Metz MRD6000 Roku TV review

The Metz Roku MRD6000 is an inexpensive Ultra HD LED HDR smart TV built upon the well-known and much-loved Roku smart OS.

Metz, a German stalwart for decades if you haven’t heard of it before, is aiming to carve a niche in the shallow end of the telly pool with its Blue division, and has partnered with Roku, a rival to Amazon’s Fire TV OS. The combo could be a winner.

The set is a direct view LED LCD with generic thin bezel looks, but Roku is a great option if you want easy access an enormous selection of streaming TV services at your fingertips, in addition to Roku’s own free-to-view streaming channel.

So is this cheapie 4K smart TV a worthwhile buy? Let’s take a closer look…

Design & Build

• Lightweight plastic build
• Three HDMI inputs
• Roku remote control

The Metz Roku MRD6000 is best described as generic.

The black plastic bezel is thin enough, and while this set has a direct LED backlight rather than edge lighting, it’s not overly deep at 91mm.

The zapper has dedicated buttons for Freeview Play, Netflix, Disney plus, Apple TV+ and Spotify.

It comes with two widely placed plastic feet, which I found quite fiddly to fit; there’s no option when it comes to height or width adjustment for these boots, so plan your AV furniture accordingly.

Connectivity comprises three HDMI inputs, one of which is eARC enabled, an AV minijack and two USB ports. This is a 60Hz panel so there’s no 4K 120Hz support for your game console. There’s also a digital audio output and CI slot for those who crave such things.

The set has an aerial connection and Freeview Play tuner, and ships with a Roku styled remote control, which I found chunky in the hand but easy enough to use.

The zapper has dedicated buttons for Freeview Play, Netflix, Disney plus, Apple TV+ and Spotify.

Specs & Features

• Roku Smart TV OS
• Apple AirPlay 2 support
• Wi-Fi

The feature list here very much belongs to Roku, and will be familiar to users of the platform often found on streaming sticks. It comes with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, plus Apple AirPlay2 and Homekit functionality.

The Roku interface is uncluttered and intuitive to use. Apps and devices are listed in a grid pattern on the right, with a menu to Search, select Freeview Play or explore the Roku apps store sit to the right.

The UI can be customised with different wallpapers and screensavers, which might include anything from an aquarium to a digital clock. You can also set localised names, and organise your apps according to preference.

Roku offers an extensive selection of streaming services, both top draw and obscure

Roku offers an extensive selection of streaming services, both top draw and obscure. Freeview Play comes with all the mainstream catch-up services in tow, including BBC iPlayer, ITVx, My5 and All4 for the UK.

If you already have a Roku account it’s a simple matter to sync the TV with your account and apps.

Picture Quality

• HLG and HDR10 support
• Variable panel brightness
• 2x10W sound system

Will the Metz Roku 50MRD6000 disappoint viewers straight from the box? TV studio fare looks glossy enough, and images are colour-rich but there are significant caveats.

While this set is HDR ready, it’s not really HDR capable. I measured peak HDR brightness, using a 10% measurement patch, at 320 nits, which is a little below average, even for an entry-level model.

When the set receives an HDR signal, you can see it visibly dim and the picture flattens. Ultra HD HDR footage of Formula 1 (from a Best of 2023, Sky Sports F1 broadcast), lacked the dynamics and contrast so characteristic of Sky’s presentation.

But that’s not to say it’s devoid of impact. The Taipei skyline at night, that opens comedy actioner The Brothers Sun (Netflix 4k HDR), and the ‘Bake Off’ beat down that follows, is punchy enough, with appreciable specular highlights.

Black level performance is limited. Like so many low-cost LCD displays, it manages a dark grey rather than true black.

While this Metz supports HLG and HDR10 as standard, there’s no Dolby Vision support, which is a shame as Dolby Vision is particularly helpful with relatively low-brightness HDR models like this.

The TV is at its best with SDR content. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Netflix, HD) is a good deal more vibrant, a riot of colours. It’s interesting to note the APL (Average Picture Level) jump on the Roku interface when you swap from HDR to SDR content.

While this couldn’t be construed as a high-end gaming display, it actually acquits itself well in Game mode.

This isn’t a screen for picture quality obsessives, but there is provision to dig deep with an Expert Settings menu if you wish. Here you can alter elements like Dynamic Contrast, Tone mapping, Colour Temperature and Gamma, but the return on investment for your time here isn’t great.

Far better to stay above ground. Panel modes comprise Brighter, Bright, Normal, Dark and Darker, while picture presets cover Auto, Low Power, Standard, Vivid, Sports and Film.

Standard and Film would be my recommendations.

Off-axis viewing results in a drop in colour and contrast, but then this is to be expected. Place the screen square onto your viewing position and you’ll be fine.

While this couldn’t be construed as a high-end gaming display, it actually acquits itself well in Game mode. I measured input lag at 10.3ms, and found I could play Call of Duty without any latency induced impediment.

Sound Quality

Sonically, the MRD6000 is more difficult to defend.

Not to beat about the bush, the 2x10W sound system on the MRD6000 is awful. The set boasts DTS Trusurround, as well as a Dialogue Enhancer and True Volume, dynamic limiter, but none offer any salvation.

There’s also a variety of audio presets: Standard, Speech, Theatre, Music, Big Bass, and High Treble. Stick with Standard and grit your teeth – at least until you add a soundbar.

Price & Availability

The Metz Roku MRD6000 is available in 43-, 50-, 55-, and 65-inch screen sizes (43MRD6000, 50MRD6000, 55MRD6000, and 65MRD6000), priced at £229, £279, £329 and £449). I put the 50-inch model through its paces.

There are retail variations with different suffixes (z or Y), but it’s the same model. You can buy it from Euronics and Marks Electrical.

These Metz Roku sets are not available in North America.

Rivals include the Toshiba UF3D review, Amazon Fire TV Series-4 and Sharp FJ2K but you can check out all the best budget TVs here.

Should you buy the Metz Roku MRD6000?

The Metz Roku MRD6000 is an unashamedly cheap 4K telly for those who want a plug & play streaming solution that won’t break the bank. Its obvious attraction is the Roku TV OS, which is slick and supremely easy to use.

While the set doesn’t win points for build or specification – the design is lightweight and its HDR performance is borderline at best – overall usability is high.

With Freeview Play covering catch-up services, and a plethora of streaming services available, including heavy hitters like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video, you’ll never run out of stuff to watch.

HDR performance is not particularly a forte, but it looks fine with everyday HD content. Colours are rich, detail is high and motion is relatively well handled. Audio quality is poor though so budget for a soundbar.

Specs

• Display technology: LED LCD
• Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K
• Dimensions: 1110(w) x 649(h) x 91(d)mm  
• Weight: 8.8kg
• HDMI: x3
• HDR support: HDR10+, HLG
• Audio: 2x10W speakers
• Roku smart platform
• Freeview Play tuner
• 2-year warranty