Tube, Plasma, Projection, and LCD. [Archive]

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mongycore

12-09-2002, 02:42 PM

I've been tempted a lot recently into buying a bigger hdtv. Tube's are big and bulky, Plasma's have their own longevity issues, LCD's are sometimes prone to dead pixels/ghosting, and Projection's sometimes lose their sharpness and/or go wonky in colorization as they age.

Trying to even figure out what to get is inducing migraines. Or, just leaving me stumped trying to weigh the pro's cons.

Anyone care to venture which is better...or even better suggesting the primo piece of equipment for a particular delivery system?

ie, right now the Sony SDM-V72W is one of the better LCD's I've seen with the display being able to keep up with fast moving video images.
I just want to buy a tv that'll last, has great picture, and is the best bang for the buck. A chewers opinion is valued higher than some of those I'd find at <a href="http://www.audioreviews.com" target="_blank">audioreviews.com</a>

sorro

12-09-2002, 08:24 PM

If you look at price/performance, I'd say go with either a traditional rear projection CRT model or a DLP front projection model. As far as I know, DLP fixed some of the issues with ghosting, but the problem is that bulbs on those burn out every 2000 hours or so.

Jimmy the Saint

12-11-2002, 01:40 AM

It really depends on what you want from your HDTV.
Is aesthetics as important to you as picture quality and sound?
In my opinion, I would always opt for the CRT, as it still hasn't been matched, qualitywise, by any of it's contenders and I believe it's longevity and price are also more favourable.

Fantomas

12-12-2002, 03:50 PM

I have been thinking the same decision. Right now the price of many projectors and big TV's are inthe same 2500 to 3000 USD of course you can spend more with projectors.

I live in a small apartment, but I still want a big tv. The problem with those big consoles is that there are way too bulky for my apartment. A projector can give you a 100 inches image for the price of a 52 inch tv.

A problem with many projectors is that you can't see the image with too much ambient light, so if you are going to use it too much in the daytime go for the big tv. But if light is not a problem with you and it is the biggest picture for the buck you want, projectors are the way.

My plan is to get the projector and use it only for movies and special events. For ordinary television viewing I will use my regular tv. As I work all day, I don't really use the tv during daylight time. Right now I'm planning to go with the NEC LT240 projector. Anyway if you decide on something let us know so we can learn also.

Kronos

12-12-2002, 10:22 PM

If you go HDTV make sure the unit is 1080i. That way you won't have even your HD signal letterboxed on a wide screen tv...which can be disheartening at best.

Angles

12-13-2002, 04:24 PM

If you have a windowless room, and it'll be mostly for DVD viewing, then get a front projection system.

If you'd like to occasionally watch TV and/or there's too much ambient light, go for a RPTV. Longetivity isn't that much of an issue, and neither is picture quality for that matter if you take a few precautions.

When you plug in your new RPTV, immediately dial down all the settings, especially contrast, sharpness, and brightness. The factory defaults are all set WAY too high (so they stand out in retail displays) and can lead to serious burn-in and ghosting. Run Avia or Video Essentials for some basic calibrations, but above all, keep those brightness/contrast settings near the low end.

After about 100 hours of use or so, get an ISF calibration (about $400-500), which normally results in a huge jump in picture quality.

If you take the time to care for your RPTV, it'll definitely give you the best bang for your buck, considering the much larger screens compared to CRTs.

Jacob Singer

12-13-2002, 04:38 PM

Gioman (w/ Detachable Face):
After about 100 hours of use or so, get an ISF calibration (about $400-500), which normally results in a huge jump in picture quality.Just what is an 'ISF calibration', and where do I get one, and what does it do?

Angles

12-26-2002, 12:48 PM

Jacob Singer:
Gioman (w/ Detachable Face):
After about 100 hours of use or so, get an ISF calibration (about $400-500), which normally results in a huge jump in picture quality.Just what is an 'ISF calibration', and where do I get one, and what does it do?OMG, sorry for the late response, but I completely forgot about this thread.

ISF is short for Imaging Science Foundation. They basically certify technicians for video calibrations. They number somewhere over 1000, and basically tour the country offering their services. They are the Jedi Knights of home theater. :)

When your TV is delivered from the factory, the settings are usually out of whack ("torch mode") and it's not uncommon to have your CRT tubes misaligned during shipment, and your color settings to be off. Some brands have default settings with too much blue (Sony RPTVs), while others have a noticable "red push" (Mitsubishi RPTVs).

An ISF calibration typically costs anywhere between $400-$600, depending on how many inputs you have calibrated, travel costs, etc. Granted, it sounds like a lot of money, but a typical calibration takes anywhere between 6-8 hours. Since the tech is also doing this in your home, it's more or less equivalent to the cost of at-home computer tech support.

Is it worth it? Well, based on testimonials I've read from a variety of websites/forums, the difference is like night and day. As good as the TV looks out of the box, or even after running Avia or Video Essensials, it doesn't compare to the comprehensive tweaking these guys do. I've never seen a properly calibrated RPTV, but I intend to have it done once I get my Hitachi in a couple of months.

Here's a list of services an ISF will do in a typical calibration:

Pre evaluation of the viewing environment Pre evaluation of the display device, projector, and cabling Removal of the protective screen (where applicable) Mechanical disconnection of SVM circuit Image centering Minimization of overscan Correction of major geometry errors Convergence touch up of all NTSC modes Electronic focus adjustments Mechanical focus adjustments Cleaning of optics Herman TLV Maneuver for applicable Toshiba sets Grayscale adjustment to 6500 D Kelvin Centering of front panel controls when ever possible Adjustment of front panel controls from within the service menu Color decoder adjustment where possible, either via service menu adjustment, EEPROM Reflashing (I2C Fix), or installation of a red push attenuator. Lens striping, when required, to achieve a color temperature variation of less than 500 Kelvin. Computer generated report showing pre and post calibration settings
Hope this helps.

CTDeLude

12-26-2002, 01:18 PM

Wow.

ISF sounds fascinating!

Jedi Knights indeed.