Lcd....plasma....what?

[MLCinema]

Hello All,

What kind of TV should I buy for video games and movies?

Does plasma still have burn in? Are the new LCD TV's refresh rates fast enough?

Sony, Panasonic any other brand?

Thank you

[David Jimerson]

IMHO, the best picture -- and definitely the most film-like -- is to be had with DLP.

It's also generally the least expensive option.

[Jason Ramsey]

Plasma is awesome, but it has its disadvantages. Picture quality starts to degrade from the first time you turn it on. They have to be recharged, etc. They are expensive.
LCD's are getting much bigger and better though, and the gap is closing between them and plasma.
The thing that sucks about lcd's is often that the side viewing angles are not very good before you start to see dimming of the picture etc.
DLP is cool

Jason

[Larry Rutledge]

I have to agree, I have been most impressed (based on all factors) with DLP. It is generally less expensive, has great image quality, and has great viewing angles.

[khmuse]

Each type of display has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Gas Plasma displays offer the best color accuracy as they use RGB phosphorous just like a conventional CRT. The burn-in problem (when displaying 1.33 material on a 1.78 monitor) can be alleviated if a gray side bar option is used. The off axis viewing is very good as both color and contrast are maintained very well.

LCD can have very high realized resolution and are often the best choices for mixed (data and video) applications. The contrast ratios are improving as well as the response times. The off axis performance is fair at best.

DLP front projection can, in the right environment offer excellent performance. The problems come when trying to use these in mixed lighting conditions. Where one screen gain might be perfect (in a darkened viewing room) it might be too low in a brightly lit room. Likewise, in a bright room a high gain screen might be ideal, but this same screen in a darkened room may have poor black performance.

DLP rear projection is as David pointed out, the least expensive. The down side is the off axis performance and many of the screen gain issues that are present in front projection (without the ability to change the screen should you decide a different gain would be better).

For me, there is no single solution which is perfect, but as of now, Plasma seems to be the most versatile and least compromised choice available.

Go look at a number of different ones yourself and try different lighting levels, different viewing angles and different source material.

[morten]

here's my two cents:

LCD: light, cheap, thin, bad viewing angles, dead pixels, will be outdated in two years

Plasma: heavy, expensive, thin, if it breaks it's dead, burns like crazy (notice how CNN abandoned all their plasmas?)

DLP: cheap, effective, gives bizarre RGB flickers if you move your eyes quickly from top to bottom or right to left.

If I had to choose I'd pick the DLP option because it's expensive and you don't have the problem with dead pixels (which is insanely annoying once it happens)

BUT!!!!!!

There is something new coming out very soon: SEDs (about 3 months away).

from Gizmodo.com:

"The next big thing is called Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display, or SED for short. Basically it combines the terrific contrast, responsiveness and sharpness of conventional CRT monitors with the power efficiency, size, and thickness of LCDs or Plasmas."

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/sed/


if I could I'd buy a cheap lcd or DLP and wait to spend my money on a SED once they come out.

mor10

[Barry_S]

Plasmas have improved, but if you're going to be gaming, I'd definitely get an LCD. They're bright, sharp, and the prices have come down so they're relatively affordable. Plasmas are still susceptible to burn in and I don't really like DLPs. Forget SEDs unless you have a year or two because they ain't coming soon and they're going to be mucho dinero for a while.

[MLCinema]

Thanks all.

I was also thinking LCD for games and movies.

Brand? Sony, Samsung, Sharp, other?

Thank you

[SomewhereinLA]

Plasma has the brightest pictures which will go down a bit overtime. LCD is not as bright for now but has better blacks and most manufacturers are going the LCD route, they are getting better all the time. DLP is ok, best price but not as bright and has a RGB ghosting effect which I don't like. But one thing to consider is a projector... A friend of mine has one, and let me tell you it's incredible. The only thing is in needs to be in a room that's somewhat dark.

[uhrgl]

The Dell LCDs are kind of tempting:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/lcd?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb

Check out the 37" -- anyone own one of those?

[kai]

I'm a big DLP fan. I had a sony grand wega LCD for awhile and ended up hating it and got the Samsung DLP and absolutely love everything about it.

[hereatrainacomin]

I prefer DLP, but some people tend to get the "rainbow effect" but Ive never witnessed it.

[MLCinema]

SXRD anyone?

[FourStarCinema]

I just purchaced a Westinghouse LCD 1080p monitor. It is a very highly-rated monitor for hi-def movies and video games. They're also relatively inexpensive. So far I've been blown-away by the richness of the colors, and HD-DVD movies look amazing on it. I also have an X-Box 360, and the PQ for games is stunning. Highly recommended...check them out: www.westinghousedigital.com

[MLCinema]

Ya, my friend has a small 19in Westinghouse LCD. It's not like your 1080p, but it is nice.

MLCinema

[morten]

I prefer DLP, but some people tend to get the "rainbow effect" but Ive never witnessed it.

there are several ways of experiencing the weird DLP rainbow effect:

- wave your hand in front of you while watching the TV/projector screen. the stutter effect is familliar for TVs but with the DLP you get weird RGB traces around your fingers

- move your point of interest very fast back an forward or up and down along the screen (move your eyes quickly) and you'll see it

- if you have a projector, look at the lens (NOT directly into it, but from a safe angle) and move your eyes back and forth.

it's very modest and you get used to it but for hyperactive eye-darters like me it can get a bit annoying.

mor10