Thoughts on DLP...

[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/