was looking for a new hd tv is it better to go with a dlp , lcd , or plasma and what brand would you reccomend

Answer 1

Are you looking for a flat panel or a projector? Plasma only comes in flat panel, DLP only in projectors, while LCD can be either. That should be your first decision.

Here are some factors to consider between LCD and Plasma:

Picture quality of plasma is brighter, better color, better blacks than LCD. (There is something about looking directly at glowing phosphors!)

Sharpness is the same for equivalent pixel counts. Some newer LCDs have 1080 x 1920 resolution, most plasmas still in the 720 x 1280 range.

Plasma is heavier and uses more power than flat panel LCD.

There are reports that plasmas are not as reliable or they don't last as long, but that is no longer true with the latest models. Plasma phosphors dim slowly over time (but not as fast as CRT phosphors); but direct view LCDs use flourescent lamps which also dim and eventually burn out (some are replaceable). Projection LCD sets have bulbs of limited life, but are replaceable and the lifetime is a few thousand hours of viewing.

Plasmas are subject to burn-in. A stationary image left on the screen for a long time could produce a permanent ghost image. The most risk is when viewing a lot of 4:3 ratio pictures (non-HD), which are displayed with vertical dark areas on the left and right to fill in the wide screen. There are ways to minimize this, however. many sets have a "stretch" mode which widens the picture to fill the whole screen. This could also be a problem with extended playing of video games if there is a background image that remains stationary.

Plasmas come in larger sizes, although large flat panel LCDs are coming out, but they are expensive. LCD projectors can be 70".

LCD contrast and brightness can be reduced when viewing from off-center (both flat and projector, but sets will vary).


As far as DLP vs LCD:

To learn the techincal difference, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lcd_display...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dlp...

At present, DLP provides higher brightness and more contrast than most LCD. An exception is the Sony SXRD, which can match DLP contrast and black levels. You have to be wary of the "rainbow effect" in DLP displays: before buying a DLP TV, look at a picture with bright areas and scan your eyes across the screen. If you see a trail of colors, you can see the "rainbow" and you may want to avoid this set. Many people (including me) cannot see these, but some can. For all sets, check off-center viewing of the screen. Some sets can lose brightness and contrast in off-center viewing. Both LCD projectors and DLP projectors are available in "1080p" resolution (they display 1920x1080 pixels on the screen). However, only the Sony SXRD is true 1080p; the DLP sets simulate this resolution with a tecnique called "wobulation". See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wobulation...

These DLP sets do provide a high resolution picture that is a little "softer" than the LCD units, but some people find that preferable (more "film like").

You should go look at the set and decide what you like better.

Answer 2

I must disagree with the previous user, from what I have seen the plasmas are a little cheaper than lcds of the same size at the moment. I would have to recomend an LCD, from what I have read it is the better overall technology. Also, all that stuff a previous answerer said about 720p and 1080i, almost everything supports 1080i now, and the two end up being roughly the same anyway, 1080p is the best quality but is is expensive and very few things support it anyway.

Answer 3

depending on the size you need, i just got a Emprex 1080i 37 inch LCD that works great and is only $899.00 at outpost.com (fry's electronics.. ps in the store they have it for $1197.00 but on line it is cheaper..

i have learned a lot about HD over the past few years and here are the high lights...

1) IT IS A BIG MARKETING PLOY !!! I live in .Los Angeles and we have 10-12 HD channels.. of those only 1 is always HD (a public access channel) the rest are hd some of the times and only show hd shows some of that time.. sports are in hd but not always 1080i mostly 720p

2) most of the tv's sold are only 720P and they want a lot of money for 1080i.. again most programing is 720p

3) LCD, Plasma flat panels seem to work the same. a 1080i LCD or plasma are 1080i. same for 720p. they seem to have the same sharpness and clarity. they both get hot and supposedly last the same amount of time (newer plasma will last about 10 years, but that is on a decreasing scale).. LCD are supposed to last longer, but who really knows...

4) DLP, LCD, ILD-A. they all use the different thing to get the same picture (DLP uses one chip *like an LCD* to make the picture, LCD... well they use an 3 LCD, ILD-A uses a different LCD like chip... in Essenes they all do the same thing. bounce light off a chip and project it onto the screen. again 1080 is better, 720 is usually cheaper (but not as sharp).

5)brands are all the same, they just have different features. like a computer the name on the box is not as important as the things inside. the chips (LCD, dlp, ild-a) are made the same, some times by the same companies.. the screens (plasma, LCD) are in the same boat. just because you buy a sanyo/sony/sansui or anything.. you don't know who made the screen or the chips inside. so the brand name is to impress your friends.

don't forget.. DVD is only 480i (so 1080i makes they look bad) TV is only 240p so that is even worse, and don't even try VHS).

if you have a new blue ray or HD DVD (999.00/499.00 respectively) they you can get a great picture. if not you may want to ask yourself what channels and programs will i really be watching and is it worth all that money???

good luck, hope this helPS..

ps.. i bought the HD LCD TV because my bedroom TV was bad, and the TV i wanted cost 750.00 so for 150 more i got a top of the line 1080i tv..that was bigger, but i may not be keeping it. it does not fit in the space i have for the tv... tv to big by 2 inches....go figure!

Answer 4

The long answer before this one is the best technical answer you will get. But since I am also making the same decision you are, here are my 2
cents. Plasma is the most expensive, then LCD,
then LCD projection, and then DLP. I have ruled Plasma out due to 1.Price 2. Reliability 3. Lower resolution ( softer picture). DLP costs the least but has issues with sharpness and reliabity, except for Mitzubishi. LCD lasts and has none of the above issues except for price. Finally, LCD
projection has all the positives of LCD, is somewhat larger, but is still thinner than DLP.
I suggest you check out SONY LCD projection TV.

Answer 5

Would recommend a Plasma, I have a Philips 50 Inch Ambilight which is quite good...but the best in the market is a Panasonic 50X60PU or something...and Zenith....

This should help you decide:

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/reviews.html

Answer 6

Tell you something, this wide screen is a bit of a con, all it does is distorts the picture, hardly panoramic, people are shorter and fatter. If you change the screen to 'normal' you have a much smaller picture with great black areas on both sides.