Big Screen TV Buying Guide

The options are quite varied, with offerings from all manufacturers ranging the technologies of direct view (cathode ray), LCD, plasma, projectors (front projection), rear projection (CRT, DLP, LCD). Which one is the best quality picture, at the best price, with the best performance, the best reliability, and the cheapest to maintain? Good question. Unfortunately, a question that cannot be easily answered. Here is my take on the issue.

I'm going to provide the pros and cons of each big screen TV choice here in the Big Screen TV Buying Guide. I have picks that I recommend depending on what you are looking for.

If it is price or reliability that is your main consideration, then direct view is the way to go. However, the size of the screen (up to 40") suffers in this case.

If it is size that is your main consideration, then a front projector is the way to go.

If it is a combination of performance mixed with size, that is your main consideration then rear projection is the route you should choose to take.

If you like to show off and space is limited, plasma or LCD should be the direction you go.

You see my dilemma here, no pick I make will satisfy each and every consumer that is shopping for a big screen TV. Each person (situation) is different. Each has a different need and want. What I can do is educate you and give you all of the variables so that you are able to intelligently choose what you want. One point I've stressed throughout this site is that the best big screen TV is the one that you can afford, the one that fits well into your viewing environment, and the one that you will be happy with 5-10 years down the road. You don't want to end up buying a second set a year after purchasing a set because you made the wrong or inadequate choice.

So here it is, a faceoff between Plasma, LCD, Projectors, Direct View and Rear Projection. You decide who wins for you!

Plasma Televisions - Big Screen TV Buying Guide
The plasma big screen TV is more streamlined and spacious than any other big screen TV option and thus can be wall-mounted. A plasma screen is more consistent (more uniform brightness than other television types). Most are display-only units without TV tuners and speakers (thus the thinner profile). Being a new technology data is just coming in, but reliability is proving to be suspect. Lower-end plasma models cannot display high-definition (HD) images.

LCD Televisions - Big Screen TV Buying Guide
LCD big screen televisions are just as thin as plasma models, if not thinner. Thus, they can be wall-mounted as plasma models can be. Due to their extremely high resolution and HD capability they can double as a computer monitor. Being a new technology data is just coming in, but reliability is proving to be suspect. Image quality does suffer if viewed at too great of an angle. Lower end offerings from some manufacturers have poor contrast and slow pixel response, making fast-moving images appear fuzzy. Only consider higher end manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic, etc.

Front Projection/Projectors - Big Screen TV Buying Guide
Projectors are on the fence. What I mean by this is that they are routinely ignored by consumers who either do not realize they are an option or consumers incorrectly assume projectors are priced well out of the reaches of their budget. Another consideration is that the image size presented by projectors exceeds the capabilities of most living rooms. This is unfortunate. The picture size and quality provided by projectors most closely resembles the movie-theater experience. One constant is that a TV tuner and speakers aren't included. Most projector models (especially low-priced ones) must be viewed in a darkened room. Maintenance costs are also considerably greater than other big sceen television types as periodic lamp replacement, at several hundred dollars a pop, are a reality. Cathode-ray tube (CRT) models are prone to burn-in if static images are left on for long periods. In addition, projector model setup is fairly complex and often requires professional installation.

Direct View Televisions - Big Screen TV Buying Guide
Direct view models are by far the least expensive, low maintenance big screen alternative. The trade-off remains that few models have wide-screen capabilities.

Rear Projection Televisions - Big Screen TV Buying Guide
There are two prevailing options here. Digital Light Processing (DLP) models have extremely impressive picture quality. Maintenance remains a factor however, requiring periodic lamp replacement, at several hundred dollars a shot. Relatively low price CRT (cathode ray tube) models afford better viewing in normal lighting, but the sets are large and image quality suffers if viewed at an angle. They are also susceptible to to "burn in" (residual images during viewing) if images are displayed continuously.

Choose your flavor wisely. The Big Screen TV Buying Guide should help. Stick with the leading brands. This is an investment that should reasonably last you 5-10 years. You want to enjoy the set you settle with. Resenting your big screen TV set after purchase is not an option. Use this Big Screen TV Buying Guide wisely.