| Comparing DLP HDTV Units to Plasma and
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| | DLP HDTVs are considerably less expensive
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| LCD Reveals Strengths and Weaknesses
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| | than LCD or plasma displays that offer
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| Digital Light Processing or DLP is one of
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| | the same resolutions. They are smaller,
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| the latest HDTV technologies that is
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| | lighter, and thinner than CRT projectors,
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| taking the television industry by storm.
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| | and while they are lighter than LCD or
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| Developed by Texas Instruments, DLP is a
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| | plasma displays they are not as thin.
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| process in which millions of
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| | Like plasma, DLP units do not suffer from
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| microscopically small mirrors called
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| | phosphor burn-in of CRT units or image
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| Digital Micromirror Devices or DMDs
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| | persistence of LCD units.
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| reflect light onto the television screen.
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| | One great advantage to DLP HDTVs is that
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| The large number of mirrors, each
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| | they use an easily replaceable light
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| representing one or more pixels, ensures
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| | source, which means a potentially longer
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| a high quality image. DLP HDTV can come
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| | life than CRT or plasma units. The light
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| in the form of front projectors, which
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| | source is easier to replace than the
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| are standalone units, or rear projectors,
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| | backlights used for LCD displays, and on
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| which compete against LCD and Plasma
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| | DLPs is often user-replaceable,
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| flat-screens. DLP projectors have mostly
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| | eliminating the need for an expensive
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| supplanted CRT projectors, and is also
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| | trip to the service department.
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| one of the primary technologies used in
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| | The biggest problems with DLP HDTVs are
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| digital cinemas.
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| | response time and contrast. The response
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| One or Three Chips?
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| | time problem with DLP primarily occurs
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| One disadvantage to DLP HDTVs is that
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| | when dealing with a low-resolution input,
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| most single-chip systems, which are
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| | such as analog signals and older video
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| standard in home units, can produce a
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| | game units. Newer consoles such as the
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| "rainbow effect" of red, blue,
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| | PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 do not have
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| and green shadows when showing a bright
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| | this problem, nor do HDTV cable and
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| object moving quickly across a black
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| | satellite systems. The contrast on DLP
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| background. This is caused by the
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| | units is slightly below that of LCD or
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| movement of the color wheel, which
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| | plasma units but comparable to them, but
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| rapidly spins in front of each DMD to
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| | is only mediocre compared to a CRT.
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| produce color. Some people rarely see
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| | Conclusion
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| this effect, while others perceive it all
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| | DLP HDTVs are a fantastic option for
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| the time. As the effect can lead to eye
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| | anyone who wants high definition on a
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| strain, headaches and migraines in some
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| | budget. The advantage of the easily
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| viewers, anybody considering purchasing a
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| | replaceable light source cannot be
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| DLP HDTV would be well-served to see an
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| | overlooked, because the bulbs can cost as
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| in-store demonstration of the unit they
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| | little as $200, and when replaced the
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| are considering before purchasing. More
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| | unit should perform like new. However,
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| recent DLP units incorporate several
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| | the picture quality, while definitely
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| technologies that greatly lessen this
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| | HDTV-level, is not as good as a LCD or
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| effect, and three-chip projectors do not
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| | plasma unit. In short, DLP is HDTV on a
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| have this problem at all.
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| | budget, but if you can afford it you
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| Pricing and Other Considerations
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| | should go for LCD or plasma.
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