How many of you have these? I have read countless articles comparing them and the pros and cons of each. Plasma only has a viewing time of 9,000 hours, but LCD can't be hung on the wall, blah blah blah...........
They have come way down in price and will continue to. I have had the itch for quite some time and now they are at least in the ballpark of the tv budget. Anyone here have one and have any input?
It's all about DLP, check this site out http://www.dlp.com/dlp_cinema/default.asp
personally I'd buy a Digital DLP projector, for similar price to what plasma or LCD costs.
DLP was the other option. I just like the idea of a clean tv hanging on the wall with some discreet Bose speakers placed throughout. Can you hang a DLP?
For the money you will spend on them do yourself a favor and get some good bookselfs and a nice receiver / amp that aren't gimmicky junk like Bose. I don't know if you want surround or not...but for about $1200 I pieced together a pretty nice setup. Two Boston Accoustic towers for about $400 each and a Yamaha 2 Channel receiver for $400. It's way overkill for the room I have it in but it sounds damn nice...I think. I would have done surround but I don't have the room to set it up properly, and if you can't do it right why do it at all.
And I vote for DLP. Good picture, no burn it and it's way cheaper than plasma. A friend of mine has a 60" LCD Sony Grand Wega projection tv and the picture on it blows...
I agree Bose is over rated, I did the same thing, mixed Onkyo w/ polk audio towers and defintive tech subwoofer, sounds excellent, and cost less than the lifestyle systems. The Bose sounds great and is discreet, but there is something to be said for the visual appeal and sound quality of larger speakers. If you go the projector route the screen is the only thing on the wall and can be raised and lowered. If price isn't an option for speakers check out http://www.martinlogan.com/ IMO best stuff out there
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rock »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BOSE speakers??
For the money you will spend on them do yourself a favor and get some good bookselfs and a nice receiver / amp that aren't gimmicky junk like Bose. I don't know if you want surround or not...but for about $1200 I pieced together a pretty nice setup. Two Boston Accoustic towers..... </TD></TR></TABLE>
Bose, Boston Acoustics and Cambridge Soundworks were all started by the same MIT grad.
Don't get a Chevy - they're junk - GMC is the way to go...
I had Boston Acoustics Pro Series in a truck I had - excellent stuff. I am also happy with the MBQuart's I have now.
I just went through this myself. I ended up with the DLP Mitsubishi but that was because I didn't have $12,000 for a 60"plasma. If High-Def is your thing then plasma and LCD are better. LCD is the future, plasma will die out due to limited lifespan and high cost. The DLP is a good compromise since the a relatively cheap, the replacement bulb is $100 and needs changing every five years or so. I'd wait for the next generation LCD. There have been some big improvements--they can handle fast motion better that older versions, they have long lifespan w/o picture fade. The DLP picture quality is pretty good for high-def but so-so for regular TV. Nothing beats the picture quality of Plasma. It's justifying the cost with something that will wear out one day and will need to tossed out.
I just went through this whole process the other day, so I might be of some help, might not, but I'll throw in my two cents. I looked at all three options, plasma, LCD and DLP. In my opinion, by far the best bang for the buck is the DLP. It has way better blacks than the LCD, isn't subject to burn-in like the LCD or Plasmas, and looks fantastic with the DVD player using high definition cables. I don't have an over the air HDTV tuner in mine, but the ones I saw with them looked fantastic.
I went with the 50" Samsung which was comparably priced with the LCD's and the plasmas, but came with a few more features. The reason I got the Samsung vs. other brands was partially the recommendations of the salesman, but also the fact that Samsung has made changing the lamps a do-it-yourself job. This way when it goes out (as they all do after a while) you don't have to pay a tech $4-500 to change it.
Either way, whatever TV you go for, make sure you get the high def component cables for your DVD system, it really does make a substantial difference. I've had mine for a week now, and I'm really happy with my choice. The only downer I have so far has more to do with my TiVo than anything. The picture quality from my TiVo really doesn't do the TV justice, and it ends up coming out less perfect than I would like. Other than that, I've had no problems so far, but considering the amount of time I've had the TV that really doesn't say a whole lot. Anyways, it took forever to finally make the choice on type/brand/model, so I know what you're going through, but I guarantee you won't be disappointed by the DLP.
Oh, and my unit weighs in at about 80lbs, and at 16 inches deep, would take some effort to hang on the wall.
plus if you want to patch your computer in and surf Speedzilla at 60inches DLP is the only way to go, it is the closest to a computer monitor you can get
Sharp 45" LCD is the BEST TV on the market, period, from there, you go downhill.....doesn't mean they are bad, just not as good. Just go put any TV up against the LCD from Sharp (37" or 45") with GOOD QUALITY HDTV HOOK UPS and it won't take a professional eye to see the huge difference.
As far as sound goes...... I am good in that dept. Yamaha towers, Yamaha amp, plus a 12" Sub. My pictures shake on the walls at my house. I just wanted something that sounded good, but didn't look like furniture. I had Cerwin Vega DC9 speakers, but damn... my house isn't a nightclub. I literally knocked a mirror off the wall with those and broke it. Maybe it's my age, but I decided to go smaller and am very pleased with the Yamaha towers. (BTW, don't they make motorcycles? ) I am looking for something asthetically pleasing AND sounds good. I like the idea of the speakers being less visible, but more noticeable when heard. I will look into the Boston Acoustics.
I went to Best Buy to drool again over the tv's. The DLP units did look great. Then again so did the LCD and Plasmas. I think I am elimintating the Plasma in the choices, purely because of the lifespan. I AM a little concerned for the LCD's, as per the "burn in" and the "action viewing". Looks like I am leaning toward the DLP, or waiting til the next generation of LCD comes out.
Come to think of it, I could get the DLP now, then when the LCD next generation comes out, I could move the DLP to the bedroom, and get the new LCD for the living room. Then my kids could have my 36' tv in their room for their Xbox and dvd's. Aw shit..........here we go again.
Who would have thought that buying a friggin tv would be like shopping for a new car.
I'm considering purchasing these fancy TV's too. I want to use it with my PC. My PC has all my DVD's burned onto it (*avi files) & am building a local website (in house only) where we can pick which movie/tv show to watch. Also able to record TV onto the PC. Also have a local site with all of my music - so good quality speakers will also be a must.
Even though I didnt post the question - thanks for all the info!
I'll add that I went through all the options last summer and I ended up with a Samsung DLP. I still think it was the right decision. The picture is brilliant, there is zero heat dissipation, no radiation, easy maintenance (haven't needed any yet) and very light and agile.
I have an RCA DLP with the HD2 chip (i.e. the older version) and it's been a great set. Certainly not the best on the market, but probably the most bang for the buck as it has a ton of features for the price. If you're smart though you'll wait a few more months for the 1080p sets to hit the mass market. Sony already makes one (called the Qualia); prices are coming down and there will be more to follow so I'd recommend you wait....
The sharp Aquos LCD has a kick ass picture. Unfortunately it's a bit pricey. About $900 for a 20" Bang for the buck you can pic up a Proview 42" plasma for around $2000. There is a company called Richard Gray Power that makes a power conditioner for the plasma TV's that really fine tunes the picture, the black on the TV becomes pitch black instead of dark grey, it runs around $600. LED flat panels will be out in around 5 years. LED's have no degradation over time. They supposedly have the best picture quality.
I have been watching the Plasma's and the LCD's for the past year and a half and the prices have just been unjustafiable for my needs. They are now coming down to the point to where I can get a 42" LCD from Costco for $1999. When I saw that price it sparked my interest. Granted I would like a 60" tv, but if I can get something reliable in the 42"-50" range that can hang on the wall, or take up less space with a better picture for under $2500, then I am all over it.
It isn't a situation of keeping up with the "Jones's", which I really could give a rats ass about. I just want something nice that will be somewhat new technology, without sacrificing my left nut. I guess the smart thing to do is to just wait another 6 months to a year and see what direction things go with technology. Prices keep coming down, but damn the new tv's are looking sharp. It still hurts me every time I see my 17" LCD computer moniter that I bought on sale for $200 less than what I paid.
What brand DLP do you have? You're brightness control is probably set too high. Turn it down until you're blacks are deep and smooth. The picture may seem dark, but you'll quickly get used to it and realize the picture is more pleasing...
Plasma or LCD tv?
Bose, Boston Acoustics and Cambridge Soundworks were all started by the same MIT grad.
) I am looking for something asthetically pleasing AND sounds good. I like the idea of the speakers being less visible, but more noticeable when heard. I will look into the Boston Acoustics. 
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