Which type of TV is better...
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Cobra Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
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From: SoCal
We are getting ready to move back into our house and my wife 
says we can't put our old TV back in our new living room. And who am I to argue with such a great idea. So I am gonna start to look at these TV's. I am trying to figure out which is better all around and what would you guys suggest.
Also, what is the best manufacturer for these TV's. I had always heard that Mitsubishi was the best for tubes, but I don't know about these new ones.
Please help...
says we can't put our old TV back in our new living room. And who am I to argue with such a great idea. So I am gonna start to look at these TV's. I am trying to figure out which is better all around and what would you guys suggest. Also, what is the best manufacturer for these TV's. I had always heard that Mitsubishi was the best for tubes, but I don't know about these new ones.
Please help...
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 30, 2004
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It all depends on what you want in a TV
LCD
Pros
Good picture quality
no burn in problems
less expensive most of the time (especially projection LCDs)
no worries about picture degradation
Works well with video games
Very compatible with computers
non hd programs still look pretty good
Cons
Bigger screens or close up viewing can give a screen door effect
fast paced shows like football can show ghosting
colors and blacks will not be as vibrant when compared to plasma
If any part of the screen goes out the whole screen must be replaced
LCD projection tvs require new bulbs every 4 years or so at $300 a pop
Plasma
Pros
Best overall picture quality when using hd
best color representation
no ghosting problems
Thin and light
Some new tv's have life approching 60,000 hours. (20 years at 8 hours a day)
Cons
Expensive
some tv's can experience burn in issues(but getting better)
Non hd programming is not as good as lcds
expensive to service
Limited life on the tv (its dying the day you get it home)
should not be used with games
picture can degrade over time (keep in mind this is minor and takes a long time)
So here are some +s and -s on both types. If your tight on cash I just bought a 42 inch sony grand wega projection lcd for 1,619 plus tax with two years no interest financing at circut city and I love it. The 50 inch can be had for a few hundred more, but would have been two big as my bed is 16 inches from the tv stand. Sony Samsung and Panasonic are pretty much top dog in both formats, but with LCD i would go with sony. Plasma I'd look at Samsung first than the other two. Hope this helped and good luck.
LCD
Pros
Good picture quality
no burn in problems
less expensive most of the time (especially projection LCDs)
no worries about picture degradation
Works well with video games
Very compatible with computers
non hd programs still look pretty good
Cons
Bigger screens or close up viewing can give a screen door effect
fast paced shows like football can show ghosting
colors and blacks will not be as vibrant when compared to plasma
If any part of the screen goes out the whole screen must be replaced
LCD projection tvs require new bulbs every 4 years or so at $300 a pop
Plasma
Pros
Best overall picture quality when using hd
best color representation
no ghosting problems
Thin and light
Some new tv's have life approching 60,000 hours. (20 years at 8 hours a day)
Cons
Expensive
some tv's can experience burn in issues(but getting better)
Non hd programming is not as good as lcds
expensive to service
Limited life on the tv (its dying the day you get it home)
should not be used with games
picture can degrade over time (keep in mind this is minor and takes a long time)
So here are some +s and -s on both types. If your tight on cash I just bought a 42 inch sony grand wega projection lcd for 1,619 plus tax with two years no interest financing at circut city and I love it. The 50 inch can be had for a few hundred more, but would have been two big as my bed is 16 inches from the tv stand. Sony Samsung and Panasonic are pretty much top dog in both formats, but with LCD i would go with sony. Plasma I'd look at Samsung first than the other two. Hope this helped and good luck.
GT Member
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Your question is a little vague, so I decided not to vote. In terms of picture quality, I think plasma has the advantage. Bright, clear picture with a good viewing angle. But durability and value wise, I'd go with LCD. No burn in, and I'd imagine it uses less power - those plasmas are electricity hogs.
Honestly, I'd vote for neither. Rear-projection DLP models have the best picture IMO, and are much cheaper than plasma/LCD models of the same size. Yes, they are larger and you can't hang them on the wall, but I feel they outperform the thin fancy models for much less. The only disadvantages are size and bulb replacement (~$300 for a new one).
If you don't mind the heft, I feel rear-projection CRT TVs still have the edge. You can't beat the deep blacks and fast, smooth movement for around a thousand less than other models of similar size. The disadvantages here are size/weight and convergance. They use three CRTs, one each for red, green, and blue, and these have to be aligned in the convergance menu. I'm not sure how often this has to be done, but it's not the hardest thing in the world to do.
For brands, I'd go with Hitachi, Mitsubishi, or Sony for rear-projection CRT, with Hitachi being my first choice. All three of those brands get good reviews for those TVs. I've heard good things about Samsung DLP models. Since I'm not interested in Plasma or direct-view LCD, I'm not sure. I do know that Sound & Vision was very impressed with a new HP plasma screen.
Honestly, I'd vote for neither. Rear-projection DLP models have the best picture IMO, and are much cheaper than plasma/LCD models of the same size. Yes, they are larger and you can't hang them on the wall, but I feel they outperform the thin fancy models for much less. The only disadvantages are size and bulb replacement (~$300 for a new one).
If you don't mind the heft, I feel rear-projection CRT TVs still have the edge. You can't beat the deep blacks and fast, smooth movement for around a thousand less than other models of similar size. The disadvantages here are size/weight and convergance. They use three CRTs, one each for red, green, and blue, and these have to be aligned in the convergance menu. I'm not sure how often this has to be done, but it's not the hardest thing in the world to do.
For brands, I'd go with Hitachi, Mitsubishi, or Sony for rear-projection CRT, with Hitachi being my first choice. All three of those brands get good reviews for those TVs. I've heard good things about Samsung DLP models. Since I'm not interested in Plasma or direct-view LCD, I'm not sure. I do know that Sound & Vision was very impressed with a new HP plasma screen.
Team Mustang Source Legacy Member
Joined: September 2, 2004
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From: Las Vegas
Just to add in my 2 cents, I think DLP offers great advantages, but as with any rear-projection you'll have to replace bulbs every 3000 hours or so. LCD is great, and very bright and vibrant, but if it's a large LCD panel it's not gonna be cheap, and will have the screen door. Plasma is nice, and as far as burn in, there are precedures to initiate your screen (two DVD/s available for screen setup are DVE and Avia), and some tv's now offer a "Screen Cleaner" that will help clear up any temporary image lock.
I bought a 50" Vizio plasma this weekend at Costco for $2499 +tax. The screen and internals are actually panasonic, which has been reviewed as one of the best screens available. As for the 60,000 hour life, that's actually half-life of the screen, when run at full brightness. Every review or recommendation I've read says you should turn down the brightness anyway, and the DVD's I mentioned above will help you re-adjust your picture settings to better fit your environment, and hopefully expend that life. So if you reset it to 50% brightness, that 60,000 is actually going to be a lot longer, plus even at 60,000 it'll be just as bright as if you did set it to 50%, so it'll still easily be watchable.
Check out www.avsforum.com for all kinds of info on home theaters, including tv's, projectors, etc. etc.
I bought a 50" Vizio plasma this weekend at Costco for $2499 +tax. The screen and internals are actually panasonic, which has been reviewed as one of the best screens available. As for the 60,000 hour life, that's actually half-life of the screen, when run at full brightness. Every review or recommendation I've read says you should turn down the brightness anyway, and the DVD's I mentioned above will help you re-adjust your picture settings to better fit your environment, and hopefully expend that life. So if you reset it to 50% brightness, that 60,000 is actually going to be a lot longer, plus even at 60,000 it'll be just as bright as if you did set it to 50%, so it'll still easily be watchable.
Check out www.avsforum.com for all kinds of info on home theaters, including tv's, projectors, etc. etc.
Bullitt Member
Joined: March 4, 2005
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LCDs are the way to go if you want some longevity for your investment. They may not be a vibrant as Plasma, but then they do not have the burn-in issue and last almost twice as long at the same viewing settings. I have a Sharp 45" over my fireplace and am very please with the results. By the time this TV needs would need to be replaced, the technology would have gone around the block.
EK
EK
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From: SoCal
Thanks for the input guys. I really know nothing about these newer TV's. I don't know if it means anything, but there will be a lot of hockey games on this TV, plus a lot of movies. Does this help in a decision? We were also leaning toward a flat panel, but I don't think I want to put holes in my brand new walls. I am not connecting video games or a computer to the televison (both are on my computer monitor). I will be close but not super close. We had a 36" tube in there before and it was ok, but when we put the 32" flat screen sony tube in our bedroom it just blew the other one away. That is why we want to go with a better one now. I've seen HDTV and they are awesome to watch. I just want to spend my money wisely.
Team Mustang Source Legacy Member
Joined: September 2, 2004
Posts: 1,679
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From: Las Vegas
If you go with a flat panel (LCD or Plasma) there are stands availabe that you can either set the tv on top of it (table top design) or you can get an additional rear mounting pole and attach the flat panel there, which will allow for height adjustment if you want it a little higher. They aren't cheap though. One brand I know if is Salamander (www.salamanderddesigns.com) and they're really nice. A friend got one for his 42" Plasma. Not sure what I'm going with, but I'll probably go with just a tabletop stand for now.
I'm people, and I like.
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From: PDX
I saw a little special on TV about these tv's.
If you're looking for 40 inches and bigger go with the Plasma
If you're looking for lower than 40 inches, go with the LCD, the pixels start looking weird after 40 inch.
The DLP is good for really dark rooms (house theaters)
If you're looking for 40 inches and bigger go with the Plasma
If you're looking for lower than 40 inches, go with the LCD, the pixels start looking weird after 40 inch.
The DLP is good for really dark rooms (house theaters)
Mach 1 Member
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Originally posted by freebass55@December 5, 2005, 2:43 PM
Thanks for the input guys. I really know nothing about these newer TV's. I don't know if it means anything, but there will be a lot of hockey games on this TV, plus a lot of movies. Does this help in a decision? We were also leaning toward a flat panel, but I don't think I want to put holes in my brand new walls. I am not connecting video games or a computer to the televison (both are on my computer monitor). I will be close but not super close. We had a 36" tube in there before and it was ok, but when we put the 32" flat screen sony tube in our bedroom it just blew the other one away. That is why we want to go with a better one now. I've seen HDTV and they are awesome to watch. I just want to spend my money wisely.
Thanks for the input guys. I really know nothing about these newer TV's. I don't know if it means anything, but there will be a lot of hockey games on this TV, plus a lot of movies. Does this help in a decision? We were also leaning toward a flat panel, but I don't think I want to put holes in my brand new walls. I am not connecting video games or a computer to the televison (both are on my computer monitor). I will be close but not super close. We had a 36" tube in there before and it was ok, but when we put the 32" flat screen sony tube in our bedroom it just blew the other one away. That is why we want to go with a better one now. I've seen HDTV and they are awesome to watch. I just want to spend my money wisely.
With what it sounds like you'll be using it for my recommendation would be the plasma, or a dlp projection. Neither of these are prone to ghosting and thats the number one problem with lcds. If you did want to go with an lcd I would go with an lcd projection. I watch tons of hockey in HD on mine and its flawless, but when I watch the same thing on my friends flat panel lcd there is noticable ghosting, and his is a sony as well. But in that same respect the dlp is probably the better projection unit if your not goint to use video games on it.
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I have a Samsung 26 LCD HD and I like it. Scores real high in the ratings. Do a search on C net.com. If I had to do it over I would purchase the same set. Purchased at Best Buy 1220. Nothing wrong with holes in new walls. I would just do it. Must be your first house. If so great!!!
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From: SoCal
Originally posted by Mongoose@December 5, 2005, 4:44 PM
Do a search on C net.com. If I had to do it over I would purchase the same set. Purchased at Best Buy 1220. Nothing wrong with holes in new walls. I would just do it. Must be your first house. If so great!!!
Do a search on C net.com. If I had to do it over I would purchase the same set. Purchased at Best Buy 1220. Nothing wrong with holes in new walls. I would just do it. Must be your first house. If so great!!!
No, not our first house. We are remodeling right now and everything is brand new. I won't even put up pictures for a while, just so I can enjoy a house without any holes or flaws anywhere.
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Originally posted by jayguy@December 5, 2005, 1:39 PM
Just to add in my 2 cents, I think DLP offers great advantages, but as with any rear-projection you'll have to replace bulbs every 3000 hours or so.
Just to add in my 2 cents, I think DLP offers great advantages, but as with any rear-projection you'll have to replace bulbs every 3000 hours or so.
Post *****
Joined: May 13, 2004
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From: Berkeley/Redwood City, CA
we just bought a phillips 42" Plasma, but we havent hoocked it up yet (house is being remodeled)
but when its all hoocked up, ill letcha know what its like. my 2 uncles have a plasma and a projection respectively and both are pretty cool. nither uses em for games tho. for that we have the ooold 27" tubes lol
but when its all hoocked up, ill letcha know what its like. my 2 uncles have a plasma and a projection respectively and both are pretty cool. nither uses em for games tho. for that we have the ooold 27" tubes lol
Needs to be more Astony
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From: Volo, IL
DLP is the best
DLP vs LCD
DLP vs Plasma
DLP vs LCD
Manufacturers recognize that the organic compounds in LCD panels and polarizers are susceptible to high heat and light energy stress, and will eventually break down if deployed in high stress environments—in particular 24x7 operation with higher than normal ambient temperatures. Compact portable LCD projectors are in general not recommended for 24x7 duty cycles because of this.
On the other hand, DLP technology does not use organic compounds. Thus the elements which can be expected to degrade over time under high stress in an LCD projector do not exist in a DLP projector. Therefore when these two technologies are placed side-by-side in an unusually high stress environment as they were in this test, the DLP-based products should be more resistant to image shift over time. TI's test demonstrated this in no uncertain terms.
On the other hand, DLP technology does not use organic compounds. Thus the elements which can be expected to degrade over time under high stress in an LCD projector do not exist in a DLP projector. Therefore when these two technologies are placed side-by-side in an unusually high stress environment as they were in this test, the DLP-based products should be more resistant to image shift over time. TI's test demonstrated this in no uncertain terms.
DLP manufacturers list the backlight bulb hours at around 80,000 hours. What's more, this bulb can be replaced for as little as $200 in some cases. Certain DLP TV displays require a technician to change their bulbs, and this will cost you more than the lamp itself. In other cases, though, the DLP is configured in a way that makes it easy for a layperson to replace burned-out bulbs. It all depends on the make and model of your DLP.
And, since DLP is a mirror and light technology, once the bulb is replaced, the DLP should perform as well as it did when it was brand new.
Plasma, by contrast, uses a small electric pulse for each pixel to excite the rare natural gases argon, neon, and xenon (a k a "phosphors") to produce the color information and light. As electrons excite the phosphors, oxygen atoms dissipate. These rare gases actually have a life and fade over time. Manufacturers of plasma have estimated the life of these phosphors to be about 60,000 hours. The life of the plasma display itself is usually determined by half-life of the phosphors. So at 30,000 hours the phosphors will be at their half-life, and the viewer will be seeing an image that has half the brightness capability that it did when originally purchased. This should be a good point at which to consider its life over. The gases in plasma TVs cannot be replaced. There is no phenomenon of "pumping" new gases into a plasma display.
And, since DLP is a mirror and light technology, once the bulb is replaced, the DLP should perform as well as it did when it was brand new.
Plasma, by contrast, uses a small electric pulse for each pixel to excite the rare natural gases argon, neon, and xenon (a k a "phosphors") to produce the color information and light. As electrons excite the phosphors, oxygen atoms dissipate. These rare gases actually have a life and fade over time. Manufacturers of plasma have estimated the life of these phosphors to be about 60,000 hours. The life of the plasma display itself is usually determined by half-life of the phosphors. So at 30,000 hours the phosphors will be at their half-life, and the viewer will be seeing an image that has half the brightness capability that it did when originally purchased. This should be a good point at which to consider its life over. The gases in plasma TVs cannot be replaced. There is no phenomenon of "pumping" new gases into a plasma display.
