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[Joe]

the only real differences i know of is that lcd is brighter, while dlp is darker and has a higher refresh rate.

i'd really like to know the pro's and con's of each and which one you like more and why?

also, if someone could briefly/simply explain the technology behind both, that would be great too.

 

[Vark]

rear or front projector?

 

[Joe]

rear

 

[Vark]

general explaination since the base ideas are the same:

DLP

a DLP 'chip' is actually a sheet of tiny mirrors (thousands of them) a light shines at them and they reflect it towards the lens. The individual mirrors can pivot (each mirror is a pixel basically) and can turn away from the lens, or towards it (pixel on or off).

Color is generated by a color wheel with a red, green and blue section that rotates at a high speed. it flashes the red part of the image, then the green, then the blue, then the red, etc, etc, etc.

The major downside to DLP's is since they can only ever display one color at a time (unless its a really expensive unit which has 3 seperate 'chips', one for each color) is that it will 'rainbow'. If something moves across the screen quickly you'll see the individual seperated colors trail behind it.

LCD technology works by passing light through 3 glass panels. A red, a green and a blue. Each panel can turn on and off the pixels to either permit or block light. Older units would have whats called a 'screen door' effect where you could see empty spaces between pixels when you got real close to the image and its like looking through the wire mesh of a screen door.

DLP's tend to be lighter, LCD's a little weightier, but LCD's can have a shorter throw for front projection. Older LCD's can 'trail' an image but are brighter, DLP's have slightly better contrast.

 

[Vark]

For RP i'd go with a DLP unit hands down, PROVIDING the rainbow effect doesn't bother you. Go to a real store (not best buy, you need a store that specializes in home theater and actually cares enough to have their display units calibrated) and if its for games, take a console with you and ask them to hook it up. If you don't notice the rainbow effect you'll be fine, if it bothers you, steer clear.

Personally if you don't need it right away, i'd wait for the CNT stuff to hit as its going to play all sorts of fun games with prices.

 

[mrklaw]

yeah, DLPs potential contrast and brightness benefits really pay off in a Rear projection. But be careful of the rainbows, as Vark mentioned. Also consider who else will watch the TV a lot and take them with you. Some are really affected by it, some don't see anything.

For Front projection, its much less clear cut. Reviewers still generaly favour DLP, but I like LCD. I don't know if I'm susceptible to rainbows, but my family or visitors might be, so I feel safer with LCD. And LCD brightness and contrast is much better these days. I still have a crappy PTAE100 from abouit 4year ago, and its still amazing to me, so I'm looking forward to upgrading when cheap 1080p native panels come out in a couple of years.