Screen Tests
Big HDTVs are big news--so we lined up eight plasma and DLP models in our lab to separate the flat-out fabulous from the flops. Plus: A guide to getting high-definition programming.
Sean Captain
OptomaTV RD50
Price when reviewed: $3200; Current prices (if available)
Overall, the OptomaTV RD50 finished neck-and-neck with the RCA in our image-quality tests. But the OptomaTV is the better choice for certain conditions. It excelled in our DVD tests, where its richer colors gave it a clear edge in normal lighting conditions, and it scored only a bit lower than its rival in the high-def TV and bright-light tests.
In most cases, the RD50 struck a good balance between the LG's oversaturated hues and the RCA's slightly muted shades. And the OptomaTV has the best user-accessible image-quality controls, with adjustments for individual color intensities (red, green, blue, and yellow) and gamma, which affects midtone brightness. For each input source, you can program three different color parameters, plus the Normal and Cinema presets.
The set has some design flaws. The large on-screen menu makes it hard to see the effects of adjustments; time-out periods for on-screen controls can't be changed and sometimes seems short. The cheap-looking remote has mushy, rubbery buttons, and is the only one in this group that can't also control other devices. We liked the thin, gray bezel, but found the speakers, big buttons, and textured plastic panels below it distracting.
