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DLP or LCD

V

Veedo

2[H]4U
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
2,190
all right guys, its time. i need to replace my trusty 25 inch crt tv sitting in my living room. :D

it is about 20 feet from the couch to the tv in the living room, so i would like to go with a fairly large screen. what should i go with?

i would like to hook my pc up to it, and maybe play some games, even check out the web once in a while if the picture was decent enough. would a dlp tv handle this sort of usage, or will the lcd be much better on the eyes?

i was eying up a 60 inch samsung 1080p dlp tv for about 1100, but i never pulled the trigger. theres also been a few lcd 46 inch range lcds going for about the same price.

i would like to stay around the 1000 dollar mark or under. what size screen would you use in my situation? dlp, lcd, or plasma? any model recommendations? i am a tv noob, so any help would be great.

Pics of room:


EDIT: new tv pic posted :D thanks for the help guys!

DLP%20%283%29.JPG


TV%20%28Large%29.jpg
 
Best rule of thumb on size is 3 inches for every foot, so 25FT is 75" which is huge so in your case at 1000 dollars I would go with the DLP as far as size goes.

Does the room have sitting positions anywhere of 90 degrees and if how far?

Also, for surfing the web at a decent resolution the 46" in going to be way to small to read the text.

DLP's can look very sharp if in the right environment.

Gaming would be fine on either TV the DLP with handle the game a little better because there really isn't any lag to light where on the LCD you will get some Screen door effect and motion blur.

They both have their pros and cons but either will suit.
 
I'd go with the DLP if you are going to be looking at it a lot. DLP will give a much 'smoother' picture because the picture won't be as pixelated like a traditional LCD. But it's a decision you'll have to make for yourself, because at 25 feet your eyes probably won''t be able to decern one from another.
 
ok, i broke out the tape measure. my guesstimates were a bit off :p.

front wall to back wall is 23 feet not 25, and from the middle of the couch to the middle of my entertainment center is about 19-20 feet. this is where we will do most of our movie watching from.

we have two other lazy boys, one on each side of the room, one at 9 feet, and the other 12 feet away from where the tv is. the room is 12.5 feet wide, so the viewing angles will not be very drastic from these chairs, at least i dont think.

so you think the dlp would do pretty well displaying text and stuff on the net? would a 60 inch be too big for the closer viewing positions? not sure how much i will be using the screen for computing, but it would be nice to know i could browse some forums without going down to my pc. :)
 
persisting1 said:
What is your room environment (is there a lot of natural light, bright lighting)?
Click to expand...

well there is one big 5 pane window one one side of the room, but there is vertical shades that can block out almost all light if needed. not a whole lot of bright lighting, we could actually use a couple of lamps. i should snap a pic of the room for you guys to see.
 
With your room size and budget, I suggest either DLP RPTV or a projector. My dad has a 46" 1080p LCD and at 10 feet back I feel he could move it (the couch) about 3 feet forward for the best effect.

The chart linked to below recommends 6 feet for 1080p material on a 46" display


walwalka said:
Best rule of thumb on size is 3 inches for every foot, so 25FT is 75" which is huge so in your case at 1000 dollars I would go with the DLP as far as size goes.
Click to expand...

That rule of thumb is terrible. For a 10 foot viewing distance you suggest a 30" tv?

Here is a good article on optimal viewing distances:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/hitech/1137/maxing-out-resolution.html
 
hmm, cool graphs. im wondering how crappy the picture will look while sitting at the closer viewing positions, while watching something in standard def? will a 60 inch be too big? how about when we are playing the wii, will the picture look all right while standing a bit closer, say about 8-10 feet? i have no experience with such a large tv so i really do not know these things. thanks for all the help!
 
Veedo said:
hmm, cool graphs. im wondering how crappy the picture will look while sitting at the closer viewing positions, while watching something in standard def?
Click to expand...

I think you will have to think about that the most. Lets take a 60" display for example. According to that chart, 1080P material would look best at around eight feet back on a 60" display. Yet, if you were to watch DVDs on that display, twenty one feet is the optimal distance. That is a very big difference.

As to how crappy the picture would look, maybe you could try to watch some sd broadcasts or dvds at a local electronics store on a 60". That way, you will know how it looks to YOU.

Are you considering front projectors at all? Looks like a 1280x720 projector would work well in your setup. 80" screen at about sixteen feet back would look really nice. Looks like good projectors of that resolution/price range could handle somewhere close to a 100" screen if you wanted (in a room with good lighting control). SD shouldn't look as bad on them also (compared to a 1080P display)
 
and as to your question about displaying text from a PC

All those displays will work well. However, the resolution and distance matter more than anything for readability. On my dad's 46" (1080P), ten feet is too far away. I can read text but at standard settings (not using scalers) it is VERY difficult to read at that distance. Six feet works well for me. Of course a 60" at 1080P could be used farther away. And you could also scale the text larger (control + and - on Firefox for example) but then other things like desktop icons would still be small and if you make those larger (at least using Windows built in option) they are not proportionate and look crappy.

Another reason to consider 1280x720 (lower resolution can be read easier at the same distance) and a larger screen.
 
hmm i may have to run to town and check out some displays in person. i have not really thought about a projector. i guess they would be a bit more work to set up? have any links to a decent projector i could check out? im sort of leaning towards a 60ish inch dlp, maybe even an led dlp. i wish i could set each one up in my living room and see what i liked best :D
 
my couch is about 11 ft from my 50" rp lcd. you could easily go another 2 inches. the 52 is the best bang for the buck in any store i know of. 60 i think would be pushing it a little, although a friend of mine has an older 65" bigscreen hitachi in hte same kinda house...wow its big but you get used to the screen size pretty quick. if you get a 46 i guarantee you you will be kiucking yourself for not getting a larger size.
 
Some good 1280x720 projectors are

Sanyo PLV-Z60
Epson Cinema 720
Panasonic PT-AX200U

Check out www.projectorcentral.com and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

You should think about what source material you will be using and how that might change in the future (bluray, vs wii vs whatever) and about how far back you want to be from the display. AFTER that, then think about what kind of tv you want that would be the best under those conditions
 
the way i see it, get the highest resolution display you can afford for the display size you want. if you base your decision on the maximum distance you will be viewing the picture from, you would be making a mistake. you should base your decision on the minimum distance you would ever possibly want to view the picture from.

for instance, if you base your purchase decision to buy a 720p 60" display because your normal viewing distance **right now** is 15ft away, that's fine for when you are 15ft away. but what happens if you move to a different location (or even just rearrange furniture), and you're limited to viewing the picture at only 8ft away? you'd need a 1080i/p display to get the best picture quality out of it.

here's what i'd do:

1) take measurements for any/all locations you may ever want to place the TV, so you can find the maximum size TV you would be able to fit in any of those locations, and write down the dimensions for the smallest of those spaces. this will give you the maximum size display you should look at.

2) set yourself a budget on how much you are willing to spend on a TV (if cost is a factor...but it usually is).

3) look at multiple different makes/models of the largest TV's that will fit within your space/budget constraints, and compare the resolution/display size with the size charts to make sure they will work within your minimum viewing distance.

4) buy the one with the best combination of highest resolution/overall viewable screen area that has all the features/connections you want.

honestly, at this point in the game, i personally wouldn't consider anything less than 1080 resolution, regardless of the size....even though given your space constraints, a 1080 resolution may be overkill, it certainly won't take anything away from the quality of the picture, and you've *somewhat* future-proofed yourself should your space contraints ever change.

basically, the closer you sit to the TV, the higher resolution you're gonna want.
 
Owning DLP's and LCD's.. I have to say for sure a DLP. The color and contrast is just amazing. The rainbow effect and lamp issues has since been eliminated on the new Samsung LED DLP units. Even if something breaks, you can practically swap out the entire set of components within a DLP for pretty darn cheap. Replacement parts are plentiful and its easy to do yourself. With an LCD, you're pretty much stuck if something dies. With the DLP, you'll get much more TV for your money, and probably better longevity. The only issue with DLP's + computer use is some overscan, but you can fix that very easily with Nvidia's or ATI's drivers through scaling. Fine text (under 12pt font) will be slightly fuzzy, but it isn't anything bad. If you're viewing at anything beyond a few feet away, you won't even see it. As far as viewing angles go, I find my 2nd gen Samsung DLP looks good from up to maybe 150 degrees of viewing angle. It isn't near as bad as people say on the internet. From where your chairs/couches are, you wouldn't notice any degradation in picture or brightness. For movies and sports, DLP all the way. For strict computer use, LCD is the way to go. For HTPC movie viewing, I still say DLP though. Oh, I have some experience with projectors as well, and I really wouldn't recommend it for your room. It looks far too bright in there and possibly the center of the house where people are coming in and out. For projectors, you really want to have a dark room for optimal viewing. Any bit of light just destroys the blacks and in general, entire way the color gamut appears.
 
decisions decisions. i think i pretty much ruled out the projector. i am not sure i want to deal with all the setting up, yadda yadda. i have doing some research on the samsung HL61A750 LED dlp screen.

its on ebay right now for about 1500 shipped, then add in the microsoft cashback, so really its about 1300. then i need a stand lol.

i pretty much had a 1080p display set in my head, so yes xxanaxx, i surely will go 1080p. rogue, i too think i will regret going with a 46 inch screen, although you are right, a nice 52 inch lcd might also fit the bill. killa, i could be completely wrong, but i sort of ruled out plasma due to burn in issues.

hmm what would you guys rather have, a 52 inch lcd or a 60 inch LED DLP? i think they may be around the same price. wish i knew what the prices were going to do in the next couple weeks. i would like to have a screen a little before christmas, so i guess i have some time. hopefully a deal pops up soon. if you guys find anything, let me know! thanks again for the help guys, keep the input coming :D
 
If both the 52/60 inch displays are going to be within $200 or so of each other, definitely go with the bigger size. With the viewing distances you have, people in the back will be thanking you. It will especially be better for computer use so you can see smaller text easier. If you went with the LED DLP, I can almost guarantee you'll have no disappointments. They're an amazing TV for the money you spend.
 
I picked up a 65" Mitsubishi DLP for $1500 last year and I love the size. AMF, I'm so used to now, I'm hard pressed to impress unless u show me a 100" LCD or something crazy. The point is, though LCD/Plasma are cheap, you get so much more for your money w/DLP. DLPs are getting crazy thin as well. The only con is side viewing at extremes but I suspect at the extremes I'm talking, I'd have a hard time viewing an LCD too--just a little harder w/DLP.

Also, gaming is so good on our 360/ps3.
 
Go for DLP. And almost always go bigger than you originally think you need because you'll regret it otherwise.
 
chrisman17 said:
I love my sony bravia 50" SXRD, which I guess is like DLP....
Click to expand...

It's sort of a hybrid between DLP and LCD. It's good, too. I prefer DLP but LCoS (SXRD and D-ILA) have their benefits. LCD does not have any benefits over them other than being wall mountable, which IMO is a moot point unless you have in-wall speakers and hide your receiver and other equipment.
 
i just thought of another reason projector will not work for me. when we are standing in the middle of the room playing the wii, we will block the picture, no?
 
Veedo said:
i just thought of another reason projector will not work for me. when we are standing in the middle of the room playing the wii, we will block the picture, no?
Click to expand...

Depends. If you ceiling mount it, then depending on the throw of the projector and where you stand, maybe not. A short throw projector would be best for that.
 
I would scratch the projector right off the list. Unless that wall with the window is north facing those blind will still let in too much light to make normal TV watching good (IMO). For a room that big a 60" DLP should be perfect. I used to hate DLPs but some of the new one have impressed me. My friend just got a 42" LCD and at 9ft viewing I feel it is a little small but still great. Because of that I just bought a 52" LCD because I sit about 11ft away.

You should go into town and really look at some TVs in person. Bring a tape measurer and keep in mind that TV's feel smaller in the big store enviroment. I can stare at a 52" all day in the store and not feel it is large but I know it will look huge once it is in my apartment.
 
better colors, and you can go huge for much less money.... DLP all the way.
 
Honestly, DLP or LCD You have to remember that you are going with something that is already much bigger then what you have. So you will enjoy the size difference even if it's a 37" LCD. The main thing is, go to Bestbuy or a place like that, and stand in front of their TVs at the ranges someone would be watching at your place. And see which ones you like the most. Then decide LCD or DLP.

Both of them have their pros and cons. DLP has a better image quality, but LCD can be mounted on a wall and technically take up less space. You could mount the LCD higher on that wall to allow for more visibility since your 2 front lazyboy chairs might get in the way.
 
Personally I have an LCD (46" Sammy 550 series) and its great, BUT...

When I was at costco a few weeks ago i saw a 60" Sammy 700 series LED DLP and was struck pretty hard. I know the lighting is nuts in costco but I'm pretty sure the black were way better and its 120hz and its got a tiny bezel and its LED AND is almost the same I paid for my LCD 2 months ago.

The only thing that keeps me from crying whenever I think about it is that i used the TV for managing my media center (downloading torrents, extracting rars, moving folders around ect.) and I gotta say with 120dpi in Vista its a pleasure to read.

However once I move into a bigger place and move my file server duties off my HTPC onto a dedicated server, the LCD is going to in my bedroom and I'll be getting a LED DLP for dedicated home theater, unless OLED or something better is out by then. Unless I can convince my roommate to buy me out (we went splitsies.) I got my fingers crossed on that ;)
 
I have a ceiling mounted panasonic projector. Works great. It's only 720p too but the picture is amazing.
 
Verge said:
Those windows are too big for a projector.
Click to expand...

You can get blackout blinds or draps or both. I have windows right in my room with my projector but I also have some blackout blinds AND drapes.
And projectors are brighter now than they used to be.
 
Archer75 said:
And projectors are brighter now than they used to be.
Click to expand...
No. It all depends on the lumen rating. Also, any bit of light in the room just kills the color/contrast/blacks. When you look at the cost of high rated lumen 1080p projectors, it makes much more sense to go with a DLP.
 
w1retap said:
No. It all depends on the lumen rating. Also, any bit of light in the room just kills the color/contrast/blacks. When you look at the cost of high rated lumen 1080p projectors, it makes much more sense to go with a DLP.
Click to expand...

And the lumen ratings are higher now than they used to be. I own a projector. I know about their limitations.
The current 720p panasonic goes for $999, I have the previous model of this and use it for regular TV viewing. Even with all the lights on in the back of the room it still looks good.
 
It's all relative to lumen rating as I said before. Some manufacturers have stepped up their base model ratings, some haven't.

And with lights on in the room, the blacks are going to suck. There's no prancing around the issue. Light on a screen/wall/etc makes blacks into grays or worse.
 
w1retap said:
It's all relative to lumen rating as I said before. Some manufacturers have stepped up their base model ratings, some haven't.

And with lights on in the room, the blacks are going to suck. There's no prancing around the issue. Light on a screen/wall/etc makes blacks into grays or worse.
Click to expand...

As I said before, blackout blinds. Drapes. They will do wonders. I have this very setup and blacks and colors are just fine. We have a kitchen in the back of our living room, even with full lights on in the kitchen the image on the screen is fine.
And the blackout blinds prevent direct light on the screen.
 
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