Projection Tvs vs Plasma Tvs.

[gjspear]

Which one's better? Nd r projection tvs the ones where a projector projects the image onto a screen placed far away? Or r they like normal tvs?

 

[Apex]

Totally depends. You'll get fanboi's telling you one or the other. The truth is, each technology has its advantages and disadvantages.

It depends on your own viewing preferences, source material, viewing distance, ambient light control, and many other factors.

You should definitely try to see both and see what looks the best to your eyes, for your budget, for your viewing room.

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

I was thinking this exact same question. I plan on moving to either a projector or plasma. But which one is worth the investment.

movie: definitely go with projector
style: plasma
status: plasma
ease of installation: plasma
picture quality: projector *depending on type and screen
ambient light: plasma

solution: get a plasma and use the projector for movies

 

[nsafreak]

Forget plasma and get DLP . Seriously, plasma has red fade issues where over time it loses 50% of it's red content. So I would consider a DLP or perhaps LCD before I would look at plasma.

 

[0roo0roo]

if same money is put into each? projection. most low end plasma is llow res contrast sucks anyways

 

[CFster]

Plasmas run hot as hell.

They also break - and cost a fortune to fix.

 

[aircooled]

If I were buying one today, I'd pick DLP. But I'm still waiting a few years to buy large screen hi-def.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: AzNmAnJLH
I was thinking this exact same question. I plan on moving to either a projector or plasma. But which one is worth the investment.

movie: definitely go with projector
style: plasma
status: plasma
ease of installation: plasma
picture quality: projector *depending on type and screen
ambient light: plasma

solution: get a plasma and use the projector for movies

That is basically it.

If you want to use your projector as for TV viewing then it isn't going to be cost affective and unless you want to watch in low light and have the conditions to control it also.

Plasma for tv and a projector for movies would be the ideal setup imo.

Originally posted by: CFster
Plasmas run hot as hell.

They also break - and cost a fortune to fix.

Clueless. They don't run hot as hell. Not more then a projector or normal tv. Everything 'breaks' and usually costs a lot to repair in the first place for the other tv technologies.

Originally posted by: nsafreak
Forget plasma and get DLP . Seriously, plasma has red fade issues where over time it loses 50% of it's red content. So I would consider a DLP or perhaps LCD before I would look at plasma.

Your tv has degraded over time and have you noticed it degrade? Probably not.

If you watch 6-8hrs of tv you have enough viewing for 8yrs+. Is that enough viewing for you?

So many people with the wrong ideas about Plasma tv's.

For me I don't like the image of DLP from off angle and our English rooms are not big enough and the fact that you can't buy the DLP stuff you get in the states anyway!

I'll get a nice 6 Series Panasonic. Stunning image quality from 8-10ft away depending on your eye sight.

Koing

 

[woowoo]

Having installed both I would go the Plasma route
Panasonic makes a nice 42'er.
(TH-50PHD6UY)

 

[Kremlar]

So many people with the wrong ideas about Plasma tv's.

Tell me about it.

Yes, plasmas are more expensive, more fragile, and more expensive to fix.

However, any of the crap you hear about being extremely sensitive to burn-in (not any worse than a typical CRT display) and wearing out after a couple of years (bull) and needing to be 'recharged' with gas (more bull) is just that - crap.

I have both. I have a DLP front projector in a dedicated theater room, and a 42" plasma in my normal TV watching/hangout room.

If you can control the lighting (meaning, will watch it only in complete darkness) and want the full immersive theater feel, definitely go with front projector. If this is your daily TV in a lighted room and don't need a huge screen, go plasma if you can afford it.

I don't think plasmas and front projectors really compete much - they're for different purposes. Decide what purpose you want to fill, and buy accordingly.

 

[MustISO]

I still love CRT based TV's. If I were in the market for another big screen, I would still do CRT. All the newer technology has a ways to go before it's good as CRT and as affordable.

 

[Kremlar]

CRTs have limitations compared to newer digital technologies.

Yes, there are trade-offs, but the newer technologies are very competitive.

'Traditional' CRTs are just too small if you want a movie theater-type experience, maxing out at 36" I believe (maybe there are a couple of 40" models out there?).

With rear projection sets, CRTs are very competitive. You can arguably get a better picture than any of the other digital rear projectors, but you will have to deal with convergence and geometry issues. The upsides of a CRT would be shadow detail and black level, the downsides would be physical depth, convergence and geometry.

With front projectors, CRT displays are just too large and expensive for most users. Yes, for the hardcore dedicated theater a CRT is still the way to go, but besides cost you have to make sure you don't need too large of a screen - the light output of a CRT just can't compete with a newer digital projector.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Apex
Totally depends. You'll get fanboi's telling you one or the other. The truth is, each technology has its advantages and disadvantages.

It depends on your own viewing preferences, source material, viewing distance, ambient light control, and many other factors.

You should definitely try to see both and see what looks the best to your eyes, for your budget, for your viewing room.

this man has hit the nail on the head.

-edit- I see the fanbois have started already. Sigh.

 

[MazerRackham]

I personally like DLP better than plasma, but I am just one man!

 

[Mani]

Plasma seems to have garnered an undeserved reputation on poor reliablility and image quality. Don't believe either. Current gen high quality plasmas are as reliable as anything out there and can look as good or better than DLP/LCOS/LCD counterparts.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: CFster
Plasmas run hot as hell.

They also break - and cost a fortune to fix.

I believe you may be confusing a plasma TV with a plasma cutter.

CRT's have good contrast and black levels, but they do have tradeoffs as well. They're bulky, difficult to calibrate and maintain. They have to be professionally calibrated to resolve higher resolutions. They get burn in. They're very dim (with respect to size). Most come with poor color decoders with red push.

This is not to say CRT's aren't good. They have their use. Again, as with all technologies, they have their strengths and weaknesses. To say any other technology has a way to go before it is as good as CRT is to fixate on one or two strengths and forget the weaknesses.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: Kremlar
However, any of the crap you hear about being extremely sensitive to burn-in (not any worse than a typical CRT display)

Please explain to me why this plasma setup has noticeable burn in after less than a year at a nearby work site. FWIW, some of the CRTs at my house are several (5+) years old and don't show any signs of burn-in where the windows taskbar has been.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: beatle

Originally posted by: Kremlar
However, any of the crap you hear about being extremely sensitive to burn-in (not any worse than a typical CRT display)

Please explain to me why this plasma setup has noticeable burn in after less than a year at a nearby work site. FWIW, some of the CRTs at my house are several (5+) years old and don't show any signs of burn-in where the windows taskbar has been.

Whichever idiot set them up didn't bother to spend 5 minutes to calibrate them. They come from the factory in full torch mode.

 

[Kremlar]

Please explain to me why this plasma setup has noticeable burn in after less than a year at a nearby work site. FWIW, some of the CRTs at my house are several (5+) years old and don't show any signs of burn-in where the windows taskbar has been.

Whichever idiot set them up didn't bother to spend 5 minutes to calibrate them. They come from the factory in full torch mode.

Yup. Also, any static images displayed for long periods of time will burn in on a plasma OR CRT set, there's really no getting around that.

LCDs are very difficult to burn in. I thought it was impossible, but some recent reports indicate that it's not. I don't believe it's 'burn in' in the CRT sense of the word, but a couple of people have reported static images leaving a ghost image on the screen.

 

[0roo0roo]

With rear projection sets, CRTs are very competitive. You can arguably get a better picture than any of the other digital rear projectors, but you will have to deal with convergence and geometry issues. The upsides of a CRT would be shadow detail and black level, the downsides would be physical depth, convergence and geometry.

yea, esp with those new super fine pitch sony widescreens. between other brands and older models/lower models with normal dot pitch... its amazing

 

[EvilYoda]

Next time one of these "i want to buy a display" threads come up, how about everyone that actually knows what they're talking about stay out of it and just see what others say. BTW, I like having you around here Apex...it's good to know that a knowledgable guy is consistently around. (And just curious...didn't Got|Apex used to be a sponsor of HTF? I haven't seen a banner in a while...)

 

[Apex]

Heh, thanks EvilYoda. However, there are definitely a lot of people who know more than me in the A/V field. It's loads of fun to play with these things though.

We do sponsor HTF. Lots of great people on that site. Loads of info. Wish I had a system like some of those people.

 

[wyvrn]

Samsung DLP is one of the sharpest screens I have seen. You can get a 42" for around $3100 now. I also like the LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon), but they are really hard to find locally. Supposedly LCOS have better color saturation from what I have been told, but it looked the same to me as the DLPs did. LCD in comparison aren't as nice, and Plasmas have that limited life problem, plus being overpriced relative to other flat panel technologies. These are my un-expert opinions.

 

[Kremlar]

Watch for LCOS to be the display of choice soon. I think the technology has a lot of potential.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Apex
Heh, thanks EvilYoda. However, there are definitely a lot of people who know more than me in the A/V field. It's loads of fun to play with these things though.

We do sponsor HTF. Lots of great people on that site. Loads of info. Wish I had a system like some of those people.

Just keep spreading the good word brother. All will come.

<---seriously considering doing HT consulting for a career after 10 years building global IP networks.