Rear Projection TV Buying Guide
Before buying a Rear-Projection TV there are few factors you should consider:
What size TV are you looking for?
Rear-projection TV's only come in large TV sizes. The size of a rear projection TV can vary between 116cm to 193cm (46" to 76"). For this reason they are a popular choice for home theatre rooms.
How much space do you have available for your TV?
Rear-projection TV's do take up more room than a LCD or Plasma TV as the projection equipment adds more depth than LCD and Plasma technologies. The type of rear-projection technology used will affect the depth - LCD and DLP models are generally shallower, with CRT models being deeper. LCD or DLP rear-projection TV's are also lighter than their CRT counterparts.
Do you have a limited budget to spend on a large screen TV?
For a large screen TV a rear-projection TV is good value for money. Depending on the type of rear-projection TV you buy, rear-projection TV prices usually range between AUD$1500-$3000 for a TV's between 116cm and 142cm.
Is a Rear-Projection TV Right for Me?
So, is a Rear-Projection TV the right choice or should I consider another type of TV? To assist, we have put together a list of common scenarios to guide your purchasing decision.
Scenarios where a Rear-Projection TV is worth considering are:
- Where you are looking for a large screen TV for a reasonable price - the relative complexity of LCD and Plasma displays generally make them more expensive than large Rear Projection TV's.
- Space is not a problem or you do not want to wall mount your TV.
Scenarios where another technology might be more effective include:
- When you want to wall mount your TV.
- When you have limited space and the depth of a rear projection TV is a problem.
- When you are looking for a wide viewing angle as rear projection TV's are best when looking at them from no more than 45 degrees from the centre.
- When you want a TV with high contrast and brightness levels. The image generated in the projector unit needs to be magnified through a lens, and this limits the amount of light reaching the screen. In a well lit room, LCD and Plasma flat panels will generally appear much brighter than a rear projection TV.