Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Projector vs Plazma TV

Projector vs Plazma TV? What do you guys think? I've been doing some reasearch on Plazma TVs but have found little information on comparision.

Get the biggest RP you can afford (space & money).

Front projector will give you a much bigger picture and won't burn in. Plasma will reject ambient light better.

I went with a projector, and don't regret it a bit. I'm very thankful that I don't have a big RPTV dominating my room.

My research leads me to conclude that Plasma is not a mature technology. Quality is still improving quickly, but with a ways to go. Prices still have a long way to go in coming down. I ask myself would I be happy buying something with some flaws that will show up in use and see that within a year a substantially better set costs half what I paid? Rear projection sets are a much more mature technology, better picture and fewer compromises. Nevertheless,for me they are too big and heavy and require costly calibration in most cases. New DLP and LCD rear projection sets look promising. But with these I think another year will bring substantial improvement in performance & cost.
The courts just upheld the law requiring all sets sold after November 2004 to have HDTV tuners. I suspect that this will lead to a burgeoning of the hdtv market and a quickening in the quality improvments and reduction of prices. Since I look at a large screen set as a minimum six year investment, I am tempering my desire for having it now with what I think I can get next year.
If I had more room I would look at a rear projector or better yet a front projector. I like the Samsung DLP rear projection sets, but improved models will be out around February. I also think prices should come down by about a third during the next year.

I agree with Big Will.. Believe you get way more screen for a whole lot less when you go RP over Plasma..
Sure, they take some floor space, but plasma can't come close to size vs price..
If you have the room, and look to spend the money for plasma, go front projection, AKA: Sushi Projection..
I've seen the light so to speak, and will be going SP probably within the year.. 90 to 120 inche screens, no floor spaced used, tiny little projector hanging up out of the way.. Dang, what could be sweeter ?
Plasma is best used in airline terminals, giving out gate numbers.. ?? :-)

For the cost of a plasma you can get one HELL of a projector. The plasma pq isn't quite "there" yet either. Too many digital artifacts. (halos, edges, pixelization) They do have very bright, vibrant pictures, which upon first glance are very eye catching. And a wall mounted tv is damn sexy, but with the numerous pq issues, the prices are just still too dang high.

spiff, we've had a sony 32" for 10 months. yes i read about the pannys etc, but went with the sony. since our room has many windows, the plasma was the answer for us. i've not noticed any pix quality problems; damn the celtics look great. yes i did turn down settings too.
dan

The price of a 32" plasma isn't as outrageous as the larger 50" models. They are entering the realm of reasonable. I'm just thinking though, that if I'm going to pay $8000+ for a TV it had better have a PERFECT picture. I just don't think the plasmas do yet.

(I'm REALLY fussy about PQ, it's a large part of my job requirement.)

man, if i ever considered spending 8 grand on a tv, i would put myself in an institution. now, i realize your requirements for pq are not the same as mine considering your profession. my neighbor has about a 10 year old sony rear projection tv that has been moved from upstairs to the basement. bumped, dragged and nearly dropped in the transition, which has never been calibrated, let alone cleaned. now that pq does make me wish my contact's prescriptions could be adjusted to match the pq.
dan

I really doubt I'll be paying $8K for a TV either. But if I wanted a 50" plasma, that's what they go for. (and then some!)

I have a suspicion I'll be ending up with a very nice RPTV or DLP. But that's still quite a long way off. I think buying a house/condo is going to have to happen first. (Throwing rent money away is getting real old fast.)