LCD Projection HDTV

[jamisonweber]

Hello all  :wave:

I have a friend that is just getting in to the market for an HDTV.

After some looking around he was shown some LCD Projection HDTV's. He asked if I knew anything about them. I said no but I would post the question here to see what I could find out for him.

I don't have any model numbers yet but will post them when I get them.

So if any body has any experience, knowledge, comments, or anything else to chime in about LCD Projection HDTV's I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

jamwe  :rock:

[picopir8]

Front or rear projection?  Either way, DLP offers much better black levels and contrast for around the same price.  DLP is generally more crisp as well.  However, a small number of people see rainbowing on DLPs.

[murdoc]

picopir8 is right.  Also you don't have to worry about screen "burn-in" with DLP.  IMO a plasma still has a better picture, but DLP still looks amazing compared to regular rear-projection.  I would check out the Samsung line of DLP HDTV's.  They are getting top reviews right now and I couldn't be happier with mine.

[Mark Strube]

LCD Rear-Projection screens don't have burn-in problems.

And I've never heard of a Front-Projection LCD lol. He's talking about LCD Rear-Projection... not "regular" rear-projection as you put it (I assume you're referring to a CRT rear-projection screen).

I'll put a vote in for Rear-Projection LCD... when I was shopping for them in October, I didn't see any DLP screens near the price. Granted, DLP has better contrast and black levels, but if I turn my tv's contrast all the way up, it hurts my eyes, so I couldn't imagine having a higher contrast ratio... and not having the deep blacks really doesn't bother me, as long as you have your black level adjusted properly so you're not seeing all sorts of picture artifacts. Also...

LCD technology gets a leg up on DLP when it comes to color saturation, however, as it uses three LCD panels to create the separate color channels of red, green and blue. Single-chip DLP projectors use a spinning color wheel with a third of its area dedicated to red, another third to green and another third to blue. Though this color-wheel technology continues to improve as well, it still can't achieve the color saturation of an LCD-based projector.

from: http://www.presentations.com/presentations/trends/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1949704

[Bebop]

Don't forget the rainbow effect with the DLP. It might or might not bother some people.

I think you be happy with either one.

[jamisonweber]

Thanks everybody for the info. I will pass it on.  

Jamwe  :drink:

[StarvingForHDTV]

Don't forget to compare the LCD and DLP sets to the JVC HD-ILA sets.

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD4208500&pathId=114

[jamisonweber]

Ok he is lokinig at the Sony Grand WEGA. both the 50" and the 55" versions. Here is a link to the 50". Anybody have any experience with this HDTV?

Thanks
Jamison

[HiFiTy]

If your friend is looking at Sony LCD rear projections, please have him also look at the Hitachi sets.  They come in 50 and 60 inch versions.  I have heard through unconfirmed sources that Hitachi makes some of the light engines for the Sony TVs, so you are essentially watching a Hitachi TV no matter what.

The big difference between LCD rear projection and DLP rear projection is in the blacks.  Since DLP is a reflective technology and individual pixels can be turned off, the darkness of the black is generally better.  LCD is a translucent technology so a black screen will always look a little gray when compared to a DLP.  With that said, there are better black levels with an LCD.  This means that a "dark" movie or program with a lot of shadows will have more detail with an LCD.  The DLP will generally appear to be a uniform black mass (but it will be dark) whereas an LCD will show better details in the shadows because it can reproduce more shades of black and gray.  JVCs HDILA is a combination of the two, it is reflective so it can produce dark blacks, but it uses three color chips so it can produce more shades.  There are some drawbacks with the DILA so have your friend do his research.  All three technologies are in the same ballpark in terms of price.

To address a previous post, both Panasonic and Hitachi make a LCD based front projector.  The Hitachi is PJTX-100 and can be had for less than $3000.

[Mark Strube]

I have an earlier version of this TV, at 42". I think it's actually the previous model, so these are probably pretty close. I love it. Recommended.

I am having an issue with it - some dead pixels and a small green screen anomaly, American is coming out here on Tuesday to take a look at it... although I have a feeling I shouldn't of gotten the floor model.

So despite these few problems that are specific to me, I'd still very much recommend this screen.

[Mark Strube]

To address a previous post, both Panasonic and Hitachi make a LCD based front projector.  The Hitachi is PJTX-100 and can be had for less than $3000.

Ohh I stand corrected.  :bow:

[picopir8]

LCD Rear-Projection screens don't have burn-in problems.

I'll put a vote in for Rear-Projection LCD... when I was shopping for them in October, I didn't see any DLP screens near the price. Granted, DLP has better contrast and black levels, but if I turn my tv's contrast all the way up, it hurts my eyes, so I couldn't imagine having a higher contrast ratio... and not having the deep blacks really doesn't bother me, as long as you have your black level adjusted properly so you're not seeing all sorts of picture artifacts. Also...

from: http://www.presentations.com/presentations/trends/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1949704

When you turn your contrast up you are telling your monitor/tv/etc to increase the step size between color shades.  Consequently when its turned up real high, the picture is degraded.  On the other hand, set that have high contrast ratios, have a finer granularity in between steps.  Therefore there is a smother transition between shades.  Having  a set with a higher contrast ratio is actually easier on the eyes.

[Mark Strube]

All I know is when you turn the contrast up, it increases white levels, and if my tv has it all the way up, it huts my eyes.  

[Andrew Grall]

I compared a lot of these sets in the last several months.

First, I was fairly convinced I would get a DLP set.  Then, when I went shopping Labor Day weekend, I was down to the Samsung 5685 (Kirk) and the JVC 61Z585 (LCoS) set.  I ordered the JVC, as I was pretty impressed with the picture and I was paranoid about myself or anyone else seeing rainbows on my TV.

It took until the end of November until the JVC came into stock.  During that time, the new Sony XS955 series LCD sets came out.  I saw those and was VERY impressed.  Great picture... Best blacks I've seen on a LCD set.  And screen-door-effect was minimized, even at close distances (better than the Hitachi's IMO).  I ended up switching my order to the Sony 60XS955.  I had to wait until late December to get it as the store I bought from needed to special order it.  (They had loaned my a Samsung 5663, so I didn't want to just bail on them.)

So, I reviewed a lot of sets in my process of getting a new TV.  I thought initially I would get a DLP for sure... changed to LCoS... and wound up with LCD.

All of these technologies have their advantages and disadvantages.  You need to look for yourself and decide what you like the most.

[Marc G]

I'm surprised that a discussion of front projection LCD has not yet included the Panasonic PT-AE700. This unit erases many of the cons associated with LCD (mostly screendoor effect and low contrast ratio), is 1280 x 720 widescreen and can be had for about $2000-2100. It is by no means a DLP killer, but it does bring ammunition to the DLP vs. LCD battle.

Granted, further posts indicate that the original poster's friend is looking for rear projection, but the Panny is still worth a mention.