Opinions/Facts on analog tube TV vs. digital DLP, Plasma, LCD TV's, please

[rbatty11]

I currently have a Sony 34" XBR910 (16:9) and contemplating "upgrading" to a DLP, plasma or LCD. There is so much info and opinions out there that I'm not sure whether this would actually be considered an 'upgrade' or not..

I love the blacks on my tube.. and am reluctant in "losing" that.. Would love to have some experts express their opinions and/or what they would do if they were in my shoes. Oh, notwithstanding viewing distance, screen size and such, unless necessary. And of course, HD is definitely the issue here b/c I'm also thinking about HD viewing and investing in a HD-DVD player.. (my Sony has DVI input.. no HDMI--so I'd need 'adapter', yes?). Thanks...

[CrayonEater]

Why? If you're happy with what you've got, I'm sure you have something else you can drop a couple grand on. Upgrade your set and you'll be expected to upgrade everything else, and then in a few years something better will come out and you'll just have to upgrade again...

[lordsmurf]

Regular tv, analog cable, and VHS tapes basically look like crap on a HD/LCD screen. Barf.

Original retail DVDs look fine.

Homemade DVDs, satellite tv, backup DVDs, digital cable, and all... it looks good, but not awesome.

Remember that tube TVs hide video noise. When you add "more detail" you add a LOT of noise too. I mean tons of noise. Things you never saw before are going to reach out of the screen and slap you in the face.

You will likely still want a tube tv handy, especially if you want to watch fullscreen content and get a widescreen LCD/HDTV.

[edDV]

I'd be happy to take your "old" CRT HDTV
Are you near Northern CA? Right now I'm in Houston, TX so that works too.
It would be an upgrade for me.

I have a slightly lower Sony 34" CRT in my mini-theater and an older HD CRT here in my computer room.

As far as I'm concerned, your only need to upgrade is for screen size if that is primary.

Otherwize, it is hard to improve on what you have for mixed HD and SD.


PS: I don't think the 960 supports HDCP. Current HD DVD releases do not require HDCP but that could change at any time. For now you could use an HDMI to DVI cable and get 1080i from a HD DVD player. If and when they turn on HDCP, you may be restricted to 960x540p over analog component.

[FulciLives]

I bought a 51 inch 16x9 WS HDTV this past December 2005 that is ... surprise ... a good ol' CRT Rear Projection television by Hitachi.

Granted it only goes up to 1080i (no 1080p) but the image quality is rather amazing and the price is way cheaper than DLP or Plasma or LCD etc.

However as LordSmurf says don't expect low resolution material such as VHS or analog cable (even some digital cable channels) to look great.

Regular DVD does look good as does of course HDTV material ... even LaserDiscs look pretty good on it ... although I am dying to see HD-DVD or Blu-Ray on it but right now that stuff is just a wee-bit too expensive for me.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[davideck]

When you add "more detail" you add a LOT of noise too. I mean tons of noise.

That depends on bitrate. Some HD sources look very bad. Others look incredible. The HD channels are digital so these sources can have a VERY low noise level.

Retail DVDs look great because the HDTV can display the full 720 resolution.

Based on price, performance and footprint, I think LCD wins. The DLPs that I have seen still have the rainbow effect, Plasma pixels are too pronounced, and CRTs are too heavy and bulky.

[Shocker Milwaukee]

CRTs are too heavy and bulky.

It's not like you have to tote 'em around everywhere you go....

[davideck]

No, but a nice BIG piece of furniture has to accommodate its weight and bulk.

[painkiller]

Wait a bit longer, I understand that manufacturing of SED flat panels is about to pick up speed.

This tech would combine the features of crt technology with thin display.
(As I understand it, means truer blacks, faster color response, contrast improvement.)

Although the same aspects are also now happening with LED and Laser panels.

Until then, I liked the Samsung slim-fit crt hdtv's when they came out and their prices are coming down. Even so, I'd rather get my floor space back.

[gshelley61]

I'm on my third DLP now. I started with a 43" Samsung, then a 46" Samsung. I just got a new Toshiba 62HM116 (Costco's version of the 62HM196). It's a 62" 1080p display, and is easily the best one I've owned so far. Both the black level and white level are much improved over my two earlier Samsung 720p models. The picture when watching HD cable, HD network affiliate programming, and upscaled commercially produced DVD's is truly a pleasure... pretty amazing, really. Depending on how good the SD digital or analog cable signal is, the picture is not bad considering how big the screen is.

The large screen size provides a much more enjoyable viewing experience than relatively small direct view CRT's. Even 40"-50" LCD and plasma displays look too small to me now! Of course, it depends on your viewing distance (which is 8-14 ft in my case). The level of detail with the 1920x1080p display resolution makes a big difference, even with upscaled DVD's. Plus, as big as this set is, it's only 20" deep at the base and weighs just a little over 100 lbs.

I've never had problems with the rainbow effect, and neither has anyone that has watched any of my DLP sets. There are some folks who are apparently sensitive to it (it is talked about frequently online), but I have not encountered anyone in person who is. You just have to have a look at some DLP's at the store - you will probably notice RBE right away if you are sensitive to it.

[FulciLives]

I've never had problems with the rainbow effect, and neither has anyone that has watched any of my DLP sets. There are some folks who are apparently sensitive to it (it is talked about frequently online), but I have not encountered anyone in person who is. You just have to have a look at some DLP's at the store - you will probably notice RBE right away if you are sensitive to it.

The distance you sit to the screen in relation to the size has something to do with it as well ... correct?

I've heard if you sit "too close" that you might see it whereas if you are at an "optimal" viewing distance you shouldn't see the "effect" ... sensitive or not.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[gshelley61]

I've never had problems with the rainbow effect, and neither has anyone that has watched any of my DLP sets. There are some folks who are apparently sensitive to it (it is talked about frequently online), but I have not encountered anyone in person who is. You just have to have a look at some DLP's at the store - you will probably notice RBE right away if you are sensitive to it.

The distance you sit to the screen in relation to the size has something to do with it as well ... correct?

I've heard if you sit "too close" that you might see it whereas if you are at an "optimal" viewing distance you shouldn't see the "effect" ... sensitive or not.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

Yes, I think that could contribute to it because it seems to have to do with rapid eye (or head) movements. When you sit close to a large display, you may wind up darting your eyes (or head) back and forth in order to take in what is happening on the screen.

[turk690]

Consumer DLP front & rear projectors have only one DLP that's why they create "rainbows" for better or for worse from the required color wheel. All LCD projectors have three LCDs that's why there are none of these "rainbows". Why is that? Why can't consumer DLPs also have three DLP elements in them (like in the professional theatre projectors) to completely get past the "rainbow" issue? Are DLP imaging devices naturally difficult & involving to make and are therefore expensive? Or is Texas Instruments (currently still the only game in town) deliberately foisting single-DLP projectors to prop up the costs and so on? Is there any mystery here or is it just me??

[jman98]

While the distance from a DLP site might play some factor, I just think that some people are just unusually sensitive to the Rainbow Effect. I think I read that about 10% of the population may be sensitive to it. I suspect that DLP makers play down the numbers and suggest "it all depends on where you sit" to not hurt sales, but DLP seems to not be the future anyway. I wouldn't buy one and I don't appear to be sensitive to the Rainbow Effect.

[rbatty11]

Thanks guys/gals. Yes, think I will hold off for now.. and see what develops over the near-term. I'm very much pleased with my the 910 (actually love it). My buddy just bought a Panny DLP (~51") and while HD and DVD looked very nice, analog/regular programming looked terrible to me. edDV, even if I 'upgraded', I likely would keep the 910. sorry. Again, thanks for everyone's input.

[normcar]

I currently have a Sony 34" XBR910 (16:9) and contemplating "upgrading" to a DLP, plasma or LCD. There is so much info and opinions out there

I also suggest you wait as long as possible, because the prices are expected to fall through the next year or so on just about every version of HD TV. While waiting, learn as much as possible about the different formats, resolutions, life expectancy, tuner requirements, HD/Blue Ray players/DVD, and anything else that you can to get the correct model for your requirements.

The purchase of a HD TV is far more difficult because of formats of HD requirements than most people realize. The HD TVs that have all the requirements that you "may need" are the most expensive models, and you may not need all they offer in the end. I believe that the HD TV market is in almost as a chaos as the HD/Blue Ray DVD markets are because there are at least 3 tuners you may or may not need depending on whether your cable company requires them or include them in the cable box.

So for the extra cost of the new HD TVs, I believe that waiting as long as possible, and gaining as much knowlege as possible will enable to make a much better purchase that will serve you for the next 6-8 yrs or longer. Read all available info about HD, what is available, and what may be required, and any other info you can find.

[davideck]

Yes, I think that could contribute to it because it seems to have to do with rapid eye (or head) movements. When you sit close to a large display, you may wind up darting your eyes (or head) back and forth in order to take in what is happening on the screen.

I think that the Rainbow Effect is visible when moving your eyes because the sequentially colored frames get displaced with respect to each other on your retinas. Chewing on something crunchy can also cause this effect. Otherwise, I don't think you'll see it when staring straight at the display.

Like other video artifacts, you can become sensitized to the Rainbow Effect after noticing it the first time.

[SingSing]

My impression is Plasma TV's price has drop the most, because they are high to start with. I wonder is TV size is a generation gap thing ? Younger consumers preferred feature, coolness than size.

[FulciLives]

My impression is Plasma TV's price has drop the most, because they are high to start with. I wonder is TV size is a generation gap thing ? Younger consumers preferred feature, coolness than size.

I once bought a Mitsubishi 20" TV even though I had enough money for a cheap "low-end" Magnavox 27" TV.

But I didn't want a "low-end" TV even though it would have been bigger ... and I didn't have money for a 27" Mitsubishi ... so I went with the 20" Mitsubishi knowing I got a better TV even if the size was smaller.

Some people are like that.

Plus that was years ago and I was in college so one could argue I didn't need a big TV then.

Watching anything on a 20" TV today would depress me. Oh wait ... I only have a 17" PC monitor! Oh no! ... course then again I only sit a foot away from it LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman