Price may not be the primary consideration but can play a part in determining what large-screen TV to buy. Rear Projection TVs (RPTVs) are an affordable choice for large, flat-screen televisions. They are substantially less costly than flat-screen plasmas or LCD HDTVs.
Rear-projection TVs use less energy than their LCD or plasma counterparts. They use 50 percent of the energy of LCD HDTVs and 40 percent of the energy used by plasma TVs.
Within the past few years, the depth of RPTVs has decreased. These TVs previously ranged from 24 to 30 inches in depth. Now RPTVs can be found that are between 12 and 18 inches in depth. This is still not as slim as flat-screen plasmas or LCDs. The smaller depth, however, makes it possible to mount these RPTVs on the wall successfully.
RPTVs come in screen sizes ranging between 40 and 70 inches. You need to consider room size and recommended viewing distances for your room size to determine if the size is suitable for your room. If you are looking for a really large screen, you can opt for a front-projection system, which includes a home theater projector and a projection screen. These may be more costly, however.
Newer RPTVs offer better viewing angles than previous ones. Older RPTVs required the viewer to sit directly in front of the screen for the best viewing angle. Newer sets can be viewed well from as much as a 160 degree angle. Before purchasing an RPTV, you will want to check the viewing angle as a consideration.
Many RPTVs have a protective shield over the screen. Light hitting these shields causes glare. The shields can be removed, but this may void the warranty. An option is to cover windows with drapes and to position room lighting so it does not effect the screen.
RPTVs can be purchased in either 4.3 or 16.9 (widescreen) aspect ratio. Most regular TV programming is in 4.3 aspect ratio but HD programming is in 16.9. When purchasing a RPTV this is a consideration.