With
OLED nabbing a whole slew of backers over the past few weeks, it looks like it's got all the steam it needs to really have an impact on the home theater crowd in just a few years. For those content with their current RPTV / LCD / plasma, holding off until 2010 - 2012 in order to snag a large-size OLED may be the perfect choice, but we've all ideas there's a few of you out there dying to trade your set in for a projector. So, for those who have their lives all planned out, what's your next
display going to be? A 1080p DLP beamer? A 32-inch OLED? Or maybe a
150-inch plasma (if they ever go mass market, that is), right? Let us know what's on your radar!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Itchy @ Apr 26th 2008 12:31PM
My first, and current, HDTV display is a Sony HDTV CRT I bought about two years ago. I will be moving to a projector for my next display. I've been a projectionist for various companies for a combined 13 years (currently the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin) and so I've really become enamored of the projected image. I have no idea what kind I am going to get because I haven't started really researching it yet. It's not going to be for a couple of years before I can afford it anyway.
takamaru @ Apr 26th 2008 12:48PM
It's LCD or Plasma for unless OLED really gets it's stuff together...
Galley @ Apr 26th 2008 1:24PM
I won't be happy with anything smaller than a 42" 1080p LCD. My 32-incher is a tad on the small side, but a 50" is too large for my room.
FNG @ Apr 26th 2008 1:29PM
I currently have a 50" Panasonic TH-50PZ700 and it's great. But I see those jaw dropping demos of 120hz led backlit LCD's and it make me wonder just how great OLED will look at 50" I will upgrade to and OLED once it hit's 50" A smaller set just doesn't interest me.
Wilson @ Apr 26th 2008 1:41PM
I currently have a Mitsubishi 62" DLP tv. If I were to upgrade (I bought this one in 2006), I would look into an LCD that is close to the size I currently have. I definitely want a thinner TV; this is very bulky, but it does have a beautiful picture.
Xyzzy @ Apr 26th 2008 1:56PM
I have a Panny AE900 in my basement theater that I want to upgrade before football season. Probably get a Epson 1080UB or something similar.
Ernesto @ Apr 26th 2008 1:57PM
I just picked up a Sony 60KDSA3000 last year before the NFL season so I'll be good for now n I still have my trusty ol' Hitachi 57" CRT in my old HT setup. I've been wanting a FP for years and almost picked up a Sanyo Z2 but that never panned out. Good thing I've waited as of course now I can get full HD, hopefully within the year I'll pick one up. Then next on the list is sealing the room so I don't lose any of my sound energy....
h0mi @ Apr 26th 2008 2:00PM
Whatever makes for an affordable, quality 1080p set. I would probably not buy one for a few years though.
Chad @ Apr 26th 2008 2:30PM
I recently just bought a LPT5084 Samsung Plasma for my living room this past holiday. My next purchase which will probably next December will probably be a 37" LCD for my bedroom. I would love a OLED, but they are a few years away.
EQC @ Apr 26th 2008 2:54PM
I am hoping for laser-TV, short-throw front projectors. LaserTV is supposed to have the best picture quality right? I want them to put that tech into a short-throw front projector with a built in TV tuner.
Imagine a small box, about 3 feet from the wall/screen, projecting up an 80-100 inch image that might be better than a plasma.
Since LaserTV is just DLP with a (rather cheap, lasts-forever) laser light source, this shouldn't be too expensive to do...
brian @ Apr 26th 2008 2:55PM
I'm surprised nobody is interested in LED backlit LCD displays like the Samsung 81 series. LG has a 47 inch coming out this fall... They showed it off at CES. And the rumor is Samsung will update the 81 this fall as well...
The quality of the image on these blows me away. Amazing.
I plan to get one of these two myself... That will hold me over until OLED.
Rick K. @ Apr 26th 2008 3:56PM
OK, technically my next HDTV will be an LCD for the bedroom to replace the 32"Olevia I have there now (it doesn't play well with the Harmony 880). But I then hope that in the future I'll be replacing my new-ish Samsung 6187 with a 60" or so OLED, price permitting.
SJT @ Apr 26th 2008 4:02PM
"We all have ideas" not "we have all ideas"... and a simple "we know there ARE a few people" would have fit much better.
On a lighter note, "WE HAVE ALL IDEAS. Engadget is belong to us."
SJT @ Apr 26th 2008 4:07PM
It should be "we all have ideas," not "we have all ideas". A simple, "we all know there ARE a few of you..." would have fit much better though.
On a lighter note, "WE HAVE ALL IDEAS. Engadget is belong to us."
SJT @ Apr 26th 2008 4:08PM
Ah crap... lagged comment system + resubmission of my comment = low rank for me :P
GrangerFX @ Apr 26th 2008 4:29PM
My current home theater display is a 720p LCD projector. My previous display was a 1024x768 LCD projector. My next display will be a 1080p projector (LCD or DLP TBD). Nothing beats the wow factor of a 10 foot projection screen lit with a 2000 lumen HD projector. Projector's like my current one go for $1500 currently. This isn't even expensive really. I am just finishing up my first 2000 hour projector lamp and have the replacement sitting next to the projector ready to go. The lamps cost $300 each (if you look around for a good price) and last me about 18 months. The screen itself is cheap (I ended up salvaging the screen from a powered one that broke and fixing it to the wall). I subscribe to NetFlix so I always have stuff to watch. My one real luxury is the three leather Barcolounger reclining theater seats I got at Sam's Club for around a grand. If you have never experienced decent video projection before, a setup like mine will knock your socks off.
SJT @ Apr 26th 2008 4:39PM
Ah crap... lagged comment system and re-submission of my comment = low rank for me :P
JermTool @ Apr 26th 2008 4:49PM
If I wasn't poor, I would definitely buy the Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010HD. That is easily one of the best TVs in the industry besides obviously the Elite end of this model. Everyone is willing to spend top dollar for the LED backlit LCDs, but minimal people will spend similar money on a far superior television like the Kuros. It's a shame.
AzaMcWazza @ Apr 26th 2008 5:23PM
I've just bought a smallish (37") LCD and have a 100" projector for gaming, so I'll be waiting for a while yet.
My next purchase will probably be "whatever TV gives me about 100" viewing for a reasonable consumer level cost" If I have to wait 4 years, or 10 I'll wait. It's all about size and res for me. Projectors are great but I'd prefer a TV, so it needs to match my proj before I'll get another.
JeffDM @ Apr 26th 2008 5:39PM
Maybe a flat panel of some sort as a set in a second room so I'm not burning bulb hours on just anything.
Wayne @ Apr 26th 2008 7:50PM
I can't believe DLP is lagging so far behind other options. LED-array DLP sets are easily the best value going forward. I guess consumers will always be ignorant and associate sexy with better.
rothgar @ Apr 28th 2008 1:56AM
Well of course, just look at Apple consumers.
John @ Apr 26th 2008 10:45PM
Best picture quality, no pixelation, and lowest cost per hour of use. I'm using a Barco CRT projector. Not as sexy as what you digi folks are using, but 10 years from now, my projector will probably still work.
Kevin-Mahalo @ Apr 26th 2008 10:58PM
It is probably going to be a 1080p LCD/Plasma hdtv. Not looking forward to purchased a LED or SED TV. I am probably going to look at HDR cause it is so cool! :)!
AWWAng @ Apr 26th 2008 11:03PM
It is probably going to be a 1080p LCD or Plasma, and possibly going to look into the 3D-ish HDR. The LED and SED I am not looking into cause of the pricing. :P!
hdintheblood @ Apr 26th 2008 11:27PM
I will get the Lsaervue when it comes out, maybe the SED if it shows up but LCD and Plasma's are getting pretty good, but I also heard about holographic HD that would be asome.
mntwister @ Apr 26th 2008 11:30PM
There's nothing like my friend's JVC DLA projector on his 170" screen. The image will not be as crystal clear as a LCD, but there's no better way to get the theatrical experience than a good high def projector, period. Not at that size. Seeing a blu-ray movie in his room on his elite screen, there's no closer experience to the way it was originally seen in the theater. My opinion of course.
I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Apr 26th 2008 11:40PM
I'll take a Mitsubishi LASER TV, though It's a damn shame rear projection is on life support. One could acquire a large 65-70" RP-TV for the price of many 50" flat panels. Bring back the RP-TV and Qualia 015 Hi-Scan CRT beasts!
ShadowGod @ Apr 27th 2008 12:03AM
Definitely another Panasonic plasma. I love the one I have.
I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Apr 27th 2008 2:43AM
I was at Best Buy (Magnolia) the other week and watched the same 1080p Blu-Ray feed in to a Panasonic and Kuro at the same time, the Kuro looked twice as good. In Independance Day for example, on the Panasonic Will Smiths hair looked like one shade of black, but on the Kuro, you could actually see black gradients and make out individual hairs and tufts of hair where the lighting was slightly brighter. On the Panasonic you could not (looked like one shade of black). Kuro for the all out win, Panasonic for champagne taste on a beer budget.
Go to a dealer, see the 60" Kuro next to a Panasonic. You will immediately be changed forever.
JermTool @ Apr 27th 2008 1:31PM
CAPS you are spot on. While the Panny's are extremely nice, NOTHING can compare to the overall picture quality of the Kuros.
HDintheblood @ Apr 27th 2008 1:56AM
Im also thinking about a front projector that has a verticle stretch mode to use with an anamorphic lens, and the new curved screens, for extreme widescreen video
img eL @ Apr 27th 2008 2:35AM
My next would have to be way beyond 1080p. At least 2k in any type LCD, DLP, Plasma, Laser, SED, OLED, etc.
Mike Peluso @ Apr 27th 2008 6:36AM
i desperately wanted to buy one of the new kuro's this summer but after hearing the podcast last week, and considering how much I play games on the 360, my guess is i'm sort of stuck with an LCD. :(
JermTool @ Apr 27th 2008 1:34PM
What are you talking about? The Kuros are perfect for video games. You don't have to be worried about screen retention, it has a pixel shift option and if you ever did get screen retention by chance, it has a white wash video pattern to eliminate it. Just make sure you turn the orbiter on. I have several friends who bought the Kuros and they not only love it, they use it for video games. BUY IT!
Jay D @ Apr 27th 2008 8:40AM
A Pioneer Kuro projector with 30000:1 contrast is supposed to come out.
Close to 12000$, apparently. Expensive, but I think this could be the one.
WallyB @ Apr 28th 2008 9:42AM
I'll be replacing my 3 year old 720p projector with a new 1080p model. Probably a Epson 1080UB for $2600.
My 50" plasma in the den should serve me nicely for many years before I want to upgrade it. I can justify 1080p in the theater room based on distance to screen (12' back from a 112" screen, or about 1.5 screen widths). Plus the fact that my only Blu-Ray player is connected to that system.
Carlton Bale @ Apr 28th 2008 11:04AM
My next display will be a JCV LCoS projector (DLA-HD2 or its replacement.)
I'll probably upgrade my family room LCD flat panel to an OLED model a few years from now.
Lawrence Chen @ Apr 29th 2008 3:16PM
My current is a DLP HDTV. And, I'm thinking that when the bulb goes, I'll get a DLP HDTV with an LED light engine. Also the new ones should have a thin enough bezel that a 50" will fit in my stand. (current is 43".)