Plama/DLP/LCD Refresh rates

[brushro]

Hello to all...My wife & I are shopping for a new flat panel set . My question is re: the refresh rates of each type of display & are there specific minimums (or maximums..I have seen the number:8ms used) that should be watched for to ensure that this new investment will provide GREAT pictures during the fast action movements while viewing either DVD or from our basic cable & HD programming.

Thank You

 

[Hi Ho]

The only display technology that has (had) a problem with refresh rates (properly called response time) is LCD. This is, as far as I'm concerned, a thing of the past. The issue was the time it took for the crystals in LCD panels to change state (open/closed). This caused ghosting. Modern LCD's do not suffer from this problem.

Plasma and DLP have never suffered from slow response times. One thing to keep in mind about plasma, however, is its susceptibility to burn-in. This problem has been greatly reduced in modern displays but it is still there and should be a concern if you watch a lot of sports or news with static logos on the screen.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

My LCD is 8ms, and if I drag my cursor slowly across the screen, I can definitely see the ghosting. It's not as apparent when watching sports in HD, but it's there. Would I still chose an LCD over a plasma? Heck yes, considering the difference in pricing and screen burn in issues. I've also noticed LCD's (in most cases) don't have the glare many plasma displays have in bright rooms. 50" plasma's have been coming way down in price, so that makes the decision that much harder if you're looking for a larger flat panel.

 

[BMXTRIX]

NOTE: This issue with response time for LCDs is specific to LCD flat panel displays. The kind that you hang on the wall and look very similar to plasma flat panel displays.

Rear projection technologies, including DLP, LCD, LCoS, HDILA, LCoS, etc. do not have the same response time issues that LCD flat panels have.

Refresh rate for most displays will be 59.94hz (60hz) which is NTSC standard, so that is completely different from response time. Since most video is delivered at 60 frames or half-frames (fields) per second, that is why a display needs to respond at 60hz - to show those 60 frames.

Now, if you are specifically looking for flat panel displays, you are basically limited to LCD flat panels and plasma flat panels. Both of which have their advantages and disadvantages. Most notably, LCD tends to look worse and worse off-axis and has been known to look just a tiny bit worse overall for image quality and has the blurring issue. Yes, it most DEFINITELY tends to still have a blurring or ghosting issue.

But, LCD does not have burn-in and often produces a brighter image. Power consumption for LCD vs. plasma is almost identical.

You also can typically find larger plasmas (50"+) for less money than a coresponding LCD panel. So, for me, needing a 50" size in my family room, LCD tends to be a bit more money. That is becoming less and less of a reality though as LCDs are coming in line with plasma.

Right now, at the 42" size... I would strongly consider an LCD display - especially if I was to be playing some video games on it.

 

[brushro]

Thank You's

To those that took the time & effort to respond,Thank You !-if there are other ideas,thoughts & experiences w/ these different displays,their pro's & cons-please feel free to chime in ....my wife & I are going to continue weighing these issues...luckily we live near a Best Buy,Circuit City,Tweeters & Sears & get weekly E-sales updates -Thank goodness she enjoys this stuff too...as much a I'd like 50", a 42" would probably be a touch easier on the pocketbook
but hey...who's going to argue w/ 36 month financing? -Now to find the right type of display & input configuration.
Thanx again!

 

[corysmith01]

but hey...who's going to argue w/ 36 month financing? -Now to find the right type of display & input configuration.

Indeed. I've seen that deal pop up and it makes me think it's time to upgrade. My tv has been lagging behind my audio...it's the last thing to get upgraded. So, I've decided it's time to buy.

I hope I'm not hijacking as this is at least somewhat related, but I'd love to hear any further input you guys have on this plasma vs. lcd topic. I know the basics, but again...all of my time has been devoted to audio, so my knowledge of what to get in terms of a tv is not quite as vast.

I do know this. I want no larger than 37". (any bigger would overwhelm my tiny apartment.) And price-wise, I'd like to stay right around $2000. I was leaning plasma, looking at th Westinghouse models and the Sony XBR models. But now that I'm reading that LCD would be suggested over plasma, I'd love to hear more. Any suggestions in that price range? Advantages/disadvantages? Thanks! I can't wait to get my first new tv in over 8 years. (yikes.)