Television Picture Quality

Q. What type of TV gives you the best picture quality? Is it DLP, LCD, LCD rear projection, or Plasma?

A. CRT-based RPTVs
Advantages:
Least expensive per inch (available in sizes 40" - 80").
Easily repairable.
Excellent color rendition, including blacks.
"Known quantity" for many years.
Disadvantages:
Requires initial and periodic convergence and setup.
Large, "ugly" black box that takes up floor space.
Susceptible to burn in, if not properly set up and operated.
There are no CRT-based RPTVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P, depending on the set.

Direct View HDTV's (Tube TVs)
Advantages:
Smaller size for some smaller rooms/entertainment centers (maximum size 40").
No need for convergence.
Better vertical viewing angle than RPTVs.
Disadvantages:
If tube goes bad, repair cost is exorbitant - equivalent to cost of new TV.
Horizontal resolution typically 700-1000 lines max (100-400 lines less than RPTVs depending on model).
Can burn in if not properly set up and operated. Very heavy in larger sizes.
There are no "consumer" Direct View TVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P, depending on the set.

LCD-based RPTVs
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size.
High resolution - 720P (actually typically 768/788P) (720P is considered by many to be superior to 1080i, hence the higher price for these sets).
No need for convergence.
Less sensitive to burn in than CRTs, but still some grayscale degradation possible if abused.
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about two years - $200-$400.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV.
Doesn't display blacks as well as CRTs.

DLP-based RPTVs
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size.
High resolution - 720P (720P is considered by many to be superior to 1080i, hence the higher price for these sets) No need for convergence.
No possibility of burn in.
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about two years - ~$200-$400.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV.
Doesn't display blacks as well as CRTs. May have "rainbow" effect.

Plasma
Plasmas are nice, but too many have a shiny protective screen that reflects terribly. I installed a Dish net HD receiver for a plasma set a while back and the reflections were horrible. LCD, per sq. inch, is more expensive than plasma. And no one for sure can say exactly how long they will last. ,
Advantages:
Sexy, thin, can hang on the wall.
Available in sizes to 63" (expensive). Very expensive 70-80" units have been announced recently.
Excellent resolution 768P is typical.
Disadvantages:
Expensive.
Does not display blacks as well as CRTs. Some very expensive units are better at blacks than the cheap ones.
Susceptible to burn in if not properly set up and operated.
Some have difficulty with multiple inputs.
Be careful - inexpensive plasma displays may be 480P only.

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