Sizing Up A Really Big TV
A few months ago I reviewed a Dell 42-inch plasma display which, in my opinion, is a really big TV. But it's not as big as they get. For that matter, neither is the 61-inch JVC HD-ILA Rear Projection TV that's in my home right now, but it sure is big.
It's also really nice. The high definition programs come in crystal clear and even regular (standard definition) shows look OK, though not nearly as good as the ones that are broadcast in "hi-def." At a street price of about $2,200 to $2,500 it's probably one of the most economical ways to get a very large screen high-def TV.
Plasma and rear projection are two of several technologies being used in today's high definition TVs. Other technologies include Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), standard high definition cathode ray tube (CRT) and front-screen projectors for home theaters.
What LCD, plasma and rear screen have in common is a flat screen and the capability of producing a stunning picture in a large format. LCDs, which cost more to build per square inch, are used mainly in smaller models, typically 32 inches or lower.
Click here to listen to Larry Magid's podcast interview of Dan McCarron, product manager of JVC's new line of rear projection televisions.
The advantage of plasma is that the screens tend to be thinner. The Dell, which is 4 inches thick, can be mounted on a wall, though relatively few people actually do wall mount their plasma TVs. Rear projection TVs are thicker. The JVC, for example, is 18.5 inches thick but unless space is tight, thickness may not matter – from the front, all the viewer sees is a flat screen TV.
When it comes to size, what really matters is the size of the picture, measured diagonally. While not everyone wants the largest screen possible, there is certainly a market for large screens. For one thing, they help to create a theater-like atmosphere and, for another, they can be quite impressive to your visitors. I must admit that there is something pleasant about watching a TV show or a movie on a large screen even if it's just you sitting on the couch.
If size does matter, the big advantage of rear screen projection TVs is that you get more for your money. That's because the cost of the screen itself is pretty low. It's basically just translucent material. The real guts of the TV is the projection unit and the lenses at the back which, regardless of the size of the screen, are pretty small.
There are several different technologies used in rear screen TVs. Some of the older units had CRTs which generated an image that was projected onto the screen. Although these CRTs were a lot smaller than the TVs, they were still relatively big and bulky which is one reason some of those earlier rear screen TVs came in very large cabinets.
Modern rear screen systems use much more compact "microdisplay" system to generate the picture. These systems consist of a lamp that focuses light through a small chip onto a screen. In general, these small microdisplays are capable of creating excellent high definition images for both regular TV viewing and computer displays.
There are three different microdisplay technologies: LCD, DLP (Digital Light Processing) and LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon). The JVC unit I reviewed uses LCOS. There are various schools of thought as to which technology is better. JVC's LCOS technology, which it calls HD-ILA (ILA stands for "Image Light Amplifier"), uses a three chip process which it says is brighter and produces less flicker than DLP or LCD technologies. The current models display high-definition at 720p. JVC plans to introduce TVs at 1080p which, it says, will be even sharper.
The TV has a built-in tuner and built-in stereo speakers but there are also plenty of input and outputs connections that enable it to work with multiple devices such as cable boxes, satellite receivers, DVD players, VCRs, camcorders and even PCs. I have mine connected to a Dish Network high definition satellite receiver which works great. I've also hooked up a DVD player and an external speaker system. The TV also has a cable card input which allows you to eliminate an external cable box with some cable TV services.
Thanks to JVC's ILA technology, images look good even in a reasonably well-lit room. There are a couple of minor issues with this and other rear screen systems. To prolong the life of the lamp and dissipate heat, the TV has a fan which comes on at different times. It's not terribly loud but it can be audible, especially if the TV is at low volume. Although the TV set itself looks great, the remote control, while functional, is pretty ugly and it requires you to go to an onscreen menu when changing input source.
At the end of the day, what matters in a TV is that you enjoy what you see on the screen and this JVC rear-screen model delivers where it matters. Now all I need is a bigger room to put it in.
A syndicated technology columnist for nearly two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."
By Larry Magid By Larry Magid