In the last half of the 20th century the majority of television sets which most consumers are familiar with have been the traditional CRT screens. During the mid 1980s, as the demand for larger screens became louder, many manufacturers and consumers turned to rear projection models. Unfortunately picture quality at close distances was sacrificed in favor of a more movie theater-like experience. Now enters new high definition television.
As technologies in televisions evolve and improve so do the technical complexities of each individual component found within each television. Compared to traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) television sets, high definition televisions such as plasma or LCD may be more affordable to repair depending upon the problem. Although generally not able to match the image quality of high definition plasma or LCD televisions, rear projection televisions such as DLP and LCoS, can be exceptionally expensive to repair. One primary reason for the repair price discrepancy between HDTVs and traditional televisions is the availability of parts.
Now that plasma and LCD televisions have gained a strong foothold as mainstream technology, the past types of television models have quickly begun to diminish due to the decline of both the retail price point and the cost of the manufacturing of plasma and LCD TVs. As the capabilities of HDTV continue to improve, the majority of manufacturers have opted to discontinue producing CRT TVs and projection televisions in favor of superior video and the potential to realize greater profits.
With the proliferation of high definition, aging electronics used in CRT and projection sets are not being produced in any large quantity; if at all. The cost for these parts has increased due to diminished supply, but demand for a knowledgeable and experienced technician has increased even more. Unfortunately skilled television repair technicians are difficult to come by. Although more numerous in larger cities, many rural areas or small towns such as Trenton, NJ or Levittown, PA, may fall within a repair company’s service area.
Even though plasmas and LCDs are now the new standard, it can be unrealistic to expect every home owner to run out to the local electronics store and shell out $900 or more for a moderately decent to excellent HDTV, especially in these challenging economic times. Seeking out a television repair professional still makes sense as it can save the viewer hundreds of dollars over purchasing a new set as the HDTV technology continues to rapidly improve.