From e-waste to high-end display: DIY Perks transforms an old LCD into an OLED killer
Matthew Perks, who runs the DIY Perks YouTube channel, is known for his brilliant projects that involve transforming seemingly worthless e-waste into remarkable high-tech devices. In his latest video, he demonstrates how you can achieve image quality comparable to that of expensive OLED TVs by combining an old defective LCD display with a discarded projector.
The modding process:
The YouTuber began by carefully dismantling an eleven-year-old defective LG LCD television before meticulously removing its faulty backlight. The intact LCD panel was then cautiously prepared for the conversion process. Meanwhile, a few modifications needed to be made to an old DLP projector so that it can provide a proper and bright backlight, including the removal of the colour wheel. Next, he assembled the components, using aluminium profiles and MDF sheets to create a sturdy frame for housing the display's LCD panel and electronics. Perhaps the highlight of this project is that using the projector as a light source allows for much more precise lighting of the LCD panel than what local dimming technologies can possibly achieve. Matthew fine-tuned the picture settings with the help of the open-source software OBS Studio to optimise image quality and ensure the best viewing experience. The end product resembles a rear-projection television.
The result:
The outcome is impressive. The display is capable of producing deep blacks, vivid colours and incredible contrast. The video on the DIY Perks channel demonstrates that the DIY television can effortlessly keep up with current OLED models in terms of image quality, all achieved using parts that can essentially be considered e-waste – a top-notch example of upcycling.
