Why don't more talk about the LaserVue DLPs?

[alkemyst]

I saw two of the models tonight and I must say I was impressed.

Why don't more people talk about them, is it just because the pricing is high and/or not wall mountable?

I am considering the top Pioneer and Sharp models too.

I admit I am not split plasma vs LCD/LED that much anymore, it seems the premium models have addressed much of the shortcomings in the past.

I am planning on spending up to $3000-4000 tops but also think that is a bit insane in today's market with so many good sets out there. I did spend $2099 for a 35" CRT in 1995 though, that I replaced with a 32" Toshiba Cinema series tube equipped set in 1997 for $750. I wish I bought the 36" version, but there was a pricing error Best Buy was going to honor for me on the 32" version (should have been $1250 on sale, they printed the sale card wrong and swapped prics between it and an inferior model). I am still using this set today and it's been great except recently the S-Video died.

I had this TV calibrated and 're-calibrate' it yearly with my Avia disc. While my friend's modern sets are 'crisper' for things like channel guides and on-screen text, watching movies are more life-like on my set short of any of my buddies uber setups.

 

[nsafreak]

The general trend seems to be towards wall mounting displays which of course can't be done with DLP TVs. Granted a good plasma displays is absolutely outstanding in terms of picture quality and black levels but you tend to get more bang for you buck when it comes to DLP still. This is especially true with the LaserVue DLP displays. I say if you want a nice big picture with outstanding quality and aren't concerned about the amount of space it takes up (and really the LaserVue DLPs don't take up that much space) then I would go for one.

 

[mmntech]

TigerDirect is selling 73'' Mitsubishi DLPs for $1215 right now. Which is a great deal for such a massive screen.

 

[alkemyst]

The thing that most people do is wall mount their screen almost in the same location it would have been sitting on the furniture below it. I do agree that even the LaserVue juts out a foot more than most LCD/Plasmas...but so do true audiophile speakers...

 

[JackBurton]

I saw two of the models tonight and I must say I was impressed.

Why don't more people talk about them, is it just because the pricing is high and/or not wall mountable?

I am considering the top Pioneer and Sharp models too.

I admit I am not split plasma vs LCD/LED that much anymore, it seems the premium models have addressed much of the shortcomings in the past.

I am planning on spending up to $3000-4000 tops but also think that is a bit insane in today's market with so many good sets out there. I did spend $2099 for a 35" CRT in 1995 though, that I replaced with a 32" Toshiba Cinema series tube equipped set in 1997 for $750. I wish I bought the 36" version, but there was a pricing error Best Buy was going to honor for me on the 32" version (should have been $1250 on sale, they printed the sale card wrong and swapped prics between it and an inferior model). I am still using this set today and it's been great except recently the S-Video died.

I had this TV calibrated and 're-calibrate' it yearly with my Avia disc. While my friend's modern sets are 'crisper' for things like channel guides and on-screen text, watching movies are more life-like on my set short of any of my buddies uber setups.

Pioneer no longer makes TV's. Did you mean Panasonic?

As for LaserVue, it has few things working against it, size (bulk), questionable reliability and price. Early models also had issues with "sparkles" that would appear randomly on the screen, but that may have been resolved in the newer models.

All in all, IMO LaserVue is WAAAY overpriced. When Mitsubishi first released it in 2008/2009, the 70"+ model went for ~$7000, the same price as the 60" Pioneer Elite 141FD which was in a league of its own (not even comparable). Since then the price has come down considerably, however still way too high for a rear projector TV IMO. If Mitsubishi released it at ~$2K-3K I think they'd have a real winner on their hands. But not at their current asking price.

As for your price range, you're looking at a 65" Panasonic VT or 60" Sharp Elite. The 70" Sharp Elite is considerably over your budget at $5.5K street price ($7K+ MSRP). the 75" LaserVue should also fit in your price range, but you're looking at the A94, not the A96 model. The A96 model is also outside that price range.

 

[Kaido]

edit: double post

 

[Kaido]

TigerDirect is selling 73'' Mitsubishi DLPs for $1215 right now. Which is a great deal for such a massive screen.

We have the 60" version. It is amazing. I can't rave enough about it. It is second only to the Pioneer Kuro, which only beats it for cartoons (CGI, animation) due to the glossy screen & black levels. The DLP does skintones better though, imo (live-action film, etc.).

I would really like to see a Laservue in person someday...I can hardly imagine something better than my existing DLP! :biggrin:

 

[Anubis]

they are nice but they are/were over priced, not a trendy, and have close to zero store presence. i dont think there is anyplace within hours of me that has one on display. most people buy what they can see at like Best Buy and BB carrys 0 DLPs. ALso DLPs main benefit is the ability for larger sizes and the number pf people who want a TV larger than 60 inches is small, and some of those just go with a PJ

depending on the cost if you want large the 70 inch LCDs from Sharp are decently priced, Current "best" is generally the Elite Sharp, Panasonics VT line and Sonys HX929. the Sharp and Sony will push your budget

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, I would have to agree that the lack of store presence and it not being "trendy" definitely works against it. I'm lucky that there are a few stores close to me that carry them otherwise I probably would not have been able to convince my wife to buy one. My two criteria at the time we bought our DLP was PQ and size. For under $2k at 65" there wasn't anything else on the market at the time that could touch it IMHO. Even today I think one would be hard pressed to find something comparable. Obviously I could care less about wall mounting so that was never a factor.

I would gladly buy a Laservue...but we certainly didn't want to spend $4k on a TV at the time. I would still gladly buy one, but only if I didn't have the proper space for a projector.

I have to say though, what really bugs me about flat panel TVs is how they are basically disposable. Very expensive disposable electronics. I hate that. At least with a DLP all the major components are easily replaceable should they fail and it will still be far cheaper than buying a new TV.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah, I would have to agree that the lack of store presence and it not being "trendy" definitely works against it. I'm lucky that there are a few stores close to me that carry them otherwise I probably would not have been able to convince my wife to buy one. My two criteria at the time we bought our DLP was PQ and size. For under $2k at 65" there wasn't anything else on the market at the time that could touch it IMHO. Even today I think one would be hard pressed to find something comparable. Obviously I could care less about wall mounting so that was never a factor.

I would gladly buy a Laservue...but we certainly didn't want to spend $4k on a TV at the time. I would still gladly buy one, but only if I didn't have the proper space for a projector.

I have to say though, what really bugs me about flat panel TVs is how they are basically disposable. Very expensive disposable electronics. I hate that. At least with a DLP all the major components are easily replaceable should they fail and it will still be far cheaper than buying a new TV.

I think that's what it really boils down to. Everyone who's seen my 60" Mitsi DLP in person agrees that it's one of the best pictures they've ever seen, and yet all of them go buy flatscreens and hang them on their wall. No one wants a thick TV anymore, no matter how good the quality is. I only know a couple other new-DLP owners in person and they all love them, but they are rare...

Last time I saw one in person at retail was years ago at BB...

 

[NutBucket]

My wife complains that the picture isn't as "bright" as LCD/Plasma.

What she means is the colors are typically blown out on the store displays and she likes that? I tell her that the whole point of buying a high end TV is for realistic PQ. She disagrees. Oh well

 

[purbeast0]

I think that's what it really boils down to. Everyone who's seen my 60" Mitsi DLP in person agrees that it's one of the best pictures they've ever seen, and yet all of them go buy flatscreens and hang them on their wall. No one wants a thick TV anymore, no matter how good the quality is. I only know a couple other new-DLP owners in person and they all love them, but they are rare...

Last time I saw one in person at retail was years ago at BB...

im replacing my 50" samsung dlp, that I bought back in 2004, most likely with a 60" plasma that i will be hanging on the wall. the asthetics is a big reason of getting a wall mounted tv though, it just takes up less room and looks nice. also the input lag is a big reason i'm going with that model most likely.

my 50" tv still has an awesome picture, don't get me wrong, and i replaced the bulb a while back as well as the color wheel, which is cool because you can fix them yourself.

it's sad though that i'm not even getting any bites on craigslist for the TV + the matching stand for $400. i paid $3000 for the TV and the stand was $300 lol.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

We have a LaserVue 75 in our kitchen/stage area at work. Epic picture quality.

I'm a fan of DLP sets. Still using a Sony 55A3000 LCOS at home.

 

[sdifox]

more interested in 3 dlp laser driven projector

 

[alkemyst]

pioneer tv's are still available whether made currently or not.

 

[JackBurton]

pioneer tv's are still available whether made currently or not.

Do you even know what "Pioneer" model you're looking for? Let me be specific, Pioneer no longer makes TV's so it will be very difficult to purchase a new in box TV (Last models were produced in 2009). If you do however find one NIB, it will most likely be outside your budget. You might be able to find a 50" within your budget, but I doubt you'll be able to find a 60" within your budget now. Is it impossible? No. But it's not very likely.

The other option is to go used, and I wouldn't recommend that.

 

[soulcougher73]

I'll sell you my Pioneer KRP-500M calibrated by D-Nice for 3k

 

[boomhower]

I wanted to get a DLP but when I needed a TV was the one week when they weren't on sale anywhere so I ended up with a plasma. I think DLP's are great. Good picture and massive screen for the money.

 

[Pacfanweb]

TigerDirect is selling 73'' Mitsubishi DLPs for $1215 right now. Which is a great deal for such a massive screen.

Not a Laservue, though.

Laservue's are awesome. They did very well in comparison to the Kuro when they were released.

Only trouble with them is the same thing as with any DLP these days.....bulk.

Everyone wants to hang their new TV on the wall, and unless you have one hell of a shelf, it's not happening with one of these.

For the money they go for now, you can't beat the combo of size and PQ. Basically 3100 bucks for a 75". No other TV that size can touch it, and certainly not for that price.

 

[sdifox]

Not a Laservue, though.

Laservue's are awesome. They did very well in comparison to the Kuro when they were released.

Only trouble with them is the same thing as with any DLP these days.....bulk.

Everyone wants to hang their new TV on the wall, and unless you have one hell of a shelf, it's not happening with one of these.

For the money they go for now, you can't beat the combo of size and PQ. Basically 3100 bucks for a 75". No other TV that size can touch it, and certainly not for that price.

I want this :awe:


http://www.extremetech.com/electron...a-laser-projector-on-display-at-nab-show-2012

 

[alkemyst]

Not a Laservue, though.

Laservue's are awesome. They did very well in comparison to the Kuro when they were released.

Only trouble with them is the same thing as with any DLP these days.....bulk.

Everyone wants to hang their new TV on the wall, and unless you have one hell of a shelf, it's not happening with one of these.

For the money they go for now, you can't beat the combo of size and PQ. Basically 3100 bucks for a 75". No other TV that size can touch it, and certainly not for that price.

I sort of agree. I am debating my next purchase. Most don't understand how much a difference the Laservue is even comparing within Mitsubishi's own lineup.

IMHO it will jut out no more than a standard AV reciever or amp. So unless you have those inset into the wall, you aren't losing much.

 

[NutBucket]

Exactly right. And most people don't wall mount; the TV sits on a stand of some sort. Guess what, the DLP stand isn't any deeper. Its just wider