HDTV Forum

I need a honest unbias opinon on which is better day in day out DLP or LCD.

There is no simple answer.

I prefer DLP hands down. With LCD I tend to see motion blur and the screen door effect and it drives me nuts. Others may have similar issues with DLP. Although the latest of both these technologies seems to have improved on all of these issues.

Bottom line - go find one of each and watch it for 10-15 minutes. The only thing that matters is what you prefer. It's your money.

As far as nature of the beast... LCD projection uses transmissive LCD technology which is actually outdated. Yes, there have been big improvements but you can't overcome the nature of the beast. LCD requires the light path be cooled and that means filters need to be kept clean. Even then, that won't stop candle soot or tobacco smoke from being drawn into and through the light path. LCoS and variations there of, SXRD and DiLA, also require light path cooling. Some have had to replace very expensive light engines due to either the filters not getting cleaned causing a melt down or getting deposits of dirt and debri on the panels which shows up on screen.

DLP is the only MD technology that does not require this; the light path is sealed.

Nice to see factual information to help users make an intelligent buying decision.

I recently bought a new Samsung 46" LCD and struggled with the same question. I read all about both and spent time at the big box stores looking at both. Having just watched the NBA finals in over-the-air HD, I noticed NO blurring during fast action, so I'd say that the latest fast-response LCDs have that issue under control. Since the big box stores have all their DLP sets in subdued lighting situations, I'd guess that DLP might not be as good as LCD if you have a bright viewing room as I do. I also noted that the viewing angle on my Samsung was much wider than that of the DLP sets I saw. I finally took my wife to Best Buy and we looked at DLP, LCD and Plasma sets for a while before she told me that, clearly, the LCD sets had the superior picture. One other point: if you do have a bright viewing room or have lamps in the room while the TV is on, I'd advise against the shiny surfaced screens on some of the more expensive LCD sets. My Samsung has the matt finish screen, and we see NO reflections at all from windows or lamps.

There have also been multiple reports from owners on AVS Forum of dust particles becoming lodged in the light path of LCD and LCoS projectors (both front and rear projection). This results in blurry blobs in the image.

Another shortcoming of these 3-chip devices is chip misallignment from the factory. This results in color fringing of edges in the image and compromised sharpness. Single-chip DLP, by it's nature, will never have this problem.

Certain DLP projection displays uniquely allow for precise color management that provides very nearly perfect color primaries. LCD and LCoS displays have notoriously oversaturated, inaccurate, green primaries, and frequently oversaturate the red and/or blue as well. These devices can offer a decent gray scale, but as one moves outward in color space, toward more vivid coloration in an image, image fidelity will increasingly suffer. This is seen in any display type that does not provide effective color management, or accurate color from the start.

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
www.cinemaquestinc.com

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

[email protected] wrote:I recently bought a new Samsung 46" LCD... we looked at DLP, LCD and Plasma sets for a while before she told me that, clearly, the LCD sets had the superior picture.

Appreciate the input although I am not sure what comparison TimH was eluding too. Seems most of us rightly assumed he was comparing projection technologies since DLP does not come in a flat panel. That said, I hear there will be some DLP product released by well established manufacturers towards the end of the year roughly twice as thick as LCD and Plasma flat panel technology. This should not be mistaken as an endorsement of that application; just sharing some tech news.

I have yet to see one of these extra-slim RPTV displays that does not have noticeable geometric distortion. This is due to the extremely short light path and reflection angles demanded by the constrained depth. Most obnoxious is the obvious bow along the top of the image with Cinemascope films. Look before you buy.

One comment, the danger of viewing different TV's in the "Big Box" stores is that they have no concept of how to set up a TV for optimal viewing. Typically, the TV's are brighter than recommended, which makes them appear better over the short term. However, viewing this picture setting over the long term would prove to be tiring and untrue to the eye. That is one of the reasons it costs more to buy from a dedicated small electronics shop, where you can view the best picture setting and compare the difference.

I would prefer the DLP. My lamp has lasted about 7000 hours(nearly 3 years) and I just replaced it for $200. Now I have a new TV. It is also calibrated(or was with the old bulb), and I have never seen a display anywhere-store, home or hotel, that could beat my 61" Samsung DLP for a great picture. But, results may vary.