Do bulb based DLP/SXRD HDTVs create flicker?

[Justin03248]

I just bought a SXRD 50? projection HDTV, and I?ve noticed that the picture is very solid/stable, almost like a LCD. LCDs don?t give flicker and eyestrain like CRT, PC monitors, and ?old style? projection HDTVs.

So, since I know DLP/SXRD HDTVs use a bulb, does it not flicker like LCDs don?t, or do you still get a 60 Hz flicker that can cause eyestrain. I?m asking because it looks so nice, I was thinking of hooking up a PC to it (it has built in PC input), but I don?t want to get a headache typing on the couch for an hour.

If anyone knows, please let me know... I?d really appreciate it.

[Veedems Veteran]

Most of the sets do have a rated refresh rate which is pretty high, but it wouldn't be like that in a CRT anyway because of the nature of the technology. Hooking up a PC to it should be fine. I have very sensitive eyes, when it comes to refresh rates on PC monitors, and had now issues at all when browsing google on a 60" set at work.

Beautiful choice of a set by the way. Probably one of the best digital projos on the market right now.

[Justin03248]

Thanks bangbang023! You've been so helpful with these HDTV issues.

I just have two questions. LCDs have substantially better quality with DVI connections... will I get better quality on a bulb based HDTV with a DVI input, or are projection TVs totally different? I'm asking because the PC input on my Sony SXRD is a VGA connector, but I can get a HDMI-to-DVI converter if I'll get better quality.

Secondly, you don't happen to know the higher refresh rates that these bulb based HDTVs have, do you? Is it somewhere from 75 Hz to 100 Hz? On your TV, what is the refresh rate set at in Display Properties?

Thanks for the help!

[Veedems Veteran]

Honestly, I don't know much about the refresh rate settings so I won't comment until next time I go in and try to find some time to look into it more.

As for using your PC on the DVI, don't. Generally speaking, it's going to look amazing on the VGA anyway and there, across the entire market, tends to be resolution issues when using DVI on a set that has a built in VGA port.

[quigley0]

SXRD is just sony's crazy branding for Liquid Crystal on Silicon right? I didn't think that SXRD would even have a refresh rate. It is either on or off right?

I'm in the market for a new TV (DLP front projector not working out for me. Too much ambient light), and the 50in SXRD caught my eye, so I am very interested in this TV.

[Veedems Veteran]

SXRD is just sony's crazy branding for Liquid Crystal on Silicon right? I didn't think that SXRD would even have a refresh rate. It is either on or off right?

I'm in the market for a new TV (DLP front projector not working out for me. Too much ambient light), and the 50in SXRD caught my eye, so I am very interested in this TV.

After doing some more research, it seems I should stop reading the internet. I'm finding people are confusing the terms "response time" and "refresh rate" way too easily. So, no, SXRD (LCoS) does not have a refresh rate. The pixel is on or off and it's as simple as that.

Geez, I need to stop making silly mistakes like that. Sorry. :blush:

[quigley0]

Yeah, i was confused for the longest time about refresh rate and response time.

Now what I'd like explaned is why there is no standard for respose time. Like, for monitors they'll say 8ms response time, but some companies measure black to black, and some measure gray to gray. I have no idea what is better. Is 8ms Gray to Gray better than 8ms Black to Black?

Sorry, got off topic.

Bangbang, are you a big fan of the SXRD? Do you know if there are any "burn-in" issues with SXRD? I know that Plasma has made the burn in problem almost obsolete in the latest generation plasma TV's. does LCoS (SXRD) have any issues with this?

[Veedems Veteran]

I am a HUGE fan of SXRD. My coworkers send anyone interested in the set to me because they know my love for it is genuine and I can coney it to the customers. Beautiful, crisp picture with true colors and no grain (unline the ****ty JVC implementation). There is no burn in, either. The only downfall of the technology is the short lightbulb life, only 6,000 hours max, usually.

[quigley0]

6000 isn't bad. Better than the 3000 for my DLP front projector!

Is the bulb replaceable?

I was at Circuit City last night, and, I must say that the only TV better looking then the 50in SXRD, was the 60in SXRD! I think I am sold on this TV. Now, i just need to find a place that has "No interest, no money down for 18mo". haha

But, if anyone gets a chance to stop by bestbuy or cc to look for TV's, definately give this one a look.

[Veedems Veteran]

The bulb's definitely replaceable, though a bit costly to do so.

[Veedems Veteran]

Now what I'd like explaned is why there is no standard for respose time. Like, for monitors they'll say 8ms response time, but some companies measure black to black, and some measure gray to gray. I have no idea what is better. Is 8ms Gray to Gray better than 8ms Black to Black?

8ms white to black is always better than grey to grey. Black to white is a larger step and would naturally take longer.

[quigley0]

ah. ok. I thought that gray to gray may have meant gray-white-black-gray. Like , instead of starting at 0 to 2 and back to 0, it starts at 1, goes to 0 then to 2, back to 1

err, ok. Now my head hurts.

Anyhoo. Bangbang, I ordered the 50in XBR SXRD Grand Wega. :) It should be here in about a week from now. I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to it!!! I'll post pics when it arrives...

[Veedems Veteran]

You lucky ******. I wish I had the cash and space to get a set like that.

[Nix]

I bought the 50" on the 15th of Feb. with a very nice deal. Took it back today. It only lasted 9 days. When you turned it on it immediately turned back off and the power/standby light flashed 4 times red. They sent a tech out to fix it and he said this is a common occurrence with this TV. According to him it was a very high maintenance TV and he received numerous service calls on them. He was telling me about one customer who had to fork over $1800 for a common repair (can't remember what it was). The picture on the TV was great though. I was truly impressed. But I'm back in the market again and have no idea where to begin.

[quigley0]

Oh no! I just received mine yesterday! Everything seems good so far. I have a couple of issues, but nothing major. One is that when I turn it on, it always wants to start the default first time setup. Maybe this is because I haven't done the channel program? But, I am using a cable box, so I dont need to run channel set up.

The other issues may be user error. For instance, the remote. I started to program it, and now when I press the function button to switch modes, the lights dont work anymore, and I dont seem to be able to program it now. Very strange.

I notice a few instances of "grainyness", but, this may be that I am new to HDTV (my projector was only 800x600), and it is possible that I am seeing mpeg compression.

Other than that, the TV looks great! Color is wonderful, screen is nice. I need to go buy a nice surge protector now.

I have a 3 year warrenty, so, if something goes bad, i'll use it!

[quigley0]

Nix,

I was reading the manual, and noticed that if the light in the front blinks red, the lamp needs replacement. Now, giving that your TV was new, i imagine you didn't watch a few thousand hours of TV already. Did you by any chance take the lamp out and put it back in? Maybe it was jarred out of alignment or something. I had a front projector that had a similar issue. The lamp wasn't seated properly, and I had to kind of force it in to place.

Hopefully the service tech would have tried that. I dont always have 100% faith in techs though. The best buy Geek squad had my friend buy a new hard drive, and when I looked at it, the SATA cable was just jarred loose. :(

Anyway, I am happy (So far). Hopefully no issues arise..

[Nix]

Nix,

I was reading the manual, and noticed that if the light in the front blinks red, the lamp needs replacement. Now, giving that your TV was new, i imagine you didn't watch a few thousand hours of TV already. Did you by any chance take the lamp out and put it back in? Maybe it was jarred out of alignment or something. I had a front projector that had a similar issue. The lamp wasn't seated properly, and I had to kind of force it in to place.

Hopefully the service tech would have tried that. I dont always have 100% faith in techs though. The best buy Geek squad had my friend buy a new hard drive, and when I looked at it, the SATA cable was just jarred loose. :(

Anyway, I am happy (So far). Hopefully no issues arise..

Yea I did try that. But it wasn't the lamp light it was the power/standby light. From another forum I found out it was something to do with the fan. The service guy came out and said some board needed replacement. Can't remember exactly which one. He also kind of scared me. Since I didn't get a extended warranty. I ended up taking the TV back and getting a plasma. But its no where near as nice as the Sony. The wife and I deiced just to keep the plasma and we are moving soon and will look at another sxrd once the newer generations come around.