I have a Toshiba 56HM66 56" DLP and have noticed the picture is much darker than it used to be. I changed the bulb back in June after the original finally burned out. I've looked online for advice and the most I've found was to remove the lamp and spray compressed air and clear out all the dust. I've done that and even adjusted the contrast and resolution but its still very dark. The lamp setting is on high bright as well. I wonder if it is just a bad bulb, or perhaps the color wheel. Any other advice would be appreciated.

11/8/2010 4:36:14 AM

Did you dust the screen or mirror at all?

11/8/2010 7:18:51 AM

Haven't tried that. Where is the mirror located?

11/8/2010 7:56:00 AM

new bulb soon.

11/8/2010 8:22:11 AM

going out on a limb and assuming you checked your Brightness settings

11/8/2010 8:59:49 AM

^Yep sure did. I think its the bulb. Toshiba apparently lost a class-action suit because many of their bulbs were dying prematurely. I replaced the bulb 4 months ago. WEAK

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 9:41 AM. Reason : :]

11/8/2010 9:41:02 AM

we had a similar problem w/ B0j0s' new 55" LED ... i can't remember what the setting was, but the technology might make it irrelevant to your issue

i have a 56" DLP myself (samsung) for 2½ years now but it's still as bright as when i got it

how long have you had yours

11/8/2010 10:16:04 AM

I've had it about 4 years.

11/8/2010 10:19:53 AM

Had that same model (52" version), had 2 bulbs blow on me in the 2 years I owned it.

I no longer own it.

11/8/2010 10:43:24 AM

The lamps for these things are just way over-priced. Add to that the fact that they are guaranteed to burn out at some point it can become pretty expensive to maintain. However, the bulb should last more than 4 months!

11/8/2010 11:05:59 AM

Did you touch the bulb with your fingers? You're supposed to handle the bulbs with gloves, as the oil from your skin can kill them QUICK

11/8/2010 2:38:08 PM

where did you get the bulb? what was it, $100ish?

Perhaps theres a warranty or something along those lines

11/8/2010 2:42:36 PM

i think my receipt from the TV says i get one free bulb replacement ... hopefully it's through Samsung and not Circuit City

11/8/2010 8:44:28 PM

Even if it was through Circuit City the actual warranty was probably just resold and still valid. Might have to jump through some hoops but you should be able to get your free bulb if you're willing to work with it.

11/8/2010 10:07:32 PM

I'm telling you - it's the mirror - dust it.

11/9/2010 6:29:18 PM

^if it was the mirror it would happen so gradully that he probably wouldn't even notice.

The bulbs in these things just suck. And they cost around $200/piece. Ditch it and get a Mitsubishi HC5500 like I did!

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 11:33 AM. Reason : d]

11/10/2010 11:33:07 AM

looks closer to $100 based on a 2.5 minutes of googling

11/10/2010 3:07:09 PM

^^nah my mirror got dirty and you can definitely tell a difference.

Mine actually got so bad ther look like there a cig burn in the top right about 3 inches in diameter

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 10:00 PM. Reason : ]

11/10/2010 9:59:59 PM