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Home Page - LCD TV Guide Are you thinking of buying an LCD TV?LCD Televisions - a Complete GuideLCD Televisions are coming out bigger, better and cheaper! The truth is that LCD televisions are becoming more of an alternative with 40/46-inch LCD TVs selling at a price that is in line with that of Plasma televisions. Still, an LCD HDTV makes up for a big investment; going for the wrong choice is not an option. Our LCD Television Guide will help you get a better understanding of all you need to know when planning an LCD purchase.
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A Quick Guide to Home Theater Design
An easy-to-follow e-book on how to research, design, and build your own
by Duncan McClelland
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LCD Televisions: Sleek and Versatile ...but do they really make good televisions?
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Updated on: 14th June 2009 |
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Up to not long ago, you had no choice for a direct-view display - all TV sets were of the same kind, using that old but reliable cathode-ray tube technology, simply referred to as CRT. That is no longer true. LCD display technology that has become so popular with laptop screens, is being used to a great effect in small to medium screen size televisions - up to about 46-inch. Larger screen sizes up to 55-inch are also readily available, but at these sizes, plasma HDTVs are still cheaper. Price difference however is highly dependent on model and brand, while within the same brand, the price difference between sets of similar specs is just marginal. For example, the Samsung 55-inch LN55B650 LCD HDTV is selling at $2,500 - which is practically the same as that of the slightly bigger 58-inch Samsung PN58B650 plasma HDTV. Interesting is that the most targeted TV market segment by LCD TV makers is the 50 to 55 inch. With the latest affordable prices for medium to large flat panel TVs, 50-inch plus TV sets are turning out to be the real favorite screen size in home entertainment. It is a screen size that does provide a more immersive movie experience over smaller 40 to 46 inch sets with only a minimal increase in the invested capital. Larger LCD HDTVs are also readily available. Way back in 2006, Samsung and Sony had already come up with the then largest LCD panel, an 82-inch prototype LCD TV. A year later, during CES2007, Sharp presented an LCD giant prototype that was 108-inch in diagonal - that's over 2.5m long! But it is not just prototypes that are available in massive sizes. LCDs up to 65-inch are available but you do not have the same choice when it comes to LCDs as instead is the case with plasma HDTVs. The only few 65-inch models we are aware of all come from Sharp, with the most affordable of these being the 65-inch LC-65D64U ($3,200). The situation is somewhat different at the 55-inch where the market seems to have been flooded with various models from all major brands. Developments in LCD TVsHowever, development in LCD flat-panel display technology does not imply only a bigger screen size at a lower price. During these last years, we have also seen a leap in overall picture performance of LCD HDTVs, with sets capable of improved screen uniformity, better off-angle viewing that is in excess of 170 degrees, deeper blacks, more accurate colors, higher refresh rates and improved LCD response times, high contrast ratios, and improved dynamic resolution. This is all apart from cleaner video processing, enhanced features, a thinner profile, and equally important, lower power consumption. And speaking of LCD display developments, one surely cannot leave out the latest LED LCD TVs using cutting-edge LED backlighting technology. Admittedly, LED TVs does not necessarily imply improved overall picture performance with respect to conventional CCFL-based LCDs - in particular if you are dealing with the latest trend in LED TVs - edge-lit LED LCDs. More expensive LCDs using LED backlights based on local dimming technology can do better here as further explained in our LCD display technology guide here. But even edge-lit LED TVs offer significant improvements with respect to conventional LCDs when it comes to the rendering of deep blacks, improved contrast ratios, improved power consumption that is some 40% less than that of conventional LCD TVs, and a 1-inch thick profile even for 55-inch LCD HDTVs. Mind you, nothing is perfect. For example, the latest Samsung edge-lit LED TVs reviewed on our site do suffer from what appears to be lack of screen uniformity and fluctuations in the backlight especially with the dynamic contrast activated. It is not that these Samsung LED TVs are worst than others; Sony's edge lit LED KLV-40ZX1M LED LCD television exhibits an even worse uniformity than the Samsung LED TVs. But at the prices LED TVs are selling, one expects something better... This is their real problem - these LED TV sets are relatively expensive. Expect to spend almost $1,000 more than corresponding conventional LCD HDTVs. The popular Samsung LN46B750 1080p LCD Television is selling at almost $2,000 as against the $2,990 of the Samsung UN46B7000 LED HDTV. And considering, the LED TV comes with 120Hz while the B750 comes with 240Hz refresh rate. Performance: Plasma vs. LCDWhile one cannot say that both display technologies are equal, yet there is no doubt that when it comes to picture performance, LCD display panels are basically on par with the best plasma counterparts; in particular, this is so with the latest LED TVs. This means that high refresh rates, supported wide viewing angle, high contrast levels, accurate colors and deep levels of black are no longer the dominion of plasma televisions. The reality is that both plasma and LCD display technologies have their share of advantageous and disadvantageous; there is no winner here. And while up to two to three years ago, the price factor was a major issue, this is no longer the case; the price difference between these two different display technologies have practically vanished even at the larger screen sizes. What's more, there are many similarities between plasma TVs and LCD televisions. Like plasma televisions, LCD HDTVs are just a few inches thick. Large LCDs can literally be hung on the wall, while smaller sets, up to around 21-inch, can easily fold under a wall cabinet. Their unobtrusive nature integrates well with the rest of any room furniture and decor. Choosing one technology over the other is therefore more a matter of personal preference and your specific needs. For a detailed discussion on the pros and cons of plasmas and LCDs, please check our Plasma vs. LCD Guide. Though LCD Television sets have become more affordable than ever - and though the price difference between LCD and plasma HDTVs have practically disappeared - yet LCD HDTVs still represent an expensive investment. In addition, the vast choice of LCD televisions of all brands available for the consumer is such that selecting an LCD television can turn out to be challenging and even frustrating. We therefore hope that you will find the information contained in the LCD HDTV guides covered under this section of some assistance; these guides should lead you to a more informed buy. We also hope that products featured under our LCD TV reviews area will help make your choice a bit easier. LCD Television Guide - Section Index:
LCD HDTV sets at amazonThe LCD television sets featured under our LCD HDTV Reviews section are all available at amazon. We suggest checking out the amazon portal for the latest prices from some of the major stores featured on their site. Even more important, accessing the product page at amazon gives you the possibility to see what other customers had to say about these LCD TV sets. We believe that there is no better insight to a product than to go through what others had to say about their experience with the product. Accessing customer feedback is relatively easy; just click on the respective product link below and then follow through the 'Customers Reviews' section on the same webpage: Samsung 46-inch LN46B650 Samsung 52-inch LN52B750 Samsung UN46B7000 46-inch LED HDTV Sony 40-inch Bravia KLV-40ZX1M LED TV Sony 52-inch KDL-52XBR9 Sony 52-inch BRAVIA Z5100 LCD HDTV Sharp 52-inch Aquos LC-52BD80U Sharp 52-inch Aquos LC-52E77U LG 55-inch 55LH55 240Hz LCD TV Alternatively, follow through the following link to access the full range of LCD HDTV sets available at amazon: LCD HDTVs
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LCD TV reviews & product guides appearing under this section
Samsung LED TVs vs. LCD TVs Samsung 2009 LCD TVs: The
B750 Series:
2009 Samsung LED TVs - the Complete Lineup: Product Evaluation LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 1: Samsung A950 Series LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 2: Sony XBR8 series LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 3: Which is Better? The Sony S4100 Series of entry-level 1080p LCD HDTVs Samsung 2008 LCD line-up - Part 1: Series 9, 8, 7 and 6 Samsung 2008 LCD line-up - Part 2: Series 5, 4, and 3 Samsung LN-T53/54H 720p LCD HDTV Series Samsung LN-T4665F 1080p LCD Television Sony KDL-46XBR4 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Recommended Technical Guides
Plasma Television Digital TV
Guide to
Digital Satellite TV
The HDMI Cable Guide TV Viewing Distance Should You Opt for a 1080p
HDTV?
Recommended Home Theater Reading Sound & Vision Provides good reviews on the latest home theater gear.
Practical Home Theater
Well-written home theater guide that should serve as a valid reference to anyone interested in home theater.
Check out the latest special offers on LCD HDTV sets at amazon Best Selling LED LCD TVs Our review of the Samsung A950 LED LCD TV series is available here.
The most expensive LED LCD TV presently available on the market, the Sony
Triluminos XBR8 series - is rated as the best LED LCD TV money can buy.
Best Selling Conventional LCD HDTVs
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Would You like to get the best out of your LCD HDTV? There is no better way to make the most out of your new LCD panel HDTV then to invest in a set-up DVD. A great calibration disc is the Avia II Home Theater Set-up DVD, an exceptional AV calibration tool for both the novice and the expert.
Another interesting
calibration disc is the
Digital Video Essentials HD For more information, please check our Guide to HT Set-Up DVDs. |
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