you can pick up a 5o inch Pioneer plasma for much less than 5 g's. check the specials over at avsforum.com. I have the 43 inch high def. model and the picture is great. I have compared RPTV, DLP, LCD, CRT and the plasma was overall the best....my point is that MSRP for my model was 8990 which I picked up for about 1/3rd of that.....look around if you like the picture. I did not like the artifacts with the DLP including the HD 2+ chip. I haven't seen the DILA's rear projection yet though.....I did have a DILA front projector and prefer plasma if it is big enough for you....43 inch works well from 10 feet or less....
DLP vs Plasma/LCD
I was just about ready to plunk down $4k for a Panasonic 42" plasma. I was at my brother's tonight watching the Olympics on his 42" Pioneer plasma (HD transmission,) when he tells me that I should go with a DLP for my bedroom, rather than the plasma. He claims the picture is much better and they cost less. I wasn't even considering a DLP because I didn't think it would fit in my bedroom. (being to deep) He says they make some, now, that are only a few inches deeper/wider than a plasma. Any takers? Is the DLP the way to go? If so, can anyone recommend one with killer picture quality, and relatively thin? thanks in advance. warren
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I recently got a chance to compare various displays that use LCD, DLP, and D-ILA. All three technologies deliver a great picture, but of the three technologies I saw I prefered DLP. But not all DLP sets are created equal. Of the various sets that I compared, the best image I saw came from a Samsung DLP using an HD 2+ chip. The images were jaw dropping. And like Darrylhifi mentioned, Samsung is coming out with a 1080p set really soon (the first 1080p set that I'm aware of). It looks like Samsung is really onto something here, they seem to be genuinely concerned about great picture quality. And for me that's the most imortant thing. |
The future {and its the near future} is 1080p. ESPN is already announcing it will broadcast in 1080p, Sony is scrambling to build 1080p camera's , 1080p will be the ultimate. Samsung is building them, Hitachi's new Plasmas {Director Series} has a feature call Virtual 1080p, look for 1080p to take off. |
All the various technologies have come a long way in recent years. I've seen the latest generation of Fujitsu plasmas, and they look pretty good. Motion artifacs and mosquito noise are much less obvious than prior generations. But, I personally like a big image, and when you sit within 6-7' of a plasma, you can see its pixel structure. None of the plasmas I've looked at have cured the over-emphasis of green (actually yellow green) that gives grass an almost flourescent look. I also don't like having to view everything in fat mode to avoid burn-in problems. I have a single-chip DLP RPTV. While I see the rainbows, they don't bother me that much. While the fill factor is much higher than plasmas, the picture is not as smooth as I would like it to be. Also, even when calibrated many sets have odd, unnatural colors and the gray scale does not seem to go smoothly from black to white (same problem with plasmas). At CEDIA, I saw InFocus' 7" deep, hang-on-the-wall 60" DLP. Not a bad picture -- no big problems with focus at the edge that I had expected to see. I understand InFocus is also making the same set for RCA. I heard that Sharp is making a 45" LCD panel. That is promising. At smaller sizes, I like the picture on Sharps and Toshibas. Colors are quite nice with LCDs and the picture is smooth. While black level has improved recently, LCDs have a long way to go when it comes to motion artifacts -- they just respond to slowly to fast changing images. On a big, 45" screen, that could be a real problem. Finally, I come to my next set. I saw Sony's version of a LCOS RPTV which uses three 1920x1080 chips (same SXRD chip as in the $30,000 Qualia front projector). This is the best RPTV picture I've ever seen, by a substantial margin. While the Sony demo at CEDIA utilized some dark scenes (Spiderman trailer), it was not easy to tell whether the black level and contrast really was as good as it looked, or whether they monkeyed with the gamma curve and some detail in the shadows were lost. Sony says the set will sell for $10,000 -- about the same as a premium large screen plasma. |
I've made arrangements to have the newest Samsung DLP 46" installed in a couple of weeks. I have been advised, by many, to have it professionally calibrated. The AV outfit doing the installation did not recommend, at first, the calibration, but upon my suggesting it, they said it is "the way to go." I see "calibration" comes up frequently. Please give me the scoop as to what this is, what it entails, and if it is worth the $$. Thanks again. warren |
For calibration, here is the Imaging Science Foundation (IMF) site. |
Well, I finally got this new baby installed, yesterday. This is the deal: Samsung HLP-4674 46" with matching Samsung stand Denon DVD-2910 Progressive w/HDMI and SACD Liberty Z Series HDMI interconnects (all ics, as well=liberty Z Series) Nad 320 (forgot the actual letters, BSE or something) integrated amp Definitive Technology Speakers 7004 model on Audiopoints- The picture and the sound do it for me. I have a large bedroom and was able to make the corner a little home theatre. Being that I'm 8 feet (could get 12 feet away if needed) from the tv- the wow factor is oooolala with a 46 incher. The guys who installed the system adjusted the brightness, color and whole nine. It was great right out of the box. Watching last night, there's tweaking to be done, but after looking at the instruction manual I flipped. I'm having the Sammy ISF calibrated next month, after I have the prerequisite 80-100 hours on the lamp. Got my appointment in, already. I can easily live with the colors 'til the calibration. After the calibration? Audio Magic power conditioner, for sure. Many have told me, power conditioning makes a significant difference in the picture. I certainly know what it does for the sound. Cable vision coming Friday to do the HD box thing. Will keep you posted. thanks for the help. peace, warren |
Installed Tuesday and have been totally enjoying the size, color, clarity, and sound of this new baby. Yesterday (Friday) cable vision comes over to install the HD box. Now I'm freaking, the you know what, out. Wow, all 46" top to bottom of the screen filled with a picture I can't believe. Day and night: regular TV compared to HD. Very happy indeed, and my lamp isn't burned in yet, nor is the set calibrated. Thanks again for your video feedback. It has led me to where I am. And I'm THERE!! peace, warren |
Emil, that Audio Magic will happen, but with Christmas and dropping some big $$, I may have to wait awhile. Maybe a month...lol...Hopefully I'll find a used one on the 'gon, but that usually takes forever. I'm grooving and am looking forward to the ISF calibration next month. I'll keep ya posted.... remember those Thiel 1.5s way back when? whattayaknow... |
I had a professional video installer do the whole nine. We're talking DLP, stand, DVD, ICs, speakers, and amp. The price for the Samsung was $3200. I'm sure you can get it for less at Best Buy, but I was willing to pay a tad more to shift the responsiblity for proper hookup, etc. on someone other than myself. I'm a bit of a doofus with the oodles of ICs, color adjustments, DVD calibrations and all that crap. 'twas worth it, however. After calibration and power conditioner, I should be at nirvana. It seems like that, now. peace, warren |
Toss in one more vote for the Sony 50" DLP. For under 3k I got a great looking screen that weighs less than 100 pounds and provides plenty of visual impact for my small theater. The plasmas are sexy as all get out - but the 5k difference in price I used to buy an Esoteric DV-50 to feed my bargain DLP - and I couldn't be happier. |
I was looking at the samsung DLP's in the store yesterday and I saw something that disturbed me. The bright white colors were getting "computer rendered" (for lack of a better term). This was the first time I had seen this, but it was happenning on all 3 of the samsungs and not on the other DLP's. Has anyone seen this? Could they have had the settings cranked up too high? Looking for some feedback because this threw me for a loop. |
I chose to go forward projector, and here is why: 1) The DLP Sanyo Z2 is an awesome bargain at $1300. It projects a picture that is better than anything I have seen at Good Guys. It handles HD with stunning realism. There is no screen door effect. 2) The Liteon DVD player ($135) is another stunning bargain. The colors are natural, and never overplayed. contrast is great. 3) I can have any size screen I want, I have settled for an 80" diagonal Da-lite Theater Lite ($240). The picture looks the same from every seating angle, and is it big in my 17' by 21' room. 4) Sound is provided by my evolved stereo system. Apogee Scintillas float the music from sub level to beyond. H2O Signatures power the 1 ohm speakers like no other can. 5) when I want to listen to music, I just collapse the screen. There is no unsightly giant box. Side note: The Sanyo sits underneath the coffee table, on a shelf. It is 9' away from the screen. |
I really hadn't been watching my Sammy that much (maybe 2 hrs/day average) since I purchased it. The guy who is going to do the ISF calibration instructed me to get at least 75 hours on the lamp. The more the merrier. I've been running, since I got back from Florida, the set 12 hours a day. After 60+ hours, I can already see a color change: for the good. After another 60 hours, and the ISF calibration, next Saturday, I'll give you the scoop. I'm having fun with this purchase... |