DLP / LCD Rear Projection Reliability?

[Cheezman]

Why would someone buy a tv that they know they have to stick money back into in the future? Now I don't know if this is the case with the led dlp's but the prices are so cheap on the lcd's and plasma's now why would you buy anything else?

When you can get a 60" 1080p for $1000 new, you let me know.

I know I am quite happy with my Mitsubishi, and the $99 for a bulb every few years still undercuts the cost of buying a 60" Plasma or LCD. Plus in terms of image quality, it looks better than most LCDs I've seen in the same price range. Better colors and black levels.

 

[chadnliz]

Why would someone buy a tv that they know they have to stick money back into in the future? Now I don't know if this is the case with the led dlp's but the prices are so cheap on the lcd's and plasma's now why would you buy anything else?

As far as burn-in on plasma's your not going to have a problem unless you leave a menu screen on the tv for more than a day at a time. I fell asleep watching a movie one night with my Panasonic plasma playing a blue-ray movie. It was on for several hours and had no problem with any burn in. That's just a scare tactic for people that own other kinds of tv's to make you think plasma's are inferior.

My panasonic plasma get's no hotter than any lcd tv I have ever seen either. The differences in power usage between different tv's these days are minimal.

I would stay away from older rear projection tv's unless you know for sure you can set the convergence yourself. I had a Toshiba 57" and was very happy with it. I sold it to a friend when I upgraded to my plasma. If you can't access this in the menu stay far far away as you will spend just as much as the tv is worth to have a repairman adjust it for you.

I guess you will never see the value of 100+inch displays because every couple years a projector will need a bulb. Plasma burn in was a real concern but has been addressed and in the past couple years isnt as bad as once was.
All the same a large picture is worth the occasional expense, for movies I will never go back to even something as small as 60in...........I will invest the occasional money for a bulb and enjoy the huge picture my projector gives me, plus for an audio/Home theater application being able to fold up the screen and only have a small box on ceiling is also well worth the expense for a better soundfield.

 

[DENNYDOG]

I guess you will never see the value of 100+inch displays because every couple years a projector will need a bulb. Plasma burn in was a real concern but has been addressed and in the past couple years isnt as bad as once was.
All the same a large picture is worth the occasional expense, for movies I will never go back to even something as small as 60in...........I will invest the occasional money for a bulb and enjoy the huge picture my projector gives me, plus for an audio/Home theater application being able to fold up the screen and only have a small box on ceiling is also well worth the expense for a better soundfield.

I thought we were talking about rear projection style tv's? Obviously your going to need a bulb for a regular projector.

Yes I would buy a projector for movie watching at night but that is it. I would NEVER use a projector during the day. I've seen quite a few and every projector I've seen during the day SUCKS. Unless it's in a basement where you can block out all light. Too much washout from any daylight that hits the screen.

 

[chadnliz]

Yea they are not practical for daily drivers but bulb life even in a rear projector isnt that huge of an issue, they usually last a pretty long time and you get the larger picture experience without the premium price. One could buy a Projection unit and replace bulbs a few times and still not have to put out the cash a slim unit will often fetch.

 

[Art K.]

I've owned 3 Sony rear projection models and never once lost a lamp. I did have a fan go out on one which required that a service tech come out twice to get it fixed...both times covered under warranty. I went flat panel a little over a year ago and don't regret it but the rear projectors were ok.

 

[1octave]

I've got a Samsung DLP LED model. Love the picture and I've seen a few used on CL recently - last years models for a decent price...

Same here, I am also happy with my Samsung LED... though I agree Sony is equally good.

 

[deaner33]

My 4 year old RCA DLP is finally dying. Worked fine (until a few weeks ago), have replaced the $200 bulb once & now it's making a loud buzzing noise. I suspect the light engine is failing, but don't really care to look into it too much. I'm wanting a 1080P TV anyway.

 

[yrly]

Had a Sony KDF-42A10 practically since it hit the streets. Still works great. Was starting to look a bit dim, ordered a new bulb from MAT Electronics and it still looks good today. Never had an optical block problem, it seemed to come later in the run for that series as they really started to crank them out.

 

[ElaineBenes]

I can only relate my own experiences with a Sony SXRD rear projection set. I got it for about $1100. on sale at the Brick, native 1920x1080 with lots of convenient features, had it about a year and a half now, put just over 8000 hours on it in that amount of time without a single issue. Just replaced the original lamp, a few hundred hours over the rated life. I'm still amazed at how good the image is with a great source like BD or computer HD...

Like anything, there are good examples and bad of a huge run of modern products. Some people have good luck others don't, its often just a crap shoot...

If you've got the money though, picture quality wise, I'd buy an LED LCD panel with local dimming now, they look fantastic, and LED backlighting *should* last virtually forever...

 

[dr.ido]

My experience with rear projection sets has not been good. Though it has to be said that I've every set I've had has been found cheap or free with some kind of fault that needed repair. I've never bought a projection set in working condition new or used.

I've had various Samsung and Philips CRT RPTVs. Typically I'd find them with convergence faults. Replace the ICs and associated resistors, do all the adjustments to get it as good as possible and the picture is still not something I could watch for any length of time. All were sold to people less fussy than me.

I had a 53" Samsung 720p LCD RPTV for a while. Found it dead with blinking front panel LEDs. Cleaning out all the dust and reseating a safety switch got it going. The picture was absolutely awful if the source was not 720p. Considering that many of the channels I watch are not available in HD and most of the ones that are broadcast in 1080i it was completely useless to me. The combination of the scaler in the TV and the scaler in the set top box would produce such amazing artifacting you'd be better off watching youtube. When it died for the 2nd time I was so disgusted with it I just got rid of it without even looking at it.

Since then there's been an LG 62" DLP and an LG 60" LCD. The 62" DLP arrived with a green picture that was fixed by reseating the connectors. In the short time it was here before being moved on it was trouble free. The picture was good, even on SD sources (best scaler of any I've seen so far). I did not notice the rainbow effect that some do with DLP sets and artifacting was minimal.

The 62" LCD was found in pieces with some internal wiring missing. After reassembly it powers up with a reasonable picture for a couple of minutes before shutting down again. The blinking error code suggests the fault is either the lamp or the ballast, but I'm not willing to spend the money to replace either.

As most of the ones I have come across (and I've basically stopped picking them up now) need lamps that are too expensive I have considered trying to adapt some other kind of light source, but I've yet to attempt it. Mainly because a smaller direct view set (a Loewe Planus 32" 16:9 CRT at the moment) is a better fit to my viewing habits and the size of my room. If I watched more HD content and had a bigger room my opinion may be different.

 

[Pstraums]

My Samsung 50" DLP r.proj. has given me almost 5 years without a single malfunction.... But since I know it has a relatively expensive lightbulb inside (which in all fairness has become a lot cheaper lately, it seems), and a colourwheel that rotates at a crazy speed (and probably other weird techs that are sensitive to the usual second hand "bad packing", heat during use and movement in general") I`m very careful not to move it anywhere (and I was VERY careful when setting it up)

I am very happy with the 1280x720 Texas Instruments HD3 chip installed in my set. The HD signals I see via my satelite dish is 1280x720 and I play PC games at 1280x720 .. and I`m very happy! Its got a great IQ, seeing native res from my source(s), although I feel the new 40" LCD downstairs (the one in my avatar) are somewhat better (could be the -10 inch size offcoz) (the TV you are talking about, are probably much better specced than what I`ve got, but I somehow feel that DLP/3LCD R.proj tv`s are not a GREAT second hand buy unless it`s cheap, or you need a VERY large image.. (or perhaps you KNOW the ppl selling it and know they are the "careful type"

Do they all have serious reliability issues? It seems every time I find a set I would consider buying (used on CL) and do the research (often time on Amazon.com) there's a bunch of positive reviews but the negative really make me think twice. Bulb issues, optical block problems (Sony KDF..), not true 720 or 1080P on some sets, rainbow effects (dlp only). Is it worth it for me to even look at these types of tv? They seem to be more trouble than they're worth even though you can get a few year old 50-60" for sometimes as low as $600 and whether picture quality is outstanding or not, reliability is just not there.

What do ya'll think? Should I look at only flat screen tv's? I have considered buying an older rear projection floor tv like a Pioneer Elite but they're so heavy and hard to transport and in my opinion having the speakers underneath are a waste of space because obviously I don't need them. I'd rather have a stand underneath to put components on. So it's kind of unlikely I will go that route.

 

[mark kovach]

with TV you do get what you pay for usually. For what it's worth, plasma will soon be dead for many reasons unfortunately one is not bad picture quality, but despite what you are told by the manufacturers they do begin to eat themselves alive once plugged in. After the picture degrades, there is no bulb to replace they just die a slow death. The more you pay for the set the longer it takes to degrade. They will soon be banned in California (too much power consumption) and only Panasonic will manufacture them after 2010, and I suspect not much after that. The bulb on my Optoma Theater grade 50" DLP lasted 14,000 hrs, and was still burning whan I replaced it. It took me 10 minutes most of which was unwrapping the new bulb. The new Mitsubishi laservue has 3 lasers for the light source so no degrading, no color wheel so no rainbow (seen by only 2-3% of the population anyway)and long life. Of course it comes with a hefty price, but it's 3D ready so it'll be a good investment in about 6 months to a year when the price drops. DLP, LCD and plasma are recent technologies so they all improved with time. I wouldn't suggest buying an older model used. If you want a big picture 65" for example the DLP is your best value and if you buy a better set and have it ISF adjusted for your room, you won't be sorry. I have installed all three formats depending upon TV size room size and budget, and have never had a complaint from a customer. Each has it's merits and pitfalls, but don't buy the cheapest. If necessary save your pennies and go from a better quality product. Consider it an investment.

 

[klama2006]

I have two DLPS, one is a Mitsubishi projector, the other is a 50" DLP Samsung LED. Neither have given me any trouble yet.............. keeping fingers crossed. I typically just mostly watch sports games in hd. Most of my after work network TV viewing is still done on my old sony wega.


My brother, and brother in law both also have non led 50" samsung DLP's, neither of them have had problems yet either.
To be fair, do to my audio hobby, I don't really watch a whole lot of TV, but I know my brother, and brother in law both do.

 

[supwiddiss]

Had a Sony KDF-42A10 practically since it hit the streets. Still works great. Was starting to look a bit dim, ordered a new bulb from MAT Electronics and it still looks good today. Never had an optical block problem, it seemed to come later in the run for that series as they really started to crank them out.

I've had a KDF-E42A10 also since it hit the streets. Same bulb still, probably will get a new one soon. It had the best picture of all the tv's on display at the time and the price was what I was willing to spend.

I've given my 2 old 27" CRT Sony's to 2 separate friends. Their ages are about 6 years apart. They are still cookin'! I get the "look, it still has a nice picture for an old one huh?" comment when I visit. :thmbsp:

I do like the new LED tv's and have cameras at work (postal equipment) that use LED light bar illumination and they dont seem to dim and never had one blow out in 2 years of almost constant running.

When OLED's get more developed and reliable, that's what I'll shoot for next. Until then I'll stick with the KDF.

I'm a Sony believer for video equipment, if not for the fact that it's a name you see in every television broadcasting company everyplace. I'm not saying they are "the best" per se, just that they seem to have video mastered. My friend was one of the engineers at the Grand Alliance test facility in the basement of the NBC studio in DC in the 90's. Sony and Ampex HDTV development equipment was all over the place. So, it's Sony for video equipment for me. Everyone can make cr@p, some simply refuse to.

 

[klama2006]

I've personally never had a sony video device die on me either. I still have my great uncles 25 year old sony TV in my kitchen, and I swear that tv, will never ever die. (I want it too, but it refuses)


There was once a day things were built to last.............. Today is not that day.

 

[Alan NY]

DLP is Good For Me

Have have had a Toshiba 65 1080I for 2 years, its all been good. No real interest in games or Blue-Ray here, pretty much just cable HD format. It was our first foray into HDTV and I got 65 inches for half the price of 50 inch Plasma at the time.

TV babysits my wife (in the Greatroom) while I'm usually off in the cave or shop playing with too much heavy silver and old wood. I understand that the bulb on the DLP can die at any time. It is a source of consternation that the TV is always on (when no one is watching) but I got way too may toys, so I (as an acception to my standard SOP) generaly STFU about it

I really am only interseted in sports, concerts, or Nature/Nova type programming. Maybe an ocassional HD movie. Outside of the DLP is good for me direct reply to the original poster, I'm trying to add a 46-50HDTV (not DLP)to the cave for seasonal Bowl Madness. There are so many options out there. I'm trying to figure out what way to go. The info here has helped. Don't want to hy-jack so I'll start another cross post thread.

Alan

 

[WM826]

I have narrowed it down to two tv sets. One is used and local to me. A 40" Sony Bravia 1080p lcd (KDL-40S4100) still under warranty for $400. The other is a new Samsung plasma (PN42B450) for $624 shipped on Amazon.com or I believe Best Buy carries for the same price (+ sales tax). I should have enough saved to buy the Samsung by next Friday or if I spring for the Sony and it's still available I may have it as early as tomorrow.