LCDs, Plasmas and High Definition TVs

LCDs, Plasmas and High Definition TVs  » Choosing either a High Definition Plasma TV, or a DLP Projection

Choosing either a High Definition Plasma TV, or a DLP Projection

Article:

If you're thinking of acquiring a new TV for your den or living

room, it probably goes without saying that you'd like to have a

high-resolution television with a great picture. But which set

to buy, and more, importantly, which type of television should

you consider buying?

Today, in the "high def" arena, there are a number of choices

available to the consumer: LCD flat panels, High definition tube

televisions, high definition projection televisions, DLP

projection sets, and, of course, plasma televisions. However,

since tube sets and standard projection systems are, for the

most part, on their way out, and since LCD flat panels are still

rapidly evolving (they seem to get bigger and pricier with each

passing month), we'll narrow this discussion to two high

definition television types: plasma sets and DLP projection

sets.

Plasma TV's use hundreds of thousands of tiny cells containing

natural gasses that have phosphors to get their color. DLP (DLP

stands for digital light processing) TV's, on the other hand,

use a system of over 1.5 million micro mirrors used to project

light on or off of a single bulb which is filtered through a

color wheel.

How can you distinguish between the two formats to decide which

is best for you? As with any type of television the first and

foremost consideration is picture quality. Plasma sets,

according to most reviewers, do look better, though the actual

picture quality of a plasma TV is not markedly higher than the

picture quality of a DLP set. In either case, however, a plasma

or a DLP television will represent a major upgrade for anyone

who currently owns a large tube set.

And since the resolution on either format is, a thousand times

better by comparison, any prospective buyer who spends the

occasional Saturday or sunday haunting electronics stores, would

surely be satisfied to own either type.

Size is another consideration to ponder when it comes to

choosing between a plasma or DLP set. DLP projection sets have

come quite a long way from their forebears (those huge box

frames that double as wall units) and now have a depth of only

seven to eight inches. However, DLP televisions still need to

fall a bit further from their family tree--when it comes to size

considerations, plasma sets that are only three and a half

inches deep and can be hung on walls are the clear winner.

So far, you may think the plasma sounds a little better; it's

smaller so it can hang on the wall and it's picture quality is

slightly better. However, there are other things to consider,

aside from size and relative picture quality, such as

maintenance and "lifespan".

While a plasma television does sound better at this point, it

does have a limited lifespan. In fact, at 60,000 hours most

plasmas are dead. At 30,000 hours, the gasses are only half as

bright, therefore your picture is half as bright as when you

bought this expensive object of adulation. Unfortunately, there

is nothing that can really be done about this since all plasma

sets are known to progressively leak gas. By contrast, DLP

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projection TV's leak no gas, simply because they have no gas to

leak. DLP technology, instead, uses, a bulb, and therefore a DLP

TV can be repaired "relatively" easily. How easily, of course,

may be up to you. Some DLP sets are user friendly enough that

you can replace the bulb yourself; on the other hand, there are

models for which a technician will be required to accomplish

this. And technicians, as a general rule, are not cheap. Nor are

the replacement bulbs for a DLP TV, as these can cost up to 200

dollars, or more. The solution to the technician problem, of

course, is to find a model that allows the average layman to do

the work.

When it comes to maintenance and lifespan considerations with

regard to either of these high definition formats, consumers can

choose a TV that, at some point, may require costly maintenance,

or a TV that, basically, like people, will be in slow decline

from the day of its "birth".

Price, of course, will probably be the deciding factor in most

consumer's decision-making process. DLP TV's usually cost much

less than plasma televisions, sometimes only half as much.

But, regardless of the choice made by a consumer considering a

DLP projection television or Plasma television, either decision

will represent a major leap forward from a old fashioned tube

tv.

About the author:

The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website

on Vitamins, herbs, and

nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants