Agreed, for my money, you simply can't beat a plasma.
Here's a rundown of the most popular display techs
Plasma = king of the hill LCD = a close second DLP = only those interested in simply joining the HD club need apply, if you actually care about the quality of the picture, don't buy DLP.
Exactly my point. You get what you pay for. You have two options in this case. Suck it up and spend the money for a real TV, or buy a smaller plasma and sit closer. DLP is not even an option for me. It is the bottom of the HDTV barrel.
There is a dirty little secret that no one is telling you - DLP offers the best picture around - better than plasma, better than LCD. Anyone telling you DLP is inferior to either technology is wrong wrong wrong !!! My gf at the time bought a 1080P LCD based on my recommendation, since she was more interested in screen depth than picture quality. When I got my 1080P DLP a month later (Nov 2006), she was blown away on the picture quality it has to offer. On the CNET reviews, my DLP was number 2, hers was ranked 7. Everyone who sees my DLP is blown away compared to what they have !!! Manufacutures should get back into the game and start mass producing DLP TVs for home use. The best movie theatres use DLP Cinema technology. If you have an LCOS TV, it too gives a superior picture over plasma and LCD. No way in hell will I go with plasma or LCD for my next bedroom tv. A friend of mine who got plasma is now thinking of getting of getting a DLP based on both his and my recommendations.
If you want the best picture money has to buy, go with a DLP from Mitsubishi, Samsung, or Toshiba. You wont be sorry !!!
Thank you, but I've done extensive research (read many technical white papers on the subject, not just cnet reviews) and formed my own opinions as well. And just FYI, movie theaters use FRONT PROJECTION DLP projectors, not rear projection. Big difference. Rear projection has HORRIBLE viewing angles and uneven brightness issues, front projection does not have this problem.
I also never mentioned anything about LCD. I also do not prefer LCD, though I'd take it over RP DLP any day. I also never said anything about LCOS either, though I would take plasma over that too. The two major issues I have with DLP is the horrible viewing angle and uneven brightness.
And obviously if you buy a top of the line DLP and compare it against a crappy plasma or vice versa, that's not really fair.
Compare a top of the line DLP vs. a Pioneer Kuro (I know they've been discontinued) and then we've got a real comparison.
And just in case you are the type of person to rely on technology sites rather than doing your own research. You may want to take a look at the top listed HDTVs at cnet.
Because it is not listed, does not mean its an inferior technology. Remember VHS vs. Beta - although VHS won the mass consumer market, it was the inferior format. Even 8MM was better than VHS (although it would have to bow down to its big brother - Beta). And before you say what about S-VHS ? It was a better format than Beta ! It gave a sharper picture than Beta ever could ! Although only THAT part would be true (hi-fi audio and assemble editing capabilities were always supererior on the Beta), S-VHS would still have to bow down to Hi-8. And of course - S-VHS and Hi-8 would never be able to beat out the best of them all - ED-Beta !
When you compare DLP. vs. LCOS. vs. plasma vs. LCD, on comparable price points, you will see that the DLP and LCOS HDTVs outshine the plasma and LCD counterparts.
Tests have been performed for MANY years between all 4 competing technologies. DLP always comes out on top because of their superior blacks and the rich colours it produces (this is still true even in todays display standards). LCOS was considered to set the new standard in picture technology which DLP held (and more over plasma and LCD, in that order). Although the best LCOS may just beat out DLP, it never got enough market recognition because LCOS was hard to manufacture and was an expensive technology to utilize when it first became production on the Sony and JVC 2003 displays. It just never got enough oxygen in the tank to become a true market force.
Keep in mind that LCOS and DLP are superior in many areas over their plasma and LCD counterparts, even at the same price points. They do not suffer from motion blur, screen burn in, and picture deterioration (I hear that it still happens on plasma displays from friends who purchased their monitors a year ago). They have the deepest blacks, the richest colours, and excelent picture uniformity over todays popular plasmas and LCDs. The only thing that DLP MAY suffer is something called a rainbow effect. Its when a pixel, or colour area on the screen changes from one colour to another. Very few people can see this, if at all. If you dont see it now, you never will. Now, with colour wheels rotating faster, and with 6 colour wheel sets on all DLPs, the rainbow effect has all but been diminished. As for viewing angle that you had mentioned, DLPs do have a pretty wide viewing angle, 130 to 160 degrees, even with my set.
Also, with DLP moving to the new laser technology in the next year or two, colour wheels and bulbs will no longer be used on DLP sets, making DLP TV flatter, and will become a wall mountable technology.
For now, the market, which includes those who review display technologies, has shifted its focus away from the DLP and LCOS technologies and given into the buying public for the sheer reason of selling - people are more interested on how their TVs will look on wall than how the picture will look overall.
Before commenting back that plasmas are superior over DLPs, keep in mind what I mention about market shift. The buying market is not always the best informed, and the experts tend to sway due to market pressure, even if it is against their own best judgement. I have been in this business of research in audio and video for over 20 years seeing it all, from the golden age of audio research and expansion offered from many companies, to market contractions - with superior technologies reaching a peak in the market place only to watch the market settle on an inferior technology. We are seeing that happen right now in the video industry once again - with LCOS, DLP, and plasma bowing down to LCD.
I've made careful decisions about which format is the best or has the best strengths over others, whether it is an audio or visual component, and I have been well rewarded because of it. My audio components, which are over 20 years old (turntables and tape decks), are still in great working condition. But I do admit, I dont make as much use of them as I do with the more digital gear of CDs and DVDs. You will be glad to know that my 10+ year old hefty amplifiers are still kicking and screaming as they did when I first bought it, with no signs of wearing down.
I invite you to come to my house to take a look at a DLP for yourself. You will see how stunning the picture quality is ! Then take a look into at an LCOS TV display. You will be convinced that DLP and LCOS technology are very hard to beat.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Loban @ Apr 1st 2008 11:24AM
Agreed, for my money, you simply can't beat a plasma.
Here's a rundown of the most popular display techs
Plasma = king of the hill
LCD = a close second
DLP = only those interested in simply joining the HD club need apply, if you actually care about the quality of the picture, don't buy DLP.
Hooterman @ Apr 1st 2008 3:54PM
DLP = I want to replace my 65" RPTV and I don't want to buy a TV worth as much as my car
Loban @ Apr 1st 2008 9:16PM
Exactly my point. You get what you pay for. You have two options in this case. Suck it up and spend the money for a real TV, or buy a smaller plasma and sit closer. DLP is not even an option for me. It is the bottom of the HDTV barrel.
Mike Bee @ Apr 4th 2008 10:54AM
There is a dirty little secret that no one is telling you - DLP offers the best picture around - better than plasma, better than LCD. Anyone telling you DLP is inferior to either technology is wrong wrong wrong !!! My gf at the time bought a 1080P LCD based on my recommendation, since she was more interested in screen depth than picture quality. When I got my 1080P DLP a month later (Nov 2006), she was blown away on the picture quality it has to offer. On the CNET reviews, my DLP was number 2, hers was ranked 7. Everyone who sees my DLP is blown away compared to what they have !!! Manufacutures should get back into the game and start mass producing DLP TVs for home use. The best movie theatres use DLP Cinema technology. If you have an LCOS TV, it too gives a superior picture over plasma and LCD. No way in hell will I go with plasma or LCD for my next bedroom tv. A friend of mine who got plasma is now thinking of getting of getting a DLP based on both his and my recommendations.
If you want the best picture money has to buy, go with a DLP from Mitsubishi, Samsung, or Toshiba. You wont be sorry !!!
Loban @ Apr 4th 2008 11:16AM
Thank you, but I've done extensive research (read many technical white papers on the subject, not just cnet reviews) and formed my own opinions as well. And just FYI, movie theaters use FRONT PROJECTION DLP projectors, not rear projection. Big difference. Rear projection has HORRIBLE viewing angles and uneven brightness issues, front projection does not have this problem.
I also never mentioned anything about LCD. I also do not prefer LCD, though I'd take it over RP DLP any day. I also never said anything about LCOS either, though I would take plasma over that too. The two major issues I have with DLP is the horrible viewing angle and uneven brightness.
And obviously if you buy a top of the line DLP and compare it against a crappy plasma or vice versa, that's not really fair.
Compare a top of the line DLP vs. a Pioneer Kuro (I know they've been discontinued) and then we've got a real comparison.
And just in case you are the type of person to rely on technology sites rather than doing your own research. You may want to take a look at the top listed HDTVs at cnet.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6485_7-168-101.html?tag=dir
I don't even see a DLP listed, do you?
Mike Bee @ Apr 4th 2008 3:44PM
Because it is not listed, does not mean its an inferior technology. Remember VHS vs. Beta - although VHS won the mass consumer market, it was the inferior format. Even 8MM was better than VHS (although it would have to bow down to its big brother - Beta). And before you say what about S-VHS ? It was a better format than Beta ! It gave a sharper picture than Beta ever could ! Although only THAT part would be true (hi-fi audio and assemble editing capabilities were always supererior on the Beta), S-VHS would still have to bow down to Hi-8. And of course - S-VHS and Hi-8 would never be able to beat out the best of them all - ED-Beta !
When you compare DLP. vs. LCOS. vs. plasma vs. LCD, on comparable price points, you will see that the DLP and LCOS HDTVs outshine the plasma and LCD counterparts.
Tests have been performed for MANY years between all 4 competing technologies. DLP always comes out on top because of their superior blacks and the rich colours it produces (this is still true even in todays display standards). LCOS was considered to set the new standard in picture technology which DLP held (and more over plasma and LCD, in that order). Although the best LCOS may just beat out DLP, it never got enough market recognition because LCOS was hard to manufacture and was an expensive technology to utilize when it first became production on the Sony and JVC 2003 displays. It just never got enough oxygen in the tank to become a true market force.
Keep in mind that LCOS and DLP are superior in many areas over their plasma and LCD counterparts, even at the same price points. They do not suffer from motion blur, screen burn in, and picture deterioration (I hear that it still happens on plasma displays from friends who purchased their monitors a year ago). They have the deepest blacks, the richest colours, and excelent picture uniformity over todays popular plasmas and LCDs. The only thing that DLP MAY suffer is something called a rainbow effect. Its when a pixel, or colour area on the screen changes from one colour to another. Very few people can see this, if at all. If you dont see it now, you never will. Now, with colour wheels rotating faster, and with 6 colour wheel sets on all DLPs, the rainbow effect has all but been diminished. As for viewing angle that you had mentioned, DLPs do have a pretty wide viewing angle, 130 to 160 degrees, even with my set.
Also, with DLP moving to the new laser technology in the next year or two, colour wheels and bulbs will no longer be used on DLP sets, making DLP TV flatter, and will become a wall mountable technology.
For now, the market, which includes those who review display technologies, has shifted its focus away from the DLP and LCOS technologies and given into the buying public for the sheer reason of selling - people are more interested on how their TVs will look on wall than how the picture will look overall.
Before commenting back that plasmas are superior over DLPs, keep in mind what I mention about market shift. The buying market is not always the best informed, and the experts tend to sway due to market pressure, even if it is against their own best judgement. I have been in this business of research in audio and video for over 20 years seeing it all, from the golden age of audio research and expansion offered from many companies, to market contractions - with superior technologies reaching a peak in the market place only to watch the market settle on an inferior technology. We are seeing that happen right now in the video industry once again - with LCOS, DLP, and plasma bowing down to LCD.
I've made careful decisions about which format is the best or has the best strengths over others, whether it is an audio or visual component, and I have been well rewarded because of it. My audio components, which are over 20 years old (turntables and tape decks), are still in great working condition. But I do admit, I dont make as much use of them as I do with the more digital gear of CDs and DVDs. You will be glad to know that my 10+ year old hefty amplifiers are still kicking and screaming as they did when I first bought it, with no signs of wearing down.
I invite you to come to my house to take a look at a DLP for yourself. You will see how stunning the picture quality is ! Then take a look into at an LCOS TV display. You will be convinced that DLP and LCOS technology are very hard to beat.