DLP TV: Replace Bulb or just Buy an LCD or Plasma HDTV? (Big Daddy Chris,HELP!)

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Hey guyz,hope all is well.I have enjoyed the Energy speaker package,Onkyo 7.1 Receiver,Panasonic BD80,BD60 Blue rays and all the other things you recommended I purchase but I had a large "POP" come from my TOSHIBA 62MX195 HDTV last night!I knew I was due to have the lamp burn out but it was quite loud and I thought I had been shot!lol.I see prices from $100.00 to $300.00,some original Toshiba Lamps w/housing and many "After market products.The average warranty runs for only six months and it has me quite Leary on purchasing online.Chris.....do I bite the bullet and go ahead and upgrade to a decent HDTV? or replace the lamp and pray I get a couple years out of the lamp?I have noticed some of the lamps are 120 WATTS,and others are 150WATTS....invest in which...and why?And as always I know you will guide me in the right direction.It really is great to have a site like yours to help and every recommendation you gave me last year was on the money!...good to see Daylight Don is still around. Thanx!

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Anybody is welcome to chime in,I have to make a move quick,I know it is quite shallow but I cannot live without my living room tv!

[MrBoylan]

Hey guyz,hope all is well.I have enjoyed the Energy speaker package,Onkyo 7.1 Receiver,Panasonic BD80,BD60 Blue rays and all the other things you recommended I purchase but I had a large "POP" come from my TOSHIBA 62MX195 HDTV last night!I knew I was due to have the lamp burn out but it was quite loud and I thought I had been shot!lol.I see prices from $100.00 to $300.00,some original Toshiba Lamps w/housing and many "After market products.The average warranty runs for only six months and it has me quite Leary on purchasing online.Chris.....do I bite the bullet and go ahead and upgrade to a decent HDTV? or replace the lamp and pray I get a couple years out of the lamp?I have noticed some of the lamps are 120 WATTS,and others are 150WATTS....invest in which...and why?And as always I know you will guide me in the right direction.It really is great to have a site like yours to help and every recommendation you gave me last year was on the money!...good to see Daylight Don is still around. Thanx!

Hi,

Another friend of mine is in a similar boat. His DLP color wheel is going out (buzzing sound on Samsung DLP) and he's not sure whether to invest in it or scrap it and go with something new.

But I would say the if you can get a bulb for $150-$175 or so, and you are otherwise happy with the TV, then keep it, buy a bulb, calibrate the picture setttings when you get the new bulb (makes a big difference with bulb life) and enjoy it for a while longer. The fact is you cannot get a 60+ inch flat panel for less than around $2500 (for a decent one), and this is a whole lot more than $150. Also, you cannot go out today buy a TV that will be fully compatible with the new Blu-ray 3D standard which is really the biggest change to television since they added color. Changes to TVs over the past few years have been pretty evolutionary - a little better black level here, a lower price there, some new internet streaming features. But with the new 3-D systems you have a revolutionary change. This is *SO* much better than the old anaglyph garbage that we used to have to put up with.

But it will take some time before there is enough content available to make a purchase of a 3DTV worthwhile. I mean how many times can you watch "UP," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" and "Avatar" anyway? The first 3D TVs will be coming around April/May time frame (likely to be Panasonic and Samsung). The feature will be built into the higher end TVs (VT20 and VT25 series Panasonic plasma, C7000, C8000, C9000 LED LCD TVs from Samsung). We'll see if the production versions look as good as the ones we saw at CES. If they do, then it might be worth buying them in the first model year, at least for those with a lot of disposable income. But I expect the 3-D premium is going to add at least a couple of hundred dollars to the set (the active shutter 3-D glasses alone are said to cost around $100 per pair and Panasonic is going to be including one pair in with their TVs). Plus you'll need a new Blu-ray player too so the investment to become an early adopter of 3D TV is probably going to be significant. Meanwhile you can probably get another couple of years out of your DLP set with the purchase of a new bulb - wait and see what happens with 3-D and watch the prices come down on the players and the sets.

BTW, I would not recommend getting anything other than the factory lamp or a direct OEM replacement bulb for your TV. Different wattage bulbs for the same TV doesn't make any sense as this would completely change the light output and all of the factory settings. Bulbs do get dimmer over time, and you can adjust for this in the video settings, but a stronger bulb than the original factory bulb may run hotter which may actually wear out other parts of your TV faster.

Anyway, I'd personally say keep what you have for now, assuming space is not a problem and you're otherwise happy with the TV.

Later,

-Chris

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Thanx for the info Chris..ummm MR BOYLAN!. I purchased a OEM for $118.00!I can stand the picture on my TOSHIBA and am quite excited about the upcoming 3D movement.Are the MITSUBISHI DLP's that state they are "3D READY" on the up and up? I want large screen for cheap price,I will invest in a HIGH END HDTV in a couple more years.I have been looking at the 73" MITSUBISHI WD-73837 on their website.I owned two TOP OF THE LINE "DIAMOND SERIES" rear projection analog boxes back in the day and loved em,but I am well aware of how MITZ products have more service probs and their reputation is in the toilet.I would be looking to hang on to the MITZ for only a couple of years and it can be had for around $2000.00 online and I would sell the Toshiba 62 w/new lamp.What are your thoughts?

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Chris,should I calibrate according to my TOSHIBA manual....or....? As always,thank you and your site!If there are awards,you guyz should be at the top of the line for top notch advice and recommendations .

[MrBoylan]

Thanx for the info Chris..ummm MR BOYLAN!. I purchased a OEM for $118.00!I can stand the picture on my TOSHIBA and am quite excited about the upcoming 3D movement.

Sounds like you're getting off pretty cheaply.

Are the MITSUBISHI DLP's that state they are "3D READY" on the up and up? I want large screen for cheap price,I will invest in a HIGH END HDTV in a couple more years.I have been looking at the 73" MITSUBISHI WD-73837 on their website.I owned two TOP OF THE LINE "DIAMOND SERIES" rear projection analog boxes back in the day and loved em,but I am well aware of how MITZ products have more service probs and their reputation is in the toilet.I would be looking to hang on to the MITZ for only a couple of years and it can be had for around $2000.00 online and I would sell the Toshiba 62 w/new lamp.What are your thoughts?

The Mitsubishi TVs were designed prior to the Blu-ray 3D standard being developed and also before HDMI 1.4 was finalized. It remains to be seen how *or IF* they will be compatible with Blu-ray 3D. I suspect they will need some sort of converter box and they may not be able to do full HD 3D. I think it will be a while before the full details of this are known and available.

But I would not personally buy one of those TVs right now expecting it to fully exploit Blu-ray 3D.

-CB

[MrBoylan]

I would recommend using the AVIA DVD (out of print now) or Digital Video Essentials on DVD or Blu-ray or the Spears and Munsil Blu-ray Disc. Any of these will help get you most of the way toward calibration without having to be an expert. The Spears and Munsil disc has some great test patterns for evaluating TVs and Blu-ray players.

• http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Video-...4118789&sr=1-1
• http://www.amazon.com/Spears-Munsil-...4118622&sr=8-1

-CB

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Thanx buddy,now go have some fun.....I am now officially" out of your hair"...for the 21st of January.

[Maximus DukusErectus]

Sounds like you're getting off pretty cheaply.



I would not personally buy one of those TVs right now expecting it to fully exploit Blu-ray 3D.

-CB

I would purchase because of price,basic high def,and the screen size for my son's PS3/XBOX360.

[MrBoylan]

When i was a kid, we played Atari 2600 on a 5" screen at my friend's house. These kids, today... I tell ya, they thing HDTVs grow on trees!

-CB