Best TV to buy today.....

[Rotti]

What would be the best type of TV to purchase today? Not brand name but type. LCD, Plasma, or the old fashioned rear projection?

[JESTER700]

Impossible to say. Depends on user needs - cost, screen size, brightness, detail, black level, sources?

[elcid]

Yep, I've been a Custom Home Theater Installer for the last 4 years, and I can safely say there isn't 1 thats better across the board than the others.

[mi2tom]

Surely plasma!!! Even though I don't own one

[TongueShredder]

Eventhough Plasma is the product of latest technology, it is not long lasting as LCD monitors. An LCD TV has a lifespan of 60000 hours which means if you use it at an average of 8 hours a day, it will last you about 7500 days (20.16 years). Since Plasma uses a different technology (gas), it will a have a much shorter lifespan of about 6-7 years and it is way more expensive than an LCD.

[gitarguy]

I am very happy with my DLP rear projection!! I did a lot of research and found the DLP to be the best bang for the buck.

[bammbamm]

DLP is reported to have a better picture quality, but the light sources need to be maintained and changed out every so often, and at $300.00 a pop that can get pricy. I'd make sure you got an extended service plan if I went with a DLP.
That said Samsung makes a KILLER DLP HD set that I've been eyeing for a while now.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...787&CatId=1830

[jemsite]

Originally Posted by JESTER700

Impossible to say. Depends on user needs - cost, screen size, brightness, detail, black level, sources?

Bingo. Add also "intended viewing angle" and "placement in room".

also "rear projection" can be CRT, LCD and DLP at this time.

every technology has it's strengths & weaknesses.

LCD - great viewing angle, good picture, lasts forever, no burn, mediocre contrast

Plasma - good viewing angle, good but cartoony picture, burn in, good contrast

DLP - these are projections only... great picture, replacement bulbs, non burnin, excellent contrast, cheapie DLPs yield artifacts & rainbows.

judge with your own eyes however... glen

[jamiewitt1]

I'd say LCD, I've got one myself and they're great. Although I have no experience with the rear projection so I'm not sure if they're better or not.
Plasma are no good, they burn out after a couple of years, a friend of mine used to work at a major electronics branch that didn't offer insurance on plasma because they knew they'd burn out. Good in the short-term though!

[sanitarium]

I work for an eletrical company that sells these types for screen. If you wanna know about picture quality the best by a long way is LCD projectors, not rear projection screens but an actual projector through a computer. I think DLP is fantastic but the only thing that would put me off buying one is the viewing angle. As for normal rear projection I wouldn't bother with one. It's the same type of person I always sell one of them to - jack the lad who wants a big screen for minimum money. OK so it's perfect for him you sacrifice picture quality and viewing angle.
LCD Vs Plasma. I'd go LCD esp on a HD clip. LCD is a lot brighter and the picture really stands out well. IMO Plasma is only better when your looking at spending money starting from the Panasonic and Pioneer ranges. Obviuosly if you buy a B&O plasma chances are it's blow everything out the water anyway Saying all that though, when you look at our TV display fromt he other side of the shop the TV that jumps out most for me (apart from the HD display) is the Pioneer 43" plasma - the colours are so vibrant. Would be interesting to see if all our TV's had HD though.

Problem with CRT if HD compatibilty. Our store only selling one CRT HD ready set and it's one of those Samsung "flat CRT" screen. I wouldn't touch them - everyone I sell come back with the same two faults. If you not bothered about HD then CRT are such a bargin.

Just my 2 cents on it all, i'm sure there are guys here more in the know than me.

[sanitarium]

Originally Posted by jemsite

judge with your own eyes however

Glen got it spot on there, we get so many people coming in arguing about picture quality from stuff they've read on the net (like here) or in the dreaded Which? magazine, which is always about 3 months behind, get your self down to a shop to look at them. BUT please if you are going to do that don't use sales people as an information source then buy it from some heavily discounted online store, as a salesman I find this to be the ultimate insult and a piss take.

[Ozzdoc]

LCD's because I have one, I'm one biased dude!

[elcid]

Originally Posted by jamiewitt1

I'd say LCD, I've got one myself and they're great. Although I have no experience with the rear projection so I'm not sure if they're better or not.
Plasma are no good, they burn out after a couple of years, a friend of mine used to work at a major electronics branch that didn't offer insurance on plasma because they knew they'd burn out. Good in the short-term though!

Wow, the misinformation about Plasmas never ceases to amaze me. Did he tell you that you may need a Plasma recharge kit to fix it?