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FAQ - Types of HDTV - Their Advantages & Disadvantages (Historical Information)
FAQ - Types of HDTV - Their Advantages & Disadvantages (Historical Information)
Updated 2009.09.12. 9,825 Previous views.
Comparison of Display Types:
Each type of HDTV has advantages and disadvantages.
Here is a short list for each display type:
CRT-based RPTVs (pretty well extinct today, available used)
Advantages:
Least expensive per inch (available in sizes 40" – 80")
Easily repairable
Excellent colour rendition, including blacks
"Known quantity" for many years
Disadvantages:
Requires initial and periodic convergence and setup
Large, "ugly" black box (typically) (takes up floor space)
Susceptible to burn in
There are no CRT-based RPTVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P/540P, depending on the set.
Direct View HDTVs (Tube TVs) (Also pretty rare now, available used)
Advantages:
Smaller size for some smaller rooms/entertainment centers (maximum 4:3 size 40", maximum 16:9 size 34-36")
No need for convergence.
Better vertical viewing angle than RPTVs
Disadvantages:
If tube goes bad, repair cost is exorbitant – equivalent to cost of new TV
Horizontal resolution typically 800-1000 lines max (100-300 lines less than RPTVs) Some newer, expensive ones have higher horizontal resolution
Can burn in
Very heavy in the larger sizes.
There are no "consumer" Direct View TVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P, depending on the set.
LCD-based RPTVs (pretty well extinct - can buy used)
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size
Resolution – 720P, 768P, 788P.
No need for convergence.
Typical home use is not severe service so you don't need to worry about burn in on LCD-based RPTVs. (Some greyscale degradation possible in very severe service like on-all-day, every day on same channel.)
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV
Doesn’t display blacks very well.
DLP-based RPTVs (Quite rare, some still around)
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size
Resolution – 720P, 1080P
No need for convergence.
No possibility of burn in
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
Newest ones with LED lamps don't need lamp replacement - rare.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV
Doesn’t display black gradients well (dithering)
Some people see a "rainbow effect" (colour wheel models)
Plasma
Advantages:
Sexy, thin.
Available in sizes to 65" (and larger) (quite expensive in large sizes)
Excellent resolution (768P, 1080P)
Disadvantages:
Susceptible to burn in
Flat Panel LCDs
Advantages:
Sexy, thin.
Excellent resolution (768P & 1080P)
Disadvantages:
Doesn’t display blacks as well as plasma, although newer local dimming LEDs are getting close, but they are more expensive.
Viewing angles are quite limited - faded colours and blacks when viewed off axis
Front Projection
Advantages:
Large, variable screen size
Compact unit
Excellent viewing angles
Disadvantages:
Typically need dedicated, darkened "home theater"
Lamp life (LCD/DLP/LCoS) - about 2 years - ~$200-$400.
Be extremely careful when buying regarding resolution.
LCoS-based RPTVs (Extinct)
Advantages:
High resolution – 720P/1080P, depending on model/price
No need for convergence.
Better blacks and colour than LCD
No chance of burn in
Disadvantages:
Only a couple of manufacturers
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
Dead Pixels Any fixed pixel display (LCD, DLP, Plasma, etc) has the potential to have dead pixels. This is a "disadvantage" of these displays, although I have not heard a significant number of complaints regarding this issue.
OLED
Organic Light Emitting Diodes – possibly the future of flat panel displays
Making inroads into PDAs, cellphones, digital cameras, etc.
Advantages:
Can be made into a flexible thin display – like plastic
Sexy
Disadvantages:
Not yet available for TVs
Proven only in small displays. Very expensive
Concerns regarding long term viability of actual OLED system (display fades quickly)
Holodecks
In your dreams…
See the following site for additional information on projection TVs.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/projection-tv.htm
Please send 57 a PM if you have any comments or suggestions.
Updated 2009.09.12. 9,825 Previous views.
Comparison of Display Types:
Each type of HDTV has advantages and disadvantages.
Here is a short list for each display type:
CRT-based RPTVs (pretty well extinct today, available used)
Advantages:
Least expensive per inch (available in sizes 40" – 80")
Easily repairable
Excellent colour rendition, including blacks
"Known quantity" for many years
Disadvantages:
Requires initial and periodic convergence and setup
Large, "ugly" black box (typically) (takes up floor space)
Susceptible to burn in
There are no CRT-based RPTVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P/540P, depending on the set.
Direct View HDTVs (Tube TVs) (Also pretty rare now, available used)
Advantages:
Smaller size for some smaller rooms/entertainment centers (maximum 4:3 size 40", maximum 16:9 size 34-36")
No need for convergence.
Better vertical viewing angle than RPTVs
Disadvantages:
If tube goes bad, repair cost is exorbitant – equivalent to cost of new TV
Horizontal resolution typically 800-1000 lines max (100-300 lines less than RPTVs) Some newer, expensive ones have higher horizontal resolution
Can burn in
Very heavy in the larger sizes.
There are no "consumer" Direct View TVs that can natively display 720P. If the TV accepts 720P it gets converted to 1080i or 480P, depending on the set.
LCD-based RPTVs (pretty well extinct - can buy used)
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size
Resolution – 720P, 768P, 788P.
No need for convergence.
Typical home use is not severe service so you don't need to worry about burn in on LCD-based RPTVs. (Some greyscale degradation possible in very severe service like on-all-day, every day on same channel.)
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV
Doesn’t display blacks very well.
DLP-based RPTVs (Quite rare, some still around)
Advantages:
Light/compact for its screen size
Resolution – 720P, 1080P
No need for convergence.
No possibility of burn in
Disadvantages:
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
Newest ones with LED lamps don't need lamp replacement - rare.
More expensive than CRT-based RPTV
Doesn’t display black gradients well (dithering)
Some people see a "rainbow effect" (colour wheel models)
Plasma
Advantages:
Sexy, thin.
Available in sizes to 65" (and larger) (quite expensive in large sizes)
Excellent resolution (768P, 1080P)
Disadvantages:
Susceptible to burn in
Flat Panel LCDs
Advantages:
Sexy, thin.
Excellent resolution (768P & 1080P)
Disadvantages:
Doesn’t display blacks as well as plasma, although newer local dimming LEDs are getting close, but they are more expensive.
Viewing angles are quite limited - faded colours and blacks when viewed off axis
Front Projection
Advantages:
Large, variable screen size
Compact unit
Excellent viewing angles
Disadvantages:
Typically need dedicated, darkened "home theater"
Lamp life (LCD/DLP/LCoS) - about 2 years - ~$200-$400.
Be extremely careful when buying regarding resolution.
LCoS-based RPTVs (Extinct)
Advantages:
High resolution – 720P/1080P, depending on model/price
No need for convergence.
Better blacks and colour than LCD
No chance of burn in
Disadvantages:
Only a couple of manufacturers
Periodic lamp replacement - about 2-3 years - ~$200-$400.
Dead Pixels Any fixed pixel display (LCD, DLP, Plasma, etc) has the potential to have dead pixels. This is a "disadvantage" of these displays, although I have not heard a significant number of complaints regarding this issue.
OLED
Organic Light Emitting Diodes – possibly the future of flat panel displays
Making inroads into PDAs, cellphones, digital cameras, etc.
Advantages:
Can be made into a flexible thin display – like plastic
Sexy
Disadvantages:
Not yet available for TVs
Proven only in small displays. Very expensive
Concerns regarding long term viability of actual OLED system (display fades quickly)
Holodecks
In your dreams…
See the following site for additional information on projection TVs.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/projection-tv.htm
Please send 57 a PM if you have any comments or suggestions.
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