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By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com
Many people would love to own a plasma TV, but cannot afford
the high price. Rear projection televisions are popular because
they offer a big picture at a smaller price.
Consumer Reports recently tested 14 rear projection televisions
ranging from $1,700 to $2,700. Testers found that along with
the big screens, most of the rear projection televisions tested
offer excellent sound.
That was not the case for picture quality. While some sets
had a very good picture others, rated only fair.
"You weren't wowed by the picture. It left you wanting
more," tester Jim Langehennig said. "You're looking
at big screens, so you want that detail, you want to see that
color."
A drawback with rear projection television sets is burn-in.
An image, like a ticker that runs along the bottom of the
screen, can leave a permanent shadow on the screen if it is
up for too long.
Another drawback is size. Some of the rear projection televisions
take up about 8 square feet of floor space.
"You also have to be able to sit at least 8 to 9 feet
away from these screens to get the full effect of the video,"
Langehennig said.
For those shopping for big-screen TV, testers say rear projection
television sets offer the most bang for the buck. Consumer
Reports recommends the $2,000 Toshiba TheaterWide. It is HD-ready
and has very good picture quality.
If space is an issue, Consumer Reports suggests a micro display
set. It is a little more expensive, but combines rear projection
television technology with flat screens, offering a big screen
that takes up less space.
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