|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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.
|
Quick Guide to Home Theater Design Easy-to-follow e-book on how to design and build your Home Theater
by Duncan McClelland
Last Updated:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LCD Televisions: Sleek and Versatile ...but do they really make good televisions?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. In particular, at sub-42-inch screen sizes, LCD is at present the only mass-market flat-panel display technology. Larger screen sizes up to 55-inch are also readily available, but at this screen category, plasma HDTVs still carry a price advantage. 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 on amazon at a reduced price of $2,300 - which is practically the same as that of the slightly bigger but similarly spec 58-inch Samsung PN58B650 plasma HDTV. 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 big-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 come from Sharp, Sony and Samsung, with the most affordable being the Sharp Aquos 65-inch LC-65E77UM ($3,200). The other two 65-inch LCDs, namely the Sony KDL65W5100 ($4,100) and the Samsung LN65B650 ($4,700) are both significantly more expensive. The situation is somewhat different at the 55-inch category where the market seems to have been flooded with various models from all major brands. Developments in LCD TVsDuring these last few years, LCD TVs have been coming out bigger and cheaper. Yet there is a lot more to the latest developments in LCD display technology than just a more affordable big screen TV. In particular, we have seen a leap in overall picture performance of LCD HDTVs, with sets capable of improved screen uniformity, better off-angle viewing, deeper blacks, more accurate colors, higher refresh rates, improved LCD response times, and high contrast ratios. This is all apart from cleaner video processing, enhanced features - in particular the latest 'hot' spec of the day - IPTV support with Yahoo widgets found on most premium HDTVs, 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 backlight technology. Admittedly, LED TVs does not necessarily imply improved overall picture performance with respect to conventional CCFL-based LCDs, especially when it comes to off-angle viewing; edge-lit LED LCDs tend to suffer a lot here. The more expensive LED LCDs using LED backlights with local dimming technology can do better as further explained in our LCD display technology guide here. In particular, both the 55-inch Sony KDL-55XBR8 released in November 2008 and the recently released Samsung 55-inch UN55B8500 are capable of exceptional overall picture performance that expert reviews say is very much in line with that of the best plasma HDTVs. However, even these very expensive LED LCD TVs have their own issues as well both with viewing angle and blooming But even the less expensive 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 at 55-inch screen sizes. Mind you, nothing is perfect. For example, Samsung 2009 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. Luckily, the backlight fluctuations issue has been recently addressed by Samsung via a new firmware update for its B6000, B7000, and B8000 series; this firmware update seems to have practically resolved the issue. However, this lack of screen uniformity is common with other edge-lit LED TVs; comparative reviews of the Sony's edge lit LED KLV-40ZX1M LED LCD television show that this exhibits an even worse uniformity than the Samsung LED TVs. At the prices LED TVs are selling, one expects something better... This is their real problem - LED TV sets are still relatively expensive though the latest price drop we have seen for edge-lit LED TVs makes these LED TVs more within reach of the average household budget. However, expect to spend anything between $600 and $1,000 more than corresponding conventional LCD HDTVs. The popular Samsung LN46B750 1080p CCFL LCD Television is selling at almost $1,700 as against the $2,300 of the equivalent feature spec Samsung UN46B8000 LED HDTV. This difference would shoot upwards with LED TVs using local dimming technology; the recently released high-end Samsung UN46B8500 is presently selling at $3,100. Surely, Samsung UNB8500 series represents the very best LCD TVs ever released - with superb picture performance irrespective of brand and display technology. For more info on the latest Samsung LED TV series, please refer to our detailed Samsung B8500 product evaluation guide. 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, the best LCD TVs 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, high contrast levels, and accurate colors are no longer the dominion of plasma televisions. And when it comes to black level performance, today's LED LCD TVs with local dimming, support the same deep blacks as the best plasmas when you view the picture dead center; the problem is that with off-angle viewing, black levels and color saturation of LED LCD TVs tend to deteriorate at a faster rate than corresponding plasma TVs. However, 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. Rather, HDTV pricing is becoming more a matter of features rather than display technology. What's more, there are many similarities between plasma TVs and LCD televisions. Like plasma televisions, LCD HDTVs are just a few inches thick - with the latest HDTV species being just over an inch thin. 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 like their plasma counterpart, LCD HDTVs still represent an expensive investment. In addition, the vast choice of LCD televisions 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 HDTV Reviews section will help make your choice a bit easier. LCD Television Guide - Section Index:
LCD HDTV sets at amazonIf you are in the market for an LCD TV, we advise to visit the amazon storefront; the vast choice of products and the various buying options available from the different retailers are among the best online. However, prior to any decision, we recommend to do some research of your own. Look at what other customers had to say about their LCD following their purchase. This will give you extensive insight about the product of interest; a good starting point is the customer feedback posted on the amazon site. You can search the amazon storefront for LCD HDTVs without leaving our site by using the amazon search box below; your search results will appear here under.
|
Buying a new HDTV - Buy now or wait till later?
Should you wait for 2010 HDTVs or buy now to enjoy the present reduced pricing on 2009 sets? Following the CES, many end up engulfed in the dilemma of whether they should opt for a premium line LCD TV from 2009 at a heavily discounted price, or simply wait for the new models to start filling stores shelves and get the latest... at a significantly higher price. We discuss this hotly debated issue to help you make a better choice.
LCD TV reviews & product guides appearing under this section Samsung B8500 LED TV Series Detailed Product Evaluation Samsung Series 6 LCD HDTVs: Full product guide covering B610, B630, B640, and B650 LCD HDTVs Sony Bravia KDL-V5100 120Hz 1080p HDTVs - full product review Sony Bravia KDL-XBR9 240Hz 1080p HDTVs with internet-enabled content and DLNA support - full product review LG LCD Reviews covering LG LH50, LH55, and LG LED TV series LH90
Samsung LED TVs vs. Samsung LCDs:
Which is Better?
Samsung 2009 LCD HDTVs: 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? Best HDTVs Roundup: Picking up the best plasma and LCD TVs for 2009
Recommended Technical Guides
Plasma Television
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
Check out the latest special offers on LCD HDTV sets at amazon Best Selling LED LCD TVs
Best-selling LED TV; a complete product guide of the Samsung LED TV lineup is available here.
Best Selling Conventional LCD HDTVs
For a review of the Samsung B750 series, please check our review here.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
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. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
About
Me
|
About the
Site Content
|
Terms
of Use / Disclaimer
|
Privacy Policy
Information on this website represents the author's opinion and does not constitute professional advice; please read our terms of use and privacy policy before using this site. Copyright © - Practical-Home-Theater-Guide.com All rights reserved. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
,
but this is more suitable for advanced users.