Which TV is Best:
LCD, Plasma, DLP, LCoS or LCD Rear Projection?
LCD Rear Projection Television
Next up LCD rear projection televisions. Liquid Crystal Display technology is found in both front and rear projection televisions. It is also used in flat panel displays; but we cover them in a separate article; see the LCD Flat Panel link below.
Big screen televisions and projectors use three LCD image panels, one each for red, green and blue light. Each panel is comprised of pixels that either block light or allow light to pass. The light from the internal lamp is split by mirrors into red, green and blue and then focused onto the image panels. Through a series of reflections the light is projected onto the screen.
LCDs are known for their bright picture and excellent color rendition. They are lighter and thinner than CRT RPTVs. They also have drawbacks, their ability to render detail in shades of black is not as good as with DLP. Some models may exhibit what is referred to as the "screen door" effect. This results from the small amount of space between each pixel. This space is magnified onto the screen and can be noticeable, although manufacturer's have been improving and fewer exhibit this problem.
Another potetntial problem is stuck pixels. A pixel may become stuck in the on or off position. This results in a light or dark dot remaining on the screen at all times. Often the dot may go unnoticed until a scene with a large number of dots of the opposite extreme surround the affected pixel.
Motion blur can occur with LCD based TVs because of slower response times. This results in visual artifacts on screen during action sequences.
Resolution for most LCD projection TVs is 1366 x 768 or 1280 x 720. While the higher resolution models offer 18% more pixels, the difference is not particularly noticable. Compared side by side, most people would not be able to pick out the higher resolution model.
This fixed pixel design means that high-definition signals in 1920 x 1080 resolutions must be converted to fit. While this isn't a problem, some manufacturers do a better job of it than others. So the best way to compare TVs would be to watch NBC in HD, because they broadcast with the 1080i signal.
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Section 1: DLP Rear Projection
Section 2: LCD Rear Projection
Section 3: LCoS Rear Projection
