Four styles of HDTV
Front-projection TVs Panasonic's PT-AE900 is a fully featured high-def LCD projector that costs less than S$3,500 (US$2,576.88). CRTs are also used in front-projectors; think of those three-tube monstrosities that hang from the ceiling in the coach compartments of older airplanes. We won't discuss them here, however, namely because CRT projectors are quite expensive and are generally reserved for high-end, custom installations, where they put the local cineplex to shame. We'll forgo a discussion on LCoS front projectors, which are also generally quite expensive, until we review one. DLP and LCD projectors, on the other hand, often cost much less than their rear-projection cousins and sometimes much more. Both technologies project the kind of huge picture--from units as small as a shoebox--that you enjoy at the theater.
DLP-based projectors come in all prices, resolutions, and picture qualities, so it's tougher than usual to generalize about them. That won't stop us from saying, in general, that DLP projectors can produce a brighter image than their LCD counterparts, and their black-level performance is also usually slightly better. DLPs suffer from the same rainbow effect as their rear-projection brethren, although very expensive three-chip models do not. Historically, true HD-resolution--1,280 x 720 or more--DLP units have cost significantly more than the 720p LCD competition, but very recently, a slew of more affordable 720p DLP projectors have begun hitting the market. They still cost a bit more than the LCDs and usually don't offer features such as lens shift, but nonetheless, they're destined to seriously increase the popularity of HDTV-resolution DLP models. At the other end of the spectrum, true 1080p resolution DLP projectors are coming out this year, which should offer excellent image quality and will definitely cost a bundle.
LCD and DLP are very close in terms of performance, and even LCD's ability to produce good blacks has improved quite a bit. DLP still enjoys a slight edge in contrast ratio, however, mainly because its projectors can get a bit brighter than those of LCDs. The screen-door effect, which appears as a fine grid of pixels overlaying the screen, is also more noticeable on most LCD projectors. As we mentioned above, however, 720p LCD projectors still enjoy more features than their budget 720p DLP competition, including highly desirable items such as horizontal and vertical lens shift. Otherwise, LCD offers a similar selection of resolutions as DLP models.
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1: Direct-view (tube) TVs
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