Plasma or LCD?

[XR6ISM]

Woo hoo Plasma, which one did you get?

Im looking at buying the Toshiba plasma screen

[aniken]

Woo hoo Plasma, which one did you get?

Im looking at buying the Toshiba plasma screen

Philips 42". Its fcuken huge. Still waiting on the HD set top box (came free with the TV), but I can't wait to see the picture with that.

Here is a picture of it (next to the old one). Program selected for Glenn's benefit. :banghead:

[dutchie]

Aniken,

I would also like to throw a different view point on this and change the equation somewhat.........

I have just installed a LCD Projector.......Epson EMP S1H thrown onto a premium

CinemaPro 84" (210cm) screen from Screen Technics......both only new to OZ for past 4 weeks but getting numerous awards overseas.........

I too have thought long and hard about this and even went so far as deciding to wait...

Instead, last year I purchased a 76cm 100 hz digital Loewe tv only for me last week

to install the projector.........better cinema experience ......

Quite simply this is an amazing set up for under $4K.....sure the quality is not as good as my 100hz tv, but it will outdo a large rear projector tv and even some Plasma screens out their.......I now have the best of both worlds......

To get the fantastic picture you need 2 things........a good screen and good cables.....

I use the projector for DVD's and certain Foxtel events including sport........and use the TV for well everthing else....that way when I use the projector it is still special each time I use it....

The projector screen is a manual pull down one and pulls down in front of the entertainment unit and TV.......

Some of the new LCD projectors are coming onto the market now and brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, Phillips, Mitsubishi, Benq and even Sony believe that for a real Home Cinema feeling, projectors are the only alternative at a fraction of the cost compasred to LCD Tv's........

Hope this help..........

dutchie

PS My other hobby outside computers is Hifi/Home cinema......

PSS One important thing to note: Currently their is a pixelation problem with the current LCD Tv's.......if a pixel happens to go and its in the middle of your screen, (60% of the time) you are stuck with this bloody missing dot on the TV.......this can be annoying........ :banghead:

At the moment, LCD are not stable enough to be problem free........

[eatV8]

I am looking at this TV for myself over here... Since we're talking TV's any thoughts? Anything bad about it?

The TV I am looking at...

I love the price of stuff over here!

I have seen some of these DLP's in stores and they seem to show an awesome picture, doesnt black out like alot of rear projection screens I have seen.

Oh, I suppose I should mension what I want to use the TV for...

*HDTV and Digital Cable

*PS2 and XBOX

*Connect my PC to it

*DVD's

Pretty much everything

Edited 31/08/04 06:47 PM by eatV8

[mercturbo]

Aniken,

I would also like to throw a different view point on this and change the equation somewhat.........

I have just installed a LCD Projector.......Epson EMP S1H thrown onto a premium

CinemaPro 84" (210cm) screen from Screen Technics......both only new to OZ for past 4 weeks but getting numerous awards overseas.........

I too have thought long and hard about this and even went so far as deciding to wait...

Instead, last year I purchased a 76cm 100 hz digital Loewe tv only for me last week

to install the projector.........better cinema experience ......

Quite simply this is an amazing set up for under $4K.....sure the quality is not as good as my 100hz tv, but it will outdo a large rear projector tv and even some Plasma screens out their.......I now have the best of both worlds......

To get the fantastic picture you need 2 things........a good screen and good cables.....

I use the projector for DVD's and certain Foxtel events including sport........and use the TV for well everthing else....that way when I use the projector it is still special each time I use it....

The projector screen is a manual pull down one and pulls down in front of the entertainment unit and TV.......

Some of the new LCD projectors are coming onto the market now and brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, Phillips, Mitsubishi, Benq and even Sony believe that for a real Home Cinema feeling, projectors are the only alternative at a fraction of the cost compasred to LCD Tv's........

Hope this help..........

dutchie

PS My other hobby outside computers is Hifi/Home cinema......

PSS One important thing to note: Currently their is a pixelation problem with the current LCD Tv's.......if a pixel happens to go and its in the middle of your screen, (60% of the time) you are stuck with this bloody missing dot on the TV.......this can be annoying........

At the moment, LCD are not stable enough to be problem free........

Yeh Dutchie agree, the stuck pixel problem can occur in LCD projectors also, that's one of the reasons why I went for a DLP projector, but both technologies provide excellent impact and value for money. I like the Panasonic AE 500 xga LCD projector at the moment, the colors are stunning, and not too much screen door, a nice machine to be picked up for around $3k, the new Dennon 3805 7.1 amp is a nice unit also, Still though even the best projector can't match a good 100hz CRT flatscreen for pure picture quality from what I've seen. How good is playing Halo xbox on a 100inch screen, with DD 5.1 blasting you from all sides? Have you tried that yet?, see if you can get the XBOX- scart to component adaptor to feed into the projector, for me it gave at least 10-20% better picture quality. Monster make one though its around $170 bucks

[sbr79]

I went to clive peters last year, with my heart set on buying a PLASMA tv, but I was told everything people have mentioned here, and if it stuffs up, thow it in the bi and kiss your 5k good bye. The TV makers are like *beep* when it comes to honouring their warranties, they will try to get out of it with every loop hole at their disposal.

BUT after looking at all the plasma tv's for ages, I wasn't really that impressed, and then I spotted her, a 168cm LCD Rear Projection High Definition TV, and boy was the picture fanntastic. I took it their and then 10K later I was at home watching this magic marvel, don't regret it one bit. And unlike Rear projection, which have BLUE GREEN AND RED bulbs, the LCD projection has one WHITE globe , which means when the bulb decides to die, 500 dollars later she will be as if new again, and they should last for 5 to 10 years of heavy viewing. TRUST me with surround sound the V8's and the footy is awesome, but to really get the most out of her you need either FOXTEL digital or Digital TV reciever.

Just my views but if anyone is interested I will try and take a photo and hope it comes out clear enough to show you the quality.

[cdm]

How about building your own projector?

If your a bit of a tight arse or just enjoy the challenge, then a pretty good LCD projector can be built for under $800.

It's been about a year since I built my baby so I have forgotten many of the technical details however I can tell you it has:

16ms response time

XGA resolution (no screen door effect)

450:1 contrast ratio

15-20,000 hour bulb life (replacement bulb about $80 from memory).

I was considering buying a second hand projector however they were all relatively expensive and the bulbs cost hundreds of dollars to replace after a short amount of time.

After one years operation (about 250hrs) the only problem is I scratched one of the lens' when cleaning it so I will have to replace it however I recently badly broke my leg skiing so I wont be in the workshop for a while.

Couple of points:

- The projector unit is big, about 43cmX43X100cm. I did intend on shrinking it about 25% using the current parts. Alternatively, one can be made about the size of an old VCR however this would cost more and require more time

- Mine does not have keystone adjustment however this can be done although it would take more time/effort to build.

-The screen is huge, it goes from floor to ceiling and about 8-9ft wide however the throw is short ( about 11ft). This isn't really a problem because it sits on a desk behind the couch.

-Hook it up to a modified XBOX and you have a pretty good setup. My xbox has a 200gig HD and is networked to the PC so I can store my entire DVD library on the xbox (in case they get damaged )

Let me know if anyone is interested and I will try and get some pictures (it aint that pretty) and provide more details.

Chris

[Lumpen]

CDM, just for a 'cool I'd like to have a geez at that' point of view, I'd like to hear/see details of this beast

[cdm]

CDM, just for a 'cool I'd like to have a geez at that' point of view, I'd like to hear/see details of this beast

No worries. I will try and get the missus to take some photos because I'm not too mobile with this leg.

Basic components:

-Benq LCD monitor

-Triplet lens

-Fresnell lens

-Condenser lens

-Mirror (preferably front surface, alternatively thin rear surface)

-Reflector

-250w Metal Halide bulb

-2X computer fans

-Some MDF

The lens's are basically what you find in a high end overhead projector. The MH bulb is what's often used in factories etc and provides the best bulb life/value for money, and whitest light. And I had to strip down the Benq monitor and remove the LCD panel and boards.

The basic setup is as follows:

Reflector - bulb - condenser lens - Fresnel lens - LCD panel - mirror - triplet lens - image on the wall.

I have a mate who paid 10k (and he rekons he got it cheap??) for a projector about 2 years ago and the only noticable difference is his is slightly brighter, but my image is bigger. Neither can be watched during the day with the curtains open though. Oh, and his is much smaller and has keystone correction however it is possible to add this to a home projector.

Regards,

Chris.

PS: Sorry if this is off topic, however I rekon it's a cheap alternative.

[Velvet Glove]

My 2c worth.

I weighed up the pros and cons of everything I could and have just brought myself a brand new Loewe Mimo 32 CRT TV. I decided against the plasma and LCDs because of one reason, cost. Make that 2 reasons, the second being picture quality.

As much as people go on about it, the best picture I saw still came from a CRT TV, the one I bought. I paid $3300 for it and it came with a Strong Digital box.

Before buying a big screen you should really think about your room size and how far away from the TV you'll be. If your close to a big TV you break your neck turning back and forth to watch the action.

Loewe is a German brand and the Mimo 32 is absolutely top quality. So much better made than the generic Jap stuff. Evrything in the TV goes in via SCART so all the picture etc is great. It has a great pair of internal speakers so I have dispensed with the home theatre idea, as it is pointless unless you spend 1/2 your life in front of it. Save your money and go to the movies if you want that sort of sound quality.

You will only get this sort of TV from a hi-fi shop, so go and see someone at one of those places, not Harvey Norman or the like, to get some proper advice.

For my stereo I now attach my iPod to a set of JBL Creature speakers. Lokks funky and I dont have to hunt around for CDs all the time, as my entire collection is held in the 40 Gb iPod