RCA Scenium M50WH185

Very inexpensive 50-inch DLP doesn't skimp on features and design, and offers good performance to boot.

RCA's Scenium M50WH185 impressed our jury with good image and color quality. Excellent performance combined with a low price to make this 50-inch DLP HDTV a winner.

Our judges deemed this 720p DLP--which accepts resolutions of up to 1080i and downscales them accordingly--a pleasing HDTV unit capable of producing natural-looking colors and sharp contrast. In high-definition test scenes, judges consistently gave it above-average to high marks. Vivid colors in a George Lopez scene were pleasing, and skin tones for a diverse cast were distinct without being exaggerated. Artifacts in background scenes, such as those on patterned curtains and wood grain, were kept to a minimum.

In another scene involving people in a car showroom, a solid green shirt showed a slightly blocky shimmer. Nonetheless, both green and red saturation were satisfyingly rich. Images in a wine country scene received praise from the judges for their contrast. One juror detected "drab greens" here, but image quality in general was quite attractive.

Overall, this bargain DLP turned in solid performance with standard-definition content. One juror noted the TV's "good contrast" in these scenes. On ...

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Roy Santos