Best TV Review

DLP televisions have been nearly lost in the sea of sales, falling victim to the attractive LCD and plasma models. This makes us sad at Best TV, and is mainly due to the fact that DLP technology was falling a bit behind. However, newer DLP 1080p models (specifically the 2009 lineup) have stepped up to the plate, and will surely give the other HDTVs a run for their money. Because the DLP market has taken such a big dip in sales, there are only a handful manufacturers that still have the guts to produce them, the major two being Samsung and Mitsubishi.

TVs with DLP 1080p technology uses a chip with millions of tiny mirrors to create one of the most realistic pictures you can find on an HDTV. Many believe this chip allows for a crisper, sharper image than other technologies because it minimizes the distance between pixels used to produce an image. DLP 1080p technology boasts the highest number of pixels on a 1920 x 1080 resolution, over 2 millions, and can display up to 20 trillion colors (twice as many as other HDTVs).  While other HDTVs tend to suffer from motion blur, DLP 1080p TVs have an ultra fast 8-microsecond response time, virtually eliminating the problem. Also, unlike plasma and CRT TVs, DLPs have no way from suffering from “burn-in,” so while gaming or watching movies, you will not see an “after image” on the display.

The biggest advantage of DLP 1080p televisions (if you ask us at Best TV) is the price, especially in the struggling state of the economy. If you look at the 60″ Mitsubishi WD-60c9 (Best Buy Electronics), which costs $1,199.99, and a comparable 60″ Pioneer plasma, which costs $3,999.98, it is easy to see the cost benefit. They have nearly the same technology specs, but the DLP 1080p model is nearly 1/4 of the price. Mitsubishi has broken new ground and released a model that is a breathtaking 85 inches.

With DLP you get more size for your money, and the picture quality is not compromised with an increase in size. DLP 1080p TVs have actually become increasingly slimmer and more lightweight, weighing less than plasmas in most cases. They have a contrast ratio of up to 12:000: 1, and display deep black levels comparable to leading plasma models. Some say that DLP 1080p TVs suffer from disease called the “rainbow effect,” where shadows of colors can be seen on contrasting backgrounds. However, research has found that only 1-2% of the population would have eyes sensitive enough for this to be a problem, and only 3 out of over 920 people reported having noticed such an effect. They also consume up to 50% less energy than LCD and plasma televisions.

The Best TV bottom line is: DLP 1080p televisions are just as strong, if not stronger, than comparable LCD, plasma, or CRT models. They are great for watching any form of TV or movie, and are fantastic for gaming. They have a magnificent display with trillions of colors, and have rich black levels. They offer everything the higher end TVs have, at a fraction of the cost.

Best TV knows a good TV when we see one. The LG 47LH90 is a beautiful 47″, power saving, HD driven machine. It has a 1920 x 1080 display resolution (full HD), 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, LED Backlight Technology, and a 178 degree viewing angle. This TV is said to bridge the gap between LCD and plasma technology, making it an extremely close competitor. This LG LED comes equipped with 4 HDMI outputs (so you can have your dvd player, xbox, etc all hooked up at once), and a USB port so you can load digital pictures or music right onto the screen. It has deep, rich black levels and a matte screen to dramatically reduce light and reflections. This TV stays true to the sharp display quality expected from LG (and now LG LED TVs).

This television series (the 42″ LG 42LH90, 55″ 55FH90 are nearly identical to the 47″ in terms of picture quality, performance, etc) features the new LED-Backlight technology. Older LED models used an edge-lit approach, lining the edges of the screens with LED’s. Now, new developments have led manufacturers to move the LED’s behind the screen. These LED lamps can dim or even shut off individually to create a vibrant, rich picture quality. This technology also drastically reduces the energy consumption of the set. Also, this model is only 5 inches deep.

The LG 47LH90 is one of the highest quality TV’s on the market today, a Best TV favorite!

Estimated Cost: $2,199.95

Here at Best TV, we know how confusing it can be when walking into an electronics section, walking over to the televisions, and being bombarded with numbers, phrases, and “specs.” TVs with 1080i resolution use to dominate the HD world, offering the best picture at the time. However, in the past couple of years the new bully on the block – 1080p – has made it difficult for the 1080i’s to survive. In fact, you will rarely find a new 1080i television – you will find either 720p or 1080p.  This is basically due to the fact that 720p visually looks the same as 1080i in most cases (until you get into the 42″+range). Also, if a person wants to spend more money on a better picture, they will most likely be shopping for a large TV, and will most likely be willing to spend more to get the best. This leaves only a small piece of the pie willing to buy a 1080i resolution set, and manufacturers know this. Keeping this in mind, Best TV takes a look at both:

1080i:

The “i” stands for interlaced, which means that of the 1,080 lines of resolution, the even lines appear, then the odd lines, then the even lines, etc. This all happens extremely fast, around 0.033 seconds. Although it is fast, it is not as fast as a 1080p display, which shows all of the lines at the same time. The 1080 part comes from the number of horizontal lines in the display, 1920 x 1080. 1080i and 720p are considered standard HD definition.

1080p:

This technology has the same amount of pixels as 1080i, 1920 x 1080. However, the “p” means the display is progressive, meaning all of the lines are produced at the same time, taking about 0.016 seconds to display the image (twice as fast as interlaced) . 1080p can supposedly display over 2,000,000 pixels, double the resolution of a 720p display. 1080p is commonly referred to as “ultra HD,” “full HD,” or “true HD.” This is the latest and greatest technology, and dominates the high-end TV market.

1080p obviously offers a better picture, but also comes with a much higher price. Also, 1080p technology really only applies to Blu Ray DVDs and Blu Ray video games – everything else (cable TV, regular DVDs, etc) is displayed in regular HD (720p or 1080i). In the future there will definently be more use for a 1080p set, but that will be years from now. 720p resolution offers a better picture than 1080i when it comes to viewing action movies, sports, video games, etc. This is true up until about 52″ and above, because at that point the image suffers, in which case a 1080i set would be preferred. Lets break down that information one last time:

Best TV Summary:

1080p > 1080i if using Blu Ray technology

1080i > 1080p displaying everything else

720p > 1080i on screens under 52″

1080i > 720p in screens over 52″