Shopping for a TV in these days of safe is not what it used to be. In the old days, all I had to do was find out how big your TV was near next door, then go to Sears and buy a few inches bigger. Now, with HDTV explode in any direction, you need a deeper understanding of the available options before deciding what to get. Does not need to be intimidating, but if you break down the decision-making process in just a few steps.
First of all, let's assume that you want the latest and greatest TV type and that it would be a HDTV (High Definition Television). The main factors to consider in choosing an HDTV are:
Budget range
Screen size
Display technology (Plasma, LCD or DLP)
Resolution and image quality
Known issues
Budget range
HDTV prices are linked to each factor in the list above, but the screen size and viewing technology tend to have stronger influence. Here's a rough idea of what to expect in different price ranges (in dollars):
Under $ 500: 24 inches & smaller LCD HDTVs, HD-ready (no tuner). Some brands of Economics such as Vice, ViewSonic and Olevia, could offer as large as 32 inch fashion for under $ 500 during a special offer.
$ 500 to $ 1000: 42 inches and smaller LCD HDTV from trademarks and economy through brands like Toshiba, JVC and Sharp. 42-inch and smaller 720 p Samsung LCDs. 37 and 40-inch Plasmas, provided that they are last year's model. Toshiba, Sharp, LG and economy brands offer a 1080p HDTV in this price range.
$ 1000 to $ 1500: 46 inches and smaller LCD, including some models of Sharp Aquos 1080p HDTV and Samsung, whether they are for sale. 42-inch and smaller plasma screens. 57 inches and the smallest DLP HDTVs.
$ 1500 to $ 2500: 52 inches and smaller LCD, including Sony Bravias, and most of the old generation
current generation Samsung 1080p LCD. 50-inch and smaller plasma HDTVS. 73 inch and smaller DLP HDTVs.
$ 2500 plus: all the rest ... the latest and greatest. 56-inch Sony Bravia LCD TV, Panasonic plasma screens and pioneer huge and more.
Screen size
Choosing the right size HDTV is more important than it might seem. Too small, and you won't get the immersive experience of TV trucks; too big, and you will feel disappointed with imperfections that you can see in the picture.
View the area where you can watch TV and estimated that the average distance a viewer will be sitting on the screen. For the best experience of your viewing distance should be 2 to 4 times the diagonal measurement of the screen. For example, a set of 50 inches is best viewed by 100 or 200 inches or 8 to 16 feet away.
Display technology
The most common types of flatscreen HDTV are plasma, LCD and DLP. They are all quite subtle, and at reasonable prices. Projection & CRT HDTVs are out there, but the size and cost puts them out of the radar of most people.
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display and is the same kind of screen used in most new computer monitors (you're probably looking at an LCD screen now), mobile phones and many other devices. LCDs more efficient when you want an average small set, or set a lightweight, or watching TV in a well-lit room.
Plasma sets have a glass screen (as opposed to plastic LCD display) with an ionized gas inserted behind it that creates an image when it is energized by electrical charges. Plasmas have an obvious advantage over LCD image quality, especially when viewed from an angle, but may have more screen glare in bright light.
The acronym DLP Digital Light Processing. These collections using small oscillating mirrors behind the screen to create an image. Fashion is technically DLP rear-projection televisions, but usually is rather flat. They are cheaper than LCD and Plasma, but are often a bit too heavy and often hang on a wall.
Image quality and resolution
If you compare two HDTVs that are the same size and type of display, but they have vastly different price tags, the reason is probably the image quality and resolution. Lower-end sets tend to have a poor contrast ratio (the difference between the image brightness and brighter, they may show), poor levels of nero (black scenes are totally Black?) and incorrect colors. Other problems with cheap fashion may include motion blur, Ghost images (just what it sounds like weak echoes of images) and band (horizontal or vertical lines that appear on the screen for no reason).
The resolution is the number of small points that TV uses to make an image and has a direct effect on sharpness. These two levels, 720 p and 1080p. is the highest1080p resolution and is really only needed if your HDTV is larger than approximately 45 inches, or if you intend to use it as a computer monitor.
Known issues
Make an HDTV with a picture perfect is an incredibly difficult thing to do. There are dozens of problems that may arise, as the already mentioned banding and ghosting, and it takes really a cream cutout reliably to avoid all of them. Creators of lower-end HDTV do some set of high quality, of course, but in new models, there is usually an issue or two that has not been completely resolved. This is the downside of being early adopters. Fortunately, these problems are exposed on the internet immediately, so potential buyers may wait until they were addressed. The best way to learn about these problems is to check the relevant online reviews HDTV written by current owners of HDTVS and see if there is a generally positive or negative attitude on the set you are interested in.
About the author
Tom Webster is a researcher and copywriter who writes for FlatHDTV.net [http://www.flathdtv.net], a guide to HDTV revolution.
No comments:
Post a Comment