Help Me Decide: Flat Panel vs. LCOS (Comparing Size, Performance & Cost) (1 Viewer)

[Arvin_C]

Hello all.

Got a question: In screen sizes larger than 52", are the LCOS rear-projectors (JVC D-ILA & Sony SXRD) still a viable alternative to flat-panel displays when cost vs. performance vs. screen size is concerned?

Reason I ask this is that I am having a new home built and the family room will allow me to finally go bigger than the 42" plasma I currently have. I have always thought the best HD picture I have ever seen (within my budget!) were the LCOS 1080p sets of the past few years. However, since both JVC and Sony have abandoned the LCOS set market, my only recourse if I want one of these sets new is to hurry and buy from one of the few on-line sources still carrying them. Or, I can wait 'till December (when the house will be finished) and go large flat-panel.

My concerns are:

1.) Budget: While I'd love to shell out $4,000+ on a Pioneer Kuro or JVC LCOS front-projector, my budget simply won't allow it. My max display budget is $3,000.

2.) Performance: The big thing that drew me to the LCOS displays was how dark they made black look and how uniformly sharp and crisp the images were on really big sizes, ie. 55" - 60". I need a display at least 55" in size, with room to go to 70" comfortably. Are there flat panels in my price range that can measure up to the LCOS displays? Am I just bonkers? You tell me...

Thansk for any help or suggestions!

Arvin C

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

Full disclosure: I'm a very happy LCoS RP owner. (720p JVC HD-ILA. When I bought my set only Sony had 1080p models and they were too pricey.) I also have a couple of LCD flat panels in the bedrooms running off the same cable service and equipment, so it is easy to do comparisons.

For picture quality, brightness and black-level, the JVC wins, hands down. And its scaler does an amazing job upconverting my SD-DVDs. (As least as good as my Sony upconverting DVD player, which is why I don't bother with the HDMI connection from it, preferring component and the convenience of video switching through my non-HDMI AVR.)

I'm sure there are some real bargains out there for the remaining stock of the JVCs. Even though they are now "obsolete" technology (squeezed out by market forces, not by any technical factors) they should be perfectly viable for years to come. If you get ten years out of it, what will your cost per year be? By that time there should be some better technology (or plasma and LCD will be vastly improved and much cheaper) and you'll have had one of the best looking sets for a given size to enjoy for all that time.

Do go ahead and buy a replacement bulb or two at the best price you can find on line and keep them on the shelf. After nearly three years I finally replaced the bulb in my 56" set (which I'm watching from about 7 feet away - I like a really enveloping visual experience.) The set looks like it did the day I brought it home. I hadn't even noticed that it had been gradually dimming a bit over the past few months, but once that new bulb went in, it was like a brand-new TV. After all, the solid state components of the visual system don't really age or wear out with use, so if you replace the light source, you pretty much do have a new set. That's something you don't get with a plasma - your only other option if you really want a true black, which will gradually get dimmer and dimmer over time.

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Joe

 

[Patrick Sun]

If you get a bulb-based HDTV set, make sure the viewing angles won't be a problem, nor the silkscreen effect (hot spots that show up in the way of sparklies - this totally kills the illusion of what is being displayed on the screen for me. YMMV). Personally I'd wait and see what 3 grand would get me in flatscreens near the Christmas shopping season.

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

I've never had a problem with viewing angle from any normal viewing position in my place. Whether or not it is for you will depend on the layout of your theater. And I've never seen any "sparklies" with my LCoS set.

Regards,

Joe

 

[Claire Panke]

I'm in the market this winter, after I move, for a new flat panel display.

The Lycos can have nice PQ (especially compared to LCDs), but I honestly wouldn't go there. The blacks are better on Panny and Kuro panels. If you can't afford the Kuros on sale, then I'd look into the Pannys.

 

[Ed Moxley]

Olevia is about the only LCoS tv left, unless you can find a JVC or Sony that hasn't been sold yet. I've not seen the Olevia, but the JVC and Sony LCoS tvs had the best picture of any tv I've seen, Panasonic and Pioneer included. I won't have a plasma to start with. I can't stand the reflective screen.

If you have access to a JVC or Sony LCoS, I'd go for it. I would also get an extra bulb while at it. I'd see if the store would give me one, for buying the tv. Probably not, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.....
I've seen only one person with an LCoS set, that ended up unhappy with it. Their fan started making too much noise.
Good luck with whatever you get!

 

[David Willow]

I LOVE my LCoS JVC HD-ILA. My JVC LCD in the bedroom is nice, but not anywhere near as nice as my LCoS. It easily beats my old Hitachi rear projection. I was very sad to see JVC and Sony stop making them. The good news is that a new bulb every few years and my LCoS will look as good as new for many, many years (assuming nothing breaks as I knock on wood).