DLP or RPTV? Help me choose (1 Viewer)

[Scott Stephens]

I'm in the market for a new TV...I'm torn between an RPTV and a DLP. RPTV mainly because of the black issue as well as the much more attractive price.

But, I watch alot of 4:3 material (Directv) and am a little concerned about burn-in. I also watch alot of DVD's.

I'd like to get a 50-57" set, and am willing to spend around $3000 for a DLP, but if you guys feel my needs would be more than served by an RPTV, I'd like to know. And any brand suggestions (don't know a whole lot about DLP reputations) would be appreciated. Thanks for the input.

 

[Jerome Grate]

DLP, LCD, CRT COMPARISON

The above link to a very informative thread should help you make a decision. Read through it, then choose a group of t.v.s and make the comparison by viewing them.

 

[Dom P.]

Is space an issue for you at all??

 

[Ted Lee]

another good comparison link:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/art...&page_number=1

you already nailed the pros n cons of each, but if you have any bug about burn-in, then give yourself the peace of mind and go with dlp/lcd. plus, you'll be buying a more updated technology, a tv capable of displaying a better, brighter image that is viewable from the side, in a thinner form-factor.

really, the only reason to go with a rptv is cost.

 

[TimRP]

If you have total control of the lighting in your HT, why not a DLP front projector, decent ones start at 1,000 or less.

 

[Steve Schaffer]

Or perhaps the fact that a crt based rptv is capable of better picture quality than any of the dlp, lcd, or other digital display devices--deep blacks, no screendoor or rainbow effects, no posterized fleshtones. They also don't require a new $300+ projection bulb every couple of years.

yeah, crt based rptvs are big ugly heavy boxes and don't like being used on the sunporch at noon, but for real HT use they still excel.

By the way, unless you're talking about a plasma or flat panel lcd, the dlp, lcd, and dila sets are also rptvs.

 

[Shane Martin]

Steve is correct.

Honestly I use a zoom mode on my Mits called "Normal" which does a fine job of stretching out 4x3 material. I still watch alot of widescreen (2.35:1) movies with black bars but given how well I've tweaked it in, I'm not worried at all about burn in.

If by some reason you can't get used to the stretch modes then the grey bars will have to do. My wife felt the same way until she got used to the stretch modes which really only took a day or 2 and then she hasn't worried about them since.

For the $1k-$2k savings between a similar sized DLP, I was able to upgrade my audio system.

 

[Ted Lee]

hmm...i'll disagree (in an overall way).

i agree that crt based rptv's are still great tv's - i own a mits ws-65313 myself. for the money, they are the best value - no question.

but, put one side-by-side with a rear projection based lcd or dlp -- and i'll take one of the newer technologies anyday. the picture is brighter, sharper, better off-axis viewing, better viewing in brightly lit rooms, thinner and lighter form factor, etc.

we have a sony 60" lcd hooked up to hd (directv) at work. the picture is, to say the least, stunning! i see it a few times a week and i never ceased to be amazed.

plus, i'm definitely getting the feeling that crt based rptvs will start being phased out soon. i know for sure that pioneer has already stopped making them. we get less and less of these at work. seems to me that as prices drop on dlp/lcd's, and rptv's become less available -- there will be no reason to not pick up the newer technologies.

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ps, when i'm talking about rptv, i mean crt-based. when i talk about dlp/lcd, i mean rear-projection based.