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There are several kinds of HDTV displays, including direct view, rear-projection, plasma and LCD. But which is right for you?
Direct View CRT
Direct view HDTVs are the least expensive option when considering purchasing a high-definition television. They utilize traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) technology that powers standard analog TV sets, and as a result, are quite big and bulky -- some units weigh 300 pounds or more. Their relatively low prices make direct view displays popular with consumers, but they will fall out of favor over time as the prices of more sleek plasma and LCD displays continue to decline. It is also worth noting that direct view CRTs generally max out at about 40 inches in screen size.
Pros: Cheapest HDTVs available, excellent brightness and black levels
Cons: Bulky size, somewhat vulnerable to burn-in, not available over 40 inches
Rear-Projection
Rear-projection HDTVs are produced by a variety of technologies, including cathode-ray tube (CRT), digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD) and liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS).
Rear-Projection CRT
Rear-projection CRT displays are available in large sizes (up to 70 inches) and are popular due to their relatively low prices as compared with plasma or LCD. However, they are quite bulky -- with some units being nearly three feet deep -- and can be difficult to view when sitting angled from the TV.
Pros: Relatively inexpensive when compared to plasma or LCD, available in larger screen sizes than direct view CRTs, very good black levels
Cons: Bulky size, picture quality can severely degrade at angles, vulnerable to burn-in, relatively high maintenance compared to other rear-projection technologies
Rear-Projection DLP
Rear-projection DLP (digital light processing) displays are based on microchip technology from Texas Instruments. Light is projected through a color wheel by thousands of tiny tilting mirrors, which reflect the image off the chip onto the screen.
Pros: Better picture quality than rear-projection CRT, not as expensive as plasma or LCD flat-panel, essentially immune to burn-in, excellent brightness levels, great picture color
Cons: More expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT, average black level quality (although the latest 1080p models are much improved in this respect), can suffer from “rainbow effect”
Rear-Projection LCD
Rear-projection LCD (liquid crystal display) is based on the same LCD technology that powers the more expensive LCD flat-panel models with liquid crystals sandwiched between two plates of glass. However, as a microdisplay it carries the size and cost advantages of rear-projection.
Pros: Better picture quality than rear-projection CRT, not as expensive as plasma or LCD flat-panel, much less bulky than rear-projection CRT, essentially immune to burn-in
Cons: Poor black levels, not as bright as other technologies, more expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT
Rear-Projection LCoS
Rear-projection LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) is a type of LCD that sandwiches liquid crystals between a plate of glass and a silicon microchip rather than between two layers of glass. Hitachi and JVC are two companies that have made serious investments in LCoS -- which is less proven in production than DLP as a microdisplay technology -- and Sony’s outstanding 70-inch Qualia 006 also features a proprietary form of LCoS, although it retails for a hefty $11,000.
Pros: Much higher resolution and picture quality than rear-projection CRT, much less bulky than rear-projection CRT, much larger screen sizes than plasma or LCD flat-panel
Cons: More expensive than rear-projection CRT or direct-view CRT, economic viability of production is currently unclear
Plasma
Plasma displays get their name from the gas that is trapped inside each of the roughly two million pixels that are contained in an HDTV unit. Plasmas are popular due to their elegance and flatness, as they can be as small as three inches thick. However, they are also quite expensive, ranging in price from $2,500 up to $15,000 or more. The largest plasma currently available is an 80-inch monster manufactured by Samsung that retails for about $70,000. Notably, most plasmas that are $3,000 in price or less are EDTV rather than HDTV.
Pros: High-quality picture, sleek flat-panel display, come in larger sizes than LCD flat panel, brighter and much better black levels than LCD flat panel
Cons: Very expensive, susceptible to burn-in, concerns with life expectancy among lower-end models, consume more power than other types of HDTVs
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Flat Panel
LCD flat panel displays use the same technology behind many computer monitors in which light is projected through a layer of liquid crystals and then colorized, producing the on-screen image. Until the last few months, LCD TVs were only available in relatively small sizes compared to their plasma and rear-projection brethren, due primarily to manufacturing limitations. However, major LCD manufacturers such as Sharp, Sony and Samsung have recently introduced much larger screen sizes.
Pros: High-quality picture, sleek flat-panel display, essentially immune to burn-in
Cons: Even more expensive than plasma on a per inch basis, larger sizes just now coming to market, not as bright as plasma displays, poor black levels, motion sequences often somewhat blurry when compared to plasma
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