Projection TV
These days, rear projection tv is still the most popular method of creating a big screen tv experience. Inch for inch of viewing surface, they are much cheaper. But, that doesn't mean big screen tv viewing experience on a rear projection tv should be considered a poor cousin to flashier plasma televisions. Recent improvements in technology means that rear projection tv's are brighter, thinner and clearer than ever before. Previously, big screen tv's meant a huge cabinet but not any more--Sony's 70 inch XBR Grand Wega digital light processing (dlp) is just over 2 feet deep. Compare that to the projection televisions you remember from the 1980's!
Most projection tv's these days display their images using one of two technologies--lcd or dlp. Lcd technology refers to liquid crystal display that allow high intensity light to pass through them to produce the big screen tv image. All lcd rear projection televisions are wide-screen displays, ranging from 40 to 60 inches, usually with a resolution of either 1280 by 720 (720p) or 1366 by 768. Prices range from about $2,500 to $5,000.
Alternatively, digital light processing (dlp) projection tv's use Texas Instruments proprietary Digital Micromirror Device, which is a chip with thousands of micro-mirrors on it that flip back and forth. As a high intensity light is shined on the device, the switching on and off of the mirrors produces a sharp big screen tv image. Dlp projection televisions have screen sizes ranging from 43 to 61 inches, with prices running from $3,200 to $5,000.
More articles at our Flat Screen TV Articles page.
