The Design Perspective

Nearly all displays will look great with native HD images being sent to the displays because the scaler doesn’t need to do any work. 1080 in, 1080 out–easy! This is why the big box stores never show you a DVD, only HD signals. When you get the TV home and connect your DVD or watch non-HD channels you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

The best TV to buy is the one that has a great scaler and circuit design. Unfortunately, the specs do not tell you this. There are new test devices that can give a relative “picture quality” rating by comparing the incoming signal to the displayed images. Other than that, the best advice is from someone who sees a lot of displays and has an unbiased opinion.

I’m about as close to unbiased as you’ll get. I do sell TVs and projectors but mostly custom installer products–not the consumer stuff you’ll find at a big box store. The reason is simple: products made the the custom install channel do not have the same competitive pressure like the consumer products. Sharp, Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, HItachi and the like all have pressure to pump out products with the latest trend and for $50 less than the other brands. This results in what we call the “Race to the Bottom”. Intermixed with all the gravel is an occasional jewel. For example, the Sharp LCxxD62 line has a nice image. Ask me next quarter and I’ll probably still say it has a nice image.

Custom channel products are made to last. I still enjoy my 5-year old InFocus 7200. It has a great scaler in it and I still receive many compliments on the picture quality. That’s the sign of a great display–when people still think it looks great after 5 years!

We’re getting to the point where the techology can produce images with amazing clarity. The HD signal coming into your home from the cable, satellite, HD-DVD, or BluRay is so sharp that you need a 120″ diagonal screen to start to see imperfections at any reasonable viewing distance. Our expectations have also risen as we start to watch more HD. Standard NTSC video versus HD has the same impact as Black and White versus Color TV did 25 years ago. The exception to this trend is the iPOD’s and uTube. Picture quality suffers but portability and accessibility are maximized. I think this will change when we can walk next to our friend’s HD display and “beam” an HD clip to it (nothing available like this just yet, but you can put it in your “Derek’s Technology Predictions file for 2011″.)

From a connectivity point of view, HDMI is great for HD sources or if you intend on using your TV speakers instead of a surround sound receiver. It carries both 1080p signals and audio so it can simplify the wiring but you’ll need compatible devices at both ends and anything in between. Incompatible HDMI devices will either display the images at 480 lines of resolution (not HD) or not display an image at all. The new HDMI standard is compatible with several PC cards so you can tie your PC to your TV and enjoy all the benefits of gaming, browsing, viewing photos, and home control that the computer can give you. Again, the Sharp LCxxD62 model is HDMI 1.2 compliant so it works with HD PC signals if you have the right PC card.

My last piece of advice is to shop only when you’re ready to buy. There will ALWAYS be something better and cheaper available. The good products tend not to be on sale. The demand will always keep their value up. There is an initial price drop after a new technology is released but good products level off quickly and retain their value. Use Nextag or something similar to see when the price levels off then make a purchase. The first 3-6 months of a new display model can be the highest price so just be patient.

Now that the education process is over, let’s narrow the playing field. If you want “big and inexpensive” then your options are rear-projection, front-projection, plasma, then LCD (in that order). If you want “on-wall and sexy”, then your options are LCD, plasma, front-projection. Again, in that order. If you have concerns about off-axis viewing (great image from all angles), then your options are, generally, Plasma, front-pojection, LCD, and rear-projection. Vidikron makes an LCD that has such great off-axis viewing that it looks like a poster from the side but you won’t find it for $2k. The Sharp LC52D62 has dropped and should be available for $3k. The JVC HDP61R1U is a rear-projection for around $3k but you may have to look for one because it’s a custom-channel piece. The Sony pieces tend to be over-priced for what you get and I’ve seen some really bad scalers in them.

Where you intend on viewing the display and the lighting and placement have the most impact on the decision process. Bright rooms with windows across from the TV are best suited with LCD. Bright rooms with windows behind or to the side of the displays are good Plasma candidates. Rear projection is great for corners or displays in cabinetry because you have the space and can save some dough versus the thin screen LCD or Plasmas. Front (or custom rear-projection) is usually the best for large theater screen applications.

Hope this helps. Good luck and keep in touch!