Video Asylum

Posted by LarryI (A) on June 25, 2004 at 10:46:44

In Reply to: Re: Why so many LCD RPTV and very few DLP sets? posted by vuman on June 24, 2004 at 10:15:22:

DLP currently has considerably better black level than LCD,which is a BIG deal when looking at dark scenes. DLP also does not have as much problems with fast changing scenes and camera pans (LCDs react a bit slowly to changes). However, for a number of RPTV implementations, like with the Samsung,I personally find the DLP picture to look a bit artificial and plastic. This is not the case with good front projection DLP, like the Sharp or Dwin or Runco, so I don't think it is the technology. I agree with you that the Sony LCD RPTVs look pretty good these days.

Some companies, e.g., Thompson/RCA, have announced RPTV DLP sets that will will be extremely thin. They claim 7" depth for a 65" set. My guess would be that they will be using some kind of curved mirror and compensating processing of the signal. Who knows what kind of compromises in picture quality were made to get to this thickness.

LCOS has had horrible reliability problems and inability of manufacturers to economically produce the chips. I saw the Toshiba and it was very sharp, detailed and had good color, but it had relatively poor blacks and some motion artifacts. The same held true for the JVC LCOS RPTV. The Philips LCOS set is simply the worst looking set I've seen in recent times. For some reason, the rainbows are apparent in every scene; you don't have to move your head to see them everywhere. I am hoping the technology improves. I saw the Sony Qualia LCOS front projector (they dub there technology SXRD)and it looked very good.