There was a time, back in the day, that there was only one type of TV (which, coincidentally, people called a “TV”). After a long day of walking to school uphill both ways in the snow, there wasn’t a better form of entertainment to unwind and relax with.
Nowadays, there’s no such thing as a “TV”. You now have multiple types of TVs at various prices, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. In the modern TV industry, there are six main types of televisions. These are:
- CRT – Cathode Ray Tube
- RP – Rear Projection (Commonly called “big screen” TVs)
- DLP – Digital Light Projection
- LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
- PDP – Plasma Display Panel
- LED – Light Emitting Diode
In this article, I’ll be discussing each type of TV, their strengths and weaknesses, their pros and cons, their average prices, and the best use for each. I know it’s long, but I would highly recommend reading through the entire guide, especially if you’re getting ready to spend a significant amount of money on a new television. So sit back and enjoy the ride as I delve into the specifics of modern TVs.
Hopefully, by the time you finish, you’ll know exactly what type of TV you need, and how much you should pay for it.
CRT – Cathode Ray Tube Televisions
Cathode Ray Tube, or CRT, televisions have been the standard TVs for many years. Although they are extremely reliable, they typically cannot match the display quality of the newer technologies. However, they are significantly lower in price than other TVs, and they are extremely long-lasting and reliable.
One of the major drawbacks to CRTs are their size and weight. The larger models can weigh a couple hundred pounds and take up a LOT of space. Most households that still have a CRT TV typically have them in small sizes. They work very well for a bedroom or kitchen, and their heavy weight makes them ideal for children’s TVs, since they will be less likely to be knocked over or to fall on a child.
- Typical Screen Sizes: 12” to 38”
- Price Range: Around $100 for smaller models, up to around $600 for the largest models.
- Size & Weight: Varies widely, CRTs are the largest & heaviest TVs available.
- Maintenance: None, there are no components to replace on a regular basis.
- Viewing Angle: Extremely wide, no loss of quality if you’re sitting off to the side.
- Lifespan: Up to 20 Years
- Picture Quality: Lower than high end HDTVs but still decent for the age of the technology.
- Energy Usage: High, when compared to newer models of the same size.
- Ideal Uses: Great TV for the bedroom, kitchen, or children’s room.
- Pros:
- Wide range of sizes
- Good for a secondary TV
- Long lifespan
- No maintenance
Cons:
- Not much cheaper than newer technologies
- Lower picture quality
- Extremely large & heavy
- Difficult to find
Conclusion: Unless you’re looking for a smaller sized TV for the bedroom or kitchen, or a TV for your children’s room, there’s not much reason to purchase a CRT TV. For just a bit more you can grab an LCD TV which is smaller, lighter, has better picture quality, and uses less energy.
RP – Rear Projection Televisions
Rear projection TVs were the first “big screen” TVs to hit the market. They were huge, bulky, expensive, and extremely popular. They were idolized in modern society as the ideal TV for watching sports events, and were even seen as a status symbol.
The major drawback to RP TVs is that they require expensive maintenance more often than most people would like. They feature three lamps - red, green, and blue, which usually need to be replaced every few years. The lamps themselves can be very expensive and the process is not simple.
However, despite their shortcomings, a lot of consumers have held on to their big screen TVs because of their good picture quality and above-average sound quality.
- Typical Screen Sizes: 42” to 80”
- Price Range: Can vary widely. New models range around $600, used models can be found for less than $400.
- Size & Weight: Extremely large, extremely heavy. They sit on the floor and take up a large amount of space.
- Maintenance: High. The 3 lamps usually need replacement every few years and can be expensive.
- Viewing Angle: Very narrow. The picture fades badly as you move to the side.
- Lifespan: Around 10 years.
- Picture Quality: Lower than high end HDTVs but still decent for the age of the technology.
- Energy Usage: Very low. They use about half the energy of LCD and plasma TVs of the same size.
- Ideal Uses: Great TV for a game room, or for a family room where everyone sits directly in front of the TV.
Pros:
- They’re big. Really big.
- Excellent for game rooms and sporting events.
- Low price compared to same sized models of newer technologies.
- Good picture quality for the price.
- Excellent energy usage.
Cons:
- They’re big. Really big.
- Maintenance is expensive, and common.
- The viewing angle is horrible.
Conclusion: If you’re looking for a BIG television on a budget, you can’t go wrong with one of these behemoths. They’re awesome for game rooms and sporting events, and have sound systems that can make a home theater system unnecessary. However, if you have a larger budget or limited space, you’re better off going after a flat panel LCD or Plasma.
DLP – Digital Light Projection Televisions
DLP TVs made a small splash in the market compared to LCD and Plasma. They had only been on the market for a short time before the ultra slim flat panels came out, and didn’t have enough time to become well known. However, DLP TVs are well built and feature excellent technology, and are definitely the underdogs of the market.
DLP TVs typically feature LED backlighting to project an image onto the screen, but some models also use lasers. Older models feature a lamp with a “color wheel” which spins to produce the image. If you’re shopping for a DLP, stay away from models with the lamps – they can be expensive to replace.
- Typical Screen Sizes: Typically 44” to 65”, however models up to 82” are available
- Price Range: $800 for the smallest models up to around $3,700 for the big 82” models.
- Size & Weight: Lightweight and thin. Not as thin as flat panel TVs, but lighter in weight.
- Maintenance: None, if you get a model with LED or laser projection. Models with lamps will require lamp replacement after about 5000 hours of viewing.
- Viewing Angle: Wide, but not quite as good as LCD and Plasma.
- Lifespan: More than 20 years.
- Picture Quality: Excellent, definitely comparable to LCD and Plasma.
- Energy Usage: Low. They use less energy than LCD and plasma TVs of the same size.
- Ideal Uses: Great for use as the main TV in the house or as a home theater centerpiece.
Pros:
- Huge screen sizes are available.
- The overall size and weight is low.
- No maintenance required on newer models.
- Extremely reliable and a long lifespan.
- Good energy usage.
Cons:
- They can’t be hung on a wall like a LCD or Plasma.
- The fans in the TVs can be a bit noisy.
- They’re just as expensive as LCD and Plasma, and they take up more space.
- They have a little trouble with extremely dark scenes.
Conclusion: DLP TVs are some of the best TVs available today. If you’re shopping for a high end TV with a large screen, this is a good choice. However, LCD or Plasma may be a better choice if you’re short on space, or wish to hang your TV on the wall.
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Information and specifications for this article were collected from all over the internet, including the manufacturer's websites for each type of television. The information presented in this article is up to date as of 11/29/2010.
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