Flat screen TV / Monitor, LCD vs Plasma ?

[Skuzzy]

I have gotten to where I stay out of these discussions as they tend to devolve into religious-like rants and raves about which is best.

I did not care for plasma due to power/heat issues, and how the picture will degrade over time.  Burn-in still happens, but it takes longer.  I usually keep a set for a long time so the trade-offs were not acceptable to me.

I did not care for LCD panels as they lack black levels and tend to be less bright than plasma.  I have a bright room where an LCD panel will be washed out.  Unacceptable for me.

I ended up with an LCD rear projector.  They do not suffer wash out like the LCD panel does, but they do have the same black level problem.  They are low power consumption (120W for a 60 inch).  And when the bulb burns out, and it does, you put in a new one and the picture is still as good as it was when you brought it home.  I found the trade-offs to be acceptable for me.

All technologies have trade-offs.  It all boils down to what trade-offs are acceptable to you.

[lazs2]

skuzzy... I think you are right.  I only got the plasma because it fit the room better and I liked the picture over the lcd one.. it was also a pretty good deal.. the TV is for the bedroom and a projection TV of any size mounted up high would not work.

In my living room I have a normal 60" mitsubishi that has a pretty good picture and I got it used for cheap... problem is that the room is relatively narrow and this monster just makes it worse.    I need at least a 50" TV for the room so I will go with a plasma here too.  It will make the room bigger and at 50" or larger.. I don't see any choice.  50" plasma now seems to be the best deal.. the sweet spot.   not much more than a grand.

lazs

[Heater]

Thanks all...
Still looking, and off to a Trade show on Monday to look at both first hand

[Skuzzy]

Carefull at trade shows.  They will have all the TV's calibrated to over 9000 Kelvin to make them stand out.  The colors will be over saturated and with a small amount of blueish cast.

Lazs, I had forgotten about the space issue.  Flat panels require less space.  Even though the new model LCD rear projectors are about a foot deep at the base, then still have to sit on something.  In my case, I could have gone either way.

[lazs2]

a foot is not bad..  are they really that shallow?  the ones I seen were like 18" or more but looked more massive.   I will probly still set the thing on something but.. something open.. like staggered shelves... give the impression of not taking up space and the TV itself will be up against the wall.

lazs

[Holden McGroin]

On average, the power consumption of a cathode-ray screen is 3.4 watts per screen inch, while plasma uses 9.4 watts per screen inch - based on figures from 2005.

LCD screens use a similar amount of power to CRT televisions.

[Skuzzy]

I'll get the exact measurements for my base lazs.  It is pretty small for a 60 inch set.

Yeah Holden, then there are read projector LCD screens which run abour 2W / screen inch on 60 inch models.

[midnight Target]

I have the rear projection 56", great picture, less than 1/2 the price of a similar plasma at the time. I'd guess the base is about 18".

[lazs2]

yeah..  I like the picture on DLP's just fine... and the price of the bulb is no big deal.. my ex just had to have hers replaced and it wasn't the $400 everyone said, more like $200

18" isn't much but it is the fact that it is a big box that makes it look so intrusive.. not open at all..not a problem for my ex's cause it is in a built in wall but for my narrowish (14.5') livingroom.... it is noticeable.

lazs

[Vulcan]

and OLED rules them all

[Shuffler]

yeah..  I like the picture on DLP's just fine... and the price of the bulb is no big deal.. my ex just had to have hers replaced and it wasn't the $400 everyone said, more like $200

18" isn't much but it is the fact that it is a big box that makes it look so intrusive.. not open at all..not a problem for my ex's cause it is in a built in wall but for my narrowish (14.5') livingroom.... it is noticeable.

lazs

My Samsung 61" is DLP with the LED engine..... no bulb and no 6 color wheel that has to spin up. The LED engine uses much less power and will outlast the plasma and LCD products. Realistic color quality and blacker blacks.

My original intent was either an LCD or Plasma but I learned alot when I actually went shopping. My TV listed for something like 3200.00, I lucked into an in store christmas deal at Frys for about 1599.00.

[Holden McGroin]

Olevia's are assembled in Ontario, California USA.

About 18 months ago, the company decided to shift assembly to North America, where it expects demand for its LCD sets to soar. Relocating to a plant in Southern California will allow it to react to changing demands more quickly, better control inventory and save the 5.3 percent duty it pays on each imported set.

[Skuzzy]

Ok, finally got around to measuring.  The front to rear depth is 16".  The base is smaller.  I understand Mitsibishi has a DLP rear projector at 57" that is only 14" deep.

By the way, if you go plasma, check the rated half-life of the display out.  It is rated in hours and is the manufacturer's approximated time where the colors reach hafl the saturation levels from when it is new.

I know Pioneer Elite's are rated at 60,000 hours.  Panasonic rates some of thier models up to 100,000 hours.  The trade-offs is the brightness.  Pioneer tends to be brighter than Panasonic, thus the shorter half-life.  Again, do not trust what you see is a store demo.  A properly calibrated set is not going to look anything like the demo units in a store once at your home.

DLP's, using color wheels, are all rated at lower black levels than rear projector LCD/LCOS sets are.  They also suffer lower ANSI contrast levels.  I have not read a review of some of the new DLP sets that use three DLP chips instead of the color wheel.  That is not to say you cannot find LCD/LCOS sets that are worse. 

My reference point always leans towards the higher end model sets.  Honestly, the lower end sets, of any type of technology, hold no interest at all for me.

[VWE]

I bought a 32" LCD about a month ago, best looking t.v. I've ever purchased and can play my xbox 360 in high def... havn't tried hooking up the 'puter, yet.

[Shuffler]

Ok, finally got around to measuring.  The front to rear depth is 16".  The base is smaller.  I understand Mitsibishi has a DLP rear projector at 57" that is only 14" deep.

DLP's, using color wheels, are all rated at lower black levels than rear projector LCD/LCOS sets are.  They also suffer lower ANSI contrast levels.  I have not read a review of some of the new DLP sets that use three DLP chips instead of the color wheel.  That is not to say you cannot find LCD/LCOS sets that are worse. 

My Samsung DLP is 61" and is only 12" deep. I have the set with the LED engine... no color wheel or bulb.