[samwoo2go]

So Im in the process of looking for a new TV. Im debating between a plasma or a DLP. For my price range, im looking at either a 52" plasma or a 67" DLP. (no LCD rec please)

I was reading some reviews on DLP (although I can't seem to find any thats earlier than 2006) they mostly said the viewable angle and the "trailing color" thing and the size is the biggest con for it.

Been that its now 2009 anyone have any expertise on if these problems with DLP is still prevalent, or are they alot better and improved now?

I don't care about size, but do care about picture quality in 1080p. and obviously the bigger the better if the same price.

Choice 1: DLP
Choice 2: Plasma

[RDHTran]

Hey, I sold TV's for a few years and between DLP and Plasma you gotta get a Plasma. But at the same time its 2009, production of DLP and rear projection 3LCD is almost obsolete. Why don't you consider LCD. Plasma has to many problems to me including burn ins and heating. And DLP has bad viewing angles and to worry about replacing a bulb is a hassle. LCD is safe and efficient. I have a Sony XBR4 LCD and love it. Its hooked up to Sony HT in a box and sony bluray player and picture and sound is superior. What I would really look for is a TV that is 1080p and 120Hz. I use to love DLP until time moved on and technology got better. Hope this helped a little, let me know your decision

[jhv]

Originally Posted by Rtran

Hey, I sold TV's for a few years and between DLP and Plasma you gotta get a Plasma. But at the same time its 2009, production of DLP and rear projection 3LCD is almost obsolete. Why don't you consider LCD. Plasma has to many problems to me including burn ins and heating. And DLP has bad viewing angles and to worry about replacing a bulb is a hassle. LCD is safe and efficient. I have a Sony XBR4 LCD and love it. Its hooked up to Sony HT in a box and sony bluray player and picture and sound is superior. What I would really look for is a TV that is 1080p and 120Hz. I use to love DLP until time moved on and technology got better. Hope this helped a little, let me know your decision

awesome information! im not trying to thread jack, but what tv would you recommend for gaming?

[Sh0cker]

Flat panel (of any kind) FTW

[darkcloud]

Panasonic TH50PZ-800U FTMFW!!

I have it and it's a great plasma. #2 reviewed HDTV by Cnet right behind the uber expensive Kuro.

Over all review of top HDTV's
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-hdtvs/

Review of the Panasonic
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...in;contentBody

[NYBMW335]

Fuck I screwed up on the vote. LOL, you confused me. You listed the plasma first on the description and then change the order on the bottom.

OOPS DLP=-1

I had a 56" SAMSUNG DLP and i had to replace the bulb twice at $200 a pop., I recently replace it with a 50" SONY PLasma, and the plasma is far better then my old TV.

[urbo73]

Actually DLP is the best technology and will give you the best picture on a set that's properly calibrated - full stop. I'm good friends with a guy who works for the ISF and Joe Kane, and for the last 10 years we've gone through the whole home theater revolution from CRT projectors/RPTVs to semi-HD and now full HD. Front projection 3-chip DLP is the best and single-chip rear projection DLP RPTVs (Samsungs especially) are the best, though they are losing market share to the crappier LCDs which people like because they are thinner. But the picture quality of my Samsung DLP is better than any LCD/Plasma/Sony/etc. But the market has spoken - form factor is more important than picture quality. The thing is most of these people have never seen a properly calibrated DLP set. Plasma/LCD are utter crap to be honest. I had a Runco 8" CRT before this, so I do know quite a bit about quality. But again, they are slim and all that...

My personal recommendation? Get a Samsung DLP (the HLxxA650 series - with a bulb). The new LED ones are crappier, cheaper to make, and besides the marketing hype from Samsung, offer a less than stellar picture. The bulb DLPs are still the best - even if you have to replace it every few years. You shouldn't be overdriving it anyway as most people are. Get a Samsung, a Sony Blu-ray S550, and a DVDO Edge processor for upconversion that's better than anything a TV set can do. You will see a huge difference using the Edge for Cable HD, Sattelite HD, etc. Lip-synch is fixed, a TON of things are better. Especially video 30fps upconverted to 1080p. Worth every penny. Everyone who's seen my setup said they've never seen HD that good. Get it while it lasts, beacause the masses have spoke and all you'll see in a few years are crappy LCDs and Plasmas. At that point I'll go full time front projection again with a DLP.

Sorry for such a long post, but it just kills me to see how superior technology is getting killed because the masses only get to see the crap in Best Buy or whatever and home theater magazines are becoming a total joke. And that people care more about slim TVs rather than a semi-slim DLP that offers a superior picture. In the 90s it was different. There were less people into it (CRTs were more expensive, Laserdiscs only for "freaks", etc.). Even magazines had some value. Now... I've been into video for as long as I can remember and it pains me to see crap being sold, marketed, and people not seeing better. Also, every TV needs a proper calibration. Manufacturers put all sorts of crap in their TVs to make them sound better on paper or look better in brightly lit Best Buy showroom floors, etc. Also it's that form over function as I said. People love the flat vs. the better. Oh well.. PM me if more interested. I don't sell anything, but am just an OCD and anal video hobbyist.

Here's more on Joe Kane - the best in the business:

http://www.videoessentials.com/

And the ISF:

http://www.imagingscience.com/

[jeveryday]

I would do the plasma, although I do love DLPs and am currently in the market for it. I say if you have the m oney for a 56' plasma then thats the way to go IMO. Why waste space on a DLP if you can afford a decent size plasma. Plus for gaming plasmas are spectacular. Just be careful of how long you leave it on.

[xraymd]

I didn't shop plasma (too much dough ). I have a 63" Samsung and have been happy with it. In 5 years I may have seen a rainbow once. I have NO problems with viewing angle. I can see the picture with normal colors all the way until I'm looking at it edge on.

Two big things for me over plasma (besides price) were screen brightness (my TV faces a south window) and burn-in. I have little kids and I didn't want my new plasma to have a Nickelodeon logo burned into the lower right hand corner.

[kyleb350]

I've had a 61" Samsung DLP for over a couple years now, and it's been great. DLP's are a good bang-for-the-buck TV, especially if you have more space to spare. I haven't had to replace a bulb yet, and it's great for gaming as well.

[schnell325]

I have a 50" DLP Samsung and the only issue I had was a color wheel gone bad. But, 60 minutes and 1 part later, it works excellent again. 5 years after buying it, I am still very happy.

But, I had hoped I'd mess up the color wheel install so I could get the 72" Samsung DLP that was at Costco....

[Inzane]

Originally Posted by urbo73

I'm good friends with a guy who works for the ISF and Joe Kane, and for the last 10 years we've gone through the whole home theater revolution from CRT projectors/RPTVs to semi-HD and now full HD.

I'm still rocking a CRT RPTV (Panasonic PT-47x54, circa 2004), which I had ISF calibrated, and I love it.

[stimpy]

I'd pick a DLP over Plasma/LCD as long as space/wall mount isn't an issue. A calibrated DLP will look better than any Plasma/LCD and is also a crap ton bigger.

Have a Samsung HL-S6188 myself.
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[number335]

So Best Buy charges some rediculous amount to calibrate a TV. Is it that difficult to calibrate it on our own, and why don't they calibrate the TV's for free?

[thisguyhere]

got a Samsung 720p 42"plasma in the bedroom and a Samsung 61" 1080p LED DLP in living room. Plasma has great colors, but you can't beat the price of DLP....so I'm gonna go with DLP. If money is not a factor, then Plasma. But keep in mind a 61" dlp can be had for 1200 and how much for a plasma at that size???

[wuufer001]

damn, i'm also in the current situation. but my selection includes the LCD
*subscribed*

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by number335

So Best Buy charges some rediculous amount to calibrate a TV. Is it that difficult to calibrate it on our own, and why don't they calibrate the TV's for free?

Do not calibrate a TV on your own. Calibration requires changing settings on the TV's internal motherboard as well as some very hi-tech pricey equipment to understand the readings and what you are changing. These tech's (yes, even Best Buys), do not just plop down on the couch, grab the remote and change settings. The best buy guy that did mine was ISF certified and calibrating TV's and setting up home theater systems is all he does for BB.

They will access the motherboard, change the gray scale, analyze other features and make adjustments where needed. It will take about an hour depending on how easy it is the access everything and how experienced the tech is.

Also what Best Buy charges is actually at the lower end of the price scale referring to calibration. I started reading more after I had it done and saw some prices towards the $1k and up mark. Yet those guys had a grouping of letters after their name showing 10 different certification levels

[Year's_End]

what about organic LCDs (OLCD)?

[Rewted]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

what about organic LCDs (OLCD)?

You mean OLED? Large OLED panels are many YEARS away and just starting to be used in smaller devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, flex screens, etc. To put things in perspective, Sony has an 11-inch OLED tv right now, $2500!

I believe OLED to be a superior technology over LCD and Plasma. But it'll be atleast 5 years before you see a large consumer display, not to mention a realistic price point.

Plasma is where it's at right now. One of the above comments mentions burn in. Don't let that scare you, it is a thing of the past! Plasma has better blacks and picture over LCD, though it is also subjective to viewing space. Plasma is best in an area with low light, where as LCD is better for rooms with a lot of natural light. LCD has limits on viewing angles too. So all depends on your preference.

Plasma suggestions:
- Samsung 550 Series (low cost, great picture, good blacks)
- Pioneer 800 Series (high cost, great picture, excellent blacks)

Also, don't be fooled by the contrast (dynamic) ratio game either. That's all marketing crap. Both of the above tvs have a TRUE contrast ratio of 30,000:1 which is more than enough for the human eye.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by tyrewt

You mean OLED? Large OLED panels are many YEARS away and just starting to be used in smaller devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players, flex screens, etc. To put things in perspective, Sony has an 11-inch OLED tv right now, $2500!

I believe OLED to be a superior technology over LCD and Plasma. But it'll be atleast 5 years before you see a large consumer display, not to mention a realistic price point.

Plasma is where it's at right now. One of the above comments mentions burn in. Don't let that scare you, it is a thing of the past! Plasma has better blacks and picture over LCD, though it is also subjective to viewing space. Plasma is best in an area with low light, where as LCD is better for rooms with a lot of natural light. LCD has limits on viewing angles too. So all depends on your preference.

Plasma suggestions:
- Samsung 550 Series (low cost, great picture, good blacks)
- Pioneer 800 Series (high cost, great picture, excellent blacks)

thanks, that's what i meant, lol.

[danniexi]

1. Pioneer PRO-111FD: $5,000
2. Sony KDL-55XBR8: $7,000
3. Samsung LN55A950: $5,000

The best of the best are listed above, each with 24p as well.

Go to your local electronics store and test them out. You can't go wrong with the top 3 listed above.

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by danniexi

1. Pioneer PRO-111FD: $5,000
2. Panasonic TH-50PZ800U $2,200 (reviews don't lie, best bargain as well)
3. Sony KDL-55XBR8: $7,000
4. Samsung LN55A950: $5,000

The best of the best are listed above, each with 24p as well.

Go to your local electronics store and test them out. You can't go wrong with the top 3 listed above.

Sorry but you're missing one that slides in at #2.

Sure, I'm biased since I have the TV but I read all the reviews and saw all the TV's. It wouldn't be sitting in my living room if it weren't incredible and a great price to boot. The only thing better is the PRO-111FD, but $2,500 better, not in my eyes. The Sony is just downright overpriced just because it's a SONY

I may have gone DLP if they weren't being pushed out of the market and no new DLP's are being made.