Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on April 25, 2005 at 20:46:25

In Reply to: Time for a new screen: Plasma, Projector or LCD? posted by jusbe on April 25, 2005 at 16:36:28:

You'll get way more replies over on the Video Forum.

But...meanwhile...there are many options, most of which look pretty darned good. There is no perfect display. Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses and what's right for you depends on your room, your source material, your viewing preferences and your pocketbook.

If you have light control and space enough a FP & screen is pretty darned swell. The best CRT projectorss are very expensive but many relatively affordable DLP & LCD FPs are closing the gap. If you plan to use this set-up mostly for movies, this route make a lot of sense.

For "TV" displays, including rear projectors...my personal favorites are fixed pixels displays: plasmas, DLPs and LCDs.

Plasmas are definitely sexy, DLPs and LCDs are getting thinner and bigger, and the prices on all these displays are coming down. Screens are getting bigger, but not as biog as you can get with a FP. Drawbacks? The contrast levels, blacks and shadow detail on both LCD or DLP aren't as good as a top notch CRT, but they are much improved and plent people think they look grand. (I'm speaking here of RPs, ad the thin wall moounted LCDs have a ways to go IMO.) The plasmas probably have made the most improvement in contrast ratios - the main issue with plasmas, if you plan to game or use it for a PC screen, as that they do suffer from burn in. Some folks are bothered by the "screen door effect of plasmas, other people see "rainbows" on DLPs - I donlt see any of that. Plasmas come in consumer and commercial models, in true HDTV and "ED" (enhanced definition) versions. If you don't ned comsumer features like a tuner and sound system, a commercail plasma can save you some money. There are some good buys available, especially online - personally, I like the Panasonic and Pioneer plasmas, the Sony Wega LCD and the Samsung DLP.

CRTs still offer the brightest picture, best contrast ratios, deepest blacks and best shadow detail. They are the best bang for the buck but they're dinosaurs, albeit good looking ones. The CRT direct views are incrdsibly heavy and the CRT RPs are indredubly bulky.

The best option IMO is to get out and look at different screens (keeping in mind that most big box retailers don't have their displays set up very well, a topic unto itself). You must-must-must check out the video counterpart of AA, a place called avsforum.com, where you will find FAQs on every type of display known to man (and even some not). There plasma forum has a great FAQ and the folks over there a passionate and knowledgable about the displays. RPs, FPs, direct views all have their own forums, liek digital and hi rez here. There's plenty of info on where to buy etc. They can also inform you about all the connectivity issues: DVI/HDMI, component, HDTV receivers etc. You could dive in at AVSforum and not come up for a week.

I bought my HDTV, a 34" Philips 9818 widescreen direct view, 3 years ago and more. At the time, LCD displays looked terrible (grey/blue blacks), plasmas were appealing but pricey, and DLPs were just being introduced and buggy. The LCoS sets (liquid crystal on silicon) were being pulled off the market. I can't put a FP in my room. So I bought the 34" until things settled down and have been very pleased. I will be buying a larger display in a couple years, when I know where we're moving and what space I have, and then the Philips will go into a den or bedroom. There are som new technologies (yes, still there's more) coming down the pike, including one from Sony. None of the hot technologies of today, including plasma, may be the dominating one ten years from now. But in the meantime, there's a lot of movies and HD pregramming to enjoy.

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