Please convince me to buy a projection TV.

[X-Man]

My dilemma

I really can’t decide on what’s the best option. Originally I had decided to buy a 32inch Widescreen TV either the Philips PW6006 or the PW6515.

After seeing the 40 inch Projection TV’s @ John Lewis last night, she’s quite “happy” maybe I should say ‘happy to allow me’ to buy the Toshiba 43PJ93B.

Because of the sere size of the Toshiba I’ll have to place the TV in front of the patio doors therefore having the sunlight in the background. Will this hinder the viewing of the TV. I’m not too sure if she would like the curtains drawn all weekend.

My only other qualms with a projection are;

Screen Burn – I was reading yesterday that I should have the contrast quite low and avoid watching prolonged broadcast with logos. i.e. Sky news. I think they said that animated logos weren’t too bad. The magazine suggested that I zoomed in on the picture so that the screen logo wouldn’t be present on the screen.

Dust – I was reading a comment from a previous thread that dust can build up behind the projector screen. This is apparently quite normal ?

Bulb replacement – Do they cost from £200 upwards. I suppose there life span is around 4000-6000 hours. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Please answer all my questions as I’m starting to foam at the mouth thinking about having a projection TV. It’s also probably due to me having a month off from work as of this Monday :D:D:D

[jester]

Consider buying a reasonable CRT TV to handle most viewing and getting a rear projector. You will not have the bulk of a large fixed screen and still be able to watch movies on something wayyyy bigger.

just a thought

[minty]

Proud owner of the 4:3 43 inch tosh so a bit biased....

Make sure you have at least 10 ft from TV for viewing, because you'll need it for terrestrial broadcasts, otherwise line structure may be slightly visible.

TV is OK with sunlight behind, but as with any TV thats not a great viewing position. Also as with any TV the continual temperature cycling isn't good for them

TV contrast etc. Well in general I have the settings at 50% and that is where things like the video essentials calibration DVD etc say it should be. Certainly not in any way dim unless you go out of the main viewing angle.

Size: Its big, and what's more its picture is big. Its the attraction of 43inch Simpsons but does take a bit of getting used to.

You will need a stand as the viewing height is quite critical for decent brightness. Say +-10degrees for maximum brightness, unwatchable at +-45 degrees.

Although elevation angle is critical, azimuth (width) viewing angle is much better so its easy to sit around it OK

Did I say how good a 43 inch picture was? 40inch widescreen equivalent too!

Check out the long (but worth it) 43inch projector thread for most other questions to be answered.

[Zander]

I also have the 43" Tosh and was having the same dilema as you. I had it delivered last Thursday and I would not hesitate to recommend the set to anyone.

The picture is enormous and does take a little getting used to but oh what a problem to have!! I was also really impressed at the quality of the picture it really did exceed my expectations.

The viewing angle is very good (as this was a concern) but I agree that getting the correct stand so it is at the right height is essential.

I have a sun type room built onto the back of my front room so it is an extriemly well lit room but again I dont really find this to much of an issue.

The thing that pushed me over the dge was that to upgrade to a 32" from my current 28" didnt seem to be worth doing. Going for a 36" was bloody expensive so this seemed like a good option, and it was!!!

[Justin]

Having in the past owned both Sony and Toshiba 40/41" screens, and a 50" sony, unless you really need a big screen, I`d advise against it! Although picture quality and reliability has increased significantly in the last couple of years, you won`t beat a high end CRT set for actual contract, brightness, and more importantly, geomitry!

I`d consider a 36" set, along the lines of the Panasonic 36PL10, or if you can find one, a 36PF10, which is regarded as the rolls royce of 36" screens:)

Otherwise, check out the new range of plasmas, you`ll pick up a daewoo for example cheap, at about £2500 plus vat.

[X-Man]

Thanks for everybody’s advice. It’s a decision I thought, would be initially easy to make. When I compared the prices of the top spec 32inch Widescreens the price of the Toshiba seemed very reasonable. ( a few hundred pounds cheaper)

Is ‘BIG EVERYTHING’ pardon the pun.

Moving the projection screen to the patio doors make the viewing position around 25 – 30 feet from the sofas. So there shouldn’t be a viewing problem I think. My main concern is that the back on the TV may get very hot during the day in summer. I suppose I could always leave one side of the patio doors open while we’re @ home.

Another thing to consider would be that I’ll be keeping my AV kit in it’s present location so I’ve budgeted around about £150-£180 for new cable runs. i.e. 2 X 30 M scarts, 2 x 30 M phono 2 phono cables and additional speaker runs.

The last thing I can remember her saying this morning was ‘ Where do we put the Xmas tree as the TV will be in the way’

:D

I’ll have to thing hard about the new TV now.

[lynx]

Originally posted by X-Man

Screen Burn – I was reading yesterday that I should have the contrast quite low and avoid watching prolonged broadcast with logos. i.e. Sky news. I think they said that animated logos weren’t too bad. The magazine suggested that I zoomed in on the picture so that the screen logo wouldn’t be present on the screen.

I posted on this very subject a couple of months back but it sank without trace.I was considering an rptv till i stumbled across a forum where some members were having major problems with this issue.In the end I decided not to go ahead till i had more info on the problem.

[CoolDude]

JUST GO BUY ONE BEFORE I SLAP YOU SILLY!!!!:D :D :D

[Bapapapa]

Moving the projection screen to the patio doors make the viewing position around 25 – 30 feet from the sofas. So there shouldn’t be a viewing problem I think.

If you use a pair of binoculars, sure there'll be no problem.

:eek:

[APPRIA40WR]

Get a 37" Toshiba CRT and a LCD projector for really big pics.

RPTV don't cut it with me really.

[Zander]

Horses for courses isnt it really......

In the 43" Tosh thread recently there were masses of people with them who were extremely happy.

As I said to my wife 'the words too big and TV do not go together and yes size is everything!!'.

[minty]

I'd be a bit concerned about those long cable runs for your SCART and phonos.

Sounds like you NEED a big TV if you're 20 odd feet away.

Oh and whilst I would love a projector and a CRT, I pick the RPTV because
a) RPTV now is a lot better than a couple of years ago (though don't necessarily believe the setup in your local Comet, look at say the arcades with their RPTV 'shoot the zombie' games)

b) A decent projector (even 2nd hand) will set you back > £5k particularly in your lighting conditions.

c) An equivalent size CRT will be of better quality I suspect but at a fair bit more money.

d) RPTVs can be a bit fiddly in that they will need reconverging occasionally but it is made simple from the menus.

[APPRIA40WR]

My Tosh 37" CRT cost £995 delivered. Excellent value and with a picture far superior than any RPTV I've seen plus of course no 'bulbs' to change in 5 years time which'll cos £750 on the RPTV.

Very good projectors can be bought for £2k. If one buys a projector then one aught to expect blackout conditions anyway.

The bulbs on projectors are costly of course (£200-£500) but for the extra oompf you get it's worth it.

A large CRT may satisfy most people.

[SimonInd]

My Tosh 37" CRT cost £995 delivered. Excellent value and with a picture far superior than any RPTV I've seen plus of course no 'bulbs' to change in 5 years time which'll cos £750 on the RPTV.

I presume superior = smaller and rounder? :D

I couldn't see at the Toshiba website, has it been discontinued? I know it was about when I bought my 43" but I wrote it off on the grounds that the screen's not flat, it's very deep and heavy, and it's smaller!

If you want absolute longevity out of a TV then a tube is definately the way to go, however if (like me) you want a big screen now, but will probably go Plasma in 3 - 5 years then a RPTV is a pretty good solution. The only problem is you'll probably struggle to sell it then ( in 3 - 5 years time ) because the market for anything other than Plasma big-screen TVs may well disappear, although this may affect large CRTs as well, and it's not like you can use it in the bedroom?

Simon

[babylon]

Re: Heat issues and patio doors; my home cinema is set up in the lounge, which is both south facing and has patio doors with a conservatory on the back. Even though the electrical equipment is placed against an internal wall, the heat buildup in the room during a hot summers day can be quite savage, especially since we leave the door closed when out to keep our two cats out. Our compromise is to leave the curtains closed at all times when we are not in the room, this both removes the damage done by direct sunlight and lessens the temperature buildup.
HTH

[X-Man]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by minty
[B]I'd be a bit concerned about those long cable runs for your SCART and phonos.

Sorry minty I meant to say 25-30 feet and not metres. Still they are extremely long cable runs.

Thanks for all the info everybody.

I'm considering maybe getting a 36in Widescreen and then a projector to watch just the movies on. But the projector will have to be some time next you though.

Apria40WR - where did you get your 37 in from. The nearest I can get to the 1K price is buying Graded stock.:(

[pjweston]

Screen burn
It's fair to say that there are some rather large warnings in the Toshiba manual that I used to pay attention to. But, having - several times - accidentally left the set on the same logo'd channel for many hours with no apparent ill affects, I've given up worrying about it now. Under normal viewing with normal brightness settings (50%) I think you'd have to try really hard to burn the screen.

Bulb replacement
Note that the 43" Tosh uses three 7" CRTs; LCD RPTVs use bulbs! :D It's worth having a surf through groups.google to see what people say about the life of conventional CRTs. You may be surprised. The Tosh's CRTs should last a fair while, though; much longer than a CRT projector but not as long a single CRT.

I couldn't see at the Toshiba website, has it been discontinued?
It has apparently just been replaced with another 43" set with slightly different letters. No idea what the differences are, though :)

[APPRIA40WR]

I got my 37" from Scottish Power (now owned by Powerhouse). I think it's prolly is discontinued but there's still a few kicking about.

As for it being 6" smaller than the 43", well just sit 6" closer! :D

Seriously, you guys'll know all about it when you have to cough up £250 for a RPTV bulb and £50 for some bloke to come out and fit it. 3 bulbs (as these TVs need) + 3 visists =£900 http://members.tripod.co.uk/uploadimages/shock.gif