Saturday, September 12, 2009

Everything That You Need to Know About An LCD TV

By Tom Smith

Is it time to upgrade your old TV to a flat-screen? In the search for a new television, begin with LCD TVs. From compact, fifteen-inch models to big screens measuring 100 inches or more, these slim, flat-screen TVs come in many different sizes. There is an LCD TV out there that will fit any space or budget. Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sharp, and Sony are the major brand names, but by no means are they the only brands that carry quality LCD TVs.

With the development of High Definition capability, LCD TVs have become very popular. The technology twists specialized crystals to create images, which are reflected by a light behind the screen panel. This prevents burnout and extends the life of the television. LCD stands for liquid crystal display, but never fear, there is no liquid at all inside these machines.

When buying a new TV, there are some important features to compare. This is a major talking point for the Plasma vs. LCD TV debate and is a good way to measure the quality of different brands and models. The contrast ratio is measured by comparing the blackest black to the whitest white. Plasma dominated this area for the first few years by having the deepest blacks, but recently, LCD TVs have bridged the gap with significant technology improvements. Anything over 10,000:1 can be considered an excellent contrast level. A good LCD TV will have a contrast level around 3000:1, but this will vary widely depending on the brand and model. With a very high contrast rate of 80,000:1, Philips's 40", 1080p LCD TV is an example of a fantastic contrast rate.

Another quality to research is response time. Response time measures how quickly a crystal can change the image it reflects. Although measurements for response time are not regulated and can be inaccurate, Sharps Aquos line of LCD TVs are accurately measured at 6 milliseconds. Some of the markers of poor response time are ghosting, streaking, smearing, or blurring. If a beautiful picture can be blurred by a poor response time, it should definitely be taken into account in your search.

Refresh rates can be tricky to find. They are often displayed as 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, or 6000Hz. 600Hz is only available on the newest models and is recommended mostly for sports or similar fast moving programming. 200 Hz is quite common on the name brands and is a marked improvement upon the 50Hz speed.

Furthermore, LCD televisions have a high resolution with HD ready (720p) or full HD capacity (1080p). This makes them great for alternative video input. Especially for computer displays, LCD Televisions have a strong advantage over Plasma and display perfect images that might appear jagged on a Plasma screen. Watching your favourite team play a match in full-HD is an experience every sports fan should have!

Though Plasma TVs are a good alternative, LCD TVs offer a wider range of sizes and prices, which makes them very accessible. In addition to being a mere three inches thick, they have an average life span of 60,000 viewing hours, so they make a great long-term investment.

Buying an LCD Television will bring together family and friends for endless enjoyment whether you enjoy watching movies with the kids or rooting on your favourite sports team in that big game.

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