Honeywell Altura MLX HDTV

Not all televisions are created equally, and yet most consumers are in the dark when it comes to knowing the difference. However, for those smart shoppers who keep in touch with technology, Honeywell offers a treat for home theater enthusiasts. The Altura MLX series delivers a 1080p resolution at the double-rate 120Hz display speed. The Honeywell MT-HWJCT42B2AB offers 42" of full high-definition LCD viewing with a 10-bit color gamut far superior to most all other LCD panels. Benchmark Reviews tests the performance and quality of this HDTV in this article.

Don't let anyone lead you believe that High Definition Televisions are the future... a more correct statement is that HDTV's have already been around for a few years and are the here and now. Unfortunately, not everyone is up to speed, and some are going to be very surprised by the changes in store only a few months away. You see, by the time this article is published there will be exactly 90-days remaining until D-Day hits and the transition to an all-digital terrestrial broadcast begins. In past articles Benchmark Reviews gave you specific instructions on how to survive this digital transition, which offered a guide on how to smartly buy your first HDTV. However, in this article we test one of the better alternatives for step-up consumers who want to enjoy full high-definition content without falling into the money pit.

Now that analog televisions are finally a page in the history books (with or without a transition looming), consumers almost have no real choice in the matter except to get onboard the digital revolution. It would make good sense to know what you should be shopping for. Just as it is with computers, the difference between buying obsolete from cutting edge has nothing to do with looks. There are a few very basic items that should be considered a "given" in HDTV technology, and these are the basic rules I mentioned in our how-to guide.

About the company: Honeywell Consumer Electronics

When it comes to applying leading-edge technology to solve the world's problems, few companies can rival our long record of achievement. It began in the 1880s. We pioneered a combination of sensors and actuators that gave birth to a new field of technology - automation and control. We have never looked back. Across twelve decades, Honeywell's employees and their inventions have been building a better world. We have created groundbreaking technology solutions for customers of our aerospace, transportation systems, and specialty materials businesses. And, yes, we are still the world's leader in automation and control solutions.

Honeywell International Inc. is a household name for most people, thanks to the long history of producing quality thermostats. On the commercial side of business, they has offered aircraft engines and aviation components for many years. These parts of the business won't be changing anytime soon, but a recent deal with SOYO has started the Honeywell Consumer Electronic Division and produced a new line of flat-panel televisions and monitors. SOYO designs and distributes these newly-designed products on behalf of Honeywell.

SOYO Group, Inc. is a provider of consumer electronics such as, LCD Monitors, LCD Televisions, Bluetooth, Portable Storage, Home Theater Furniture and broadband telecommunications products and services. Headquartered in Ontario, California, with additional sales offices in South America, SOYO Group sells its products through an extensive network of authorized distributors, resellers, system integrators, VARs, retailers, mail-order catalogs and e-tailers. Products are sold under the SOYO, Go Video, Dragon, Onyx, Dymond, Honeywell, Le Vello, and Prive brand names. For more information, please visit the SOYO Group website.

Honeywell HDTV Features

High-definition television (HDTV) is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (standard-definition TV, or SDTV). HDTV is digitally broadcast because digital television (DTV) requires less bandwidth if sufficient video compression is used.

Delivering more detail than standard definition, high definition television has quickly become the standard and preferred choice in viewing experiences. Your Altura MLX Series TV is fully compatible with all HDTV Programming.

Full HD 1080p

Although HDTV has become the standard in today's viewing, there is a wide range in what is considered High Definition. HD can begin at 1024 x 768 resolution, or 720i, and extends up to 1920 x 1080 resolution, or 1080p. Because the Altura MLX Series is designed to deliver only the best of quality, 1080p is standard in every unit.

120Hz EnhancedMotion Technology

Almost every video that you watch has been recorded in 24 FPS, or frames per second and, up until recently, TVs displayed video at a faster 60Hz, or cycles per second. Because 24 does not divide evenly into 60, a 3:2 pull-down method needed to be created for content to display correctly. Even though this method worked, it wasn't perfect and often displayed video "judder" which led to blur or loss in sharpness in video.

Our 120Hz EnhancedMotion Technology is designed to fix this judder problem and give you a clearer, sharper image. Our 120Hz doubles the 60Hz frame rate and inserts an interpolated frame by calculating motion paths and inserting an estimated frame in between each frame; resulting smoother motion. Also, by displaying the content in 120Hz, 24fps can now divide evenly into 120Hz by 5 which allows the video content to be displayed in its original, intended form creating more natural and fluid motion.

10-Bit EnhancedColor Display

Incorporating our new 10-bit EnhancedColor Display, the AlturaMLX Series is capable of displaying over 6 times more color than its 8-bit predecessor. With 1.06 billion display colors, you will be able to experience extended color depth and smoother color transitions.

HDMI Uncompressed Data Stream

With only using a single cable, HDMI, or High Definition Multimedia Interface, delivers the highest quality of audio and video available. Included on every Altura MLX Series HDTV, you can connect all of you High Definition devices including Blu-ray and any HD Gaming System.

Dolby Digital

To back up impressive video you need impressive sound. Each Altura MLX Series HDTV is equipped with built in speakers and a Dolby Digital Sound Processor.

MT-HWJCT42B2AB Specifications

Based on the information supplied by SOYO on behalf of Honeywell, these are the listed specifications for the 42" Altura Series 1080p 10-bit HDTV MT-HWJCT42B2AB.

Closer Look: Honeywell 42" HDTV

I know why you're reading this: chances are good you have accepted the inevitable future of high definition television. HDTV's are already a big part of the home entertainment lifestyle for many people, and with so much improvement over standard definition there comes an added demand for high quality. This article isn't just about another HDTV; it's about a new generation of 120Hz panels featuring 10-bit color depth. 1080p Was nice, but 1080p on a 120Hz/10-bit HDTV truly captures the term 'High Definition' and makes it a working reality.

This Honeywell HDTV unit surprised me when it was delivered by FedEx like any of my small review items. The gave the carrier some assistance as we placed the large full-color retail box into my doorway. Safely packaged inside was the MT-HWJCT42B2AB LCD panel unit with the stand positioned along side. Once out of the box, Honeywell's Altura MLX looks like any other 42-Inch 1080p LCD widescreen HDTV you've seen: glossy black bezel with simple one-legged base stand (pictured below).

Honeywell uses a piano-black high-gloss finish on the plastic bezel trim and single-leg stand. In my region of Nevada we have a major problem with airborne dust, and it seems to have an attraction to these fine finishes. However, the exposed LCD panel surface is utilizes a matte finish, which does very well to help guard against glare and reflection.

The stand included with the Honeywell Altura MLX is very suitable for most entertainment centers and secures with five included machine screws. If you find yourself more interested in wall-mounting the 42" widescreen LCD, then a small plastic plate comes included to seal closed the stand opening at the bottom of the unit. With the stand attached, this 1080p HDTV keeps a modest profile of 40.35" wide by 28.54" tall. Without the stand, the HWJCT42B2AB unit measures a mere 26.25" tall.

At the lower-left corner of the Altura HDTV is the power indicator LED and the IR sensor for the remote control. I especially like that the remotes IR sensor is not placed at the units center point like I've seen on other televisions, because most times this important component gets blocked by a center channel speaker. Directly below the IR sensor is the power indicator LED which stays illuminated whenever the unit has power connected (as illustrated below).

Because of its offset position, the bright blue power LED dissolved away into my peripheral vision while viewing the HDTV in a decently lit room. However, with the lights turned off in my bedroom and the unit positioned directly in front of my bed, the power-indicator LED acted more like an unnecessary night-light. Since I'm such a light sleeper it didn't take long before the lens was filled in with a black marker.

There are no exposed speaker vents on the front of the bezel, and instead Honeywell uses the underside of the front bezel to fire the stereo speakers out towards viewers. Honeywell has done well with the integrated speakers, primarily because they are powerful enough to fill the room with above-average quality sound, most people are like myself and have an audio/video receiver powering several surround sound speakers.

The Honeywell Altura MLX comes with a standard-layout universal remote, with two different backlit regions. The four input-device selection buttons are lit with a red background for only the input-item selected, while the volume and channel buttons are backlit green. All other buttons on the remote are made of gray silicon-rubber, save for the red power button and do not offer illumination. The few lit buttons offered by this remote should be enough to get by with, but I found it difficult to use other buttons in a dark room.

There are more than a few buttons on the Altura MLX remote control that have no function (despite the labels). In specific, the PIP, Swap, PIP Freeze, and TV/DTV buttons have no corresponding function on this model.

In our next section, the Honeywell Altura HDTV goes under the magnifying glass as we inspect the detailed features.

MT-HWJCT42B2AB Detailed Features

So now that the basics are behind us, it's time to find out what makes this 42" widescreen 1080p HDTV so special. While Honeywell appears to be marketing the Altura MLX series as a mid-level HDTV solution, there are more than enough premium features included to make this a very desirable product for even the most advanced level of consumer.

As a technical writer and network administrator, I try my best to avoid boring our readers with 'geek speak' in my reviews. However, when it comes to HDTV products, I believe that most home theater enthusiasts find themselves just as interested with the back of an HDTV unit as they are with the picture displayed on the front. In this section, we inspect the fine details that make up the Honeywell Altura MLX-series HDTV.

Around the backside of the 42" Altura you'll find ventilation openings only along and immediately below the top of the panel. I will admit that large LCD products don't tend to give off the heat they once did, so it makes sense that we no longer see the entire rear panel completely covered in ventilation slots as we have in the past. Positioned at the center point of the back panel are four mounting holes (M6 screw type) for an aftermarket wall-mount VESA mounting bracket. The spacing of the mounting holes is VESA 200 (200mm vertical x 200mm horizontal), in accordance with the industry standards set by the Video Electronics Standards Association. If a VESA standard mounting bracket is not available, a universal wall-mount bracket that can accommodate a screw spacing of 7.874" (W) x 7.874" (H) can be used.

The Honeywell Altura MT-HWJCT42B2AB may not be the biggest HDTV we've seen, but it packs as much (or more) punch as the others and offers seven different connection points for audio/video input. I suspect that these are more than enough video inputs for a 42" LCD unit, primarily because anyone who might actually need more than this will probably be shopping for the larger models anyway.

There are also several video input interfaces, as well. Three HDMI inputs are available, which is more than we have seen in other popular HDTV's, along with a single D-SUB analog video connection. The VGA connection works well for older HTPC's and computer workstations, and just to the right is a PC audio input which rounds out the functionality.

There are two component video inputs sets, both with stereo audio beneath them, for equipment without HDMI. Additionally, a single S-Video and composite video input are available for older equipment. For output, another set of composite video connections join a single mini-DIN 3.5mm headphone jack. Finally, the coaxial ATSC/NTSC tuner connection finishes out the SYXRT4791AB interface. It's also worth noting that all of these connections are identically available on the entire SOYO 91-series of HDTV products; from 29" up to this 47" model.

Moving from left to right, the connection interface offers the following choices:

1. HDMI/DVI #1 (A/V Quality Level = 5)
   This input can also be used as a DVI connection with an HDMI to DVI adaptor. A separate audio connection must be used as DVI does not transmit audio.
2. HDMI #2 (A/V Quality Level = 5)
   Connects to High Definition devices using an HDMI Cable. Both Audio and Video is transferred through this cable.
3. RGB (D-Sub) (Video quality = 2)
   Connects to the analog video output jack on your computer using an RGB / DB15 cable.
4. AV (A/V Quality Level = 2)
   Connects to your Audio/Video devices using a composite (Yellow/Red/White) cable for single stream video and dual-channel stereo.
5. S-Video (A/V Quality Level = 3)
   Connects to your video devices using an S-Video Cable.
6. Component Video #1 (A/V Quality Level = 4)
7. Component Video #2 (A/V Quality Level = 4)
   Connects to your Video devices to achieve higher quality video than S-Video and Composite using a Component (Red/Green/Blue) Cable into the YPbPr1 or YPbPr2 connection points.
8. Audio Input (in conjunction with RGB/DVI)
   Connects to the audio output jack on your computer or media player using a 3.5mm headphone jack.
9. Digital Audio Output (Coaxial)
   Connects to your digital audio devices to transmit a digital rather than an analog audio signal.
10. Antenna/Cable Input
    Connects to your antenna or Cable/Satellite set top box using a coaxial cable.
11. AC Power Receptacle
    Connects to a three-prong, grounded AC outlet.

Along the right-hand side of the Honeywell Altura MLX bezel are the menu buttons. While almost everything can be managed with these buttons alone, for most tasks it is far easier to use the included remote control. The buttons shown here operate the volume, channel selection, source, menu, and power.

Altura MLX Series Functionality

Most tech-savvy home-theater buffs can pick up the remote control to any consumer electronic and within minutes have the device programmed to their custom settings. I'm one of those people; groomed by a childhood of setting up the new VCR to record the families favorite shows and putting together the game console for the children. So when it comes to the menu on an HDTV, I want it to be as standard and traditional as possible. Televisions are not a new invention, and the configuration menu shouldn't try to re-invent the wheel. Honeywell agrees.

The Altura MLX on-screen menu can be navigated with by even the most novice user, primarily because of a very ergonomic menu layout. I found it pleasantly simple to auto-scan the channels into memory, and later refine my available choices by simply checking a box beside the channel. This feature made life much easier as I used the Electronic Program Guide to display the scheduled programming for each channel I visit. Once you've got your channels narrowed down, the Honeywell remote can be configured to remember you favorites or programmed to work as any of your other remotes (a remote code guide is at the end of the manual).

The Altura is not without it's technical features, of which there are more than a few, but this is where the 100+ page manual comes into play. After madly pressing the PiP button on the remote, I later learned that this feature wasn't included on the 42" MLX series. In place of this feature is a myriad of more feature-rich high-end functions, such as Dolby Digial decode or PCM. The picture controls allow for either custom manual 'User' settings, or one of three pre-defined viewing modes: Soft, Standard, or Vivid. The custom 'User' profile allows manual adjustment of Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Hue, Sharpness, Color Temperature, and an 'Advanced Video' item which brings up a sub-menu. The Advanced Video menu allows you to adjust Dynamic Noise Reduction, Black Level Extender, White Peak Limiter, Color Transient Intensity, Flesh Tone, and Adaptive Luma Control. Clearly, the Altura is built to please both casual and enthusiast viewers.

120Hz 10-Bit Performance

I can recall the first time a 720p and 1080p were directly compared side by side with the same movie clip. It was apparent that True HD (as 1080p) is referred to was far superior to it's less mature sibling. So when I first experienced a 120Hz HDTV with 10-bit color depth, it left 1080p performance so far behind I was stunned. Very literally, stunned. The crisp clarity I enjoyed with Blu-Ray Disc movies at 1080p was very nice, but the picture never 'stood out' at me the way it did on the Altura. While the 120Hz/10-bit technology is not a Honeywell exclusive, there's such a difference over 1080p that it sets these HDTV products in a whole new category. Every HD movie I watched, including standard DVD and over-the-air HD broadcasts, had a 3D realism that was never before seen on other HDTVs. I could go on for days about how it still makes me feel a little uneasy about watching video with such realistic dimension and color, but the best example I can offer is convincing you to demo the technology in a showroom. See it there, and understand it here.

The Truth Behind HDMI Cables

After purchasing my first HDTV a few years ago, I was hit with the unexpected high cost of an HDMI cable. There's a lot of competition in the aftermarket HDMI cable industry, and the sad truth is that there's no benefit to be gained by using an overpriced digital cable. To understand what I mean, you must first understand digital transmission technology. Much like your digital monitor cable (DVI), the HDMI cable streams uncompressed digital audio and video signal from the source to the device. The source transmit the data in a binary form, and the viewing device (the HDTV) decodes the data. Perfect in - perfect out, as the saying goes. Unlike analog cables which were prone to suffer signal loss from EMI or 'electrical noise', digital data streams do not degrade; either the signal is present, or it's not. Nevertheless, some consumers insist on over-paying for their digital cables.

Honeywell satisfies both sides of the argument, and includes a premium HDMI v1.3b certified compliant cable which saves you (a lot) of money while delivering the best possible signal. Although all previous versions of HDMI have had more than enough bandwidth to support all current HDTV formats, HDMI 1.3 increases its single-link bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support the demands of future HD display devices, such as higher resolutions, Deep Color and high frame rates. In addition, built into the HDMI 1.3 specification is the technical foundation that will let future versions of HDMI reach significantly higher speeds. Nevertheless, Honeywell let's you keep your analog cable mentality by including several features which make their HDMI cable what I consider to be triple fail-proof by using a dielectric process for optimum signal strength, high-density triple-shielding for maximum rejection of (irrelevant) RFI and EMI, and gold-plated connectors for optimal signal transfer and corrosion resistance.

There are still some good reasons why the added protection seems necessary from a digital cable. For example, HDMI v1.3 supports 10-bit, 12-bit and 16-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths, up from the 8-bit depths in previous versions of the HDMI specification, for rendering over one billion colors. Because consumer electronics devices are using increasingly complex digital signal processing to enhance the clarity and detail of the content, synchronization of video and audio in user devices has become a greater challenge and could potentially require complex end-user adjustments. HDMI 1.3 incorporates automatic audio synching capabilities that allows devices to perform this synchronization automatically with total accuracy. In addition to HDMI's current ability to support high-bandwidth uncompressed digital audio and all currently-available compressed formats (such as Dolby Digital and DTS), HDMI v1.3 adds additional support for new lossless compressed digital audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Regardless, a $2 HDMI cable will provide the exact same quality as a $200 cable, so long as it's got a working connection at both ends.

Honeywell HDTV Warranty

Honeywell touts a five-year warranty, which by our estimates is far better than nearly all other LCD HDTV manufacturers currently offer. Under closer inspection, Benchmark Reviews discovered that certain limitation and exclusions apply.

HDTV Power Consumption

There's an old saying that "money buys power". Originally this was something most people associated with political power or power of influence. Yet thanks to inflation and poor resource management we all must now live in a world where development outpaces resource sustenance. So as our planet struggles to meet the demands we place on it, power companies have made this saying a much more literal one than before. Now, more than ever, money really does buy power. The only problem is that everything we use consumes it faster than it can be produced.

I promised myself not to make this section into a platform for world conservation (even though it would be the right thing to do), so that I could remain on-topic and express how important it is that we demand excellence from the manufacturers who produce our popular consumer electronics. During the past year, I have tested many products which set themselves apart from the pack by offering the same performance with the added benefit of efficiency. Why not then have this same expectation put on all products which consume natural resources?

Throughout my testing, I wanted to keep everything as relative and even as possible. So for power consumption testing I compared the Honeywell Altura MLX-series HDTV to the Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52" LCD 1080P HDTV and SOYO 47-Inch LCD 1080p HDTV MT-SYXRT4791AB. I will agree that comparing a smaller LCD to a slightly larger one isn't completely fair, but I think you might be surprised by the results. To measure power consumption I used the Kill-A-Watt EZ (model P4460) made by P3 International and tested each unit under three conditions.

The tests began with a "standby" reading, in which power was connected but the unit was not on. In the "cold" tests I powered on the HDTV and displayed a black screen for less than one minute before taking power measurements. After the "cold" test is complete, I diplay a white screen for ten minutes before "warm" reading is taken. The results are displayed below:

In standby mode, all of the HDTV's consume very little or no power at all. Ideally, you want a device that sips a little electricity as possible when it's turned off (into standby mode). High-power draw from dormant electronics is one of the leading reasons for high energy bills.

The idea behind a cold- and warm-panel test is that you can determine the mean power consumption of the unit. Based on these findings, its apparent that SOYO's own MT-SYXRT4791AB was a not what you would consider a 'Green' product by any stretch. On the other hand, the Honeywell Altura MLX does fit nicely below the Sharp AQUOS once they both reached normal operating temperature. After all of the power consumption tests were complete, I began recording results for the next section: thermal management.

Altura Thermal Management

Most people are not completely aware of how LCD technology works. Believe it or not, LCD's use a bulb to back-light the color-charged liquid crystals. Because of this, cooler isn't particularly better, because in most cases the bulb requires a certain operating temperature to create the brightness necessary for desirable picture quality. But the important factor here is how efficient the bulb is, and what kind of heat byproduct it produces.

The Honeywell MT-HWJCT42B2AB was allowed to operate for fifteen minutes prior to recording temperatures with an Extech 450 IR non-contact thermometer. The room temperature was a cool and constant 22.0°C (71°F) for the duration of the testing period. The collected temperature results are illustrated in the image below:

Most of the heat produced from the Altura MLX came from the top-most bulb vents, which indicate that this unit could be safely placed flat against a wall but adequate ventilation is required overhead. Additionally, the right-hand side of the top panel bulb vent (as viewed from the back) exhausted the most heat, so make sure that surrounding furniture and decorations (such as candles) are not heat-sensitive. The LCD panel indicated a rather low temperature, with only 12°C over ambient.

So what does all of this information mean? How does it effect your decision to purchase the Honeywell Altura? The answers aren't that far away, because I give my full conclusion in the next section.

Honeywell HDTV Final Thoughts

Since the Altura MLX is Honeywell's first HDTV product, and Benchmark Reviews is the first to test it, I have a good feeling that future Honeywell products might be shaped by our feedback. Honeywell, while being no stranger to electronic devices, is still new to the consumer electronics industry. SOYO has done very well to execute a skillful design worthy of the Honeywell brand name, and the Altura MLX 42-inch 1080p HDTV is actually superior to SOYO's own product offerings. The real question that remains is how will Honeywell carve out their image? They've got heavy competition, and building brand recognition against companies like Sharp, Sony, Samsung, and Toshiba isn't going to be easy unless you attack their weaknesses. From the looks of it, they're off to a good stat.

First and foremost, referring to the Altura MLX as 'another' 42-inch HDTV is actually an injustice to my experience with the product. Unlike the experince I've had with a dozen other LCD HDTV's, the Honeywell Altura was the first to make me feel a little surreal while viewing video content. Since I'm not a routine television watcher, and movie night happens only a few times a month, I recruited others with more casual viewing experience than I had for a second (and third) opinion. The consensus was that the Altura display a picture that is almost 'too realistic'. One person even mentioned that the sound quality was actually more defined than the 7.1 channel system used in my entertainment center. On all accounts, I agreed. This isn't a byproduct of 1080p programming, especially when my other two HDTVs are both already deliver 1080p content. After some additional comparison testing, I discovered that 10-bit color paired to a 120 Hz LCD panel made for a truly high-definition experience.

Watching 1080p action movies on Blu-Ray Disc and sports broadcast at 720p, the super-crisp imagery was simply stunning and actually still took a back-seat to the lifelike color definition and increased 120 FPS. But 10-bit color/120Hz LCD displays aren't exactly a Honeywell exclusive, however. Since the Toshiba REGZA 42XV545U are same-sized products competing for the same home theater space with a similar $1299 street price, Honeywell is going to have to give consumers a compelling reason to consider their new name.

To their credit, Honeywell has started their HDTV legacy with a shining success. Time will only tell if a new and unknown product line can compete against the biggest names in the industry, but the economic climate might yield better pricing from a new name like Honeywell than the bloated mega-corporations that have lumbered the land for so many years. One things for sure, a five-year warranty is a step in the right direction. Value has been under-valued, and a financial recession is forcing consumers to re-think their investments to achieve a lower total cost of ownership.

MT-HWJCT42B2AB Conclusion

In case you skipping over this entire article and landed here at the conclusion, I will repeat how impressed I was when the Honeywell Altura came to me via FedEx like a normal package delivery. It's not every day that the package carrier can ring your doorbell and deliver a 42-inch HDTV. With the initial shock of the delivery behind me, it occurred to me that this is not the package I want left at my door-step. Honeywell has given the large retail box the full-color high-gloss treatment, just like you see on video card and motherboard packages, which is impressive on such a large product. I live in a safe neighborhood but with a giant picture of an HDTV gleaming from all sides and enticing features displayed across the box, I'm glad to be home to accept delivery.

The Altura MLX appears very much like an over-sized monitor and less like an HDTV. The glossy piano-black finish is wrapped around a very curved design, and the squared right-angles that have become tradition with most manufacturers are replaced with progressive styling. Without hesitation, this design is going to be a crowd-pleaser. While the MLX series is limited to 42", I would really enjoy seeing this design re-used on the larger (upcoming) Honeywell Altura HDTV products.

Honeywell builds products that last the test of time. Just like the classic golden Honeywell thermostat that I still see in action inside many homes, I expect that Honeywell doesn't give a five-year warranty on a product that will see construction defects. Every aspect of the Altura MT-HWJCT42B2AB indicated a very high precision assembly, and there wasn't a single area in which I felt the construction could have been better executed.

Functionality is a mix of results, however. At one end of the spectrum is the uncanny realism delivered by 10-bit color and a 120Hz frame rate matched to advanced tuning options. At the other end is a list of premium features that may not popular to most people but still go missing from an otherwise top-shelf product. Picture-in-picture isn't something I actually use, ever, but I think others might. There's a button for it on the remote, and therefore there should be a feature matching it on the television. Barring this small issue, Honeywell delivers the most functional menu I've seen in any HDTV to-date.

Honeywell plans to launch the Altura MLX series at $1299 in time for Christmas 2008. This is the suggested retail price and most online retailers will usually sell for less, as we explained in our how-to buying guide. Considering that the best prices for the closest competition to the 42" Altura MLX is selling just above this launch price, it appears that Honeywell has accurately pinned-down an attractive price-point for consumers. 120 Hz LCD / 10-bit color is new technology in HDTV's, so expect these prices to go down as time make these features more common.

In conclusion, it is my recommendation for home theater enthusiasts to embrace the Honeywell Altura as a formidable replacement for the big brand names we've become used to seeing. I've seen several of the competition's 42" HDTV products, and while they are still no better than the MT-HWJCT42B2AB model we've just tested. Keep in mind that Apple came along to defeat the big name digital media players by addressing what they were doing wrong and offered a solution named iPod. Honeywell could very well prove to be following the same business model with the Altura 1080p HDTV, and launching their first television with cutting-edge 10-bit color and 120 FPS LCD panel is a great starting point.

Pros:

+ Surreal picture quality delivers a true high-definition image
+ 10-Bit color processing produces 1.06 billion color depth
+ 120Hz LCD panel removes all ghosting and improves fast motion
+ HDMI v1.3b certified compliant HDTV
+ 5 Year Limited Warranty (see Functionality section)
+ 500 cd/m2 brightness / 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
+ Gold-plated HDMI 1.3 cable included
+ Full High-Definition 1080p HDTV
+ Superior viewing angle (178º H x 178º V)
+ (2) HDMI & (2) Component Inputs
+ Attractive glossy piano-black design
+ 1920X1080 Resolution via DVI/HDMI port
+ Convenient stand included

Cons:

- Glossy finish attracts dust
- Lacks picture-in-picture functionality
- Power-indicator LED is too bright when 'OFF'
- Remote control contains buttons for unavailable features
- Only available in 42" size

EDITORS NOTE: SOYO, the manufacturer of Honeywell HDTVs, has filed for bankruptcy and is no longer in business.

Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.

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