Mitsubishi WS-55857 55 in. TV

The time has come for an all-out, knock-down, drag-out battle between two of Mitsubishi's most popular HDTV sets. In the red corner is the lil' bro bomber 55807. In the blue corner is big-boy baddy 55857.

How are they similar? How are they different? Which is right for you?
Well, let's ring the bell and let the battle begin.

From this point on, for brevity, I'll use the names 07 and 57 to refer to the models. Also, I'll get to the differences later, but one difference is important to keep in mind throughout. That difference is price. The cost of these two models is separated by approximately $500.

The Similarities
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* Size - Both sets are essentially the same size. The 57 is slightly larger at 52"h x 50 3/4"w x 28 1/4" d, but the 07 is within 1/8" of each of these measurements. No need to choose between them based on size. Do keep in mind that
this is a rather large TV (55") and you will want to sit at least 8' or 9' away to get the best experience.

* Remote - Both sets have the same remote, and that's good. Mitsu makes a good TV remote. Buttons are arranged into task sections, and the most used buttons are large and lighted. How about that? A remote that helps rather than hinders. Bravo Mitsu!

* Brightness and color - Maybe it is just me, but both sets look the same to me in this regard. Both have smooth, accurate color, and enough brightness to allow viewing in a sunny room. Both also include the IRIS Brightness/Contrast control that adjusts your sets configuration as the room conditions change. I actually find this feature annoying and don't use it, but your mileage may vary.

* Sound - Both sets include two 5" speakers that put out 10 watts of sound. The sound is decent and satisfactory for everyday viewing, but you'll definitely want to hook up something with a little more "umpff" for all that
movie watching you'll be sure to do.

Enough with the similarities. What you really want to
know is what sets them apart right?


The Differences
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* Price - I already mentioned this earlier, but you should expect to pay ~$500 more for the 57. The prices of these sets has slowly dropped over time, but the $500 price difference has remained in place.

* Back Panel - There are quite a few differences in the "jack pack" on the rear of the set. The biggest difference is that the 57 includes a VGA input. The
VGA input is included for connection to high-end HDTV decoder boxes. You can also use this input to display output from you computer. The resolution for this input is 640x480, so while you could play computer games on this set, you probably wouldn't want to step down from the 1024x768 or higher resolution of your computer monitor.

The other differences include an additional
S-Video input (bringing the total to 5) and 2 extra IR emitter used for complex home theater setups for the 57. If you need this many inputs, or have to
have the VGA input due to limitations of your decoder, you don't have much choice. On the other hand, I'm hard pressed to think up 5 video sources to even plug into this TV. Besides, if you are buying a nice TV like this, you might have an A/V receiver with 4 or 5 inputs of its own.

* Lens - The 57 uses an "EDF" (enhanced depth of field) system vs. the "high resolution" system on the 07. Enough with the tech speak. The point is, the EDF system is supposed to provide tighter focus as the edges and corners
of the screen. To be honest, I can't see a difference. I don't notice any loss of clarity on the edges of the 07. Maybe over time, this will play a bigger role, but who knows. This is actually one of the largest selling
points of the 57 over the 07.

* Finish - The 57 wins the looks contest. The 57 is sleek and stylish with a smooth black finish, and a nifty triangular section breaking up the monotony of the front panel. The 07 is no slouch, however. It still looks
very distinguished, but it's like the difference between a Toyota Camry and a Cadillac Deville. Both are respected, but only one makes the cover of Automobile magazine.

* Menus - The 57 has a more polished set of menus. They are sharp and well organized, but I don't think they provide any added benefit over the nice menu set in the 07. Hopefully Mitsu will just add the extra eye candy to the next version of the 07.


Who Wins?
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In the end, you can't lose with either set. I choose the 07 as my set, mostly because the picture looked the same to me on both sets and I didn't need any of the things that made the 57 cost more. On the other hand, I recently installed a 57 for a friend. He is very happy with his as well.
So what are you waiting for? Buy a 55807... or a 55857 :)


For a more indepth review of only the 55807, check out
http://sadida.epinions.com/content_12654841476