View Full Version : Rear projection LCD and DLP
ngleo123
03-29-2005, 05:34 AM
I've been TV shoppping and I've seen the new rear projection LCD and DLP sets which look huge and awesome. I would love to have something like that but I just can't get past the fact that the lamps have to be changed every two to three years. I'd always had TV's that were maintenance-free and trouble-free for a minimun of twenty years. Is it worth it to spend $2-3000 for a TV and have to spend $200 every few years for lamps until they become unavailaable?
Flashjeff
03-29-2005, 06:39 AM
Well, I'm no expert on this topic, but I believe that this is the price to be paid for the excellent technology that LCD and DLP represents. I dwelled over that myself, but decided that if I was gonna spend big money on a HDTV, I would invest in the best technology available, and so far, I haven't been disappointed with my set.
Besides, is the idea of changing a bulb every two years THAT much of a bother? And I'm sure bulbs will always be available, especially since LCD and DLP figure to be the prominent sets sold in the years to come as CRT sets are phased out. But, in the long run, the choice is yours and yours only, go with what you think is best for you.
:D
El Ray
03-29-2005, 09:23 AM
Compare the cost of the lamp replacement over the expected life of the TV with the cost of a comparably-sized LCD. If you assume a 15 year life, that means perhaps 5 bulbs. That's about $1000-$1250 in bulbs. If you can get a 46" DLP today for about $2000 and a similar size LCD for about $6000, it isn't that bad.
mjones73
03-29-2005, 10:09 AM
I'm not sure where your seeing $6000 for a RP LCD... A 50" Sony RP LCD will run you about $2700.
Personally I think if you have the right room conditions and space for it, you still can't beat a properly calibrated RP CRT for picture quality and black levels.
El Ray
03-29-2005, 10:44 AM
MJones: I was referrening to an LCD, not a LCD rear projection. He was complaining about the lamps so I was comparing lamp vs. non-lamp sets.
oman321
03-29-2005, 10:47 AM
Flat panel LCD's have lamps/bulbs too.
mjones73
03-29-2005, 10:51 AM
By the way, if you compare the other direction, a good CRT set in the 46" range can be had for like $1400 with no bulbs to change...
oman321, they have backlighting, they don't use the same type of short life span bulbs a RP set uses though, usually something with a much longer life span as a light source.
oman321
03-29-2005, 10:55 AM
Understood, the term backlighting came to mind. I knew it took an additional piece of hardware to provide the lighting of the display that can over time fail.
