Which TV?

"What TV should I buy?" or "What's the real difference in all of these TV types?"

Those are the questions I get asked most often. There is an answer, but it's probably different for each person. Let's start with the second question - what are the differences in the TV types.

Note that there are actually 5 different TV technologies in use today.

Just a few years ago, the only type of TV you could get was a CRT-based set, also known as a "tube TV". Nice picture, easy to use, and everyone had one (or two, or three...). They were pretty reliable, but very heavy, especially in the larger sizes, and they took up a very large chunk of your room. Many people bought expensive furniture to house these TVs - partly people wanted to hide some of the size and aesthetics of these large electronic boxes. You can still get them, and they are pretty cheap compared to the newer types of TVs. But they're still very huge for a relatively small picture size, and they are still very, very heavy.

Recognizing the desire for larger TV sizes, especially for watching movies and sports, manufacturers started coming out with Rear-projection TVs and Front-projectors. Initially, these were both CRT-based also, but since they projected on a separate screen, the actual size and weight didn't go up as much for the larger sizes. Still very heavy, though. Good front projectors were coffee-table sized, and sat in the middle of your room! Smaller ceiling-mounted projectors were available, but they were also very heavy - you wanted to be certain the projector was mounted securely! Rear projectors had flat screens, and were typically up to 50 inches or so. Compared to the 30-37" screen sizes of the largest CRTs, that was pretty good.

Then came the flat panels. You probably first saw flat panels in computers - my first one was on a laptop. The technology was developed initially to make the computer portable! Then came flat panels for desktop computers - taking up a lot less desk space was well worth the extra money you spent on an LCD display for your computer.

Over the last few years, two types of flat panels have emerged for home entertainment use. When I talk about flat panels here, I'm talking about a screen that's flat, and is only about 3-6 inches deep, regardless of the screen size. These panels fit very well in almost any room and can be mounted on a wall to save even more space.

LCDs, similar to the LCDs used for computer screens, are generally higher resolution (they have more pixels, so they can show more detail), and they tend to be somewhat smaller than their Plasma cousins. But still, 40" LCDs are common today - not bad compared to the largest CRTs of just a few years ago!

Plasmas are also flat panels. Because of the technology and manufacturing process, plasma TVs are more cost effective in the larger sizes. Typical sizes run up to over 60", with the very largest available plasmas coming in at 103"! Originally, plasmas had a lower resolution for the same screen size (720p), but recent plasma entries are up to 1080p, the same as LCDs.

Note that plasma TVs have a glass viewing area, and so are more subject to glare than LCDs, which have a plastic viewing area. Recent plasmas have an anti-glare coating which helps somewhat. On the other hand, plasmas can generate deeper blacks and richer color depth, and have a wider viewing angle than LCDs. Ultimately, which panel is best depends on your viewing habits and room conditions.

Rear-projection TVs no longer use a CRT to generate the picture - they use either a small LCD panel or a mirror panel called a DLP. Either way, the picture generation unit is much lighter than a CRT, and the entire unit can be made thinner and lighter. Current rear projection TVs are as little as 11" thick, compared to up to 2" for an older CRT-based unit (and compared to 3-5" for a panel TV). Rear-projection TVs are less expensive than either LCD or Plasma TVs for the same size, but can't produce the same black levels and color richness. They also have a relatively narrow viewing angle - if you look at them from a 45 degree angle or greater, the picture will be noticeably darker.

Front projectors these days can either sit on a table top or be mounted to the ceiling. You still need a screen, and the prices of both screens and projectors range from pretty inexpensive to wildly expensive, depending on the features and resolution you want. You have the ability to customize your screen size and resolution for your own room and viewing pleasure, and you can get as big as you like. Front projectors typically work best in a room where the light can be well controlled. But you can get a really, really big screen, so if you want a true theater experience, this may be your best bet!

Still not sure what's right for you? Give us a call here at Inspired Electronics, Inc., and we'll be glad to provide a free in-home consultation to help you decide what's best for you!

- Rob