WS-55813 Understanding the Product Lines

Mitsubishi has a rather lengthy, if confusing, line-up of televisions. Here's the basic idea and breakdown of their sets in order of cost and feature sets:

1. Silver Series

• 42" - 65" RP CRT display options
• MonitorLink Input for optional HD-5000 DHTV Receiver/Controller
• PerfectColor color system for 6-color control
• Advanced MultiMedia Video Processor (not available in 42" model)

2. Silver Plus Series

• 42" - 65" RP CRT display options
• Adds NetCommand-IR device control system
• Adds Quad-field Focus (helps edge focus on extreme corners of viewing area)
• Adds DefinEdge Velocity Scan Modulation (VSM)
• Adds fully-illuminated multi-brand remote
• Upgraded "Plus" cosmetics

3. Gold Series

• 48" - 73" RP CRT display options
• Adds NetCommand 3.0 (digital and analogue control)
• Adds five-format Memory Card reader
• Adds FireWire interfaces with HAVi software for control customization
• Adds DTV-Link compliance for compatibility with new HD cable box standard
• Adds third-generation HDTV receiver
• Removes QuadField Focus

4. Gold Series Plus

• 48" - 65" RP CRT display options
• Adds QuadField Focus
• Upgraded "Plus" cosmetics
• Adds 2-way coaxial speakers (not available in 48" model)

5. Platinum Series

• 65" - 73" RP CRT display options
• Adds Tru-Focus lenses for higher resolution & brightness, better color and focus
• Adds improved 2-way 6" speakers with 1.5" tweeters
• Upgraded "Platinum" cosmetics with high-gloss burl finish
• Upgraded gold-plated connectors

6. Diamond Series

• 55" - 65" RP CRT display options
• Adds 9" CRTs in the 65" model
• Upgraded cosmetic with piano black finish
• Adds fine-pitch lenticular screen for improved horizontal resolution
• Adds anti-glare DiamondShield

7. Alpha Series 82" LCoS Rear Projection

• Replaces CRT RP technology with LCoS rear projection
• 1080p x 1920 HDTV resolution
• Full computer input capability up to native 1080p x 1920 plus support for VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, WXGA, with multi-format scaling.
• Simultaneous viewing of windowed PC and HD/ED/SD/analogue content
• 200W user-replaceable lamp

Hopefully this clears up any confusion and helps define the Mitsubishi line more clearly. As you can see, the Diamond Series is their top of the line CRT series with all the options Mitsubishi has to offer. The Alpha Series is another creation entirely and would honestly be too large for Audioholics to review now or in the foreseeable future.

Delivery and Installation

After making arrangements for white glove delivery of the review unit, the Mitsubishi arrived at my doorstep and was installed by a crack team of professional heavy lifters... the number of grunts heard as they relocated the unit to the "first" floor of my raised beach home made me thankful I wasn't the one doing the lifting. At 200 pounds and over 71,000 cubic inches, this television physically represents one of the main reasons digital televisions, while not necessarily better quality, are becoming increasingly popular due to their reduced weight and volume.

The television comes in a box and is wrapped in a combination of protected cardboard, popcorn foam and thin foam sheathing, keeping the unit safe from scratches and damage during shipment. There are wheels on the bottom which facilitate push-pull movement once the TV is situated on either a hard surface or flooring material (it had no problems being pushed over our Berber carpet.) You'll need to situate the TV near its final destination and then push it back towards the wall once you have made all of the video and audio connections.

The build quality of the Mitsubishi WS-55813 is exceptional. Most RPTVs are unable to support any weight whatsoever on the top of the unit. The Mitsubishi has a rather strong, but thin frame that surrounds the screen. It is covered with the same piano finish as the rest of the unit, and can support a reasonably-sized center channel speaker, such as the Axiom Audio VP150, which weighs about 17 pounds. I placed a somewhat larger RBH center channel on top and the Mitsubishi appeared to be able to handle the additional weight, but I removed it so as to not risk long-term damage. Even though the set may not appear to bow or sag, over time it is never a good idea to push your luck with placing heavy items on top of even a well-built RPTV.