Choose the Right Monitor Type
Flat-panel displays are the hot ticket these days, but they're not the only way to watch HDTV. In fact, there are more technologies than you can shake a remote at, each with its own jumble of abbreviations. Our focus here is going to be on the pros and cons of each format, not their innermost workings.
Flat-panel: thinnest of the thin
Flat-panel sets using direct-view Plasma or LCD technology are extremely popular, mostly because of their sleek form factor: just a few inches thick. But while hanging the TV on the wall will certainly win you some style points, you should be aware of potential trade-offs in picture quality. The most noticeable of these is a lack of shadow detail due to gray-looking blacks, which can spell bad news on movie night. Because of this, while they are great for all-around TV viewing, flat-panels are not the first choice for most dedicated home-theater installations. But on the plus side, they put out a lot of light, making them good choices for brighter rooms. Of the two varieties, Plasma typically delivers the better image quality, especially in newer models that can show much deeper, truer blacks. The color also tends to be better overall, and you get a wider angle of view compared to LCD. While historically costlier than LCD, plasma prices are falling steadily, especially in the sweet-spot 42-inch size. LCD remains the price leader in smaller screen sizes, offering excellent all-around viewing for a low cost of entry. Image quality is likewise improving, with newer models delivering better black performance. LCD sets weigh a lot less than their plasma cousins, and consume less power. Bottom Line: Maximum cool points, good all-around TV viewing. LCD is the boss under 40 inches; above that it's plasma country.
Rear projection: getting flatter all the time
Rear-projection television, sometimes called "RPTV," is a category that's undergoing a lot of change. The older designs, powered by CRTs, were about the size of a carnival booth. You can still get one of those if you want, but newer models have gone digital and take up a lot less real estate - in some cases only slightly more than a flat-panel, and wall-mountable. While the form factor remains a bit bulkier than that of direct-view sets, performance is also a bit better overall, with superior blacks making for a better home-cinema experience. Some models use LCD as the internal projector technology, but it's becoming more common to use some kind of digital imaging chip to produce the lightshow. DLP uses a single projector chip, with a spinning color wheel to separate the light into discrete colors. While it looks great to most of the people most of the time, that rotating wheel is a problem for some, occasionally resulting in "rainbow" lines or image flicker. Newer models have improved color wheels, or (better yet) have replaced that single chip with individual chips for red, green, and blue. LCoS and its relatives have also gone the three-chip route. HD-ILA and SXRD are both advanced, 3-chip implementations of LCoS, delivering clean color without visual side effects. LCD sets in this category are likewise seeing the light, and migrating to 3-LCD projection systems. Rear-projection sets are not vulnerable to screen burn-in, but their projector lamps have to be replaced from time to time. Lamps typically cost a few hundred dollars, and last a few thousand hours. Bottom Line: Home-theater quality, nearly-flat profile, prices to suit most budgets.
CRT: the heavyweight champion
CRT - the old "picture tube" technology - is nothing if not mature. In fact, it's probably nearing the end of its commercial life. But the latest generation of CRT sets delivers super HD quality at rock-bottom prices. The picture is really bright, the black is really black, and everything looks the way it should - CRT is still the standard by which other technologies are judged. So what's not to like? First, they are weighty and bulky, easily over 200 pounds for a larger unit. Second, they max out at around 38", which is on the small side for HD viewing. But if you can get past these limits, you can save yourself a bundle. Bottom Line: The low-price leader, but slated for recycling.
Front-projection: the videophile's choice
Front-projection is the only way to go for really big screen sizes (72" and up), and the favored display for high-end home theater installations. It requires a separate screen, separate audio gear, and separate so forth, so it's often part of a professionally-installed system. Moreover, it requires total darkness to function properly, making it a poor choice for general-purpose viewing. Modern front-projectors use much of the same technology you see in rear-projection sets, namely DLP and LCoS, but with even better results. Bottom Line: the connoisseur's choice in home theater, but not for everyday TV viewing.