Going Big: Choosing A Large Screen
Apr 17 '03
The Bottom Line Head's up, eyes forward.
Large screen TV's are fantastic for giving you a feel of the cinema in your home. The very idea of home cinema is to produce a Cinema feel through audio and video equipment that brings you as close to that feeling, but in your living room. The most critical factor in choosing a TV would have to be its type; if you are choosing a large screen TV, what type do you go for? There are many, and I'm here to talk about each type of large screen Television technology today.
T V · T E C H N O L O G I E S
There are several major TV Types available today, these are:
- CRT
- RPTV
- FPTV
- Plasma
- LCD
The most interesting technology on the list is Plasma technology. Plasma screens, if you haven't seen them, are sleek thin flat panels able to be hung on the wall like a picture frame, they are a lot more expensive but save a lot of space and weight. Plasma technology over the several years of development hasn't changed radically, however it has gone from a dangerous medium used in Studios - where they ran with ultra hot screens, to a home practical solution. RPTV and FPTV we will consider later, as for LCD and CRT, these are two of the competing technologies in the computer market, but that's not to say LCD is giving in to CRT in the home market. LCD Panels are currently very expensive and very small comparatively - a 15" TV model can cost just under £700. CRT is your basic TV technology everyone will know; since they were invented the technology has gone through many changes, from black and white to colour, and from curved screens to flat; today they are competing with the best visual technology, and are still a good choice.
Now, back to FPTV and RPTV. Rear Projection and Front Projection TVs are two very dissimilar technologies but use a similar tool. A projector. RPTVs are units with a projector hidden at the base of the stand, where it directs its projection through mirrors onto a screen; this sort of TV is usually above 40" Widescreen. However FPTV systems, are equally as costly, but offer more adaptable screen size, they are also totally customisable, and give the greatest realism that you are in a real theatre. This is because FPTV systems project images onto a large screen. The projector is all that is needed, but unlike RPTV and any other TV system, they don't carry a Tuner or Sound system of their own.
The problems with each technology is easily summarized:
RPTV: Limit viewing angle; poor in high light levels; TV signals look blurry
FPTV: Poor in high light levels; Few Features - no Teletext; poor connections
LCD: Small screen; Limited viewing angle; High Price
Plasma: Expensive
CRT is not on the list simply because it has so very few problems; not expensive, great connections; cheap; good image quality; loads of features. However it is far from the ideal solution, once again this technology is heavy and committed to smaller sizes.
The Perfect Solution: Plasma?
Plasma technology is immediately impressive, at first the screen becomes almost invisible compared to a boxy CRT, with no rear section, only a pure flat screen which produces equally perfect geometry and no 'flicker', this meaning the 50Hz flicker CRT TV's have (known as the refresh rate, cycles per second). They also come in a range of massive sizes, beginning at 32" Widescreen. They go up to 52". They can be bought with optional Speakers that attach to the sides, and some are now offering a Tuner box so that you can watch terrestrial TV. Connections on Plasma displays are the best; you will find Component Video inputs, and S-Video inputs. Another bonus of Plasma technology is that when it is labelled 32", the screen actually measures 32" from corner to corner, unlike CRT's who lose and inch to the casing. Pricing is quite hard for Plasma screens, you can usually guess they are three times the price of a similarly sized Flat CRT. Of course High Definition screens are available; almost all today are compatible.
The ideal environment for a plasma screen is in a compact room, where you have small speakers so that the can be both hung on the wall. Plasmas aren't affected by room lighting, so you do not need to block windows. While they are more costly than any other Technology, you don't need to spend as much setting up the room for them. You'll also need to make sure your DVD Player is Progressive Scan capable, and HD capable for maximum picture quality, and use Component Video cables.
The Perfect Solution: Front Projection?
Front Projection projectors are becoming less expensive, you will find the computer projectors come with adequate connections and cost less than a home projector. These projectors are very practical; in that you can point and shoot, they produce massive screen size at short distances. You need to be aware that the brightness degrades with distance, so pick a median. The major problem with them is room lighting, even a candle can reduce contrast on the screen, and so you will have to take measures to lower all room lighting.
You want to be looking for a projector with Composite, S-Video and if possible Component connections. The next step is assessing what other components are going to be connected to it. You have to know that a projector will cost more once you have it, remembering that the bulbs inside them have a shelf life, so you can only run them for so many hours, as I remember the last projector I used lasted 7 months with an 800 hour lamp. The bulbs, or lamps, are quite expensive too, and mean you are constantly paying for the projector. Just remember to turn it off when not used. You will also need to have installed an audio system that will partner the video side. My advice is to buy an Audio and Video receiver, which will handle S-Video and Composite video inputs, thus you can take the video from a DVD Player, and VCR, and direct it to one input on the Projector. You will also need to know that a VCR or TiVo with a tuner is needed to view Terrestrial TV.
Another major thing to consider in this market is the type of projector. DLP, Or LCD? DLP or Digital Light Projection systems are more mechanical than LCD, but are they better? Yes and no. You could always go for a more expensive Cinema style CRT system which is triple the size, but gives an equal to cinema quality. DLP projectors are somewhat smaller, they are supposed to be better than LCD ones, but few argue that. LCD projectors suffer from the 'dead pixel' where you can usually spot it on the screen, blow up from the lens. Film Projectors would be nice, but they cost a lot, and the film is so unavailable to anyone.
The Perfect Solution: Rear Projection?
In electrical stores, you might be put off Rear Projection TVs for their really ugly picture quality, but that's because the store rarely calibrate them properly. RPTV's are a lot like FPTVs, except that they have as much features as the CRT TV, within a large but thinner box. Also, these types of TV are poor in high light conditions, although they do have a limited viewing angle. They are best viewed at the same level and at a distance. Up close in a shop will always put you off them. Get one in a dark room, and they look stunning. The great thing is that they aren't as big as CRTs. Still though, you will need to replenish the lamp like in the FPTV.
A lot of the jargon that comes with FPTV is lost with RPTV, you aren't really given a light level, and there is an easier system to setup, you can usually find great connections, Component and S-Video. The base that they stand on is not fillable, and you'll have to pick a separate stand unit for other components. They do come with built in tuners and a sound system. Some even come with surround sound systems.
Again there are various type of Projection in the TV, DLP and LCD are used here too, but most are LCD. You aren't likely to notice the difference here either. The advantage with LCD over DLP is that it does not 'flicker' since DLP projectors spin a wheel of colour, which can flicker with bright whites.
The Perfect Solution: LCD?
LCD technology today is particularly suited for computers, but not TV. Sharp are a major contributor to the home market of LCD technology, it's quite amazing, they are still going with it, even though they are so expensive that you can get a Projector for the same price as a 15" screen. The immediate advantage with LCD is that the screen geometry like FPTV, RPTV and Plasma, is perfect. You don't get the dispersion effect of CRT that stretches the screen with bright and darker areas. The other positive of LCD, is their crispness and sharpness or pixels, again great for high resolution High Definition, but makes mud out of TV signals - it is in fact better than Plasma. And again Dead Pixels can crop up here too for LCD panels.
Personally, I wouldn't buy an LCD screen for home or computer; they are too expensive; better to wait a few years.
The Perfect Solution: CRT?
The advantage with CRT is its price and availability. You can pick up any sized set, with flat screen, and they still come in 4:3 screen ratios. Widescreen CRTs are a little more expensive, but offer as much picture quality as RPTV. Although they cannot compete in size of the RPTV, nevermind Plasma screens. They are great in terms of picture quality, connections and features. They work in any light level, and some of the better TVs are coming in a 100Hz variant, which reduces the Flicker of the CRT system dramatically.
CRT TVs come with a Tuner and a sound system, often stereo and sometimes its Surround capable. Connections are often found on the front as well as rear, and include an S-Video socket, sometimes Component, composite and/or SCART sockets are always available. These also need very little adjustment in the picture section.
T H E · N I G H T M A R E, · S C R E E N R A T I O S, · F O R M A T S · A N D · R E G IO N S ! !
Yes, it is a nightmare when we're talking 4:3 to 16:9, or how about Letterbox 2.35:1, or even PAL and NTSC? What about High Definition compatibility, Progressive Scan? Don't worry; this should not be a nightmare for most of the TV types.
HD & Screen Ratios
FPTV - you will find that some, and that is lightly said, some, do have a widescreen function, that converts their normal 4:3 output to 16:9, but you lose many of the pixels to a black bar. Very rarely will you find a projector that is totally 16:9, widescreen, but they can be found. Now, HD compatibility with Projectors is very simple, they are either compatible, or not compatible. Whatever format you talk about, they usually have it listed in their specification.
Remember, 1080i is interlaced - odd lines done, then evens, and 1080p is progressive - much better by talking all lines simultaneously.
RPTV, Plasma, CRT - these are much more equipped for High Definition, they offer all manor of HD styles. They usually have a label on them saying what they are capable of. Each one will be capable of any screen ratio, they should offer various screen stretch modes.
LCD - I haven't yet seen a HD capable panel, since they are so small anyway.
Regions, TV Signals
NTSC, (National Television System Committee), is used in Japan and USA. PAL ( Phase Alternation Line) is used in UK. DVD's are distributed into Regions. Region 1 and Region 2 are US and UK regions. If you were to play a Region 1 DVD on a Region 2 DVD player, it would normally not run, however with a modified player or one with built in Multi Region codes, you can play them. For this purpose you'd need a TV system capable of viewing NTSC or PAL which it would normally not output. NTSC on a PAL screen with the wrong cables comes out in Black and White. Now, fortunately with a TV not capable of viewing one of the TV systems, you can use a cable which does not carry this signal, instead sending the picture and only the picture. This way you can view NTSC or PAL on the wrong type of TV. Instead your TV would need to be compatible with the signal sent through a Coaxial cable. However, Projectors do not usually have a coaxial input, they do not need a NTSC or PAL converter. With other TV types, they do, modern CRT TVs are NTSC compatible, even so you can simply use an S-Video lead, Component cable or SCART lead to connect them and play. The same can be done with other types of TV including Plasma and LCD - even with a Coaxial lead the Plasma and LCD screen will play it, since it ignores the picture synchronization and frequency signals in the cable used for CRT because it does not need them.
T H E · R E A L · P E R F E C T S O L U T I O N ?
The perfect solution for a TV type is determined by what size of TV you want.
TV's less than 32"
LCD and CRT, fit this category mostly. In logic, you can see that a 28" LCD screen is not available; hence CRT would have to talk this category, for its lower price and availability.
TV's less than 42" and more than 32"
This section includes RPTV, Plasma and CRT. CRT may well be the cheaper of the two, but is the largest. RPTV is second smallest, they are half the depth of the CRT, and only slightly more expensive. A Plasma screen is very compact and will fit any type of room, as does the CRT. The CRT is half the price of the Plasma and only hundreds less than the RPTV. In this case, the RPTV would tend to become the overall winner, in this category is becomes ideal to have a balance between performance, price, and size, the RPTV is great in the right environment, and for this size and price, you can't have it in a small room with loads of light sources.
TV's less than 52" and more than 42"
FPTV takes its turn in this section, although they can technically go twice as much as 52". At this size, a Plasma screen is available, as is a RPTV. CRT is out of the question since glass this large gets heavy. Now, taking into account, the larger size of FPTV, it may be an ideal solution, as they also come at a very decent price. But lets not forget this category, less than 52", at this size a plasma screen becomes well on its way to 4 grand, compared to half that of a RPTV. In this section, I would like to rule out FPTV, since it does not necessarily fit in best for this section. I would probably guess that if you are paying this much, you can enjoy the experience better if the room is better decorated, so with the money saved over the plasma, you can spend more time concealing the rather large box.
TV's larger than 52"
Plasma screens do go over 52", but are very expensive and only available on request. RPTVs do also go as high as this, but with a limitless size, what's stopping you from going to something like a 150" screen instead, with of course, Front Projection. You will find a £1000 project capable of screen sizes of 100", a £1500 one, will probably go to 150", etc. Not forgetting you will need to spend the savings on an audio system and video receiver, not to mention room conditioning.
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