What TV Technology?

[romualdt]

I am just starting gmy research in to TVs and I was wondering what the best technology should I be looking into.

We just mostly watch movies and tv not may video games.

Budget less than $2000

 

[Electone]

CRT Rear Projection HDTV ready. You'll get a large screen and excellent value for the money. Most 48-52" RPs can be had for under $2000 easy.

 

[romualdt]

What is this DLP thing I keep hearing about? Is this something to look into?

would suggestions be the same if the budget went to $2500?

 

[BMXTRIX]

There are many new technologies, and they mainly make the TV a lot thinner.

Plasma & LCD flat panel displays (LCD comes in projection and flat panel!) are the type you can hang on a wall and are just a few inches thick.

Image compared to CRT: Not even close

The rear projection major players are CRT, LCD, and DLP. There is also the small player - LCoS.

Rear projection with LCD, DLP, and LCoS all use cabinets that are about 12-18 inches deep. The small form factor of the projectors inside the cabinets allows for a big screen without a lot of space being used. Very cool - but the image is sub-par compared to CRT rear projection.

CRT is still the gold standard for displays. It is better than plasma, and LCD flat panels. It is better than LCD, DLP, and LCoS rear projection sets. It not only provides a better image, but the cost of CRT is typically far less than the inferior image quality displays!

The biggest problems with CRT? Well, they are not as bright as other technologies which is typically not an issue. They also use very large, bulky cabinetry and heavy projectors inside. So, they aren't light, thin, and nearly as sleek as the new technologies.

But, they work - and they work really well for a really long time and at a fair price.

If you have a room that allows it, you can actually put a CRT rear projection TV into another room and just face the screen through into the room you are using - or build cabinetry around the TV to hide how deep and ugly the big CRT unit is.

If I had the space, I would definitely have gone with CRT for rear projection... I went with front projection though which is way more cool and fun though.

 

[s2pdname]

What is this DLP thing I keep hearing about? Is this something to look into?

would suggestions be the same if the budget went to $2500?

The best thing that you can do right now is read, read, and look. Read as much as you can on this forum (I have also found AVSforum.com helpful). Then after reading a little bit about each technology, go to your local stores (Sears, BB, CC, etc.) and look at each type of set. After you have a little better understanding of each technology and the pros and cons of each, then try posting some questions that are a little more specific to your application and how the television may be used.

Before deciding on my set, I read these forums (without posting questions) for about 4 months. I don't want to discourage you from posting, these forums have some fantastic information. But, I have found that most of the information is already available and asking "what should I buy" will not yield much useful information at all.

And most of all, have fun with it. Personally, I had a blast comparing technologies, asking questions, and learning about the great technologies that are out now and those that are on the horizon. It also got me out of the house and away from the kids for at least one day per weekend. Enjoy the ride.