LCD Vs. DLP HDTV
LCD and DLP HDTVs are two of the three most popular formats for high definition display. They both offer unique designs and capabilities while offering top of the line high definition quality. In some aspects, they have very similar characteristics, while in other areas they are very different.
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Resolution
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The amount of "lines" that make up an image determines the resolution. The more lines that comprise the image, the more detailed the image becomes. High definition images are either 720p or 1080p. This means that on the screen are displayed either 720 or 1080 lines at one time.
DLP and LCD televisions are able to attain the highest resolution created for high definition displays. You can buy either television format in either 1080p or 720p resolutions.
Size
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The main difference between LCD and DLP technologies is their respective sizes. Backlighting a chemical compound called "liquid crystals" creates LCDs. When voltage is applied, these crystals line up in different formations that allow light to pass through them. The light that passes through them in differing patterns is what creates the image. LCD televisions are thin, as the creation of an image is due to voltage, light and the liquid crystals. Thus, they weigh very little and able to hang on a wall.
DLP HDTVs on the other hand are essentially projectors. They project light through a color wheel and onto a screen. In order for the screen size to be larger, the projected light must be farther away from the screen. This makes the size of the television larger and wider. DLP televisions are routinely over 100lbs and are not able to hang on a wall.
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Contrast Ratio
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Contrast ratio refers to a televisions ability to reproduce the color black. The difference between light and dark enables viewers to better differentiate details in a scene. According to CNET's HDTV World, "The higher the contrast ratio, the greater the ability to show subtle color details and tolerate ambient room light."
As such, both technologies are able to produce similar contrast ratios with no clear advantage for either. However, LCD televisions have begun implementing techniques called "dynamic contrast ratios." This refers to the ability of the LCD display to literally lower the light level on portions of a scene to create darker "blacks."
Longevity
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Another main difference between LCD and DLP technologies is their longevity. An LCD television has a life of nearly 66,000 hours. This means that if you left your LCD television on for 24 hours a day, it would still last over seven and a half years. In contrast, DLP televisions must have their projector bulbs replaced every 8,000 hours. Normal use would require you to purchase a new bulb at a cost of $250 every couple of years, as of 2010 prices.
Availability
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Both LCD and DLP HDTVs are highly capable televisions. They both have similar features and similar viewing experiences. However, the size of LCDs and of plasma televisions has all but made DLP TVs obsolete. With no discernable advantage to having a DLP over an LCD, manufacturers have moved in favor of producing the thinner and smaller technologies..
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References
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