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Haven't Broken Down And Bought That Big Screen Yet...Read This First
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12-Jan-2009
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If you are still the only person on the block who doesn't have the Testerosta 148” HiUltraMegaPrimusDef for a home theater system, there are definitely a few things to consider before purchasing. As is true with everything in technology, the home theater market is in a constant and ever growing state of flux; that basically means there is no definite right product, there is no definite right time to buy, simply a best choice given the money you want to spend and the quality you want to get, with a few considerations taken. So, let's look at them, shall we:
Plasma
Plasma got a very early reputation for being the technology in terms of premium home theater displays. And there certainly was a lot of justification for this. Plasma has unparalleled depth in terms of bringing about genuine shades of black. It also is known for having crystal-clear transitions as motion progresses on the screen. Depending on the type of viewer that you (and your family) are, this can be of the utmost importance.
That being said, there are certainly a number of negative things to be said about plasma. For starters, it probably will cost more than any similar sized, similar quality device. It's almost a guarantee. Again, depending on what you're looking for, this may be justified; for 80% of the population, though, I tend to disagree. As well, plasma is known for 'burn marks', much like those that can be found on older computer monitors. From a distance it probably isn't noticeable; however, if you're anally retentive enough to need shades of black, you're going to notice a completely immovable and immortal image stain on your screen and you'll probably throw something at it, which will of course make the problem worse. Good quality care will most likely prevent this from happening for several years, but, it will happen.
LCD
LCD is more traditionally associated with computer monitors, and this is definitely its' “bread and butter”. While this is and probably will remain true, LCD has made significant inroads in the HD market. I myself own a big screen LCD HDTV, and couldn't be more pleased with it. The HD quality is easily par with Plasma on the higher end models, and the unit dimensions cannot be beat (I can literally lift it with one hand if necessary). As well, instant compatibility with computers makes it a must have for any office conference room, and you can probably mount it just about anywhere you want.
As is true with plasma, LCD has its share of downsides. Although usually cheaper than plasma, LCD is still going to set you back for a good model. Also, though the quality of the HD programming is beyond reproach, certain camera motion progressions can result in poor quality...for about a split second. I have personally only witnessed this a few times in the years of owning it, but it was noticeable nonetheless; even if only for a split second. And, significantly more rare than with plasma's, LCD's are subject to image burning. Some people will try to tell you this is a lie; they're lying, I've witnessed it. Only on a single computer monitor, and not even one of my own, and my LCD has no blemishes that I can speak of, but I did witness that one instance, so it is definitely possible.
DLP
DLP is a very innovative spin on a tried and true technology that we've all had at one time or another. This type of television falls under the “CRT” genre – although you could, rightfully so, say that the technology has been perfected to the point that it's dimensions compete with both plasma and LCD on an almost equal footing. Perhaps the biggest selling point, and this is even true with the HD models in the 60+” range, you can expect to pay less than half of the comparative plasma or LCD. There are, of course, the pitfalls...
For starters, the image quality is not quite on par with LCD or plasma; but with a screen that size at what would be an appropriate distance, short of someone with 20/10 vision (which I, sadly, do have), it's not going to matter. Another thing worth noting, some people complain that the edges are kind of rounded, similar to a “fish bowl” stetting that a lot of TV's have for some reason (mine does?). I have never personally witnessed this, but it is a known complaint and based on the technology, I could easily see this happening in the particularly larger models. Also, these do require lamps; and lamps burn out. Though they won't set you back a fortune, it would probably take ten to fifteen years worth of lamps before you'd spend more money on this than the comparative LCD or plasma. If budget is your ultimate goal, DLP is definitely for you. If not, it's probably not...
There are certainly other considerations to take into account, and in time, I will, but for now, if you're in the market for a TV, give those considerations a thought, act accordingly, and as always, caveat emptor...because nobody else will. |
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