Je-P

What are your thoughts on the Samsung 50" DLP?

I'm torn between either getting this or waiting for the new HCN line 55" with integrated ATSC HDTV tuner. I heard that there is no burn in with DLP, so does that mean it's safe for me to play games on it? Also, what advantages does DLP offer over standard HDTV? I see that it offers 720p, which my Xbox will take full advantage of. Also I do like that it's only about 90 lbs as opposed to the 250 or so of the Rear projection. I'm just wondering, is it worth the price ($3000 or so) as opposed to the $1800-2000 that the 55" non-DLP will cost me.

Bob McElfresh

Uhhhh I dont think this is true.

I thought burn-in affected the back-side of the display surface. All display types (CRT, Rear Projection, DLP-Rear Projection) have this so it's a common issue. But as long as you dont play more than about 8 hours per day of the same game for weeks at a time, I doubt you will have the problem. (I've done a lot of Halo/MechAssault on my 50" RPTV with no problems).


These are kind of independent.

DLP:

A normal RPTV has 3 guns/light sources that combine to create an image.

A DLP has 1 gun/light source that goes through a color-wheel to create an image. The simpler optics, and the fact that the light reflects off of a silicon chip with millions of mirrors makes it cheaper, removes some convergence issues, and gives you the potential to have a totally-digital system up to point of display.

This link to a DLP Demo should help explain things.

Craig W

I think burn-in is a non-issue on DLP. The reason burn in happens on CRT is that the phosphor surfaces are unevenly burned. DLP creates images through turning small micro mirrors on and off and color by syncing the mirror states with a color wheel.

Craig W

Je-P,

You may want to consider waiting for projector technology to continue to drop in price. If the set pictured above does not have DVI with HDCP(hi-def copy protection) it may not be able to display copy writed content in 720p or 1080i. So you may want to hold off.

Yes a ninety pound DLP set is much better than a 200+ pound CRT, but even better is a front digital projector between 10-20 pounds. Of course this is only an option if you can easily control light.

I am holding off until I can get a HD2 DLP chip, aka "the Mustang chip", for a reasonable price in the next couple of years. Its expensive now, but with all the leaps and bounds this technology has made in the last couple of years its only going to get cheaper. It can only get cheaper, especially if they eventually come out with a 1920 by 1080 chip. Could 1080p be around the corner? One can only hope. Whether content providers allow us to use that resolution remains to be seen.

Good luck with what ever decision you make.

Dean Wette

I have the 61" Samsung DLP. It's an awesome set. Anamorpic DVDs and HDTV look fabulous. There are no phospor elements in the display, so there's nothing to burn-in. I watch 4:3 TV on it all the time without stretching or zooming, and the black side bars have not cuased any problem.

Even out of the box, the PQ is excellent. Tweaking it a bit usng Avia makes it better. I'm having mine ISF calibrated on Monday and expect it'll improve even more, especially in terms of black levels.

I'm completedly happy with the Samsung DLP and recommend it. The only downside is lack of discrete input codes, so I can't create remote macros to switch video and audio together. But the newer HLN series just coming to market are supposed to now have that feature.

Dean

Je-P

I considered a front projector setup, but the main room is in my living room and controlling the outside light is next to impossible. Right now I'm leaning more towards the rear projection, but I was just wondering if the DLP would be worth the extra money.

Dean Wette

If you have problems with too much ambient light, the DLP is definitely worth the extra money. The room where I have my Sammy DLP has a large glass sliding door facing East to the balcony on one side and is very open to interior rooms on the other sides.

With my previous Marantz 54" RPTV, watching during the day required drawing shades, even with indirect sunlight. The Sammy DLP is much brighter and is far more watchable in daylight. I only have to draw shades when the sunlight shines directly into the room onto the screen.

Even at night I no longer feel I have to turn off lights everywhere to get a good picture. But next week my Ideal-Lume backlight from Cinemaquest is due to arrive, which should provide me ideal lighting conditions for nitetime movie viewing. :-)

Dean

Rob Tomlin

From what I understand you should not have any burn in issues with the DLP.

I am assuming that you have viewed one of these babies? I compared it directly to a Pioneer Elite, and I definitely thought the DLP was sharper. However, some may describe this as having a "digital" appearance, and not being as "film like" as CRT. It comes down to personal preference.

I would go with the DLP!

For ordinary men, it's a burning, fiery furnace.

My DVD's My HT

KevinFC

The HD2 chip is what is currently in the Sammy DLP's. The HLN series features some advancements and a better looking bezel. There also isn't a burn in problem on these sets like LCOS. The HLN series is due out May or June, but I have yet to read any reviews or see anything about them on Samsungs website. Overall the sets looked nicer at CES and it suppose to have DVI with HDCP.

Kevin

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