All About HDTV - Comparisons of Front & Rear Projection

Rear Projection HDTV

The term Rear Projection TV has historically meant a CRT-Based big screen TV - the old style big screen with a large base, narrow view angle and the light guns that require periodic calibration.  However, the recent introduction of microdisplay technologies such as DLP and LCD mean that now you can buy a big screen TV that sports any number of different display methods.  Each type is covered below.

DLP Rear Projection HDTV

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, a proprietary technology developed and licensed by Texas Instruments.  DLP HDTVs have been gaining popularity rapidly for many reasons including their size potential (DLP HDTVs can be found over 70 inches), their clarity and their smaller depth profile.  DLP HDTVs are arguably the best compromise in size, price and performance in the HDTV market today.  While they have large screens, they do not require the massive base typically found on a CRT-based rear projection HDTV.  Additionally, they are reasonably thin - most DLP HDTVs are only 10-16 inches deep whereas a CRT-based Rear Projection HDTV can be in excess of 24 inches deep.   Most DLPs can be placed on a stand or table, despite being over 60 inches.  The price of DLP HDTVs has been coming down steadily over the last year making DLPs a viable alternate to Plasma and LCD HDTVs.  Finally, DLPs produce arguably the best quality high definition images available today.  They are fantastic at reproducing the color black - a difficult task for Plasma and some LCD TVs - and have some of the most realistic imaging of any TV type.  DLP HDTVs are the TVs we personally have in our homes as they represent what we believe to be the best price-value combination.

• Pros:  Outstanding picture, great reproduction of black, price is coming down, slim profile/smaller size, no maintenance required to maintain sharpness of picture, wide viewing angle
• Cons:  While price is coming down, they are not yet inexpensive, bulbs have been known to need replacing after a few years (this is getting better)

Rear Projection LCD Television HDTV

Rear Projection LCD HDTVs use the same liquid crystal display technology that LCD Flat Panels use, yet they project the image allowing for TVs of large size - up to 70 inches.  Rear projection LCDs are reasonably slim in depth profile like a DLP and are fairly light overall.  Rear Projection LCD HDTVs use a 3-panel configuration (one for red, blue and green).  One benefit of these panels is they are fixed, therefore they will never require any adjustment or calibration.  Rear Projection LCD HDTVs are bright and reproduce color very well.  They are great options for a room with a lot of natural light.  They don't have the fastest refresh rate, so fast moving programming such as sports or video games can have ghost effects or appear choppy.  This issue continues to be addressed by the manufacturers and really should not scare away anyone but the most serious of gamers.  One other issue with rear projection LCD is its ability to reproduce the color black.  Rear Projection LCD HDTVs can have difficulty with picture details in shadowy scenes.

• Pros:  Light and slender, no calibration ever required, bright with great color
• Cons:  Slower refresh rate, reproduction of deep blacks

CRT Rear Projection HDTV

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Rear Projection HDTVs are still the bellwether for picture performance.  A Rear Projection HDTV simply looks great.  They are outstanding at reproducing blacks, the picture has a more natural feel and, when configured properly they rival a theater experience.  Additionally, a rear projection HDTV is relatively inexpensive, making it a great alternative to the higher priced DLPs and Plasma TVs.  However, there are compromises with CRT rear projection HDTVs.  They require reasonably regular maintenance to ensure the picture stays crisp whereas LCD TVs, Plasma and DLP TVs do not.  Also, they have a relatively narrow viewing window, which means the best seat is right in front.  Finally, CRT rear projection HDTVs can be rather bulky.   They average about 24 inches of depth and often have a sizable base.  The CRT rear projection HDTV will eventually be replaced with DLP TVs and other big screen options, but for now the Rear Projection TV remains, dollar for dollar, the best value in HDTVs. 

• Pros:  Excellent picture quality, excellent reproduction of black, fairly inexpensive
• Cons:  Requires periodic maintenance to maintain picture, susceptible to burn in, large and heavy, narrow viewing angle

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