Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
 Sound And Vision - A New Standard Is Set! September 14, 2008
Martin A Hogan (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules))
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
For several years I have hunted around electronic stores for a good television and sound system. Every salesman told me that people will spend thousands on a screen, but barely anything for sound. This made no sense to me. I ended up with a 5.1 Denon surround system to go with my 27" tube television. Then Mitsubishi releases the first high-quality flat screen television with an integrated sound system that actually produces surround sound. It is an impressive set.
Set-up is fairly easy, as when you first plug in a cable from your DVD player or Cable/Dish, a screen pops up called, "Auto Output Sensing", which guides you through each device.
VIDEO: The border of the LT-46149 is surrounded by a 1" black frame and a 4.5" bottom which includes the Integrated Sound Projector. The screen is a matte plastic that barely reflects any light, even when exposed to lots of indirect light. LCD screens are also lighter than Plasma and are more energy efficient. The setup is fairly intuitive with an array of adjustable features such as contrast, brightness, tint, sharpness, color range, etc. all which produce a truly realistic and vibrant color. This model contains an `international color standard' that supports 1.8 times more colors. I can tell just by adjusting the color setup that this flat screen color quality far surpasses anything I have seen in a store. Television transmission (I use Direct TV Satellite) is very good, but DVD movies are as crisp as anything I have ever seen (I have a SONY DVD/SACD player). You can also adjust the screen ratio to fit your style, such as stretch (Letterbox), stretch plus, narrow, zoom, and expand and standard (Full Screen). I was surprised to find there is no "Picture in picture" feature, but my Direct TV Satellite has a similiar feature.
AUDIO: This is what put this system over the top for me. Without wires and 16 small projecting speakers at the base of the screen, the LT-46149 produces an amazing surround sound. Now I have a 5.1 surround system which produces specific sounds from specific speakers. The Integrated Sound Projector produces a surround sound by transmitting the sounds to different walls and areas of your room. The setup can be customized by use of a colored plan diagram on the screen showing your seating position and the angles of the sound. You can adjust center, left, right, left (surround), right (surround), etc. until the sound is balanced according to your liking. It is not as pure as having a specific speaker producing one channel, but it is more of an all-encompassing surround sound (called Pro Logic II Simulated Surround Sound). It's actually a more realistic surround sound as opposed to a studio recording where different instruments come from different positions. I'm a hard-core audiophile, so I like both versions. If you just want a brilliant sound without the hassle of several speakers and wires, you'll be amazed. Plus, if you add a subwoofer, the richness of the sound is complete. I recommend a Yamaha or a Denon subwoofer and both can be purchased for less than $100. You really do need a subwoofer to experience the full range of the sound.
COOL STUFF: Besides a fairly easy setup program, the LT-46149 comes with lots of extras.
*There is a USB Photo Port easily accessible on the back where you can plug in your camera or card reader to watch a slideshow of your favorite shots or video.
*There is a clock setting to turn the television on or off according to your preferences.
*If you have children, you can `Lock' programs by their Ratings or Time. You can also lock the remote control - period.
*The remote control can be used to control other devices (DVD, VCR, DVR) by using the enclosed IR Emittor (these are small transmitters placed by the remote signal receptor of your desired device).
*The system is `Blu-Ray', MP3 player and gaming compatible.
*There is a free TV Guide Daily service available as well.
*However, this system does not come with the `kitchen sink'.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you begin, you need to know what cables to buy. Call the manufacturer of your DVD player and ask them if your model is CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) compatible. If it is, you need to buy/use an "HDMI to HDMI" cable. If it is not, you need to buy/use a triple color-coded "Component Video Cable" (connects High & Standard Definition A/V components). All these items can be purchased locally or on Amazon.com.
I am a bit surprised at how long it took any manufacturer to come up with an integrated sound system with a high-quality flat screen television. This system does the trick and more!
Superior sound and picture for a standalone system! Nice looking, too! September 16, 2008
Mahlers2nd
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
Here is a mom's perspective on this TV. In audiofile land, they talk about a component's "WAF" -- "Wife Approval Factor". In other words, if a system looks crummy, it doesn't matter HOW great it is -- it is still not a joy to have in your home. While I'm pretty tolerant in terms of the whole WAF thing -- even I was reaching my limit with our GINORMOUS Projection TV. I kept PRAYING that the thing would die so we would have an excuse to replace it!
We have had a HUGE (think sports bar HUGE) rear projection TVs since 1997. We splurged on the big screen TV when our first child was born figuring that we wouldn't get out much any more -- and we were right! We upgraded to a projection Toshiba HDTV a couple of years ago which we bought used on Craigslist and while the picture was ok, it didn't knock us over. The colors were washed out; the brightness was ... well, not very bright (difficult viewing during the day), and the screen showed handprints, nose prints (dogs and humans) and other dirt to where you could barely focus on the picture.
The sides of the screen were beginning to reflect "burn-in" -- or something along those lines since the edges were significantly darker than the rest of the picture. So we decided the time had come to enter the modern age and go for an LCD panel display. We spent a lot of time going online to do research on the latest and greatest models and went to the Big Box stores to see side by side comparison of the various pictures.
We ultimately selected the Mitsubishi LT-46149 (46" LCD). We selected this based on a few factors: the Mitsubishi image quality was far superior to virtually any other manufacturer. We were interested in the Integrated Sound Projector feature, which is new to this model. Also, the flexibility and extensability of peripherals and ease of setup was a plus.
The TV set arrived last week via Amazon's "White Glove Service". Note -- if your system is any more complicated than the co-ax cable coming out from the wall, "WGS" doesn't help you very much -- they basically just hooked it up on the floor to the co-ax cable, turned it on to prove that it wasn't DOA and then left me to fend for myself! Fortunately, I was able to figure it out (as my screen name implies -- I'm the "wife" in the family and my husband usually handles all things technical but since he wasn't home, I REALLY wanted to try out my new toy and didn't want to have to wait -- my point is if *I* could figure out how to set it up properly, anyone can!).
At first, we hooked it up using the native sound. There is sub-woofer support so we hooked up the subwoofer based on the manufacturer's recommendation. We quickly disconnected the sub-woofer because the TV was sending sound at too high a frequency to the sub-woofer. The Sub should be used to amplify the base. However, it was being treated like an "auxillary speaker" and you could actually here dialogue and normal sounds coming from the sub which kind of defeated the purpose of the ISP feature. Perhaps the frequency that sound is sent to the sub is configurable but we weren't able to figure that out (so that part failed the "ease of use" test).
Overall, the sound quality in the ISP is decent -- much better than a typical TV. Because of the placement of the speakers, the soundstage is much wider than a TV which usually has your standard woofer and tweeter. As I indicated, the sub-woofer was a bit disapointing but we could live without it.
We ultimately wound up hooking the TV up to our stereo system and running the sound through the amplifiers and our stereo system. If you can do this, I would highly recommend it since there really is a significant improvement. Think of the difference as the difference between listening to a CD via a clock radio versus a full stereo. While the Clock Radio may be adequate -- for full enjoyment, you are going to want the full audio experience of a real stereo.
Where this TV REALLY SHINES is the superior picture. The picture quality out of the box is outstanding. The colors are gorgeous. The picture is BRIGHT (so you can view it easily with all the lights turned on or in the middle of the day (we have four big windows in our family room so there is a lot of natural daylight). The images are crisp -- even on channels that are not broadcast in HD. The viewing angle is extremely wide -- you can be sitting directly to the side of the TV and still see it well enough to keep up with the on-screen activity.
The picture is just as good regardless of input source. The DVDs look phenomenol (all the nuances to High School Musical 2 we have been missing all this time /* rolling eyes */ ). We also have a Netflix Roku box which provides streaming video on demand and the quality of the image is DVD quality.
The great thing about this set is its flexibilty. If you need a barebones system and don't want to mess with home theater speakers, you won't be disappointed in the sound quality. However, if you want to use this as the cornerstone of a full system including DVD, Sound system, ROKU, Home video -- you have all the connections you need to make it work.
Overall, I STRONGLY recommend this system. If you can't afford a full sound system now, buy this TV and you'll have a system you can enjoy straight out of the box. Then as you upgrade your sound system or DVD system, you have a TV that will be able to keep up with your technology and will not be obsolete in a year or two.
The price that you get from Amazon (especially with the Free Delivery feature) is a great deal. The prices in the big box stores are much higher and you have to haul it home yourself and pay sales tax etc.
While my husband was reluctant to replace the Projection tv, once he saw the quality of the picture, he could not quit gushing. As for the WAF (Wife Approval Factor), I feel like I am no longer living in a sports bar yet I have the "sports bar" viewing experience. Let the Hockey Season begin! (Go St. Louis Blues!!)
NCJAR
Simply awesome video and sound technology September 21, 2008
Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
The name doesn't exactly set the blood rushing through your veins and your pulse pounding: Mitsubishi LT-46149 LCD Flat Panel HDTV.
But from the moment you see the picture, even with an ordinary digital cable or DVD signal, you're going to flip. I certainly did - and the picture was only the beginning of the fun.
If you're looking for a super-fast and concise review, here it is: superb video and beyond-belief sound.
And a lot of bells and whistles that I'll get into. After a few minutes with the LT-46149, I was thinking of Blu-Ray and HD cable, both of which I had little interest in until shortly after turning this unit on.
It was delivered via Amazon's White Glove service, which is a real convenience. They give you a delivery time window and then call when they are about 30 minutes away, a nice touch. The delivery service unboxes the unit - which is a marvelous thing, because the box is quite large. They mount the panel on its stand, make sure it works and will remove the box, if you like. Overall, it takes the pain out getting this unit into your home.
Before I get into the really fun part, all the features of this unit and the user experience, I have to comment (profusely) on Mitsubishi TV's customer and support: it is absolutely outstanding. Even though it is based off-shore, the representatives speak flawless, almost unaccented English. They listen carefully. They ask questions. When they don't know something, they say so and get an answer. I don't know if they're working from a script or not, but they sure sound interested in you and your problem. You've probably guessed already that I encountered a problem (defective user - me) and had to call. Outfits like Dell could learn a great deal about treating customers well from Mitsubishi.
The unit itself is stylish. A very thin bezel around the screen. Even though the screen is much larger, it seems that the unit isn't as wide as the 37" conventional TV it replaced. It's only a few inches thick from front to back.
On the bottom of the screen is an unobtrusive bank of small speakers behind a grille - which you'll soon learn is a dynamite feature.
1080p resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels. There is 1080p upconversion.
Setup is simple and fun: input sensing is good at recognizing what device you are attaching and letting you identify it by name (i.e., DVD, DVR, etc.)
The picture is magnificent - and remember, I don't have Blu-Ray or HD. The grandkids were over, so I put the Pixar "Cars" DVD on and sat transfixed with them from beginning to end. The video is simply stunning.
Mitsubishi boasts of a number of video related features, like their Smooth120Hz Film Motion which virtually eliminates judder (image vibration in fast action scenes). Film Mode corrects movies filmed at 24 frames per second. The "Deep Color" feature, Mitsubishi says, renders billions of colors - and I believe them. There's also a feature called "xvYCC (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color"" which they claim expands the color range beyond what the eye can recognize. I'll have to take their word on that one.
The LT-46149 (I love the way that name just rolls off my lips) has several other video related features. The three level brightness adjustment allows for viewing in bright, sunlit rooms to darkened rooms. "PerfectColor" gives you surprisingly fine control over color adjustments, though I haven't found a need for it except to experiment.
The second huge feature of the LT-46149 is the Integrated Sound Projector (ISP). Remember those 16 speakers I mentioned? Well they can be aimed and balanced for a specific room size and acoustics. Mitsubishi says ISP delivers true 5.1 sound and that the sound is delayed at varying intervals to each of the 16 speakers.
With a relatively inexpensive sub-woofer, the sound is truly fantastic. Makes you want to turn it up to the point where the neighbors complain and the spouse leaves, but does it ever sound great.
Obviously I am very, very impressed - and will shortly have HD cable and a Blu-Ray player (probably as part of a Playstation 3 - this unit cries out to be used as a game display).
The picture and Integrated Sound Projector are the big stories here. Fantastic is not too strong a term to apply from a person who hasn't paid much attention to LCD TVs before.
There are lots of other features, like a plethora of inputs: 2 coax, 3 composite video, 2 component video, 4 HDMI, S-Video, USB (for flash drives and digital cameras), AVR audio output, sub-woofer (shared with the AVR) and digital audio out.
After a couple of weeks, I am still enthralled with the LT-46149. I keep trying different DVDs of material from different eras just to see how the unit handles them. Last night, for example, I watched "Victory At Sea", a famous TV documentary series from the 1950s, compiled entirely from black and white film from the 1940s. The 1080p up conversion really does work, even with mediocre input like this. Amazing.
I live, breathe and eat technology. It is how I make my living. I am not the most easily impressed guy around. The Mitsubishi LT-46149 is very cool - in fact, awesome - technology.
Jerry
High-end video, high-end sound September 4, 2008
G. Ware Cornell Jr. (Weston FL)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
Walk into a discount electronics store and you will be offered many reasonably priced LCD and Plasma HDTVs.
So prevalent is the price competition that it is easy to overlook that a high-end system such as this incredible Mitsubishi 46 in LCD may in fact represent better value than its low priced cousins. Every aspect of this system is designed to maximize the viewing (and listening) experience. As a result this unit does represent a much better overall value than the low priced HDTVs. Here is why:
We start with the picture, and to do that we should look at it in 1080p. I have a Sony BDP-S301 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player BD/DVD/CD Playback with Bonus HDMI Cable which connected quickly to one of four HDMI jacks on the set. The input jacks are all located on the back put are lined up vertically along the back. This is a nice touch as you know if you have ever wall-mounted a flat screen and need to add or change a component. It is an example of the user-friendliness that is incorporated throughout.
The Blu-Ray delivered deep clear colors, far surpassing the quality of my other 1080p set, VIZIO Gallevia 42-inch LCD HDTV 1080p GV42LF. Mitsubishi has numerous technological reasons that it can deliver such an incredible picture, but having never studying electronic engineering, I can only speak to the results, and the results are truly amazing.
Even on lesser settings, such as standard definition satellite, the picture quality is excellent. Non Blu-Ray DVDs are decidedly improved.
But superior video requires superior audio and once again Mitsubishi does not disappoint. The set has a built in "Sound Projector" with sixteen speakers on the front. These speakers operate to produce a true surround sound, readily customizable to room conditions. Rear speakers are not necessary to obtain excellent Dolby quality. It is actually fun using the electronic controls to optimize the surround audio. For instance, I watched a period piece, A Room with a View [Blu-ray]. The petticoats of the Victorian women rustle as they cross the room. As two actors walk across a meadow, the crunch of grass under their feet is clear.
On the whole, watching and listening with this HDTV less less like going to a movie theater and more like looking out onto the world from an open window. Only reason reminds you that you are not a part of the world on the screen.
This set provides a great opportunity to upgrade television viewing at a price that is still reasonable.
Let's stay home tonight. September 25, 2008
David A. Baer (Indianapolis, IN USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I didn't used to watch much TV. Ever. Until today.
Sitting in front of of the Mitsubishi, fueled by the bass coming out of the accompanying sub-woofer, and watching The Fifty Best Amazing Catch, I think I see a new recreational habit developing.
The LT-46149 sports a handsome black-and-silver presentation that blends well with a variety of room decors. The picture is remarkably crisp, all that you'd expect in a high-end television and perhaps a little more.
It's the sound that stands out. Sixteen speakers aim to give you true surround sound without all the clutter. It works. If you want an authentic room theatre, you'll want to spend the money for that. But if you want exceptional near-surround sound quality without the expense or in a room that's not big enough or experiences more foot traffic than a purpose-built home theatre, this television will pull it off for you.
An extremely convenient function lets you tweak the out-of-the-box 'sound projector' function to fit your exact room measurements and layout. It all happens right from the remote control.
You'll definitely want to invest in the HDMI cable, which is not included. Without that modest extra investment, you're wasting the machine's capacity. I also recommend you pair this television with a subwoofer. The difference it makes is astonishing and it elevates the television's sixteen-speaker potency onto a whole new platform.
With the LT-46149's superb visual qualities and its cutting edge soundworks, Mitsubishi has placed a new kind of small-to-medium-room television viewing within reach of the sub-room-theatre crowd, of which this reviewer is a card-carrying member.
I think I'll stay home tonight.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
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