Metz Roku MRD6 Series review: a top budget TV contender?

Have TVs become too complicated? With every new innovation, comes a whole bunch of new features to wrap your head around. TVs can be tweaked and tinkered with in almost infinite ways. OLED TVs with built-in DTS audio formats and a 144Hz refresh rate is all well and good, but sometimes, I just want a budget TV set that works.

In comes the MRD6, a partnership between Metz and Roku that’s available to buy now in the UK. The series offers a quality TV set with all the trimmings at a £269 (43in) starting price. But is it any good?

Design: box fresh

Metz is already an established brand in its native Germany, but its new range of 4K and Full HD TVs marks the first time the company has branched out to the UK. They’re covering for most bases and price points, too. The 4K UHD MRD6 series is available in 43in, 50in, 55in and 65in sizes, while the 2K Full HD MTD6000 series is available in 32in and 40in sizes. 

When the 50in model arrives, the TV is set up and streaming withing around ten minutes. The set can either be mounted on the wall or, as I did, placed on a table using two wide legs. It feels steady, but a few extra legs might not go amiss. But it looks the part. It’s basic but doesn’t look cheap, with a screen that stretches right to the border’s edge.

Screen and sound: visionless

First things first. There’s no Dolby Vision in the 4K series. Instead, the Metz has opted for HDR10, and a resolution of 3840×2160. This puts it on par with other budget TVs, such as the Samsung AU9000’s 3840×2160 LED display. What you get for your money are bright and balanced images with high-resolution, but aren’t exactly mind-blowing.

HDR10 can sometimes produce dark or muddy images. This is the case in the HDR10, where it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish detail in night scenes or dark environments. That’s a trade off you get for the price, but I can’t help but wonder whether Dolby Vision would give it a little extra pop.

Image quality can be boosted via the Roku Expert Picture Settings feature. Through the free Roku mobile app, I’m able to fine tune the TV set without navigating through dozens of menus on a fiddly remote control. A few image tweaks aren’t even available through the standard Roku Options menu. I can alter the colour temperature, white balance adjustment, gamma curve and more all from my phone.

The TV comes with Dolby Audio built-in. Naturally, this provides a greater expanse of sound and immersiveness for big budget blockbusters. It’s a useful feature, as the dual speaker setup is a little basic. Audio is crisp, clear and overall fine, but it lacks a certain oomph. That can be easily fixed with a decent soundbar, though. It’s an extra purchase, but one the TV’s affordability makes a little easier to justify. 

Features & connectivity: all in one

If you’re already familiar with Roku and its streamlined interface, then you’ll find the MRD6 a doddle to use straight out the box. The TV comes with access to all the apps you’d find on a Roku device. This includes Freeview Play, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Spotify and Apple Music are also available. 

Roku Search is available to search content libraries by title, actor or genre. AirPlay comes built-in, and works fluidly when sharing videos, photos and music from an Apple device. You can also use headphones with the Roku mobile app to watch TV in peace. 

The TV has 3 HDMI ports, with one including an Audio Return Channel, and two USB ports. Switching between Roku and a Sky Stream or Google Chromecast is easy, and can be done through the home screen. The MRD6 offers little beyond that, but as a simple home TV set, it doesn’t really need to.

Metz Roku MRD6 Series verdict

Cheap, cheerful and packed with all the streaming services you’d ever need, the MRD6 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a decent TV without the fuss. It could be bettered with the addition of Dolby Vision and a better built-in speaker setup, but really, it’s hard to complain with what this Metz and Roku partnership is already offering.

Metz Roku MRD6 Series technical specifications

Screen size	43in, 50in (version tested), 55in and 65in sizes
Resolution	3840×2160
HDR formats	HDR10
Inputs	3 x HDMI, 1 x ARC, 2 x USB
Smart TV OS	Roku
Dimensions	43in: 956.9×564.3×88.0mm, 50in: 1109.9×649.1×91.3mm, 55in: 1225.2×717.7×92.8mm, 65in: 1445x837x98mm