New TI DLP light engine for slim HDTVs
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jan 10th 2007 7:51AM
posted Jan 10th 2007 7:51AM
In the world of HD bigger is almost always better, but not when you are talking about depth or weight. As much as we love to debate the merits of each display technology, but the form factor really distinguishes them apart from one another. The most popular form factor is the flat panel TV so it stands to reason that everyone else would love to loose the thickness and Texas Instruments has a new solution for DLPs that will bring them a few inches closer to flat panel TVs. The new SLIM light engine has slimmed this 65" to approximatly 10 inches, which makes it slim enough to hang on the wall, it uses solid-state LED illumination and has a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. No details on pricing or availability, more pictures after the jump. All the connections are on the side where they are easy to access.
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Nice tv, but 'slim enough to hang on to the wall'? Don't know about you, but I definately wouldn't risk it on a supporting wall in my house...
"Nice tv, but 'slim enough to hang on to the wall'? Don't know about you, but I definately wouldn't risk it on a supporting wall in my house..."
I'm assuming this is just an alternative for people who need something slim, but can't afford an LCD, plasma, or OLED display (assuming that this new DLP HDTV is less expensive than those other offerings).
I can afford a Plasma/LCD, and that is not the reason why I choose DLP over them. I think they have yet to surpass DLPs when it comes to picture quality. UNLESS you count the 1080p Plasmas.
But, as mentioned, 10" isn't all that much, especially when that 65" set can easily be under 100 ibs.
As of now, that's the only true advantage of LCDs/Plasmas - the mountability... Once that is overcome, DLP to make a come back? They already have the price/performace ratio, now mountability? Why buy anytihng else?
The advantage of this is more apparent for larger TV sets. Lets say you have a 70 inch plasma or LCD.. well, unless you hang it up, you're gonna need a base to support that. The depth of that base will be the same or more than the thickness of a 70 inch RPTV using this tech.
So, the footprint is comparable to flat panel technologies. It wont be slimmer, but, you can fit in the same places.
loose != lose.
And I agree that 10" thick is not wall mountable. Not that 200 pound 3" plasmas are terribly wall mountable either, but at least they *look* ok once you've reinforced your wall enough to support them.
"contrast ratio of 100,000:1"
What? Are they kidding?
the calibrated 10,000:1 Panasonic plasma's 3d look is what got me on board with hdtv--is that a dynamic ratio, or an SED competitor?
Yeah, I also noticed the spelling and grammar errors in this article.
Even if manufacturers can get RPTVs down to 4" or 5" thick, their picture will still lose clarity when viewing off center. My reason for buying a plasma, or even an LCD, is that those flat panel TVs eliminate the off center viewing issues.
Is it sad I thought that was a PS3 from the pic?
If you know your DLP's you know they weigh virtually nothing and can easliy be hung on a wall. My next door neighbour has his 60" DLP hung on a wall and its allot thicker than the above and it looks fine.
Also DLP's have come on along way and horizontal viewing of center is absolutley fine (Better than allot of LCD's I ahve seen). Vertical off center is still a bit iffy though. But all dispalys have their downfall and this means everyones choice will be down to their circumstance. If there was a perfect display i.e. Cheap, Long life, Good contrast, colours etc) everyone would buy that one.
I think the above DLP gives consumers yet another good option (size vs. price).
I guess why they are wall mountable would be the fact that they are so much lighter than a plasma or lcd of the same size. Samsung makes a 46" DLP that only weighs 46 pounds. That's significantly lighter than Plasma or LCD. It is 10.4" thick, though.
Nice. I have a 61" Infocus 61md10 (purchased on woot) that is no longer made by InFocus or RCA (same tv different name). It is DLP and is only 8.5" thick that WAS hanging on my wall and was quite a conversation peace and the envy of all my friends and relatives. I say WAS because the light engine went out - the warranty ran out and they are asking $2600 to replace the light engine - that costs more than what I paid for the TV. I read that Samsung is also introduced a 10" DLP. I guess they figured out that the 8.5" was just not enough to get all the components right. I will have to wait until these 10" thick DLPs hit the market - there is no way I am going to plasma or lcd - I am sticking with DLP with this type of form factor.
"I guess they figured out that the 8.5" was just not enough to get all the components right."
The problem isn't the components, it's bending the light into that small a package given lens, mirror, and screen technology. It's not easy, I've tried.
Come on, Mr. copywriter, get "apart" out off "distinguishes them apart from one another" and correct "loose" to "lose". You're running a for-profit concern here, let it show.
"As of now, that's the only true advantage of LCDs/Plasmas - the mountability... Once that is overcome, DLP to make a come back? They already have the price/performace ratio, now mountability? Why buy anytihng else?"
You make a fine point. But at the same time, we've got other developing technologies, like OLED and LCoS. With OLED, we've already got superior image quality compared to conventional plasma and LCD televisions. And Sony's SXRD, I'm sure you would agree, looks better even than DLP, and has comparable size.
OH MY GOD, IT'S HUGE!
It's 3 times the height of that guy standing next to it!
I have the inFocus also, also from Woot. It's 61", 6.5" thick, and hanging on the wall. I LOVE it. buy.com was selling them recently for $2k.
What is this 6.5" thick inFocus DLP mentioned? What's the model #, introduction to market date??
Esat....i guess you missed the boat on DLP vs Plasma weights. Like the part that their 71 DLP weighs about the same as their 50 plasma