Confused buyer needs help (DLP, LCD or LCOS)

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I guess I've been scared off by the moving parts. 1 month and it still isn't repaired. My neighbor has the Sammy HLN 50" and he is on his 5th repair in 18 months.


I like them all, I did like DLP better than LCD, and when I purchased the JVC LCOS was not available in Canada at the time, so it wasn't even a consideration. I've been told LCOS is best of both worlds (DLP/LCD). I guess I'm trying to find the best long term value. They all look good now, but will LCD start to fail after 4000 hours? Will DLP's moving parts continue to break? What are/will be the bugs for LCOS?

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> I have a lot of friends with the Samsung DLP without any problems.

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> The only part that you should have to replace for the LCD and LCOS is the bulb, which is about $250.00.

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> The JVC set has also been plagued by quality control issues. Some sets have had dead pixels, some sets have a problem with alignment and some sets have simply been defective.

The JVC problems were with early production run models and seem to have been fixed. They have sold commercial grade analog LCoS FPTVs for years and now have digital LCoS RPTVs for consumers. They use a substrate from Aurora and put their own "LCD goo" on it. They do not use organic chemicals so there is no aging problem.


Yes, LCDs are based on organic chemicals and will age. 4,000 hours? No. Eventually, they will tend toward the yellow because the blue will age faster. But I'll bet you'll get at least 5-10 years use out of it, by which time you'll want new technology anyway. Move the set to the basement. TI published a study claiming rather fast aging. The study is, shall we say, not highly regarded. They seem to have overheated their samples. Overheat me and I'll age faster, too. If you get the LCD, just look very carefully for dead pixels before your guaranteed no questions asked return period is up. Manufacturers claim a few dead pixels are normal and acceptable, but they don't say how many. Stuck ON is obviously much worse than a black dead pixel.


Go with your eyes. You'll probably be happy with either one.

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5-10 years. Isn't that the same as CRT direct view or even Plasma?


Sounds like DLP's moving parts and LCD's aging would push a person to LCOS. Assuming LCOS works right out of the box and all production issues are fixed. Ideally, don't we all want a TV that will last for as long as replacement bulbs are available?


Everyone says to go with my eyes, and that is good advice for the short term. They all look good now, but which will look best 1yr from now, 5yrs, even 10yrs?

I am in the exact situation. I am deciding between the Sony and Samsung - not really considering the JVC. I'm getting the TV at BB this weekend for a 20% special AOL employees discount.... so I have to make a decision soon.


From visits to Tweeter, Myer Emco, and BB this is what I have noticed about each.... this is just my opinion:


Sony Pros: Has cable card (the future of cable?), brighter screen, sharper image, built-in HD tuner, better vertical viewing angles, displays SD a little sharper than Samsung


Sony Cons: greyscale contrasts are bad, the dark images all bleed into each other, it's ugly cabinet, not PC compatible


Samsung Pros: more natural softer colors and image, extra DVI input, PC compatible, looks better.


Samsung Cons: SD display isn't that good, bad vertical viewing angles, no built-in HD tuner



It's a really tough call. Some other things I'm considering are the reliability of the technology. I know both have issues and the general consensus - I think - is that DLP will last longer over the long haul but I think I like the picture on the Sony a little better. But I really don't like the fact that I can't use it as a computer monitor. Also from posts on various sites, it seems like ppl are always complaining about the 5063 bulbs failing or color wheel breaking. I hardly here complaints about the Sony LCD with dead pixels or stuck ONS or any other problems.


Also since 50% of my viewing is still with a standard signal - I want something that displays SD acceptably - even though by 2006 all broadcasts will be in HD.


One interesting thing I want to mention is that at the BB closest to me - I went to check out the TVs last week and even though the sales guy told me to buy the Samsung - I saw 6 open box 5063's at the store. They seemed to be working fine, but it makes me suspicious that so many ppl returned it. Maybe they just didn't know how to set it up... who knows.


I would be curious to hear any other input that people had.


*wahoo*

----5-10 years. Isn't that the same as CRT direct view or even Plasma?

Yes. Although I, and I think, most of us, keep our direct view CRTs for more than 5 years, well past the time when they have supposedly lost 50% of their brightness.


----Sounds like DLP's moving parts and LCD's aging would push a person to LCOS.

I really wouldn't worry too much about LCD aging.


----Ideally, don't we all want a TV that will last for as long as replacement bulbs are available?

Today, yes, but I'm sure that in 5 or 10 years the technology will have improved so much we'll WANT to move on. There is still room for improvement in the range of colors actually displayed, and other areas.


----They all look good now, but which will look best 1yr from now, 5yrs, even 10yrs?

My crystal ball is a bit cloudy, but I think after 5 years, the D-ILA and DLP will both look about as good as new, with a new bulb. After 10 years, I'd give the edge to D-ILA since wear on moving parts (color wheel) will have begun to take their toll.


Note that the JVC has a greater vertical viewing angle range than the Samsung.


BTW, not all broadcasts will be HD in 2006. All broadcasts will shift over to DTV between 1/1/2007 and 2009. There are 18 approved digital TV (ATSC) formats. Only the 720 and 1080 formats are HD. The 480 formats, including the widescreen (ED) variants, are not HD. Congress requires shifting from NTSC analog to ATSC digital. There is no requirement whatsoever that any percentage of those broadcasts be HD. Most won't be, simply because if you transmit SD, you can multicast, sending out up to 6 digital channels in the bandwidth space of one analog channel. It appears that prime time shows will be almost all in HD, as is the case with this fall's season, but non prime will be mostly SD/ED. Do a forum search for more info on this.

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Not so fast... there is actually some evidence backing the TI claim over in the Front Projector forums. There are a few people who have had their LCD's become discolored in only a few *hundred* hours. And quite a few have had problems with vertical banding, apparently caused by deterioration in the green panel.


Now, this could be a result of improper use... owners either powering their projectors down without allowing them to cool properly, or perhaps forgetting to clean the dust filters... and the lower wattage bulbs in Rear Projection TVs should be less damaging to the panels. But I wouldn't discount the possibility altogether.