In my last column, I detailed the differences between LCD and plasma panels. That issue is the topic du jour among prospective TV buyers, but hot on its tail is the debate raging over DLP and LCD rear-projection HDTVs. One reader put it to me succinctly the other day: "Should I get the Samsung DLP or the LCD Sony Grand WEGA? Need to know by this weekend."

What makes LCD and DLP rear-projection HDTVs so compelling is that they're much thinner, lighter, and sexier than their less-expensive CRT-based counterparts, which have the traditional boxy look and (as I explain in another column) aren't all that spouse-friendly. Many CRT models offer better picture quality than their LCD and DLP cousins, but the performance gap has narrowed to the point where it's less of an issue. There's also a fourth important flavor called LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon).

The result of the improvements in LCD and DLP rear-projection HDTVs is that the new models are quickly becoming cost-effective alternatives to ultraexpensive large-screen plasma and LCD panels. Without getting too technical, I'll quickly run down what you should know before going the DLP or LCD--more specifically, Samsung or Sony--rear-projection route.

Discerning styles

	Samsung HLN617W
	Sony KF-50WE610

From a purely aesthetic perspective, you can't go wrong. All of Samsung's DLP TVs and Sony's latest Grand WEGAs--which range in size from 42 to 70 inches--are among the sleekest-looking rear-projection sets ever designed. And they give the illusion that they're even thinner than they really are, though they're not as slender as flat-panel plasmas and LCDs.

A quick comparison shows us that the 50-inch Samsung HLN507W DLP and the 50-inch Sony KF-50WE610 LCD are around the same size: the DLP is 17.6 inches deep and weighs 97 pounds; the LCD takes just 0.6 inch off the depth and brings down the bulk a bit to 82.2 pounds. In case you're wondering, a typical 50-inch plasma isn't a lot heavier at about 100 pounds but measures a much slimmer 4 inches or so.

Price check
As the rear-projection competition heats up--more manufacturers are entering the market in 2004--we expect the price difference between LCD and DLP to quickly disappear. But until that happens, Sony has a slight value lead over Samsung. The Grand WEGAs currently run about $500 less than equivalent-size Samsung DLP HDTVs. Gateway's 56-inch DLP is a decent deal as long as you're willing to overlook its funky design, and RCA makes DLP sets, too.

Bulb life
One nice thing about a DLP, LCD, or LCoS set is that you can put in new bulbs like you would with a front projector. Both Samsung and Sony say that their TVs offer up to 8,000 hours of bulb life, depending on brightness settings and usage. Replacements cost $300 to $400. Call it a draw.

Performance
For this section, I turn to Kevin Miller, our main TV reviewer and one of the United States' preeminent video experts. He didn't used to be a fan of LCD rear-projection sets, but after he'd calibrated several Grand WEGAs in the field, he found himself pleasantly surprised. "I don't know what Sony did," he says, "but it's done a good job with the black levels. They've come a long way." Earlier Grand WEGAs just couldn't display black that well; it ended up closer to dark gray. That shortcoming decreases the amount of detail you can see in the shadows and ultimately leaves the picture looking flatter and less three-dimensional.

If you look closely at backgrounds on both the Sonys and the Samsungs, you'll see some low-level noise, which shows up as dancing pixels. However, Miller says that DLP sets have a bit of an edge in terms of color accuracy and black-level performance. The difference has to do with the distance between a TV's pixels, called interpixel spacing or fill factor. It's instrumental in black reproduction and color saturation. At least for now, DLPs have far tighter interpixel spacing than LCDs. So Miller gives the performance nod to DLPs, even though the Grand WEGAs have a slightly higher resolution than the Samsungs.

However, DLP sets have a shortcoming: because they use a spinning color wheel to modulate the image, some people can catch a glimpse of the color separation on the screen. They see a brief streak of color that is often referred to as the rainbow effect. It appears most frequently in dark areas around a moving spot of brightness, such as a flashlight bulb.

The strange thing is that some people are aware of the rainbow effect--and it really bothers them--and others aren't. I don't see it, but Senior Associate Editor David Katzmaier and Associate Editor John Falcone do. My best advice is to try before you buy. Get an in-store demo in a dark room and determine whether the rainbows affect you.

In the final analysis, Miller says, "It's very close. Out of the box, the Sonys are probably a shade better. Sony's done a decent job with some of the preset picture settings. But after I calibrate a Samsung, I can get it pretty damn nice."

For the record, hiring Miller to bring a rear-projection HDTV to peak performance costs about $400 to $500--a small price to pay to see potential fully realized. See our quick guide to TV calibration for full details on the process.

The scorecard
Now that we've tallied up everything, you can see that it's hard to go wrong with either manufacturer's new rear-projection TVs. If you're nitpicky about video performance and you don't notice rainbows, you may lean more toward Samsung's DLPs. But if you'd rather keep that extra $500 and you want a set with a bit less heft, the lower price and the slightly lighter, sleeker chassis of the Grand WEGAs may tip the scales in their favor.

And for those who can't decide

	Samsung HLP5685W

If you're hedging, you can take comfort in the fact that these types of HDTVs will only get better and thinner with time. On the DLP side, we saw advances in January at the Consumer Electronics Show. Samsung showed off its upcoming 2004 sets, including the ultrasleek HLP5685W, and RCA unveiled its wall-mountable 50- and 60-inch Profiles models, which are a mere 6.85 inches deep. All will feature Texas Instruments' next-gen DLP chips, which should provide a small bump up in picture quality. But these new TVs aren't due out until the fall and, unfortunately, won't be any cheaper.

I expect similar news on LCDs, and though the first couple of rounds of LCoS TVs were lackluster, the technology shows promise, and someone's going to get it right one of these days. In other words, stay tuned. We'll review all of the new sets as they come out.

Editor's note: For additional info on different kinds of rear-projection television technology, check out our quick guide to TV types.