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DLP or Plasma - Which is Better - Or Better Value?

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cincibuck said:
But again I warn you, watching games in HD spoils you. It's difficult to accpet anything less.
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You've got that right. I just got mine hooked up last week and it's hard to watch a program that's not in HD. Other than football, I've watched basketball, which I don't like, and hockey. I even sat down and watched Discovery for a half hour on the flying squirell.

My only complaint at this point is towards DirecTV and not my HDTV. I with they would hurry up and get the HD service for local channels through my satellite so I could get rid of the antenna. Not only is it an eye sore in my newly finished basement but it tends to cut out periodically. It's usually only for a few seconds but very annoying. I e-mailed them yesterday and they said that as of now, the Cincinnati market isn't on the list for this spring but it should be sometime this year.

Here's my TV, BTW 3LCD Rear Projection
 
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Another place I would look is ubid.com. I've bought a couple of things from that site and have never had a problem. I regularly see HDTV's on there for really good prices. I bought my most recent Media Center PC from there over the summer for half the price the stores were asking. It's worth a shot.
 
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You might want to check out JVC's HD-ILA...

technology, also known as LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon?). The advertised advantages of HD-ILA are no rainbow effect (DLP, I guess I am one of the 10% because I found it very annoying), no moving parts (mirrors) and no screen door effect (LCD). The new sets go up to 70+ inches and the technology was 1080p from the get go, but was not released initially due to price and market demand.

I own a JVC set (52Z575) and I bought it over a year ago. I have had no problems as a lot of the early issues had been worked out. I am biased as I like to rationalize such a big purchase. :wink2: But, the set has been great and I could not be happier.

Just a couple more points, the set is rear projection like DLP and it is not that deep (only 16"). Also, the new Sony "hybrid LCD" is actually LCOS which is a JVC technology and thus has a better appearance than their older LCD technology (screen door effect)

END JVC Commercial.....:tongue2: Hope this is helpful.

Here is a review for reference http://hometheatermag.com/rearprojectiontvs/905jvc/
 
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Important piece of advice:

Go to a 'big box' store (Best Buy, Circut City, HH Gregg) and look at these TVs in person. This is an absolute must do. Do not trust what you read or hear ...seeing is believing. Ask the sales person to put on different types of video signals (Standard TV, High Def TV, DVD, etc.) on the different TVs. You will be surprised as some things will look good on one set and not on another.
 
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This is sound advice...

3yardsandacloud said:
Important piece of advice:

Go to a 'big box' store (Best Buy, Circut City, HH Gregg) and look at these TVs in person. This is an absolute must do. Do not trust what you read or hear ...seeing is believing. Ask the sales person to put on different types of video signals (Standard TV, High Def TV, DVD, etc.) on the different TVs. You will be surprised as some things will look good on one set and not on another.
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I couldn't agree more 3 yards.

I have found that laying out this kind of cash can make this an emotional purchase to some level and not everyone views each technology equally. I picked one that met my budget and gave me the best picture in my opinion. You will find that owners of each technology are pretty loyal, as I am probably evidence of that fact.
 
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3yardsandacloud said:
Important piece of advice:

Go to a 'big box' store (Best Buy, Circut City, HH Gregg) and look at these TVs in person. This is an absolute must do. Do not trust what you read or hear ...seeing is believing. Ask the sales person to put on different types of video signals (Standard TV, High Def TV, DVD, etc.) on the different TVs. You will be surprised as some things will look good on one set and not on another.
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Most best buys I have been to, for whatever reason, do not show a true HD picture on their TV's.
The circuit city at Polaris uses an antenna to show OTA broadcasts.
Bottom line, make sure the signal that you are comparing TV's with is a true HD, not DVD, or up-converted DVD.
As an aside, I think Circuit City is currently running 24 month, interest free financing on all projection TV's...
 
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I agree about seeing the set in action, but there is a difference between what you will see in the store and what you will see at home. The signal in most stores is split so many times to service, what?, maybe fifty or more sets, that it not at "full strength." I was pleased with what I saw in the store, especially when they ran a dvd (which runs at less pixies than HDTV) but when I got the set home and hooked into a full HD signal I was blown away. Also bought a DVD plus player/burner, which somehow kicks the pixies up to near HD levels... and yes I know I'm writing pixies instead of pixels.
 
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I saw the new Sony SXRD sets at the Navy Exchange at Pearl Harbor about a month ago, and if I had the jack at the time I would've bought one on the spot. Its pricture quality is better than anything I've seen including the best plasma (and I've seen a bunch in person). The 42" version, viewed from about 5-6 feet, was almost as good as a CRT. It also had a very good viewing arch. And it was priced just under $2,000 (and no tax because its a military exchange). I may get one before the next football season starts...
 
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CleveBucks said:
What does shipping run on that site, and do they charge sales tax? That's a pretty damn good price if they're reputable.
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You do pay shipping, that can be pretty considerable - as in 1.5x to 2x the cost of sales tax on a full price locally bought version at say, Best (not) Buy or Circuitous Metropolis.
You really do have to watch out though with some of the online sellers.

One in particular goes by the name "Liquidation Inc." They had the gall to advertise $150 Plasmas (42-inch) with "broken glass" - which means you basically have to buy a whole new screen - what a deal - not!
strohs said:
IMHO, if you are going 50"+, go for a 1080p set.
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Which will limit the choice to DLP, right? Plasma does not anywhere show anything other than 1080i / 720p as far as I can tell. Surprising, forefront technology like that and no 1080p, guess it would be just too expensive.
 
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CleveBucks said:
Shipping weight on most of these is just under 100 pounds. What kind of shipping costs are you looking at? Couple hundred? Sales tax would be roughly 100
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Naturally, shipping costs is one area wherein Dr. Plasma will reel in some extra cost of fulfilment. For ground they want 195, express they wish to see upwards of 280 - 350 :! (Which rates are usurious)

There are other vendors however who have better deals than that e.g. Plasma.com
They have shipping figured into the listed price. So it is a straight up and down deal.

As for sales tax rates I was figuring that at around 180 on a 3K purchase (hence the Best (dont) Buy reference :wink2: ) So 1.5x 180 is 270, close to the Dr. Plasma's lowest "express" shipping.
 
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sandgk said:
Which will limit the choice to DLP, right? Plasma does not anywhere show anything other than 1080i / 720p as far as I can tell. Surprising, forefront technology like that and no 1080p, guess it would be just too expensive.
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DLP, SXRD/LCoS, and JVC's HD-ILA (not sure what exactly that is)
Also, I think Sharp's Aquos TV's are now 1080p
 
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Well I finally have closure on that HDTV choice.

And though I was heavily leaning to a DLP early in the going I "settled" for a 42-inch plasma -- actually a monitor. Max resolution supported is 1920x1080i, 720p is the highest "complete" resolution.

Went with a monitor as we always will have a set-top box of some kind pulling in our subscribed channels. Plus, the dedicated separate tuners will, in time, become very cost effective. So, if one were needed I can add it later at sub-$100 cost.

Went plasma because I really did not like the look of the screens running DLP or LCOS when I saw them in a variety of stores, plus the floorspace taken up just didn't work for me. Less than a rear projection true, but still no better than a CRT of lower dimension. So the suggestion to get in front of these units and see how you liked tham was spot on.

Added an up-converting DVD player (LG America - really nice) the obligatory off-air HD antenna and some AR cables. (SW Ohio D* doesn't pull in the locals in HD, yet, so we suffer with having the NY feeds in their HD package). The satellite TV installer arrives today to finish their installation. Meantime we have been counting hairs on Gandalf's beard from the DVD of the same. And the picture looks - absolutely marvellous.
Today and this Sunday though it will be NCAA and Sopranos in HD. Can hardly wait.

Everything was obtained for just under 2.1K, I am using BBs cash interest free.

Once the basement is finished, with pool table and game-room touches, I'll probably roll this unit downstairs and buy the latest and greatest of similar size for the first floor viewing room. It will be interesting to see how these prices flatten in coming months.
 
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