Thoughts on DLP...

[ggiese]

My bro-in-law, who's in the business of fixing TV's, suggests against the DLP's. He says too many moving parts makes for too great a chance of breakdown. He suggests LCD projector, but pay attention to the manufacturer. Not all projection bulbs cost the same to replace, and that's the big money item that will go in those sets...

I picked up a Panasonic LCD projector last year - an absolutely fantastic picture and a great deal (cost me around 1,500 without the extended warranty).

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panas...oductDetail.do

[CoventryCat86]

WTF are you guys talking about?

Here's my TV:


I can get all thirteen channels. The damn thing takes a while to warm up but once it does, she's good to go!!

Someday, I may splurge for a UHF antenna so I can get channel 27 out of Worcester. MA!

It kinds of sucks in the winter sometimes, the antenna rotor freezes and it won't turn. If it's stuck in west, all I can get is the Hartford station and if it's stuck in east, all I get is the Boston and Providence stations. I just upgraded to the antenna on the roof last year, sure beats the hell out of those rabbit ears.

[SuperChuck]

My bro-in-law, who's in the business of fixing TV's, suggests against the DLP's. He says too many moving parts makes for too great a chance of breakdown. He suggests LCD projector, but pay attention to the manufacturer. Not all projection bulbs cost the same to replace, and that's the big money item that will go in those sets...

I picked up a Panasonic LCD projector last year - an absolutely fantastic picture and a great deal (cost me around 1,500 without the extended warranty).

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panas...oductDetail.do

I looked at a couple of the LCD rear projectors, but I think the image was lacking a little. Next time I'm near a home electronics store, I'll give them another look.

[Empire23]

LCDs dont have a long life either like the DLPs to.

and what moving parts does a DLP have? the mirrors?

[ggiese]

LCDs dont have a long life either like the DLPs to.

and what moving parts does a DLP have? the mirrors?

Yes - that's my understanding - and a crapload of mirrors at that...

[HarvInSTL]

After reading alot of this misinformation I figured I'd make a post of my own.

Go with a projector with a Sattelite dish. Best picture, and biggest screen for the money.

My problem with projo's is that even if it is in a darkened room, with Screen Goo it won't give the best picture. Plasmas will continue to have the best black levels and the best contrast ratios for a while.

I hate watching tv on a projo with the shades open because the pictures look washed out and not crisp. But sure watching a movie with the sound cranked up at night with the shades closed are awesome!

The problem with projectors is unless it is in a dedicated home theatre room with darkened windows (or no windows) and a properly prepared wall its going to suck for everyday viewing.

And if you go the projo route don't forget you will need to buy a cieling mount, extra long cables to run to your home theatre setup and you should have a reciever that handles your video switching.

If I had to buy a projo right now, but money would be on the Mitsubishi HD1000U & the Panasonic PT-AX100U. The Panny is a better projo but will cost you more.

My bro-in-law, who's in the business of fixing TV's, suggests against the DLP's. He says too many moving parts makes for too great a chance of breakdown. He suggests LCD projector, but pay attention to the manufacturer. Not all projection bulbs cost the same to replace, and that's the big money item that will go in those sets...

I picked up a Panasonic LCD projector last year - an absolutely fantastic picture and a great deal (cost me around 1,500 without the extended warranty).

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panas...oductDetail.do

Well according to your bro in law we should stop driving cars too? They have alot of moving parts, we all should just go back to riding bikes.

The first gen DLP's had alot of problems with their color wheels and most of them would give you rainbow effect. But in the last year or two TI has resovled all these issues and honestly a RP DLP is a great buy right now. Just makek sure it uses a 4x color wheel.

A couple of good deals.

61" 1080P DLP Rear Projo-$2850

50" 1080P DLP Rear Projo-$2185

Sony 50" 1080P LCD Rear Projo-$2250

LCDs dont have a long life either like the DLPs to.

No electronics these days are supposed to have a long life. Just look at the MTBF on most plasmas. They average around 75000hrs. THats 8.5years if you leave it on 24/hrs a day.

Sure thats just supposed to be an average, but I recommend the extended warrantys.

Sure that $1500 tv might cost $200 for the warranty. But that 4 year warranty for $200 ends up costing you about 13 cents a day. I look at warranties this way, if you can afford or don't mind replacing it then don't buy the warranty.

I compare warranties to car insurance, you pay for your car insurance "in case shit happens" (well that and the law prolly requires it).

Here are some places you can check out.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/

[Empire23]

the older LCDs didnt have a life of that long though. I guess it depends on what you buy but the DLPs out now shouldnt have any problems. I think also LCD screens can have the "burn in' effect if your using them for say a game system or even if you have your computer hooked up to it and use it alot for word or exel programs. DLP's wont get anything "burned in" the screen.

As for the moving parts, I wouldnt even worry about those breaking at all. If it does, it should be covered by the factory warranty.

I used to work at Circuit City and when you buy a TV like that, you can usually get the store warranty thrown in with the TV if you haggle enough with the sales person.

[ggiese]

the older LCDs didnt have a life of that long though. I guess it depends on what you buy but the DLPs out now shouldnt have any problems. I think also LCD screens can have the "burn in' effect if your using them for say a game system or even if you have your computer hooked up to it and use it alot for word or exel programs. DLP's wont get anything "burned in" the screen.

As for the moving parts, I wouldnt even worry about those breaking at all. If it does, it should be covered by the factory warranty.

I used to work at Circuit City and when you buy a TV like that, you can usually get the store warranty thrown in with the TV if you haggle enough with the sales person.

Circuit City blows... I bought my Panasonic LCD Projection TV from them with the promise that I would get a $200 CC gift card... (either that or I could get 0% financing). Yeah, right... Find out later it is tied to my "CC" Credit Card, which apparently is not handled by CC, and for some odd reason, noone at the store had recorded on my purchase that I wanted the points... The credit card company refused to honor it - CC refused to stick up for me, or to make it good... No 0% financing either... Fockers...

[ggiese]

After reading alot of this misinformation I figured I'd make a post of my own.



My problem with projo's is that even if it is in a darkened room, with Screen Goo it won't give the best picture. Plasmas will continue to have the best black levels and the best contrast ratios for a while.

I hate watching tv on a projo with the shades open because the pictures look washed out and not crisp. But sure watching a movie with the sound cranked up at night with the shades closed are awesome!

The problem with projectors is unless it is in a dedicated home theatre room with darkened windows (or no windows) and a properly prepared wall its going to suck for everyday viewing.

And if you go the projo route don't forget you will need to buy a cieling mount, extra long cables to run to your home theatre setup and you should have a reciever that handles your video switching.

If I had to buy a projo right now, but money would be on the Mitsubishi HD1000U & the Panasonic PT-AX100U. The Panny is a better projo but will cost you more.



Well according to your bro in law we should stop driving cars too? They have alot of moving parts, we all should just go back to riding bikes.

The first gen DLP's had alot of problems with their color wheels and most of them would give you rainbow effect. But in the last year or two TI has resovled all these issues and honestly a RP DLP is a great buy right now. Just makek sure it uses a 4x color wheel.

A couple of good deals.

61" 1080P DLP Rear Projo-$2850

50" 1080P DLP Rear Projo-$2185

Sony 50" 1080P LCD Rear Projo-$2250



No electronics these days are supposed to have a long life. Just look at the MTBF on most plasmas. They average around 75000hrs. THats 8.5years if you leave it on 24/hrs a day.

Sure thats just supposed to be an average, but I recommend the extended warrantys.

Sure that $1500 tv might cost $200 for the warranty. But that 4 year warranty for $200 ends up costing you about 13 cents a day. I look at warranties this way, if you can afford or don't mind replacing it then don't buy the warranty.

I compare warranties to car insurance, you pay for your car insurance "in case shit happens" (well that and the law prolly requires it).

Here are some places you can check out.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/

Hey, Harv - you got a DLP projector that's washed out... Boo-friggen-hoo... Mine looks great in full sun and full darkness. No problems with any of that, including black level. Nicest, crispest, sharpest, cleanest picture I've ever had on a screen. Sorry - but your theory goes right out the window when you see my TV...

Secondly - nope - I'm not going to stop buying cars because my brother in law tells me moving parts suck. That's as assinine a statement as I've ever heard... But - I will tell you this - if my bro-in-law were to tell me (because he's a mechanic and knows) that a certain make of vehicle is prone to problems I'm going to steer clear. It only makes sense, don't ya think? After all - he's theoretically the "expert"...

My bro-in-law - who services the DLP units tells me to choose a specific group of LCD projectors over a DLP because of issues related to the moving parts in the DLP's - I think I'm gonna pay attention... That's his game, right? But you service them as well, so you would know - I mean, you are the "expert", aren't you...

Sorry you took offense to my first post, Harv - hopefully you don't take more offense to this one...

[HarvInSTL]

Hey, Harv - you got a DLP projector that's washed out... Boo-friggen-hoo... Mine looks great in full sun and full darkness. No problems with any of that, including black level. Nicest, crispest, sharpest, cleanest picture I've ever had on a screen. Sorry - but your theory goes right out the window when you see my TV...

Secondly - nope - I'm not going to stop buying cars because my brother in law tells me moving parts suck. That's as assinine a statement as I've ever heard... But - I will tell you this - if my bro-in-law were to tell me (because he's a mechanic and knows) that a certain make of vehicle is prone to problems I'm going to steer clear. It only makes sense, don't ya think? After all - he's theoretically the "expert"...

My bro-in-law - who services the DLP units tells me to choose a specific group of LCD projectors over a DLP because of issues related to the moving parts in the DLP's - I think I'm gonna pay attention... That's his game, right? But you service them as well, so you would know - I mean, you are the "expert", aren't you...

Sorry you took offense to my first post, Harv - hopefully you don't take more offense to this one...

Sorry to say that no I don't have a DLP projector thats washed out. I've got a 42" 1080p LCD wall mounted in my front room.

My theory doesn't go out any window. How about you post the make and model of your projo and we can review specs and then I can decide if you are trying to blow smoke up my ass.

Besides just because it "Nicest, crispest, sharpest, cleanest picture I've ever had on a screen." doesn't make it the best picture available. It just makes it the nicest, crispest, sharpest, cleanest picture you have ever seen. I'm pretty sure the popluation of this earth is more than just 1.

I think you missed the point of my making the statement about cars and moving parts. I agree it is an assine statement, the point was that it is just as assine as your statement about not buying projo's because they have moving parts.

The keyword is "theoretically" the expert. Is he factory trained and authorised for any major manufactor repair? And unless he holds a cert from CEDIA, I personally won't believe a word out of his mouth. But thats just me, you have to believe him he is your bro in law.

Am I an expert? Can't say that I am, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about either.

I didn't take offence to your first post at all, nor would I take offence to this one either. Taking offence over a post on the internet is so, whats the word,.....stupid.

The gist I'm trying to get accross to the OP is that one should never take the sole advice of one, but to gather information and experience the products he is interested in first hand. Then make a decision based upon that.

[cls515]

I looked at a couple of the LCD rear projectors, but I think the image was lacking a little. Next time I'm near a home electronics store, I'll give them another look.

I wouldn't go by the store set up. I would think the tv that the store wants to sell would have the best picture. And to speak on it, Panasonic is hard to beat. Sony is great too but a lot more expensive.