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The proponents of LCD projector technology point out that DLP suffers from
issues like rainbow effect and unnatural brightness. Those backing DLP say that
these problems are history and that LCD still has to deal with problems of
pixelation and screen-door effect.
LCD projectors command 65% marketshare...
Owing to their robust technology, LCD projectors today have come to occupy
nearly 65% marketshare with DLP ones having the rest. This essentially implies
that LCD projectors score when it comes to price vs performance ratio. Also, in
case of DLP projectors, the core technology is owned by Texas Instruments, which
itself is not into the projector business. On the contrary, Epson and Sony both
offer core LCD technology to other players and are themselves the manufacturers
of projectors as well. This allows more room for LCD players to have
modifications done in the core technology to suit their requirements, an
advantage not enjoyed by the DLP projector manufacturers.
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“LCD projectors score when it comes to price vs performance ratio, which reflects in the fact that worldwide it occupies nearly 65%
marketshare” |
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K Venkateswaran, Product Manager, Visual Imaging Division, Epson India |
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Rainbow effect, unnatural brightness...
DLP projectors are traditionally known to suffer from the Rainbow effect and
produce unnaturally bright images. In LCD technology, both these issues are not
there. Hence, it gives users a more wonderful visual experience. LCD projectors
too used to have disadvantages in terms of pixelation and screen-door effect,
which has been greatly resolved in most of the new models that ship out now.
Also, unlike LCDs, which can run 24/7, DLPs are seen to witness problems with
over-heating of their lamps.
LCD is more light-efficient...
A significant advantage of LCD projectors is that it produces higher lumen
outputs than what DLPs can do with similar wattage lamps. Issues like poor
contrast ratio that are raised by proponents of DLP is often misleading as
contrast ratio cannot be viewed alone as just a technical specification.
Contrast ratio along with light ambience, where the viewing happens has to be
collectively taken into count. And when that is done, even though LCDs have
smaller contrast ratio, image quality is much better than DLPs with higher
contrast ratio.
High service risks in DLP projectors...
In DLP projector, if something goes wrong with the color wheel, the entire
engine has to be replaced. The light engine too is nothing but a single chip and
replacing it means nearly replacing everything in the projector. In LCDs, the
same is not true as there are number of components involved and the whole engine
needn't be replaced in case of a problem. Also, barring HP, none of the other
DLP vendors are directly present in the country to be able to address post-sales
issues.
DLP is poised to sharply increase its marketshare...
Going by the reports of research firm DTC, by 2008, DLP projectors are
expected to command marketshare upwards of 60%. A great deal of this would be a
result of increasing sale of home theater projectors, where DLPs score over LCD
in many ways. That DLP will be the leading technology of tomorrow can be also
gauged from the fact that players like HP have completely adopted it for its
projector business. On the contrary, in LCD space, even old players like Sony
have decided to stop selling the technology to other vendors.
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“Due to increasing demand of home theater projectors, analysts forecast DLP's marketshare to
increase to 60% by 2008” |
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Manu Sharma, Country Category Manager–Digital Imaging Products, HP India |
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Contrast ratio, long-term image degradation...
Some perpetual problems that LCD projectors have been suffering from is
pixelation of images, poor contrast ratio and image degradation due to long-term
usage. Today´s DLP projectors generally offer contrast ratios of 2000:1
while comparative models of LCD offer just 800:1. Independent tests by
Texas Instruments has also proved that due to long term usage of an LCD
projector, there is a degradation of image especially that gets formed due to
the blue channel. As far as rainbow effects associated with DLPs are concerned,
its more or less history with color wheels in the projectors now rotating at
7200 RPMs and above.
DLPs are best buy for home theater projection...
When compared to the best models of LCD home theater projectors, the DLP
counterparts prove to be far more superior on various counts. One is DLP´s
capability to offer very high contrast ratio. Second, since DLP´s edge
definition is softer as compared to LCD, hence rendering smooth videos. And most
importantly, at any resolution, DLPs have an advantage over LCD in visible
pixelation, making it ideal for home theater viewers.
Compact, light-weight, mobile...
Compared to LCD projectors, which consists of wide number of lenses and
moving parts, DLP´s single-chip architecture makes it very compact and far
lighter than the LCDs. Most DLP projectors these days weigh under two kg making
it fit for mobile usage, specially for professionals who need to move around
giving presentations. Also the fact that LCD projectors have many moving parts,
makes the equipment more vulnerable to faults.
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