movies, actually) in the evening with the lights dimmed, and glare is not an issue in this environment. However, if you watch TV during the day or in a lighted room, it will almost certainly be a major issue and you'll want to remove the protective screen.
* A timer allows you to turn the TV on at a specified time, but unless you press a button on the remote within 5 minutes of it turning on it will automatically turn off. This is annoying because I'd like to use the timer to turn on the TV so I can record digital channels while I'm gone (after all, my VCR can only tune to analog channels) via the monitor output. Note that the monitor output is analog; digital signals are down-converted to analog signals.
* The instruction manual is mediocre. Mine was actually missing one of the pages showing the back panel diagram, which is one of the things I reference most. Fortunately it is available in PDF form on the web, so I just downloaded it and printed the missing page.
* I have not used the CableCARD slot, but I've read that many people have encountered problems with it. Whether it's a problem with the TV or the cable company CableCARD itself, I don't know.
* My wife noticed the rainbow effect after about a month of not seeing it, though she said it was infrequent and didn't really bother her. I haven't seen it.

Praises:
The picture quality from a good source (e.g., DVD or HD) is great. I'm don't even have a progressive DVD player yet, but DVDs still look wonderful. Of course, some discs look better than others. HD channels are better still, but again vary greatly from one to another. The black levels are very pleasing, and there is no screen door effect as there is with LCD projections. I found it hard to evaluate picture quality in the showroom because you often can't compare the models you're interested in side by side, with the same source, with similar picture adjustments. Plus, the WD-52525 usually has the protective shield on in the store, whereas the other models don't, so glare interferes with a fair comparison.

Before purchasing this set, I wasn't sure whether or not to get an integrated digital tuner. Since I don't have cable, I was leaning towards doing so, and I'm glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised that I can receive a number of digital channels. Unlike their analog counterparts (a.k.a snow-vision), the digital stations are pristine (you either get them or you don't), plus the prime-time programming is in high definition. Cable (Cox in my area) only offers a few additional high definition channels (ESPN and Discovery), and you have to pay extra! I was able to get a small, attractive, outdoor antenna from Winegard (the SquareShooter SS-1000, about $100) that gets all the network digital channels in my area (except for ABC, which is clear in analog). I live in Orange County, CA and am about 40 miles from the broadcast towers on Mt. Wilson. Check out http://www.antennaweb.org to see if antenna reception is a good option for you.

Another nice thing about digital stations is that they can carry meta-information about the programming, such as the program title and the channel call letters (e.g. NBC or Fox). The WD-52525 displays this information using ChannelView, an on-screen channel listing. Again, I'm only using an outdoor antenna to get this information. The channel number for digital channels may differ from it's actual frequency assignment. For instance, digital NBC has a frequency assignment of 60, but can also be referenced as 2.1 (the first sub-channel of channel 2). Punching in either 2.1 or 60 on the remote will yield the same thing.

The remote has a logical layout and frequently used buttons are given the priority they deserve. It is on the larger side, but I actually prefer this to the crammed layout of more compact models. The controls on the console itself are also easy to use; I didn't not find this to be so with Samsungs (their controls are on the side and their overloaded use makes them hard to manage).

I was a little surprised to learn that the 16:9 ratio doesn't necessarily eliminate letterboxing seen on some DVDs. Some cinema formats are wider that 16:9, in which case you'll still see horizontal bars, albiet narrower than on a 4:3 set. HD channels, on the other hand, are truly 16:9, and thus don't have bars except when displaying 4:3 content that has been "upconverted" (in which case the bars are vertical). Of course, the TV has various format modes to make the picture fit the screen, but I don't use these because they distort and/or crop the image in order to do so.

In conclusion, this set definately has room for improvement, but is nevertheless a solid performer and I am happy with the purchase. If I were to buy again today, this set would still be a candidate, but I'd also seriously investigate the Samsung, Panasonic, and Toshiba DLP models with a tuner (these didn't have built-in tuners at the time I was buying). Sony, Panasonic, and Hitachi all have competing projection LCD models, but I prefer DLP.

Before making a purchase, I recommend visiting the following sites:
http://www.antennaweb.org - How to get broadcast HD
http://www.avsforum.com - Search the forum for any model you're considering