CRT vs DLP

[jeffgold]

I'm in the process of replacing my home theater due to a direct lightning strike .
I'm trying to decide which type of projector I should purchase currently I'm looking at the Electrohome 9500 series (reference 9) or either the Runco VX4000D or VX 1000D.

Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
JG

 

[brian32672]

The amount of money you are talking about, I truly think you should look into the Sim2 market. We do have a Sim2 sales rep that posts here every once in awhile. And he may be able to help. CRT is good by all means, but are quite bulky, and they may be phased out. Considering DLP is a newer technology.
By my avatar surely you see which one I prefer. But each has their own taste, and you know the old saying about opinions.

You may get some very biased and one sided opinions. But I will leave with, that it is a preference. And that it may be better for you to audition if possible. They both have plus and minus points.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Unless Runco has changed to engineers that have some clue on how to actually build a product, they would be the last company on earth that I would ever recommend anyone ever look into buying. Constant product failures and a complete and total headache trying to get any issues resolved with them. Like owning a Yugo that costs ten times what it should - you better know your mechanic.

CRT is great and in a completely light sealed environment, it is impossible to beat. But, today's DLP projectors, especially the Sim2 HT-300 is darn near close to it. No convergience issues and phenomenal design quality. I would strongly recommend you contact them to find out some local dealers and try to look at one in a decent setup. If I had $10-$15K to spend on a good front projector, they are the only way I would go.

CRT is just a nightmare to setup and maintain brand regardless. Once setup, you still should converge and calibrate the display a couple of times every year just to make sure everything is still the way it should be. Most companies are simply not dealing with CRT anymore because it is a technology of the past and DLP, LCoS, and LCD are the technologies of the future.

 

[jeffgold]

Just a little more info on my setup. Up until the lightning strike my HT included a Sony VPH1272Q projector with a Harmon Kardon AVR80 THX receiver and a set of Atlantic Technology THX system 350 speakers. I had not problems or disapointments with the system. Every HT place wants to sell you what they say is the best (bias point of view). How ever I'm going to see the Sim2 HT300 e-link projector tomorrow night. Guess I'll have an additional load of questions after that.

JG

 

[brian32672]

Yeah, the HT300 is nice, hopefully they will have a HT500 as well.
If by chance I come up with the money, I could only afford the HT280

 

[brian32672]

DLP, LCoS, and LCD are the technologies of the future.

Don't forget D-ILA And JVC, is not the only one with them. Saw some other brand. (I thought it was a JVC registered????)
OOPS and also Sony SXRD (however this is the first I am seeing on this technology)(I am assuming it is based on LCD technology)

 

[BMXTRIX]

D-ILA is a LCoS technology as is Sony's SXRD both utilize their own slight variants of LCoS and aren't really different. It would be like developing MIRA technology... a bunch of little mirrors that reflect light... wait, isn't that DLP? Yeah, same thing, but different name.

 

[brian32672]

D-ILA is a LCoS technology as is Sony's SXRD both utilize their own slight variants of LCoS and aren't really different. It would be like developing MIRA technology... a bunch of little mirrors that reflect light... wait, isn't that DLP? Yeah, same thing, but different name.

OK, thanks for the heads up. I wasn't really going either route.
The 2 I will upgrade to would be either the Sim2 HT280 or Infocus 7210. If I decide to go with 16:9 (this is at the moment, technology and prices change often)

 

[jeffgold]

I would to thank everyone for their advice so far.. I went to see the Sim2 ht300E this afternoon (older unit though) however I am inpressed with the picture.. My dealer is recommending the HT300E-Link or the HT500 (out of my price range)
Decisions, decisions.. Now I need to review all of my collected information and try to make my decision on what I really want to do to replace my fried equipment.

JG

 

[BMXTRIX]

There is also the question on whether you want to wait until later this year for 1080p projectors. They are still likely 6-8 months out and no word on them actually existing... But, I have no doubts that they are coming and Sim2 will be on the cutting edge with them I would be willing to bet.

 

[brian32672]

There is also the question on whether you want to wait until later this year for 1080p projectors. They are still likely 6-8 months out and no word on them actually existing... But, I have no doubts that they are coming and Sim2 will be on the cutting edge with them I would be willing to bet.

The Sim2 he has evaluated, is capable of 1080p. Granted its not native, but even when more come out surely they will not all be native for 1080p. And then downscale everything else.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The Sim2 he has evaluated, is capable of 1080p. Granted its not native, but even when more come out surely they will not all be native for 1080p. And then downscale everything else.

No, the next generation, I believe at Cedia this year, will be the introduction of 1080p en masse. These will be true 1080p native projectors, but are at least 6 months out. They won't just accept 1080p, they will be native 1080p projectors. Sim2 may call it a HT400 or something else, but they will be using the new 1080p DLP chips from Texas Instruments. I imagine we will also see offerrings from Sharp, InFocus, and Optoma right at the same time.

The hold up is not the projector manufacturers, but the chips being available from TI.

 

[AVOne1]

I'm just wondering what the life expectancy is on the new technology, will it still be around in 20 yrs like CRT is? How many bulbs is that?

 

[Mark Duncan]

I'm just wondering what the life expectancy is on the new technology, will it still be around in 20 yrs like CRT is? How many bulbs is that?

That is what bothered me about my DLP. It seemed that the manufacturer was always behind in getting bulbs from the bulb manufacturer. Seems each set and each company uses bulbs specifically designed for each set and they aren't interchangable. What happens in 5-6 years, when the bulb manufacturer quits making the bulb for your set, or at least makes limited runs of them? As far as 20 years worth of bulbs? It depends on how much you use the set. I had purchased mine for use as a HTPC display, and used it probably 10-15 hours a day, as that is my main computer in the house. I was going through bulbs every 9 months if I was lucky, 3 months if I was unlucky and had premature bulb failure. At 400 dollars a bulb, I decided I could better spend my money and buy a plasma of the same size that has energy saving system in it, so when the PC goes into standby mode, so does the display. It is saving the life of the plasma, as well as no bulb. In the long run, I will have spent much less for the plasma than I would have on bulbs. DLP's have a beautiful picture IMHO, and if you are only using them a few (3-6) hrs a day, a bulb will probably last you 2-5 years. It's up to you to figure your usage and cost.

Good luck,
Mark

 

[djoxygen]

The hold up is not the projector manufacturers, but the chips being available from TI.

Some DLP RPs at native 1080 have trickled into the market already this year. It really is just a matter of TI and friends pumping them out in enough quantity for everyone to design their FP and RP enclosures and get them into production. if we don't see them in significant numbers by the end of this year, I'll be shocked.