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[AtomicShroom]

I'm looking to buy a HDTV soon in order to get ready for next-gen consoles and I've got a few questions. There's so much info out there (and some not being up to date), that I thought asking you guys would be quicker and simpler.

1. I'm really on the fence about what technology to go with. They all seem to have advantages and disadvantages.
2. What brand? Sony seems to have a reputation for making stuff that breaks, yet their TVs are said to be the best in terms of image quality/features.
3. Lots of people seem to be raving about DLP TVs. What's so great about them? Do they have any cons?
4. Do recent LCD TVs still have suffer from ghosting effects? Grey blacks?
5. Assuming I'm running games at 720p, will there be any noticeable difference (and really, I mean to the naked eye) between using DVI and Component cables (assuming there's minimal interference and signal loss).

I'd be ready to spend about $3000 CDN (tax included) max for a TV in the 36" to 42" range. What would you recommend?

Thanks much gaffers!

 

[Buggy Loop]

Best option is to go at the store yourself and see the difference

Myself i went with a sony grand wega 42" LCD and im really happy with my purchase, the image quality is insane and i know it will never suffer from burns. The contrast is superb but like all LCD, black level is not perfect, its mostly noticable when your room is fully dark (which is not recommended for any HT anyway) and the scene is mostly dark, but its not like "omg yuk i cant stand this black", but of course, that depends on peoples. If there's light in your room, you'll have near perfect darkness in your image.

I dont even notice the latency anymore on mine, and i've heard that sony's new grand wega have an even lower latency, like 3ms.

 

[Oracle Dragon]

Honestly I would recommended you DON'T buy one. Not just yet. Unless you feel you would get a lot of movie watching use out of it. The big problem is that unless you are primarily an Xbox gamer, non-progressive scan games look WORSE on it than on a regular TV (IMO). So Basically you would have a very expensive TV that makes your games look worse.

By contrast, if you wait until the HD consoles are actually here, the worst thing that is going to happen is that you will save some money, since the prices of these things keep dropping like crazy. Best case scenario is that a new model with some great new features comes out, and you get that instead.

Basically, in my experience I have found it to be better to buy what you need when you need it. Otherwise you can get really burnt. Especially if your going to buy something like the PS3... its just too volatile at this time. It wouldn't be very fun to be regretting your TV purchase when the PS3 comes out, because you would have liked a newer model that was out at the time that offered superior gaming performance.

 

[pestul]

Honestly I would recommended you DON'T buy one. Not just yet. Unless you feel you would get a lot of movie watching use out of it. The big problem is that unless you are primarily an Xbox gamer, non-progressive scan games look WORSE on it than on a regular TV (IMO). So Basically you would have a very expensive TV that makes your games look worse.

By contrast, if you wait until the HD consoles are actually here, the worst thing that is going to happen is that you will save some money, since the prices of these things keep dropping like crazy. Best case scenario is that a new model with some great new features comes out, and you get that instead.

Basically, in my experience I have found it to be better to buy what you need when you need it. Otherwise you can get really burnt. Especially if your going to buy something like the PS3... its just too volatile at this time. It wouldn't be very fun to be regretting your TV purchase when the PS3 comes out, because you would have liked a newer model that was out at the time that offered superior gaming performance.

This is a very intelligent post. You need to evaluate what HDTV would mean to you right now.

 

[AtomicShroom]

Basically, in my experience I have found it to be better to buy what you need when you need it. Otherwise you can get really burnt. Especially if your going to buy something like the PS3... its just too volatile at this time. It wouldn't be very fun to be regretting your TV purchase when the PS3 comes out, because you would have liked a newer model that was out at the time that offered superior gaming performance.

Yeah I was kinda wondering that too. In the 6 months between now and Xbox 360's release, do you think there will be significant price drops or better models available? Does it go that fast? Of course I can always get a cheaper HDTV now and get a better, more expensive one later down the line when the new consoles are out in full force.

This is a very intelligent post. You need to evaluate what HDTV would mean to you right now.

Yeah I wouldn't really have a use for one *right now*, except maybe getting my current games to run in progressive scan. But then that would look like a pixelated mess. I guess I'll wait.

 

[hooo]

By the time of the 360's release most of the new models should be out. Round here, there are BIG HUGE UNBELIEVABLE tv sales left and right to try and get rid of stock for the new stuff. If you're waiting on the 360, wait on the TV too. That way you can also catch the christmas sales when you're shopping.

 

[ChrisReid]

I'm looking to buy a HDTV soon in order to get ready for next-gen consoles and I've got a few questions. There's so much info out there (and some not being up to date), that I thought asking you guys would be quicker and simpler.

1. I'm really on the fence about what technology to go with. They all seem to have advantages and disadvantages.
2. What brand? Sony seems to have a reputation for making stuff that breaks, yet their TVs are said to be the best in terms of image quality/features.
3. Lots of people seem to be raving about DLP TVs. What's so great about them? Do they have any cons?
4. Do recent LCD TVs still have suffer from ghosting effects? Grey blacks?
5. Assuming I'm running games at 720p, will there be any noticeable difference (and really, I mean to the naked eye) between using DVI and Component cables (assuming there's minimal interference and signal loss).

I'd be ready to spend about $3000 CDN (tax included) max for a TV in the 36" to 42" range. What would you recommend?

1) I'd recommend DLP. Great picture quality versus size and price, and zero chance of burn in. On the other end of the spectrum, you've got LCD and Plasma with brighter pictures, but which cost more and are susceptible to burn in.
2) Sony is okay.. I'd recommend Toshiba or Panasonic as well. Samsung isn't bad.
3) DLP tvs are projection tvs, so they won't be as bright or have as great a viewing angle as some technologies, but they don't even compare to old style projection tvs. The image quality is very good and they're all native 720p. Because of how the color is transmitted to the screen, some people can see a tiny rainbow effect for a fraction of a second when very darks and very lights combine.
4) Depends on the quality of the LCD tv you get.
5) For tvs, you're looking at HDMI pretty much. I expect the new systems will all support that, and most new tvs will have an HDMI plug. For your price range, you might be able to get something even larger if you shop around.

 

[scissorfight]

Because of how the color is transmitted to the screen, some people can see a tiny rainbow effect for a fraction of a second when very darks and very lights combine.

Just as a warning to any HDTV buyers, the 'rainbow effect' is "tiny" to some and absolutely deal-breaking to others (me). I'd recommend you go watch 30+ minutes of HDTV on a DLP, preferrably some that includes dark scenes to see if you're susceptible to it. You will either see rainbows of light (like light through a prism) on dark scenes with motion, or you may get headaches after viewing. If you notice neither you should probbaly be ok.

Either way I'd recommend purchasing a DLP from somewhere like Best Buy that has a 30-day no questions return policy. Some people on AVSforum claim they never had problems with DLP viewing until a week or two after it was in their home...others had no problems at all but claim the sets gave their spouses headaches.

I'm personally leaning towards the new JVC 61" LCoS set...it seems to be the best gaming set around after weighing all the technology's pros and cons.

 

[mrklaw]

3. Lots of people seem to be raving about DLP TVs. What's so great about them? Do they have any cons?
Generally the same as LCD, but better contrast. Beware the rainbows though. Sometimes if you scan left/right quickly you will see flashes of colour. Not everyone sees this, but its worth having a look at a set in a store and pretending to 'read' it, flicking your eyes back and forth.

4. Do recent LCD TVs still have suffer from ghosting effects? Grey blacks?
Not really. 16ms sets are fine for 60fps, so all console games. Grey blacks - a little, but improving all the time. Newer generally =better.

5. Assuming I'm running games at 720p, will there be any noticeable difference (and really, I mean to the naked eye) between using DVI and Component cables (assuming there's minimal interference and signal loss).
Not really. Except for PS3 which might not even let you use component for movies due to copy protection. If you are thinking that bluray or HD movies are something you'd watch in the lifetime of your set, get a HDCP compatible set with HDMI inputs.

 

[Oracle Dragon]

1) I'd recommend DLP. Great picture quality versus size and price, and zero chance of burn in. On the other end of the spectrum, you've got LCD and Plasma with brighter pictures, but which cost more and are susceptible to burn in.
2) Sony is okay.. I'd recommend Toshiba or Panasonic as well. Samsung isn't bad.
3) DLP tvs are projection tvs, so they won't be as bright or have as great a viewing angle as some technologies, but they don't even compare to old style projection tvs. The image quality is very good and they're all native 720p. Because of how the color is transmitted to the screen, some people can see a tiny rainbow effect for a fraction of a second when very darks and very lights combine.
4) Depends on the quality of the LCD tv you get.
5) For tvs, you're looking at HDMI pretty much. I expect the new systems will all support that, and most new tvs will have an HDMI plug. For your price range, you might be able to get something even larger if you shop around.

Your right on the money, except that LCD's don't suffer from burn in. Plasma definitly does, but LCD is safe. Otherwise everyone with a new PC would have a Windows start bar burned into it in no time

 

[ChrisReid]

Your right on the money, except that LCD's don't suffer from burn in. Plasma definitly does, but LCD is safe. Otherwise everyone with a new PC would have a Windows start bar burned into it in no time

That's one of the reasons I mentioned LCDs. It's different from old style CRT burn in perhaps, but you can develop light and dark patches (dark over the start bar, etc). One of my friends runs some fairly new LCDs for multi monitor, and one of them is permanently set to mirc. He's got burned in stripes exactly over where the window headers are.

 

[teiresias]

I really like DLP rear-projection televisions. However, I can't stand front-projection DLP projectors because I see rainbows like crazy on them. i have no idea why I see them so easily on regular DLP front-projectors and not on the rear-projection variety.

In any case I cannot stand plasma TV's, I can see the pixel structure like crazy in them and I've generally just not really liked the "look" of plasma televisions, too digital-looking for my tastes (odd considering I don't generally have the same issue with LCD projectors).

 

[Marty Chinn]

One thing to note is that Samsung DLPs, at least last year models had problems with lag on the display of non progressive scan games. I'm sure its better now, but one of the reasons I went with LCD Projection over DLP is that DLP didn't handle Standard Definition games well ranging from the lag in the display to just pure visual quality. Sony's Grand Wega stomps all over a Samsung DLP when it comes to non HD content. The line doubler is pretty good in the Grand Wega that the difference in progressive scan and non progressive scan is barely noticeable. So ya, if you're going all HD, then a DLP might be a good choice but if you still have plenty of SD content, you might want to rethink it.

 

[Kleegamefan]

I just made a Motorola NED thread, which might be of intrest to some of you...

 

[NohWun]

HDTVs are very much a moving target these days. Technology is moving quickly on all fronts - LCD, Plasma, DLP, and others.

LCDs can achieve brighter images vs. plasma sets, but plasmas can achieve darker blacks. If you're going to use the set in a room with lots of light, LCD is better; otherwise plasma.

Projection sets usually always have poorer uniformity vs. viewing position. However, new screen materials are solving this problem. As mentioned, a DLP set usually has a color wheel in it to do "field-sequential color", so this can lead to a rainbow effect if you blink your eyes or quickly look across the screen. It's most noticeable with white objects on a black background (like credits).

If I had to get a set now, I'd get something relatively cheap. The high end is going to change a lot in a year's time.

 

[Gamedude]

Projection sets usually always have poorer uniformity vs. viewing position. However, new screen materials are solving this problem

hmm what do you mean? I kinda don't understand what you're talking about.

 

[NohWun]

Oh, and LCD's can get a sort of "burn-in" as well.

The liquid crystal material contains some ions (charged particles), and certain displayed signals can cause the ions to migrate to the front or back of the screen. When the ions (having the same charge) all go to one side like this, they can create an electric field that affects the LCD material, causing the pixel to brighten or darken.

A static image normally can't cause this effect, since the set is designed to keep the ions moving around. However, certain interlaced images wherein each field differs in a certain way can cause a problem. Usually, the effect can go away, provided that the "bad" image is no longer displayed for a while.

A technique for preventing this problem was presented at a technical conference this past week.

 

[NohWun]

hmm what do you mean? I kinda don't understand what you're talking about.

If you've walked around in front of a projection TV, you'll notice the image become brighter and darker as you change position. It's brightest when you're looking from the middle, and darker as you move to one side (or from higher or lower).

In fact, in some positions, you'll notice a brighter circle in the middle of the image while the corners are darker. This latter effect may be hard to notice unless you are looking at an image that is all one color.

 

[TheDuce22]

I have a DLP projector and for the first few months I had a problem with the rainbow effect but over time it faded to where its no longer noticable. I dont know if your eyes adjust or what. Its much less of a problem on newer models though.

 

[Gamedude]

If you've walked around in front of a projection TV, you'll notice the image become brighter and darker as you change position. It's brightest when you're looking from the middle, and darker as you move to one side (or from higher or lower).

In fact, in some positions, you'll notice a brighter circle in the middle of the image while the corners are darker. This latter effect may be hard to notice unless you are looking at an image that is all one color.

but.. you are not talking about projectors on a wall/screen right? you are talking about TV's who have a projected technique inside?

 

[acidviper]

I recommend going down to Future Shop with your console and playing a few games to see which tv you like the best.

 

[CurseoftheGods]

I recommend going down to Future Shop with your console and playing a few games to see which tv you like the best.

That's what I did a couple of days ago. The picture quality on the 50" Samsung DLP pedestal model was amazing.

 

[NohWun]

but.. you are not talking about projectors on a wall/screen right? you are talking about TV's who have a projected technique inside?

It depends upon what you use for a screen. If the material is very diffuse, you won't have the problem so much. If the screen has a directional reflection characteristic (ie, more light is reflected to the front than to the side), then you can see it.