DailyTech - Mitsubishi Axes DLP Rear Projection TVs

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Gadgets Mitsubishi Axes DLP Rear Projection TVs
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - December 3, 2012 9:31 AM

48 comment(s) - last by CarbonJoe.. on Dec 5 at 11:39 AM

Rear screen projection TVs are dead

Mitsubishi has announced the end of its rear projection screen TVs. For many years if you had big-screen TV, it was typically a rear projection style unit. As pricing on LCD and plasma TV sets came down and screen sizes increased, consumer interest in rear projection TVs waned.

Mitsubishi was the last manufacturer producing these relics from the past, but the company has informed its authorized service centers 73-inch, 82-inch, and 92-inch DLP projection TVs will be discontinued.

Mitsubishi Electrical Visual Solutions America (MEVSA) president and CEO Junichi Nose stated that the change was part of an "important change in business direction, which will necessitate a corresponding restructuring of the MEVSA organization."

MESVA's Max Wasinger added, "We are in the midst of an orderly exit from the DLP TV business. MEVSA will now focus on B-to-B (projectors, display wall, printers, digital signage, monitors, etc.) and the home theater projector business."

Mitsubishi's line of projection screen TVs were far from inexpensive. The 75-inch LaserVue TV sold for about $4,000 at retail locations around the country.

Source: CE Pro

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RE: >.<

By Complinitor on 12/3/2012 11:01:52 AM , Rating: 2

Check your manual - that TV has a nice-sized bulb in the front that is used to shine the little 9" LED screen onto the big screen. I just replaced mine with one from e.bay.

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RE: >.<

By Motoman on 12/3/2012 11:19:45 AM , Rating: 2

Actually, on your recommendation I went and looked at the manual (and in the process remembered it's a 67", not 66" XD).

Manual doesn't say anything at all about it. And searching for it's "replacement bulb" doesn't turn up anything.

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RE: >.<

By kmmatney on 12/3/2012 5:34:10 PM , Rating: 2

I'd be surprised if it doesn't have a bulb. I have a SONY LCD rear projection, and the bulb went out after 3.5 years. We had a 4 year warranty, and had it replaced for free. I probably should have not bought the warranty, though, as you can buy the bulbs on Ebay for $15, and they are easy to replace yourself. I do like my rear projection TV, and it's lasted for 7 years so far, but I'd buy a large, thin, LCD TV if buying today.

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RE: >.<

By Motoman on 12/3/2012 8:34:44 PM , Rating: 1

That's why it's important that mine is an LED DLP. Yours is LCD.

Big difference.

An LED DLP is a permanent device. In theory, with other DLPs they're permanent too, so long as you keep replacing the bulb. LCD and plasma TVs are disposable...when they die, you throw them away.

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RE: >.<

By steven975 on 12/3/2012 11:25:58 AM , Rating: 3

So, first mistake...no LCD screen. It's a DLP.

Second...the LED shines on the mirrors of the DLP chip, reflecting light to the screen. No need to replace the LED.

There ARE projection TVs that use a small LCD screen, but a DLP does not. It is monochrome and uses color filters (the theatrical DLPs use 3 chips, one for each color. The light is almost always a xenon arc lamp (which tend to have a more consistent color temperature).

Then there are LCOS screens, aka SXRD. These use 3 monochrome LCDs on top of a mirror, one for each color. These are very similar to theatrical systems and are especially prized for their handling of motion.

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RE: >.<

By Motoman on 12/3/2012 11:37:06 AM , Rating: 2

Sounds like a guy who knows more about them than I do.

All I know about them is that they are awesome. And it doesn't weigh anything either - it's lighter than our 40" LCD TV we have in another room.

I actually bought mine a few years ago, at the time when they were being phased out of the market. When I asked people why, they said "people want LCDs and plasmas." When I'd ask why, the answer tended to be "because they're thinner."

And sure...my LED DLP is about 16" or so wide at the base. BFD. Sits rather majestically on a regular store-bought TV stand, like you'd get for a large LCD/plasma unit. Who f%cking cares that it's 16" wide at the base, when the picture is awesome and it costs less than 20% of the price of an LCD model? And less than 10% of the cost of a comparably-sized plasma at the time.

$1,800 for a 67" LED DLP with a bulb that never burns out, or ten grand for an LCD of comparable size, or twenty grand for a plasma of comparable size (pricing from a few years ago).

Hmmm...which shall I choose?

People. Don't. Make. Sense.

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RE: >.<

By nrhpd527 on 12/3/2012 2:02:13 PM , Rating: 2

I couldn't agree more. In 2003, when a flat panel in the range of our Mitsubishi 48411 (rear projection CRTV) cost 5-6 times at least what we paid, it was a no brainer to get a RPTV. The thing has the best sound from any TV w/o a receiver I have ever heard, and is better than some surround sound systems I've heard recently in projection clear / even / well-distributed sound around our huge LR.

Most importantly, NOTHING on the market currently can show ice hockey quite like this thing...no streaking, blurring, or pixelation at all. The only way to get close would be finding a used Pioneer Elite Plasma that would still run more than I paid for this 9 years ago.

That said, the Mits is also a monster to move around (we occasionally watch a DVR'd show or 2 during dinner or when doing work at the island (the wife and I both teach), so moving that thing around not only is a pain, but our walls have taken untold numbers of beatings from the sharp corners.

We are actually in the process of moving the Mits to the study as part of a "man cave" setup and got a cheap LED-LCD (like $699) for the wife's "mom cave" in the living room...I just hope that when I sit on the couch and watch a hockey game on it the 1st time I don't cry because the picture sucks...but then again, if it does, I guess that just means my hockey watching is moving into the study...

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RE: >.<

By TakinYourPoints on 12/3/12, Rating: 0

RE: >.<

By CarbonJoe on 12/5/2012 11:29:31 AM , Rating: 2

No, the Samsung HLT series DLPs had 3 Phlatt Light LEDs for the light source (Red, Green, and Blue LEDs). No bulb, as well as no color wheel to fail. No rainbow effect as well.

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