Video Asylum

Posted by Joe Murphy Jr (A) on November 24, 2005 at 20:13:07

In Reply to: DLP? Plasma? posted by JWilt on November 19, 2005 at 23:12:49:

Here's a cost comparison you may want to consider.

Going the 50" Panasonic commercial plasma route will set you back $2800 plus $250 shipping. This version comes with one composite/S-video input, one RGB/YPbPr (component) input and a VGA input that will accept RGB or YPbPr component signals, but I'm sure you'll want an HDMI or DVI input as well -- that will add $150 to the bill. A nice set of speakers that you personally choose may set you back $250 (but that's up to you), but I'm sure you know that the ones built into speaker-included displays aren't worth more than 1/5 of that. A wall mount or stand can be purchased for $100 plus $10 shipping. The initial expenditure is a bit over $3500, but watch 2000 hours of television and it costs you $0 more. Watch 5000 hours of television and it costs you $0 more. Watch 10,000 hours of television and it costs you $0 more. Watch 30,000 hours of television and it costs you... I think you get the picture.

If you decide to go the 50" Samsung DLP display route, it will initially cost you $2500 (that's about average for most 50" DLP sets). The price of DLP bulbs range from $150 - $350 and are good for about 2000 - 2500 hours of use before they need to be replaced. Using $250 for the cost of the bulb and allowing for 2500 hours of use per bulb, it's going to cost you about $1000 above and beyond your initial expenditure for 10,000 hours of television watching (ie; $3500). Watch more, you pay more.

In other words, at 10,000 hours of use the DLP display begins to cost more than a plasma display. So much for the high cost of plasma.