LCD vs. DLP TVs

Two new technologies in the world of TV, DLP and LCD, are now in a tight competition. Not long ago, everyone was talking about Plasma and LCD - which one would win? It became clear to most that Plasma, with its short lifespan of just 3-4 years, was simply not the best choice. In fact, the LCD screen has several benefits over plasma. For instance, LCD screens run much cooler than the average plasma TV, and thus require less power to operate. Plasma TVs run so hot, in fact, that they require a fan to cool them down ? which can be noisy. In addition, plasma screens have a tendency to degrade over time, slowly becoming dimmer. LCD screens, on the other hand, run relatively cool, and do not degrade over time. Some Plasma owners, who have used their TVs for a few years now, have already witnessed the dimming of their screens. Also, LCD screens tend to have overall better picture quality, and are typically 10 to 15 percent lighter than plasma.

Now the choice is mainly between LCD and DLP - two distinct technologies that offer slight differences in display, price, and performance. If you are looking to buy a new flatscreen TV this year, you are probably wondering which one is right for you.

What are DLP, LCD TV Screens?

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, while LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. DLP technology, developed by Texas Instruments, uses a DMD, or Digital Micromirror Device, contructed of 1.3 million microscopic mirrors. Each of these mirrors is essentially a single pixel. When a digital signal enters the DLP system, each mirror is either activated or not, resulting in tapestry of mirrors tilting either towards the DLP light source or away. This process produces different levels of light and dark reflected by each individual mirror. The colors are produced when the DLP light sources run through a red, green, and blue color filter on a moving wheel. Depending on the lightness/ darkness of each mirror, the colors come in an enormous amount of shades, producing vivid color images.

LCD screens are made of several polarized glass panels, between which are liquid crystal molecules. An electric current is run through the crystal molecules, changing their position in respect to the glass. As light passes through the molecules, these changes in angle result in different lightness/ darkness patterns that produce images on the screen. There are usually three polarized glass panels, one with red pixels, blue, and green. This system also produced very accurate, vivid images, but angle is important. You may notice that the best colors in an LCD display are seen straight-on.

Is DLP, LCD TV Screens better than the other?

Simply put, that is a difficult question to answer. Unlike Plasma TV screens DLP and LCD last much are longer, and are considered to both have superior image quality. LCD screens tend to have slightly better contrast, with a larger range of black and white color shades. DLP, however, still has faster refresh rates than LCD (although LCD has been vastly improved in this area over the last two years). This can have implications if you are really into high-action motion (sports, action movies), because movement may seem a little blurred with LCD at times. Also, you'll want to remember that in order for you to get the best color out of your LCD, you have to sit right in front of it. LCD TVs also have a slightly shorter lifespan than DLPs, with only 45,000 to 60,000 hours compared to 75,000 hours or more. As far as price goes, LCD and DLP are still more expensive than Plasma, but like all things in time, their price has been coming down. And right now, DLP is slightly more expensive than LCD, but not by much. DLP, in our eyes, is the best investment, at least for the next few years. Click here for popular DLP TV units and prices.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on DLP and LCD TV technology, please visit our DLP vs LCD Tvs webpage.

---

The Potential Conundrum of Regulating Pay-TV

In last week's column, I argued the merits (or rather... Read More

Learning from Voom

Voom was thought to be the company that would be... Read More

Digital Cable VS Satellite TV

Do you want to get more channels while saving money... Read More

DirecTV vs. Dish Network -- Which Is Better?

The satellite TV systems and services offered by DirecTV and... Read More

Dish Network vs DirecTV: Which Satellite Broadcast Provider Offers the Better Deal?

Whenever someone mentions about satellite TV in United States, Dish... Read More

Satellite TV vs. Cable TV -- Which is Best?

The move is on. Last year millions of Americans switched... Read More

A Brief on United States Satellite TV Deals

Want to know more about United States satellite TV business... Read More

Flat Panel Displays - Beyond Plasma

The term set-top box will become something of a misnomer... Read More

Dish Network Vs. DirecTV - Race For Top Is On

If you have taken sane decision to replace your cable... Read More

How Satellite TV Works

Have you ever wondered how satellite TV works? With over... Read More

Selecting a Satellite TV Network from the Audiences Perspective

The numbers of those who just connect their TV to... Read More

Free Satellite TV -- Myth or Real?

Free satellite TV is the biggest myths on the internet,... Read More

How to Select a Video Display for Your Home Theater

First of all, don't assume you need a huge video... Read More

Cable TV And Satellite TV - Which Is The Better System?

Cable TV and satellite TV - which is the better... Read More

Guide to Mounting Your Satellite Dish

The Dish Network satellite dish is only about 2 feet... Read More

Analog TV Digital Transmission

Remember the old days of analog TV, radio, etc. Most... Read More

Satellite TV Deals FAQ

Satellite TV 'What'?So, what is a satellite TV?It's a complicated... Read More

No More Searching for the Best Satellite Products

You need the best satellite products for your home and... Read More

Cable Vs Satellite TV - 7 Benefits To The Real Deal About Satellite TV Offer

In the United States, the two big satellite providers are... Read More

Direct TV Deals a Blow to Unhappiness in Marriage

You might be surprised to learn that television is one... Read More

Satellite TV

Here is some information about satellite TV.Satellite television or satellite... Read More

DirecTV and DISH Network ? How Do The Two Leading Satellite TV Providers Stack Up?

DirecTV and DISH Network ? How... Read More

HDTV: An Introduction

HDTV stands for High Definition Television, and if you live... Read More

Free Satellite TV -- Is It Really Free?

You've seen the online and offline ads -- "Free satellite... Read More

Church Projector and Church Projector Systems

Purchasing a church projector for your Sunday morning services will... Read More

How to Shop for Satellite TV Receivers and Dishes

It's undeniable - shopping for a new satellite tv system... Read More

Buying Satellite TV From Online Sources

Find Out What the Real Deal is Regarding Satellite TVWho... Read More

Why Satellite TV is better than Cable TV

Satellite TV is Making the Cable Companies Run ScaredSatellite TV... Read More

Amazing Things You Might Not Know About Television

The world's first colour television transmission occurred in John Logie... Read More

HDTV and the iPod Photo: A Perfect Marriage?

They may seem like an odd combination, but the iPod... Read More

No More DirecWay? I Believe the writing is on the wall...

As one who has been directly involved in selling DirecWay... Read More

Plasma Compared To DLP Television and LCD

When you think of comparing plasma to DLP technology you... Read More

Entertainment Technology: What to Consider Before Buying HDTV

HDTV ? or, High Definition Television ? is the new... Read More