Plasma vs DLP (new projection TV)
 

Anyone here own a Plasma screen? Any concerns about the xenon gas and the possibility of the gas escaping and the set being useless? I compared the plasma and the DLP sets side by side and the pictures are both very sweet. If the DLP breaks you replace a light bulb, the plasma is another issue.

I have a DLP. The picture in HiDef is stunning. It's a bit thicker than plasmas, but it still has a slim profile. Unless you're really hung up on having the thing HANG on a wall, the DLP will cost about half of a plasma's price with the same picture quality.

From what I've read, the gas escaping is a myth, it won't happen. However, I do not personally feel the plasma technology warrants the price, unless you just have to have one. The video quality of plasmas do tend to degrade over many hours relative to DLP from what I have heard. I am far from an expert but I've been reading a lot about these technologies myself in anticipation on a new set. For my money, DLP is the way to go...great picture and still a very slim set compared to the rear projection sets. Some people experience what they call a "rainbow" effect when watching DLP...when you move your eyes across the screen rapidly from one side and back some people see artifacts which aside from being annoying, cause headaches. It seems to affect certain people a lot and some (myself) do not notice them....something to keep in mind while shopping. Also, there is a next generation DLP chip set to debut sometime this summer that is rumored to greatly increase the black levels on DLP, something that they have been lacking compared to standard CRT. Good luck

So is it a 'next generation DLP chip' (TI) . . .or an offshore endevor to get around the patents and innovation of the DLP originator, Texas Instruments? ( I've heard the latter is happening . . .don't know about the TI new stuff)

It's a next gen TI chip, there are 3 new chips from TI due out in 2004, at least according to this...



http://www.digiupdate.com/105_DLP_RPTV.html

Excellent article. Thanks, Paul T.

I've got a Samsung DLP. It's pretty incredible. To my untrained eye in the store, it had a better picture than the plasmas it was displayed with.

I've got a 42" Panasonic plasma. I got the ED version. I didn't see the need to spend double on the HD model when I have just a few HD channels available. The picture is fantastic with DVD's and acceptable with my Direct TV feed. DTV has some compression issues which highlight the main problem that plasma screens have - reproducing blacks. I've been very happy with the screen although I'm not what you'd consider an AV buff. The wife wanted it for the living room and it does streamline things and eliminate the need for a huge entertainment center.

All in all I would say to buy one more for looks rather than performance. You can get an as good or better picture for much less money with a regular set. You can check out www.avsforum.com for more info. than you would ever want.

I think the thing to do for DVDs is to use a scart cable connection between the DVD player and the screen, instead of RGB for the picture. Makes a night and day difference, akin to regular broadcast vs. HiDef. Sound is separate either way. The only problem is that a scart cable is ab. $100.