Big screen DLP rear-projection TVs are much cheaper than LCD or plasma and offer comparable picture quality. Mitsubishi is the leading manufacturer.
Developed by Texas Instruments, DLP (Digital Light Processor) technology is used in theaters offering digital projection and in-home TV projectors – the kind you hang from the ceiling that projects imagery onto a screen. If you want to know how it works, click here. This article is about rear-projection DLP-based big-screen TVs and why they should be considered in the face of tough competition form plasma and LCD TVs.
Five years ago, a 65″ DLP TV cost $3500, a 65″ plasma cost $8,000 and a 65″ LCD was not available as a production product. Today, a 65″ DLP TV costs $1200 and a 65″ plasma or LCD costs $2500. While that is a significant difference, the numbers are even more intriguing as the size increases. Current DLP prices for a 73″ screen are $1300, for an 82″ screen, $1600, and for a 92″ screen, $3400.
Compare those prices to the latest big-screen commercial offerings from plasma and LCD manufacturers: Sharp makes 70″ and 80″ LCD TVs that sell for $3000 and $5500. Panasonic makes 85″ and 103″ plasmas that sell for $20,000 and $70,000. If you visit the CES show, you will find companies like Samsung and LG showing 100+” LCD TVs, but they are not production models for sale to the general public.
From a price standpoint then, DLP is the clear big screen choice for Joe Couch Potato. But there are, of course, other considerations. Here are the most important pros and cons:
Pros
- No motion blur, unlike LCD
- No worry about burn-in by leaving a static image on the screen like plasma
- Very sharp picture, as good as plasma and LCD
- 3D is included and doesn’t require expensive glasses
Cons
- Not a flat panel, up to 25″ deep for a 92″ model
- Off-angle viewing not as good as LCD or plasma
- The lamp must be replaced every two years at a cost of $85 – $150
- Limited competition
Mitsubishi is the only major manufacturer committed to DLP rear-projection TV. You may find models on store shelves from JVC, Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba, but all of these companies have announced that they are abandoning the DLP rear-projection market, although they all sell DLP ceiling projectors.
The underlying technology continues to be developed by Texas Instruments and its many partners. Given that has a monopoly for projecting digital movies in theaters, it should be around for a very long time. In other words, the risk of betting on technology is very low.
In conclusion, if you want a big-screen TV today, a rear-projection DLP model offers quality viewing at the lowest price. Before buying one, however, make sure you see it and are satisfied with the quality of the picture. You also need professional tv aerial installation since big screens take up a lot of shelf space, even the largest stores will not have a wide selection on display. Call first to be sure the one you want to see is actually in the store.
