A big room deserves a big HDTV, and rear-projection televisions continue to offer the best value in big-screen entertainment. Mitsubishi's new flagship, the 65-inch WD, provides some of the most detailed imagery to be had from digital HD sources. But there are a few caveats: First, as with most HDTVs I've seen, the set's default picture settings required some tweaking in order to tame its overly colorful imagery. I was also disappointed to see that video noise and softened details marred the TV's picture when I tested the set's component-video inputs. On top of that, the WD-65833 occasionally exhibits signs of image smearing when displaying scenes containing fast motion—odd, considering that rear-projection technology tends to do well with this kind of video.

Unpacking the WD-65833 underscored one immediate benefit of rear-projection televisions: They're lightweight. Tipping the scales at a relatively modest 78 pounds, the WD-65833 measures in at 58.2 by 39.5 by 15.4 inches (WHD). The TV's 65-inch screen (measured diagonally) is matte-finished to minimize reflections. However, half-inch-wide bezels along the top and sides, as well as the lower bezel and base, have a high-gloss black finish. Soft blue accent lights illuminate the lower corners of the TV's face when the set is powered on or off, or you can disable them completely via menu controls.

The A/V panel on the rear of the WD-65833 provides a plethora of connections. Included are three HDMI ports; two component video inputs; two RF ports for cable and terrestrial broadcast reception, respectively; two IEEE 1394 ports for use with high-end set-top boxes and digital video cameras; an RS-232C port; and even a "3D-glasses emitter" connector for syncing compatible liquid-crystal shutter glasses. A fold-down door on the front of the TV conceals an additional component video input, as well as a fourth HDMI port. Portable storage devices can be connected to a front-accessible USB port for easy viewing of digital images on the Mitsubishi's big screen.

The WD-65833 includes a premium remote control that features a fully backlit keypad and clearly labeled buttons. These buttons provided good tactile feedback. Better still, the remote remained operational at distances exceeding 15 feet and at off-axis angles up to 50 degrees. The WD-65833's HDMI ports support CEC (consumer electronic control), a function that enables compatible disc players and other devices connected to these ports to be controlled via the TV's remote. Line of sight to these devices isn't required, as the control signal is received by the TV and passed via HDMI to the supported device. An extensive list of codes provided in the manual can be used to program the remote to operate additional components such as disc players, VCRs, and cable and satellite boxes, plus A/V amps and receivers.

Texas Instruments' DLP microdisplay technology drives the WD-65833's screen at 1080p resolution with image overscan sacrificing 5.5percent of the video's border—a typical amount for most RPTVs. The WD-65833's screen material exhibited signs of a sparkling/shimmering artifact commonly dubbed the "silk-screen effect" (SSE). The severity of this artifact, however, was fairly mild, and slight head movements didn't exaggerate the effect. That said, it remained noticeable at viewing distances exceeding 11 feet. Viewing angles were good overall, with obvious luminance loss occurring at 30 degrees off-axis from the sides and 25 degrees off-axis from the top and bottom. Screen geometry was good overall, too. I did see, however, a slight horizontal curve in the upper-left portion of the image that, while unnoticeable with full-screen video, did draw attention during the viewing of letterboxed movies. All DLP-based RPTVs utilize a sequential color system that causes some people to see distracting rainbow-like artifacts in highly contrasted scenes, and I did notice a few of these artifacts in the WD-65833's imagery when sitting relatively close to the screen. When I increased the viewing distance (minimizing necessary head and eye movements), I was able to reduce the frequency and intensity of this issue. Most LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon)-based RPTVs, including the Sony KDS-55A2020, utilize a light engine that processes primary colors simultaneously, avoiding color breakup (aka rainbow artifacts).

Thankfully, the WD-65833 comes with plenty of helpful menu-based tips, and, as a result, is very easy to set up and use. For example, attaching an A/V device to the TV's component or HDMI inputs triggered a menu pop-up that prompted me to select an input name from a preset list of devices, as well as to configure the TV's remote to learn device commands. Another useful menu option allowed me to edit the list of active inputs. On this menu I removed unused RF ports, and I moved some active HDMI inputs to the top of the list for quicker access. The WD-65833 also provides a good selection of picture controls, including six-color saturation and tint adjustments that proved effective during calibration. I appreciated the three independent picture configurations Mitsubishi has given for each input—it's useful for creating day- and night-viewing presets. Unfortunately, my appreciation was tempered by some annoyance: The on-screen display for the picture controls timed out after only five seconds of inactivity, and the menu for adjusting video-noise reduction filled most of the screen, making evaluation of this feature practically impossible.—Next: The Proof Is in the Picture