Big Screen TV Deals

OVERVIEW
Rear Projection is the most popular type of widescreen TV due the relative size and price. Essentially, the picture you view is produced by a smaller image projected on to the back of the screen from the inside of the TV. While older rear projection TV’s used traditional glass TV tubes (CRT’s) to project the image on to the TV, most of the new rear projection televisions employ a variety of competing digital projection technologies. These televisions are widely available in sizes ranging from about 42 inches to 70 inches diagonal.

COMPARISON OF REAR PROJECTION TV TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS
This is perhaps the most confusing part of the selection process. There are four major types of rear projection TV. Nearly all new rear projection TV’s are sold in the 16:9 widescreen format and are HDTV ready.

1. CRT Rear Projection
   The oldest and the cheapest available types. CRT Rear Projection TV’s use 3 tubes (a red, green and blue TV Tube) to project a single full color image onto the screen. They are the least expensive route to a large home theater television and can found for $1,000.00-$1,500.00. Of course, they do have a downside. CRT projection TV’s are bulky and can weigh a few hundred pounds. In addition they are subject to a burn-in effect - faint ghost images that can permanently appear on the screen over time. Video game consoles are the biggest burn-in culprits. Lastly, they tend to have highly reflective view screens that can cause an annoying glare especially in brightly lit areas.
2. LCD Rear Projection
   The oldest and most popular of the digital technologies. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Rear Projection TV’s use small LCD flat panels and high intensity lamps to create the picture. The result a large crisp picture in a light weight set that is typically about 12 inches deep. LCD’s tend to have a harder time displaying black and grays, resulting in lower contrast ratios than some of the other technologies, but this has improved dramatically in the last few years. LCD projection televisions are not susceptible to burn-in, but they do gradually lose brightness. Most manufacturers call for periodic bulb replacement and bulb lives are estimated at about 5 years with normal use. Bulbs are currently about $200.00-$300.00, but since many of these TV’s are only a few years old, it is expected that prices will drop once replacements become more common. Prices range from $1,500 to $5,000.
3. DLP Rear Projection
   Digital Light Processing, or DLP, is one of the newer technologies. It was developed by Texas Instruments and is used by many manufacturers. DLP Rear projection TV’s use thousands of micro mirrors on a tiny chip to project an image onto the screen. The result is a large crisp picture on a slim lightweight set. Like LCD projection televisions, DLP televisions are not subject to burn-in, but do need periodic bulb replacement. DLP projection televisions are becoming more popular and sell at prices similar to the LCD projection TV’s - about $1,500-$5,000. The downside? DLP Rear Projection televisions depend on the DLP chip and it’s thousands of tiny moving mirrors. While the technology has thus far proven itself reliable, it is still new. With manufacturer warranties typically only one year, costly repairs are possible.
4. LCOS, or D-ILA Rear Projection
   Liquid Crystal On Silicon, or LCOS is the newest of the four technologies. JVC’s LCOS implementation is known as D-ILA, or Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier. LCOS Rear Projection TV’s use a technology similar to the LCD’s but instead of passing light through the LCD projection panels it is reflected off of them. Like the LCD and DLP televisions, the result is a high quality picture even on large screens and a slim lightweight set. Also like LCD and DLP projection televisions, LCOS televisions are not subject to burn-in, but do need periodic bulb replacement. They are less popular and less available, but newer models from JVC seem to be the most prolific. They are currently priced between $1,500 and $5,000.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Knowing what technologies are available helps us get an idea of what to expect from the rear-projection television, but there are other considerations.

Size
It would seem that bigger is better especially, when viewing the wall of televisions at some of the large electronic’s stores, but this is not the case. Consider the size of the room that your widescreen TV will live in and how far away from the television you will sit. A 60″ television, for example, would be completely overwhelming in a smaller living room from 10 feet away.

Style and Color
This is largely personal preference. Many of the newer models are black which may be more likely to match your decor than a silver or gray model. Stands are also an important element of style. You’ll have to live with your home theater set up.

Real World Use
Do you mostly watch DVD movies? TV Sports? Play Video Games? HDTV? While all of the available TVs can accommodate these uses, some are better at certain activities than others. Check for the options that you need. You may want split screen and picture in picture options for checking on the game, or an integrated HDTV tuner if HD signals are available in your area. You may also want to consider the brightness and traffic in the room where your TV will be located. Some big screens are highly reflective and may be unwatchable in a sunny room.

GETTING YOUR BIG SCREEN HOME
A few things you might not have thought of.

Delivery
While not necessarily heavy, your television will likely not fit in your car. Be sure to inquire about delivery options and costs.

Stands
Most of the rear-projection televisions require a TV stand but they are rarely included in the price. Be sure that the stand suits your needs and can accommodate all of the equipment you will be attaching to it. Many home theater receivers, for example will not fit in the smaller stands.

Cables
If you’re buying your first HDTV you will likely need specialized cables to accommodate the higher quality video connections to your new television. These will not be included with your new high definition television. Be sure to ask about what you’ll need to hook up your equipment.

TIPS
With all this new technology, it may be a good idea to maximize your warranty coverage. Some credit cards will automatically double the length of any factory warranty for any item purchased using that credit card. A separate extended warranty might also be useful.

Make sure you have the right equipment to complete your home theater. While most of the widescreen TV’s are HD ready - meaning they can accommodate a Hi-Definition signal - you still have to send a HD signal from your equipment. You may want to think about a new DVD player or HDTV tuner if available. On the subject of High Definition, you’ll want to make sure your TV can accomodate a variety of input connectors including the newer DVI and HDMI connections. This will ensure compatibility with the latest high definition equipment.

Be sure to evaluate all options and comparison shop before choosing a rear-projection television for your home theater.