Comments on: Report: Rear-projection's 60-inch niche

A new report says that rear-projection HDTVs now serve a niche market of people who want 60-inch or larger televisions.

[beefmalone]

RP all the way! The difference in picture quality is negligible and the cost savings are enormous. For the difference in price you can buy a PS3 or other Blueray player and start a considerable collection of HD movies. The latest RPTVs are thin enough that they aren't the eyesore they used to be even a few years ago. Buying an LCD or PLASMA at tis point is just ego.

[slbyer]

I'm waiting for the review of the Mitsu. It'll be competing with the Sharp 65" Aquos and Samsung 67" for me. The upside: no screen door (I'm sensitive to it), but I don't think the Sharp has much problem with that. The downside: overscan. Also, the recent reviews of the Mitsus have noted their color issues - I'm hoping they resolve that with the LaserVue. I'm replacing a 65" RPTV ('99 Mitsu HD CRT) in a setup that isn't going to get any shallower, so the savings in depth for going non-RP don't mean much. I waited out the color-wheel DLP sets because I can't stand the rainbows. It's becoming clear that if I don't like the Sharp, I better not wait much longer or the Samsung and Mitsu may also disappear.

[nonhispanicwhite]

I have the sony KDS-60A2020 and i have to say that side by side comparisons instore, there was no way i was going to go with any smaller LCD(the fast motion blurring is the most irritating thing ever), and the plasmas are just way to freaking expensive. Not to mention they dont always have the best primary colors to begin with. there is nothing like a RPTV. Value, size, feature set. no brainer!

[OutsidaII]

I love my 50 inch Sony RPTV. I was actually pretty heartbroken when Sony announced that they were getting out of the game because I contemplating upgrading when this one kicked it. The quality is fantastic, and they don't take that much more space up considering if you have a home theater you're going to need a stand no matter what.

[mindgamez]

We just picked up a 67" Samsung at Costco. It replaced a 6 year old sony 50" 4:3 set. Mainly for the Olympics. Stunning. And the best part, less than $2000 with stand and you can watch it from down the street. I like BIG screens.

[joemin97]

I have always purchased Sony's XBR RPTV's and they're SXRD Sets that they recently stopped selling was the best picture for the money spent. I remember when the Qualia 70inch RPTV was released with SXRD and it amazed everyone all over the world, the picture was flawless. I purchased one as soon as the tech made it into the XBR line. They have decided to switch over to LCD and OLED sets because of the people buying smaller sets to hang on their wall. I only purchased a LCD for my bedroom to upgrade from a 30inch HDTV Tube that weighed 300lbs. I had to upgrade and a 40inch on the wall freed up so much floor space. But when my SXRD dies in my Theater Room I hope that the 60inch LCD or OLED or Plasma sets will have dropped in price to arounf $2000 to $4000 like the SXRDs were priced.

[dlptvlamps]

DLP RPTV is indeed dying. For every person that has left a comment here talking about how much they love their rear projection television, there are 20-30,000 with feelings to the contrary because they'd rather hang their TV on a wall or above a fireplace and sacrifice the "bleeding edge" imagery.

1080p was the old standard, 120 Hz pictures is what's getting the buzz now. DLP has 3D - if that doesn't pick up, expect Samsung and Mitsubishi to close up shop. DLP will go on in movie theaters and projectors but 2010..2011 and we'll wonder what all the buzz was about.

[DLPTheSmartChoice]

"Bulky Behemoths"? That's a straw man argument. All the current DLP sets are less than 18 inches deep. The tv stand on which you would put a flat panel would be deeper than that (it has to accomodate DVD players, cable boxex, etc. which are much deeper than a flat panel) so a flat planel doesn't save on the footprint. And for the "You can mount a flat panel on a wall" argument- good luck mounting a 60 inch flat panel in the average home. Those things will weigh 160+ lbs (a DLP will generally weigh half as much at the same size) and the average Joe will likely not have the knowledge to anchor into the wall studs correctly. One other plus, a buddy of mine at work had a 50 inch plasma fall over and break during the last moderate earthquake here in the Bay Area. The pedestal (not the 24-inch deep stand) was nice and thin- and unstable. A little front-to-back shaking and it toppled right over because the center of gravity is so high on those things. Add to that the fact that DLP use less than half the power (and generates a lot less heat) than a flat panel, and the only people who think they are impractical are the same idiots who buy a $150 HDMI cable from Best Buy.

[tigergeek]

You stated one of my best arguments for DLP's, weight and stability and power comsumpsion are issues that are glossed over by everyone who is trying to jump on the LCD and plasma bandwagon. This isn't a sporting event, all three technologies are good, but it seems that even CNET seems to be of the tawdry opinion that you have to back only the winning technology.

Please CNET et al, report don't make the news! offer straight up reviews without resorting to theatrics or tabloid tactics to drive readership.

[tigergeek]

I find it amusing that even CNET takes the easy path of end of"bulky" DLP sets. My set a Samsung HL-6187 is great at DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray(even though I don't like what sony did) and all the game consoles(PS-3, XBox 360 and Wii) work and look great! The curious absence that I have not seen in any of the Flat panel reviews, or DLP reviews is that all the components are at least 12 inches deep.

This is not an inconsequential issue. even with the flat mounting kits, the "flat" panel LCD's and Plasma's are still 4 to 6 inches deep. What happens with the DVR's that are 17 inches wide and 12 to 14 inches deep? (which is deeper than all the new DLP sets!) if you have a DVD or HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player (I have one of each, geek and proud) where do these reside? If you mount the "flat" screen, there has to be two wires, at least one HDMI and the power cord runing to a console or entertainment center somewhere, right? Add a Blu-Ray player (HDMI), only one of the gaming systems(HDMI) now your talking 4 wires and someplace to house the systems...

It seems in an effort to be relevant, CNET and some of its readers are forgetting reality. DLP may become a niche technology but it is VERY good for anyone who has the space and the interest in a great, large size TV for the next 10 years and a normal budget.

[Knurdle]

How's the bulb life on rear-projectors these days? I have a cheap (ish) Sharp XR30X front projector that I'm looking to replace, since the bulb only lasted six months, and costs $350 to replace!

[tigergeek]

No bulb in mine, I waited till LED light source was available. You have to be careful as the lower end DLP's may have a bulb. Samsungs 750A is LED but 650A is a bulb.

[denvertrakker]

I've got 2+ years on my Samsung 46", with over 3000 hours, and I'm still on the original bulb. I bought a spare - at under $200 - because I was getting nervous, but it's still in the box. RPTV is just fine for me.

[Edward Pon]

With regard to RPTV. My recommendation is STAY AWAY unless you plan to get a new TV ever 5 years or so. The so called value is meaningless if your tv completely dies, is unrepairable and is not supported by the Manufacturer after only 5 years of use. The manufacturer (Mitsubishi in my case) no longer makes replacement parts for my TV. The CRT tube leaks onto the circuit board, shorting it out and completely destroys the circuit board. Check out the numerous complaints on line. There is a remote chance of a class action suit. I have read that DLP RPTV are not any better. I am never buying a Mitsubishi again.

[Brent212]

I bought a Sony 57" RP CRT in 2005 and I swear I've still never seen a tv with a picture that beats it. Yes, it is pretty big, and I understand if some people prefer to mount their tv on the wall, but I have no inclination to do that. Something about the picture on a DLP, LCD, or plasma just looks grainy or "noisy" compared to the picture of my CRT. My best guess is that CRTs hide compression artifacts better than other technologies. And it was super cheap when I bought it. It doesn't do 1080p, but 1080i on my sony is as good as it gets, IMO.

[jokerman87]

Rptv forever I'm not yet a fan of flat panels not big enough for me dont like the stands. I'll take a tv that
can stand on its own anyday.