Glossy screens for DLP

[itschris]

As I was loading up a couple small flatscreens for the house, I couldn't help but get the bug when I was checking out all the new LED's and LCD's on display. The one thing different I always seem to notice is how the picture seems to "pop" more on the flat panels as opposed to my DLP. The it sorda dawned on me that they have a very glossy screen which seems to accentuate the picture. I remember back in the day when I got my first Mits RPTV, I had bought a 55" "High Contrast" screen protector that fit over the dull surface of the TV. Perception anyway seem that the picture looked better. I did some googling, but do you guys know if they still make those kind of high contrast screens that fit in your existing bezel of your DLP like the old days?

 

[jostenmeat]

As I was loading up a couple small flatscreens for the house, I couldn't help but get the bug when I was checking out all the new LED's and LCD's on display. The one thing different I always seem to notice is how the picture seems to "pop" more on the flat panels as opposed to my DLP. The it sorda dawned on me that they have a very glossy screen which seems to accentuate the picture. I remember back in the day when I got my first Mits RPTV, I had bought a 55" "High Contrast" screen protector that fit over the dull surface of the TV. Perception anyway seem that the picture looked better. I did some googling, but do you guys know if they still make those kind of high contrast screens that fit in your existing bezel of your DLP like the old days?

Sorry, I don't know, but OTOH, when was the last time you put in a new bulb (if ever)? Depending on the cost of this thing you're talking about, I might try a new bulb (in the case that you haven't yet). Those bulbs aren't really meant to last extremely long. Most people I know, in fact almost everyone I know, that has a DLP or any RPTV for that matter, still has never changed the bulb. Couple/few hundred bucks, it's like a new TV for a couple more years. Sorta. Aw you get my drift.

 

[itschris]

Sorry, I don't know, but OTOH, when was the last time you put in a new bulb (if ever)? Depending on the cost of this thing you're talking about, I might try a new bulb (in the case that you haven't yet). Those bulbs aren't really meant to last extremely long. Most people I know, in fact almost everyone I know, that has a DLP or any RPTV for that matter, still has never changed the bulb. Couple/few hundred bucks, it's like a new TV for a couple more years. Sorta. Aw you get my drift.

Yeah... I'm one of those people. I don't think I have that many hours though. I need to do some research and figure out the code to find the lamp hours.

But you know what I'm saying about the screen? The picture just looks different when you have that nice glossy screen.. almost like there more contrast than when looking at the plastic or whatever grey screen material that's on a DLP.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Rear projection uses lenticular lenses which significantly increase light output over a limited viewing angle, mostly up/down related. But, still, these devices have about 1/3 the light output of LCD displays, half or less of plasma displays.

While adding a glossy (reflective) piece of plastic may make you happy, it won't do a thing for the pop of the image because there is no pop to be had.

This is typically why DLPs, and other rear (and front) projection technologies are recommended for use in a darkened room. Brighter rooms, like family rooms, need at least a plasma, and the worst viewing environments get LCD displays for their high output light values and flat (not glossy!) screens.

Glossy can be pretty to look at, but it won't help your image.

The replacement lamp isn't a bad idea as lamps can fade over 75% over the life of the lamp. But a new lamp won't make a DLP stop being a DLP.

 

[itschris]

I know that technically it doesn't add anything to the picture, but I do believe that you perceive the picture differently. I remember clearly the difference it made to put that screen on my first Mits. And I remember back in the day that some tv's came with a "high contrast" glossy screen usually sold as a "protective" screen. It just gave the perception of a sharper picture.

 

[jostenmeat]

I know that technically it doesn't add anything to the picture, but I do believe that you perceive the picture differently. I remember clearly the difference it made to put that screen on my first Mits. And I remember back in the day that some tv's came with a "high contrast" glossy screen usually sold as a "protective" screen. It just gave the perception of a sharper picture.

I am not sure BMX or I will agree with you, at least to the extent that PQ is actually improved. We will not disagree that YOU don't see an improvement, and may very well agree that the pic does indeed look different, but I'm skeptical that we will think of it as improved. I don't see any way that it can make it sharper, but maybe there is some special sauce in it that I don't know about.

There really is no such thing as a high contrast screen, whether for a DLP, or even a front projector. Sure, there are grey screens that are dubbed "high contrast", but they are not. They just make everything dimmer. The contrast ability is inherent to the display, and ambient lighting conditions. An overall dimming of this finite contrast range is used so that the bottom level, or minimum level of black is lowered. But, see, the whole contrast range is lowered.

This is how you check your lamp hours on the XX833 series:
MENU-2-4-7-0

The hours should be shown on the bottom left corner.

A quick google shows that a replacement lamp is VERY affordable, comparatively speaking anyways, at about $125.

When I was talking about all the people I knew who never replaced their lamp, well it is extremely obvious to me that they need to. I guess, to be honest, a couple of them are sort of on their last legs (or have now kicked the bucket), so the owner was right not to buy the lamp. But if yours is working perfectly . . .