Plasma TVs Vs. DLP TVs

Plasma and DLP Rear Projection are two types of TV sets that come in a variety of brands and models nowadays. In terms of picture quality, both DLP and Plasma TVs have much to offer. The areas of interest for consumers are: contrast, clarity, color saturation and accuracy, and brightness.

Contrast
Contrast measures the difference between the darkest (black) and lightest (white) spectrum that the TV can display. Since DLP is a relatively new technology, it cannot offer the high contrast ratios that Plasma TVs can. Some Plasma TVs offer contrast ratios from 2000:1 to even 4000:1. However it’s important to note that unless you plan on watching TV in a completely darkened room, a contrast ratio over 1000:1 is virtually indistinguishable from 500:1. When it comes to black and white levels, Plasmas TVs win out over DLP TVs.

Picture Clarity
In general, Plasma TVs have better picture clarity than DLP TVs, the difference is minimal. Picture clarity refers to the sharpness of the edges and lines in images displayed on the TV screen. When it comes to color saturation, Plasma TVs win hands down. If you go to a show room and do an eye to eye comparison between the two, you’ll notice the difference. Colors on Plasma TVs are richer and more vibrant than on DLPs. DLP TVs are less reliable with color saturation. Some colors display well while others leave much to be desired. If you’re looking for deep, rich hues on your TV screen, Plasma is the way to go.

Brightness
When it comes to brightness, both DLP and Plasmas are well matched. There’s no clear advantage to either.

Size
DLP TVs are rear-projection sets and generally come in larger models (40, 50 and 61"). Like their traditional rear projection TV counterparts, DLP TVs require almost the same amount of space, with the exception of the base. Plasma TVs start at 37" to 60" and are known to for their super slim designs, with the average coming in around 3.5". In retail stores, Plasma TVs are typically mounted onto walls and tables. DLP TVs are deeper and bulkier. The choice comes down to preference.

Price
For the same viewing screen, DLPs are cheaper than Plasma TVs. However as the technology required to produce Plasma TVs decreases, the prices of the units will follow suit. As of early 2009, a 67" DLP comes in under $2000 while a 60" Plasma runs close to $5000.

One of the nice things about Plasma TVs is that they almost always come with a computer input making them nice, albeit expensive, computer monitor replacements. DLPs are designed for home-entertainment and do not sport the necessary plugs for a computer monitor hookup.

Viewing Angle
Plasmas have near perfect 180 degree viewing angle which means that the picture looks almost the same regardless of which angle you watch from. DLPs, however, range from around 100 degree and under.

Lifespan
DLPs have a longer lifespan than Plasma TVs because of the way they display images. DLP technology bounces light from a bulb off mirrors. If the bulb goes out it can be replaced ($200 or less). However Plasma TVs emit light from the emission of natural gases and cannot be replaced. Plasma TVs should be replaced every three to four years. DLP light bulbs last around eight to nine years.

Overall, Plasma TVs seem to win out in most categories over DLP TVs; however if you’re looking for a TV that will last years, DLP may still be an attractive option.

Things to Check

Before you call a repairman, check the following:

• If your television will not turn on, you should check your power cord to insure that the TV is actually plugged in. Make certain that the AC outlet the television is plugged into works by connecting a lamp or other electrical device to the AC socket being used. Press the Power button on your television and/or power the set on using your remote control. Insure that the batteries in your remote are good. If necessary, replace your batteries in the remote control.
• Many newer Television sets have sleep timer settings accessible through the main menu. If your TV turns off unexpectedly, you can try to power up your television manually and verify that the sleep timer settings are turned off by deactivating the wake up timer.
• Adjust the picture quality of your Television by adjusting the picture settings on your menu. If the Television is on but you can’t get a picture, try selecting a different signal input on you television front panel or remote control. Scroll through the input settings one by one to see if your picture comes back with a different input signal setting. Check your antenna, cable, or satellite TV connections, and try a different channel in case there is a problem with the current channel. Remember that both analog and digital sets are subject to weather related outages due to heavy rain, storms, or objects blocking your satellite dish if using Direct TV or another satellite provider.
• If your Television sound reception is poor, go to the menu and select Sound options. Try the mono setting first or choose Stereo, or Dolby or other sound settings to see if your sound comes back on. Most new television sets have an internal speaker off/on setting. Insure that the setting is turned to the on position. If there is still no sound, insure that the Television sets mute option is turned off. This can be done by pushing the mute button on the remote control or through the menu options.
• Verify that your Television is set to the proper source if you are unable to get any channels above channel 13. Verify that your menu settings for cable or antenna source are properly set. Check the TV/Cable function on the menu or a similar function on your TV so that you can properly access your appropriate source. Generally you should select the Antenna option only if you are using a UHF/VHF antenna to obtain your TV signal. You should select the Cable setting if you are using cable TV for your TV signal source. Satellite TV will usually be broadcast to one specific channel (usually channel 2 or 3) in the antenna position or to HDMI or other optional inputs if your satellite receiver is equipped with HDMI and other optional outputs.
• Turn off the closed caption feature if you have a cable box, satellite TV Receiver or black box connected to your television. Depending on your model of television, the closed caption feature may be set to "text" mode. Use your remote or the controls on the TV to turn off closed captioning.

Remember
It's always better to be safe than sorry - if in doubt, have a professional look at your set so you can get it repaired fast!

DIY Television Repair

Television repair is one of those useful skills in life that you don’t learn in school, which is probably a good thing because TV repair can be potentially lethal; this is why professional TV repairman are worth the money for complicated repair jobs. However, there are a few things that the average TV owner can fix without much difficulty.

Common problems that you might have experienced at some point in your life include: snowy picture, loose coaxial fitting, loose or broken antenna, bad coaxial cables, poor sound or speakers, poor picture quality or overheating. Before doing any TV repair work, REMEMBER: DISCONNECT ALL CABLES.

Cable Issues
Coaxial cables are copper cables used to connect your TV to the community antennae owned by Cable TV companies; it’s that long wire that screws into the back of your TV set. If you’ve ever had to twiddle with the cable in the back of your TV set to get a better picture, then you’ve probably had your fair share of headaches with the coaxial cable. The solution for a loose cable is to simply wiggle the cable until your picture returns. If this doesn’t correct the problem, you may need to replace the fitting, which is the metal part of the cable that connects to the TV or you may have to replace the cable itself. If it turns out that none of these suggestions fix the problem, you may have to call your local TV repairman and replace the fitting on the TV set.

Antenna Replacement
If you suffer from fuzzy picture quality, chances are there’s a problem with your antenna. While this isn’t a problem for recently purchased TV sets, for the old, but still functioning CRT tubes, replacing the antenna may just do the trick. Grab a small Philips screwdriver (the one with the “+” head) and remove the small screws that connect the antenna to the base. You can buy a replacement antenna from most electronic stores like Best Buy or Radio Shack. Be sure to buy the right antenna for your model. When installing the new antenna, make sure that the washers and spacers stay intact. Screw the antenna back into the base tight enough so that it doesn’t fall down, but not too tight that it can’t move.

Bad Picture
One of the most irritating problems to troubleshoot on a TV is bad picture. You’ve switched to every channel and still the picture still looks terrible. Chances are the screen is magnetized and the automatic de-magnetizing function built into the TV isn’t working. If there are any stereo speakers, electric motors or anything that may be magnetic, remove them.

The typical way to de-magnetize or de-gauss, the technical term, is to buy a special de-gaussing coil available at any electronic supply store. Start in either the upper left or right corner and start moving the coil in small circles about 2-3 inches from the screen; the effect it produces should look like a dull, rainbow. The pattern will fluctuate. Gradually move the coil in larger and larger circles until you cover the entire screen. Congratulations, your screen should now be de-magnetized and your picture restored.

Buying a Used Plasma or LCD TV

When it comes to electronics, buying new is generally the safest strategy. However for budgeted consumers, buying a used TV may be the only viable option.

Warranty
At Boise LCD, we provide a 1 year warranty on anything we sell or service. Used TV sets usually don’t come with warranties, unless they’ve been refurbished by the manufacturer in which case there may or may not be a manufacturer warranty. Without a warranty, the most important aspect to look for in a used TV is the age and frequency of use.

Frequency of Use
LCD and Plasma TVs generally last around 50,000-65,000 hours of use. The mileage may vary for less reputable manufacturers. Before purchasing a used TV, make sure to find out when the TV was manufactured and how long it’s been used. Keep in mind that Plasma TVs have a set half life after which their brightness levels halve. LCDs, on the other hand, are backlit by a bulb that is sometimes replaceable.

Price and Purchasing
Since the motivation for purchasing a used TV is price, used TV consumers should look for good deals on reliable machines. Much like buying a used car, it’s important to find the right price for the amount of mileage currently on the machine. Checking online for deals on used TVs is a good place to start. Another place to look for used TVs would be repair shops; oftentimes you can find a refurbished TV at a fraction of the cost of new units. Another possibility is buying a used TV off a friend or a neighbor who’s preparing to a new home. Since Plasma and LCD TVs are becoming popular household furnishings, it’s not uncommon to find good deals for TVs at moving sales among neighbors or friends.

Picture Quality
When buying a used TV, be sure to test out picture quality. Sometimes TV sets that have endured prolonged use may have a dull look. Also make sure to check if there are any burnt pixels on the screen; although these may not impact the picture quality significantly, they can be used as a bargaining position to lower the selling price.

Cables, Settings, Jacks
Always check to see if all audio jacks and cable inputs are functional prior to purchasing a used TV. Also makes sure that the display settings and menus on the TV set are working properly. Since audio jacks and inputs are vital for DVDs and stereo speakers, purchasing a TV with broken inputs is reason for significant price reduction or a pass altogether.

Buying a used TV, with proper research and consideration, can be the perfect solution for price conscious consumers. However keep in mind that some deals, like many things in life, are too good to be true. Be weary of outrageous deals that seem unbelievable, even used TVs have their proper price range. When it comes to purchasing used items, the most important things to consider are mileage and price. The more hours a TV has been used, the shorter its lifespan regardless of how good its condition.

DTV & HDTV - What's the Difference?

One of the common misconceptions is that DTV and HDTV are synonymous. While HDTV, or high definition TV, is DTV, or digital TV, not all DTV is HDTV. You can think of HDTV as a special kind of DTV or a subset of DTV.

DTV generally comes in one of three standard formats: 480p, 720p and 1080i.

480p
480p is short hand for progressive 480 line resolution. Progressive scan DVD players display images in this format. Standard Definition TV or SDTV broadcasts with 480i or 480 interlace. The "i" in 480i stands for interlaced passing which prints the image on the screen in two sets of lines: the odd numbered resolution lines first and then even numbered ones. The progressive scan 480p gives images a much more fluid, film-like look. While 480p represents only half the potential of HDTV technology, it is still a step up from SDTV's 480i resolution. Since 480p broadcasting requires less bandwidth, broadcasters have the option to provide multiple channels of programming, which means more options for the viewer.

Pros and Cons: high quality progressive scan DTV broadcast, takes up the least amount of bandwidth. Image loses crispness on larger screens. 480p is not HDTV.

720p
Unlike 480p, 720p is a DTV format that is also considered a standard HDTV format. Because it has more lines of resolution (720 compared to 480) 720p provides a much sharper picture than 480p. With a higher resolution, 720p looks better than 480 on larger screens 32" and higher.

Pros and Cons: high quality progressive scan HDTV broadcast, doesn't take up as much bandwidth as 1080i. Image still looks detailed and crisp on larger screens (32"+).

1080i
1080i is the most commonly used HDTV format and provides the highest quality image than all other DTV standards, however whether this image is that much better than 720p is debatable. Despite the better picture quality, the benefits of 1080i cannot be seen on screen sets below 32" simply because the extra lines provided by the 1080i format are not displayable on smaller screens.

Pros and Cons: 1080i - highest quality HDTV broadcast standard. 1080i broadcasting takes up the most amount of bandwidth. Since most Plasma, LCD or DLP TV sets do not come in true 1080 resolution, the image is converted to 720p or 480p in order to be displayed, which reduces picture quality. 1080p is superior to 1080i but since so few TVs can display 1080p, it has yet to become an HDTV standard.