Who Makes the Best DLP TV? - Samsung vs. Mitsubishi

Who Makes the Best DLP TV? - Samsung vs. Mitsubishi
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Big, but Better?

DLP HDTVs are a funny breed. They are the strong, silent type, happy to sit in the corners of big-box retailers while the dashing, thin LCD and plasma models take all the front-and-center glory. The DLP models know that while they may not look as modern or cool as the LCD and plasma HDTVs, they offer a large, beautiful picture for thousands less then any other technology. A curious consumer worried about having to lay down four thousand dollars to buy a huge HDTV is likely to notice this as well and begin wondering - just who is known for being great at building DLP HDTVs? The answers lie below.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi’s entries into the HDTV market have always seemed very timid in the realm of more conventionally sized HDTVs, but Mitsubishi has been far more bold in the realm of 60" and larger DLP sets. Mitsubishi’s DLP products start of at 60" and creep their way up into the massive realm of HDTVs with a screen size of nearly 90 inches. That is a truly massive television, but those who have very large home theaters or living rooms may need something of that size.

The picture quality of Mitsubishi’s DLP products is consistent, but tends to leave something to be desired mainly in the realm of sharpness. Recent review of Mitsubishi sets have also suggested that color accuracy is not a strong suit. On the other hand, connectivity and aesthetics seem to be solid. Virtually all of Mitsubishi’s current DLP products have very thin bezels which create the striking illusion that the HDTV picture is floating in air when viewed from the front. HDMI ports are plentiful, as well, making it easy to hook up an entire home theater.

But more then anything, Mitsubishi’s DLP sets are impressive because of their price. Mitsubishi HDTVs of up to the 73" size are not hard to find for under two grand, and the still-large 60" models can be found for around $1200 big ones with a little digging. This makes it much more affordable for families to buy a large HDTV rather than settling on a smaller LCD or plasma model.

Samsung

Samsung’s DLP entries provide great quality but are still inexpensive

There doesn’t appear to be any part of the HDTV market that Samsung isn’t dipping its toe into. Samsung offers LCD, plasma, and DLP HDTVs, and has gained a reputation for quality in all three arenas. Compared to Mitsubishi, which offers a large range of product in sizes from 60 to nearly 90 inches, Samsung’s DLP line-up looks slim. Currently, they only offer a few sets in sizes from 61 to 72 inches. That said, Samsung’s lack of variety is made up for by impressive quality. Their 6-series products are quite impressive, but the 7-series sets are the best reviewed DLP HDTVs currently available. Compared to Mitsubishi, the Samsung 7-series products offer much better color accuracy and a somewhat sharper picture.

Nothing comes for free, however, and so those looking for a DLP HDTV can expect that the Samsung products will command a price which is usually a few hundred dollars more than the cost of Mitsubishi set of similar size. Even with this price hike over their competitors, Samsung’s DLP products are still vastly cheaper then LCD and plasma HDTVs offering a similar amount of screen real-estate.

Conclusions

Mitsubishi and Samsung are the only companies still making DLP HDTVs. Sony was once a serious competitor in this market but decided to stop investing into DLP technology in favor of their popular line of LCD sets. Some Sony HDTVs are still available as leftover stock and are worth a look if the price is seriously slashed. Otherwise, the decision is exclusively between Samsung and Mitsubishi, and it is a decision that large comes to quality versus cost. Personal preference aside, the Samsung products have better pictures overall. The Mitsubishi sets are less expensive, however. And if you’re looking for a set which is over 72 inches in size, Mitsubishi will be the only option.