Ask S&V

Q I recently read S&V’s review of the Mitsubishi LT-46153 LCD HDTV. The review raved about this set, including its most notable feature, a 16-speaker soundbar. I bought this TV six years ago. After four years, the soundbar failed, and the set’s entire circuit board had to be replaced ($475). Now that circuit board has failed again, though for different reasons. Price to replace: $500. Do you have any reader feedback on the Mitsubishi LT-46153’s failure rate? Replacing the circuit board yet again would bring my total expenditure up to $2,725, an amount that would buy a nice new system. Shouldn’t an LCD TV be expected to last 10 years without repairs, or is that unrealistic? — Pat Templeton / via e-mail

A Before I get to your questions, it will probably be a good idea to discuss the scope and limitations of the TV reviewing process. (I was the writer who reviewed the LT-46153. Guilty as charged?) When a product is submitted to Sound & Vision—or any other media outlet, for that matter—the average time we get to hold on to it for review ranges from 30 to 90 days. In some cases, that period gets extended, particularly if the product turns out to be a reference-grade component that we want to use as a benchmark for future comparisons.

Due to the short time reviewers get to retain products, failure rates and other long-term issues are a topic we don’t get a chance to cover, let alone track. For that sort of overview, you’d be better served by checking out Internet forums such as AVS (avsforum.com). When the LT-46153 review was published back in 2009 (Mitsubishi has since exited the consumer TV biz), high-quality powered soundbars were relatively expensive, while the wiring complexity involved in connecting an AV receiver to a passive soundbar (which are less expensive) made it an undesirable option for smaller rooms—the type where a 46-inch HDTV like the LT-46153 would make the most sense. Viewed in this context, the Mitsubishi’s decent picture quality and impressive built-in soundbar made it a compelling package. That’s why I recommended it. And likely why you chose to purchase it.

Back to the matter at hand. While I don’t have any reader feedback to share regarding the LT-46153’s failure rate (I do know, however, that Mitsubishi TV still maintains a Web presence to service its products), it’s perfectly reasonable to expect an LCD TV to last at least 10 years.

Whether your LT-46153 is a lemon is a matter I ultimately can’t speak to, especially when we’re talking about a complicated product like a TV with an integrated 16-speaker soundbar. But as you mull over replacing that circuit board, consider this: New 4K sets providing enhanced specs including an extended color gamut/bit-depth and High Dynamic Range are just now hitting stores. And early next year we can expect to see sources like Ultra HD Blu-ray capable of delivering content that satisfies those specs. For those reasons alone, I’d suggest that an upgrade would be the smart move here.