Customer Reviews

Mitsubishi WD-73638 73-Inch 3D-Ready DLP HDTV

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an a/v nut. My other TV is a 10 foot projector. I love this TV. The picture looks fantastic. It makes my 60" phillips I had look terrible. I have not purchased the converter box for the 3d but it's coming soon. The audio is good. The remote is not great but I use dish network's remote anyways.

There are some MINOR critiques. I can say is it takes over ten seconds to start up every time you turn it on, for the projector inside it to light up the bulb. You get used to it, and it is not a big issue. The other thing is that the screen (which is very good at not casting reflections with it's matte finish) is flat in the center but has a slight crown in the corners, which is visible if you're looking for the matte reflection (as it's EXTREMELY well hidden, and only seen when you look for screen's reflection).

Where else are you going to find 73" of screen at this price? And it's incredible looking as well.

Please keep in mind, Mitsubishi's DLP is not like an LCD, LED OR Plasma. Thus so far my experience with LCD'S & PLASMAS is, no matter where or how much light is in your tv room it's crystal clear HDTV. This being my first experience with DLP is great it's like your at the movies everyday. Can't beat it. But,please note, "YOU MUST HAVE OR MAKE A MOVIE ROOM" in order to view this DLP. I had to make a "movie room", a room that is dark and narrow seating for viewing. For I noticed this DLP is only best viewable in sitting directly or nearably center of it (longitude and latitude as well). I noticed that the DLP Screen when viewing from the sides, slightly below or slightly above you get a terrible dim/ lifeless image (Dark shadowy). Definitely not HDTV, and if you have the sun-shinning in the same room of your DLP, it's worse than rabbit ear tv. My last bit of advise is that I Strongly recommended you to Please View a large screen DLP TV in person at your local Best Buy or whatever, before buying a DLP and make your own decision from there. If you like it, then set up your DLP like your local movie theaters, and you'll never need to go to the movie theater again.

I've had this TV for a couple months now, so it's a good time to review. All the other rave reviews are right on target. You can't get this large and high quality a picture for near this price - and this beats a projector in brightness and simplicity of use, and also price. I am 100% happy with this purchase and would do it again! It's an amazing theater experience in the home. This is now the movie house - so if you get this, expect neighbors and friends to invite themselves over! Couple this with a great surround sound system, and the only reason to go to a theater is to see a brand new movie, or just get out. It's really that good. Watching "Planet Earth" in Bluray is killer! You're there!

There are things that a potential buyer should know so there are no surprises:

-Off axis viewing is reduced in brightness and detail, whether vertically (especially vertically) or horizontally. So, if your Home Theater or living room situation calls for viewing way from the side (a bit is fine - I have a chair by the wall and viewing is still 90% of what it is straight on), or if you're going to lie on the floor and watch - then I'd go with a 65 inch Panasonic Plasma instead (great TV, no off axis issues at all, but more bucks per screen size and heavier).

-The color wheel mechanism makes a faint noise. Nothing I notice with even soft music on or even quiet scenes in a movie, but a bit more noise than my Pani Plasma TV upstairs.

-Colors are ultra rich and beautiful! You may want to turn the color down a notch for a more real to life picture, but I've left it heavy on color with the original settings, because it's fun. Just know it's a bit over the top in the original setting. Watching "Finding Nemo" in the stock settings is electric and stunning!

-The screen is plenty bright for my use - and my room has windows. I imagine in a very bright room, it might get a bit more washed out, eg: if sunlight is coming directly in, but it's not like a projector where light in the room really kills the experience. In a typical room, this is not going to be a problem. No, it's not as bright as LCD or Plasma, but most of us don't need it to be.

-Even with regular 2D sources, the picture is so detailed and so big, that there is tremendous depth to the picture - such that it feels almost 3D like.

-I researched the heck out of this, and nothing else compares to the combination of quality, size and price.

-CONCLUSION: if off axis limitations are not an issue for your space, and you want the biggest picture for the price you can get, by all means, you won't regret this purchase!

I bought this through Amazon and had a top notch experience. I also purchased a two year service contract (square trade) which I found very reasonable.

Enjoy!

This television rocks! This thing has an unbelievable picture for the price. Don't shy away from DLP. The technology is tried and true. Most theaters use DLP projectors for their 3D movies. In the day and age of plasma and LCD, projection televisions are the new Kirstie Alley of sets. Sure, they're a little fatter, but in your heart, you know they're beautiful. The picture is unbelievably clear. The speakers may brag that they have some sort of surround technology, but don't be fooled. This television needs separate speakers as the ones provided in the set struggle to produce a believable autobot transformation sound. Using this TV with the enclosed speakers is akin to buying a 2010 Camaro with 15" rims. Sure, it rolls okay, but don't try any fancy cornering or you will find yourself in a ditch. The picture is what this TV is all about. Everyone who sees it is stunned at its clarity, including the Dish Network installer. Try it out. It might not be sexy like the new LED lit, LCD televisions, but it is every bit as clear and at about 1/3 the price, it's definitely worth a look.

This is my second Mitsubishi DLP TV. My first one was purchased 4 years ago and was 57".
Down side on DLP TV's are if you use them often, about every 2 years you will need to replace the light bulb.

I ordered this one from Amazon. I was amazed that the shipping was free and I could pick a time for delivery.
The TV arrived on time, and received no damage in shipping.

The picture quality in HD via DirectTV is excellent. The screen is HUGH.
Sound quality is semi-poor. The sound on the 57" was much better.
The Mitsubishi remote works well but I can not program the DirectTV remote to work with this TV, so I am stuck using two remotes or buying a new universal remote to control both.

Well, after my first DLP TV which was a Toshiba and a nightmare, and after 4 years of watching the LG 60" plasma, which still works fine, I decided I wanted a larger TV, but didn't want to wait till the new large LED LCD's come out. I also am not into all of that internet streaming and the stuff the kids like to do. So after many times at my favorite store, and many measurements, I took the plunge and bought another DLP. I unboxed this TV on Saturday the 26th, and fired it up. The picture right out of the box was very good, but the TV had a ton of video noise on the sides and in white scenes. I tamed down the factory settings to what I thought would be livable, and watched TV and blu-rays till 2 a.m. I went to bed angry because I thought I had made another mistake buying another DLP TV, and was going to call my store and tell them I was going to bring it back and get another plasma, due to the video noise and burning eyes. My store's DLP specialist got on the phone and told me they would gladly exchange it, but to please keep it till I put 100 hours on it and it should settle down. So that Sunday, I started reading several Mitsubishi DLP forums as to the proper adjustments. I left home from about noon till two that day, and when I came back and turned the TV on, most of the Video noise had subsided. I made some adjustments, and was absolutely amazed at the picture quality of this TV, especially how natural the color is. I also took the DLP specialist's advice and bought the Monster HTS MK III constant power center. I plugged in my APC battery backup into the Monster and turned the TV on, and like a miracle, the picture on my Uverse was so crisp and clear I was actually shocked. All of the video noise was gone. I now have over 100 hours on it and have run the calibration disc, and the picture is breathtaking. Buy the way, I have a DVDO Edge connected to this TV, and that made fine tuning the calibration a breeze. The friends that Ive had over also stated that the picture on this TV was absolutely breathtaking. Now, if I can get a year per bulb, I will be one very happy camper, and honestly, I think Mitsubishi has actually figured out the DLP, and how to make it last and work, that is why they still make them. For that I am glad, because it is a great way to have a very large TV at an affordable price, and a top quality picture too. I love my LG plasma, but the color on the DLP is much better and more natural. I work second shift, so my TV gets quite a bit of use, so I plan to update this review at a later date. I am also afraid that I do not agree with the people that knock the TV's speakers. They do not sound that bad, and as a matter of fact they sound better than my LG's. Come on, they are TV speakers, not a 7.2 surround sound and for every day viewing and listening, they are fine for me. I also have my Yamaha 7.2 surround connected and with a blu-ray movie, this TV is like being in the theater. The remote, is simple, and gets the job done. Set-up took about 10 minutes once I turned it on, and now I am a very happy DLP customer. For those of you that have these TVs I highly recommend you purchase a battery backup for the TV, so if you should loose power, the fan will still run and cool the bulb. Additionally, if you connect the battery back up, connect it through your power strip to keep the video noise to a minimum. I sit about 12 to 15 feet from this TV and it seems to be the perfect distance for this monster. It also looks good in the living room where I have it. So if you are looking but undecided, maybe this review will help you make the decision. It is plain and simple, but for picture quality, it really delivers. I hope this helps those that are on the fence.

UPDATE: I now have over 300 viewing hours on this TV. I highly recommend that if you are looking at the higher end Mitsubishi DLP's like the 738 or the 838, save the money. Buy this one, and spring for the DVDO EDGE. My friends come in to my living room, and their jaws drop at the picture on this TV, because of the DVDO's precise settings. However, I must agree with an earlier review, non HD channels could look a little better, but I am not complaining because most all programming is in HD. I have Uverse, and I have had a lot of trouble with my picture freezing. When the Uverse Tech came out for the sixth time, they finally wired the whole system with cat 5 cable, and I have not had trouble since. The fact is, the tech called me the next day and told me he went out and bought this same TV, and wanted to know where to get the DVDO Edge. I told him Amazon, and I went to his place the next week and helped him set his TV up. One last comment for those on Uverse with coax and have picture freezing problems. When this tech came out, the first thing he did was pull the wall plates, and found that all 4 of my coax connections from the wall to the plate were loose, and for Uverse, they must be tight. So if you have this problem, pull your wall plates and check your coax connections to the plates, since this is a national problem. I am sure the coax would have been fine with the plates tightened, but the tech did the cat 5 for me, because we were so far into it, and it only took one drop of 2 wires. I LOVE THIS TV even more so than the LG 60 inch plasma which looks a little gaudy on my dresser in the bedroom, but it still works fine. The color on this DLP blows away all others because of the 6 color wheel verses the 3 colors on LCD and Plasma. Also, a constant power supply is a must to eliminate video noise from both the DVDO and the TV both. My picture looks like you could literally step right into the action. More to come.

OK, my DLP is now 3 months old, and it has been through many power failures with all of the tornadoes and bad storms in Texas this year. I am running an APC battery backup, but only to cover the cool down period for the lamp. Tonight when I shut it off I'll have 1,012 hours on it and it is still perfect. I am keeping the log to see exactly how long the lamp actually lasts. By the way, the Mitsubishi stand also made a big difference, dropping my TV from 20.5 inches to 16.9 which is perfect from my viewing distance of 15 feet. I am a real stickler about my products, and as much as I still like my LG 60 Plasma which is in my bedroom, the picture and color quality of this TV is like being in the movie theater. Remember, if you are thinking about the higher end 73, don't. Buy the 638 and a DVDO Edge, and it turns this TV into lifelike performance every time you watch TV. I have all of my equipment going through the DVDO, and that up converts even my UVERSE from 1080i to 1080p 24hz. This TV and the DVDO gives you a theater performance every time you turn it on, and mine is on a lot. If mine failed today, I'd but another one, but I have a service contract so its good for 3 more years. At just over a grand, and 400 for the DVDO, you have your own home theater. When more 3d blu-rays are available I'll go 3d. Also, I bought a spare lamp and housing on Amazon for $79. But here is the link to get the same Mits replacement lamp and housing form Amazon for about $65. [...]. So far, this is the absolute best TV buy for the money out there.

Very nice clear picture on a huge screen. Great price for a TV this size. The picture is not quite as bright or dynamic as my 3 year old Samsung 50" plasma but it is still a very good picture. You also can hear a slight humming coming from the TV if you listen closely. That is not a problem for me since I usually have my stereo hooked up but if you try and hear the humming you will.

I have been casually shopping lcd's and plasmas but went with DLP because the pictures on the new flatscreens these days have outpaced Hollywood and it is hard for me to get into a movie when all I can see are make up lines and blemishes on the actors, (Bruce Willis looks OLD on an lcd! kinda depressing cuz that means I'm getting old too) and all the obviously fake sets. Even the CGI looks hokey IMO. Having said that the mits has a BEAUTIFUL picture. Crystal clear and crisp even in daylight. With the 73' watching sports it's like the play starts in your living room and they score in your dining room----AWESOME! At $1199 by far the best bang for the buck of anything out there right now. The speakers suck, suck, suck so you will want to hook it up to an amp. 3d ready means you have a choice of buying a panasonic 3d bdp which decodes to their checkerboard signal or you pony up some bucks to mitsubishi for the adapter. The 7 and 8 series mits come with a 3d firmware update so the mits adapter is hopefully coming down in price for us cheapskate 638 buyers. Mine was built 9/2010 and did NOT come with the cheesy looking grey speakers. Not as much screen control as the higher end models but this was a non issue as the presets all look fantastic. Bottom line this is the perfect pricepoint monitor for home theater or sports.

I bought a DLP projector a few years ago to watch movies outside and in my bedroom and soon my wife and I found we wanted to watch everything on a huge screen. We found we were using our still very nice 42" 1080p plasma less and less and after about 2 years of searching for a larger HDTV that had great picture at an affordable price I bought this tv because it is by far the largest high picture quality tv I could find at a price I could justify. Nearly all of the reviews I have read on this have been positive, other than a few unfortunate people having lamps fail with in a year, so I decided to buy this tv and I am glad I did. It works great as a monitor and HD movies and tv look amazing. The only downside I have found with the tv is that standard definition programs on a bright 73" do not look great but that is not a fault of the tv.
This tv is great even with all the lights on and indirect sunlight. These are of much higher quality than the projection tv's of 15 years ago. This tv is nearly as bright as my plasma. It is great with the lights on but with the lights low and watching a blu-ray you will be blown away. This is a great tv!

if you buy the Panasonic DMP-BDT100 3D/2D Blu-Ray DVD Player, the Optoma BG-ZD101 DLP Link 3D Glasses with 3 Interchangeable Nose Pieces (Red) their is no need for the Mitsubishi converter kit. the Panasonic DMP-BDT100 does 3D checkerboard format right out of the box and the Optoma BG-ZD101 DLP Link 3D Glasses do not need an emitter to work. TV works great and the 3D is excellent. FYI you can use the PS3 if you use the Mitsubishi converter kit. However it is a cheaper option to buy the Panasonic DMP-BDT100 and the Optoma BG-ZD101 DLP Link 3D Glasses.