Video Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on September 21, 2002 at 11:40:03

In Reply to: rear projection telelvision posted by dnance on September 20, 2002 at 12:24:03:

Ask yourself some questions: What do I mostly watch? DVDs? SD? HD? Tapes? What are your video sources? How large is my room and how far away can/do I sit? Will people be watching off axis? How bright is my viewing room and can I control ambient light to some extent?Will I be using outboard sound system?

RPs are some of the best bang for buck as far as screen size for dollar goes. However, like all current displays, they have their compromises and drawbacks as well as their virtues. They do take up a lot of real estate. But one good thing about them is that they are easily tweakable and benefit greatly from a pro calibration - even a user calibration using AVIA or Video Essentials DVDs. I'd get a progressive DVD player if I didn't alreasy have one.

I would want the same features I'd be looking for on any good quality display: 16:9 widescreen, ED/HD capable (480p & 1080i); a decent internal line doubler/scaler; 3:2 pulldown; non-glare screen, if possible; ability to turn off scan volecity modulation; a set that does not automatically lock on full when fed a non-anamorphic or 4:3 DVD from progressive output. You may care about things like PIP etc. - I don't.

I've been looking at TVs for over a year. All RPs are not created equal, especially when it comes to screens, CRTs, power supplies, ease og convergence etc. Beware of blooming, red push, geometry and convergence issues. Keep in mind that RPs look best in a darkened room, and that most sets on display at dealers are not properly set up, are fed crappy signals look terrible.

The best RPs IMO were the Pioneers (especially the Elite models, the Mitsubishis and the smaller Panasonics. Sony would also be in the running.

The Perfect Vision and Stereophile Guide to Home Theater all have buying guides in recent issues. The best sources for info I've found are avsforum.com, hometheaterforum.com, hometheaterspot.com and hometheaterhifi.com. I'd start at the avsforum RP section.

Happy hunting.