Convince me not to buy a used DLP

[Syringer]

Looking to upgrade our 3000lb Sony Trinitron, and really want an LCD but the prices of used DLPs (not the massive ones but the ones without a huge base) are just too attractive for the size that they are.

At ~$400 or less for a nice 50 incher, I figure even if I need a new bulb a few months down the that's $150-$200 that'll make it still much cheaper than a 50" LCD would be.

I don't plan on hanging the TV (obviously), and would just put it on a stand.

So, for a TV buyer on a budget is there any other reason not to go DLP?

 

[ericlp]

Depends on the Word "USED"

Like was this a Display? or was it on Ebay personal use? Or was it a return?

I bought a projector it was remanufactured for hell of cheap and came with new bulb.

Things that fail on a DLP...

1) Color Wheel can shatter
2) Fans can stop working

Both of the above are more prone to happen over time...

3) Clogged Filters and Dust that can get into lens assembly.

Those things and the Bulb life would not want to make me buy a dlp.

Mirrors sticking on the DLP chip are kinda rare from what I hear. Tho I suppose it is possible and since they are moving parts I suppose they could go bad after time as well.

About the only thing you have to ask yourself is... If in 6months to a year and DLP dies, can I afford to replace it?

Your taking a pretty big gamble buying a DLP used. If you can afford to buy another one if it dies because it most likely won't be covered under warranty. Then maybe the gamble is worth it.

Good Luck.

IMO if it didn't come with a warranty and a new bulb I wouldn't risk it.

Good Luck.

 

[IBuyUFO]

I'd buy a plasma or an LCD tv. No DLP ever for me! The ones that I've seen can never compare to the image quality of a cheap plasma or lcd.

 

[sivart]

Also to note is that some older (4-5 year) DLP's only have a bulb life span of 8000 hours where plasma's have a half life of 60,000-100,000 hours and LCD's a full life of about the same.

You would have to buy a lot of 8000 hour bulbs to get 60,000 hours. Just something to think about.

Also, most older rear projection TV's need to be viewed straight on to see the best picture.

 

[kalrith]

If you keep an eye out for some really good deals, you can find a 50" plasma for less than $600. For example, on Dec. 28 the Panasonic TC-P50X1 (50" 720p plasma) was $570 + tax after cashback or $534 + tax after cashback and discount from using a Sears card. That used DLP plus one bulb would cost the same as a brand new plasma. Since rptvs are more likely to have major problems than plasmas and the DLP would be used, I don't think it's a very good choice.

Unless you just want a throw-away TV for a year or two, then stick with getting a new TV, preferably a plasma or LCD. Some rptvs can be really nice, but the higher likelihood of failure and expensive bulb replacement makes it not worth it in this size range. If you were looking at getting a 65+" TV, then that's when rptvs start to make sense financially. For example, flat-panel TVs just can't compete with a 73" Mitsubishi rptv for $1800, which I've seen many times over the past year.

 

[slag]

I bought a used and broken dlp and fixed it. Mitsubishis have chassis electrical problems (the ones like 52, 62, and 72525 and 725 model numbers.

Color wheels, light engines, all of these can fail but so what. My dlp looks as good as any LCD and just a bit worse than a plasma, but its in my basement and the price was right. I really enjoy it. Price/size/performance, I'd get a DLP again in a heartbeat.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Wait for a deal. Believe it or not, $400 for a used 50" DLP isn't that good of a deal anymore.

If you want a big DLP, there are deals out there to find. Expired example:

 

[vi edit]

Yeh, I've seen 50" 720p Plasmas from LG and older generation Panasonics going for ~$500 from time to time. I'd without hesitation go for that for the extra $100. It'd easily pay for itself after the bulb wears out in your already aged DLP.

Plus you get drastically better viewing angles and a much better picture.

 

[kalrith]

OP, what's your viewing distance? Are there any limitations on size (i.e. would you consider/have room for a 60-65" DLP)? Like I said before, I would only go DLP if you wanted to go huge. Those prices YOyoYO listed look really good. However, if you don't want larger than a 50", then I'd definitely go with a 50" 720p plasma for $500-600.

 

[Noubourne]

At 50", you're ok with 720 and so the plasma option is pretty tempting IMO.

Much more than that - a deal on a DLP is definitely the way to go.

SIZE MATTERS.

And from an IQ standpoint - stating that a cheap LCD or plasma has better IQ than DLP is utterly ridiculous. Anybody who says that just doesn't understand image quality. A cheap HDTV is a cheap HDTV - and all are likely to have poor contrast ratios or annoying artifacts introduced by their "image enhancement" bells and whistles like Dynamic Contrast and Noise Reduction etc.

The edge enhancement black-line artifacts introduced by my friend's 55" Vizio LCD is flipping horrific (just watched the bowl game on it last night), and my DLP blows his IQ out of the water, hands down. Another friend of mine has a 52" Plasma that has some serious blown out color issues and needs calibration badly (not that any TV won't...).

Now they both bought ultra-budget low-end models for as cheap as they could find. I went for the year-old mid-range TV. Big difference. And mine is 3 years OLDER than theirs. If you can't see these differences, you probably sit 12' away from a 46" TV. Or you are blind.

Look out for what make and model you are getting. I am coming close to pushing 10k hrs on my lamp - and my model Toshiba has low incidence of issues - but a few years preceeding mine - there were lamp life issues.

I have heard of some older Mitsu's with ballast issues - obviously that is to be avoided. I have not heard the same about their most recent models - and if the sales listed above happen frequently - that is a hard price to pass up for such a huge picture.

As for longevity and the cost of bulbs - I watch A LOT of TV and movies and at 3 years I am still on my first bulb with over 8,000 hours. As stated my buddy has an older set and he seems to be getting 4 years out of his bulbs - so that's basically two bulbs per decade. Not a huge investment IMO.

If I'm at 3 years and my buddy is at 4 - assuming you are average after 2 bulbs you're already 6-8 years out. A third bulb can get you to 9-12 years out. If you aren't upset that your TV isn't 3D/4k/whatever by then - come back here and we will sympathize with you.

 

[kalrith]

Noubourne, while I understand some of what you're saying, I don't know how much of it is applicable. If you compare any uncalibrated TV to a calibrated one, then that's not a valid comparison. If you watch a bowl game on a compressed Dish Network signal that's fed via 720p, then converted to 1080i by the DVR, then deinterlaced by the TV, then you're going to experience artifacts on any TV. If you're comparing that to a BD or OTA HD signal on your TV, then again it's not a valid comparison. Get some settings from avsforum for your friends' TVs, change their settings, and then watch the same high-quality BD on their TV and yours in the same light levels (i.e. don't watch it in broad daylight on their TVs and then in complete darkness on your TV). I bet that their "ultra-budget low-end" models no longer have terrible artifacts and such a poor PQ. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that the PQ on their TVs would be superior to yours in such a test.

 

[Syringer]

OP, what's your viewing distance? Are there any limitations on size (i.e. would you consider/have room for a 60-65" DLP)? Like I said before, I would only go DLP if you wanted to go huge. Those prices YOyoYO listed look really good. However, if you don't want larger than a 50", then I'd definitely go with a 50" 720p plasma for $500-600.

60+ would be a bit large, something in the 50" range would be ideal.

 

[kalrith]

60+ would be a bit large, something in the 50" range would be ideal.

If 50" would be ideal and you can up your budget to $500-600, then all you need to do is check some deals forums daily for a deal on a 50" Panasonic or Samsung plasma in that price range. Once you find a deal like that, snag one of those TVs and find reassurance in the fact that you just bought the best 50" TV in your price range.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Also to note is that some older (4-5 year) DLP's only have a bulb life span of 8000 hours where plasma's have a half life of 60,000-100,000 hours and LCD's a full life of about the same.

You would have to buy a lot of 8000 hour bulbs to get 60,000 hours. Just something to think about.

Also, most older rear projection TV's need to be viewed straight on to see the best picture.

I have a Samsung 50" DLP that I bought new in early 2004...it's an 03 model.

Original bulb and everything, and it's pushing 15,000 hours. Yes, that fifteen THOUSAND hours. I know others who got one in the same time frame that are still going strong, but no idea of their bulb times.

Difference between that Plasma and LED life is, you can replace the DLP bulb and color wheel and keep on rolling.

But I guess in today's throwaway, technology-changing world, that's not too big a deal.


Bottom line, I wouldn't be scared to get a used DLP.