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Are you thinking of buying an LCD TV?
LCD Televisions - a Complete Guide


LCD Televisions are coming out bigger, better and cheaper! The truth is that LCD televisions are becoming more of an alternative with 40/47-inch LCD TVs selling at a price that compares favorably 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 a TV purchase.


 

Sony KDL40S3000 40" Bravia Flat-panel LCD HDTV

Sony KDL-40S3000 40" Flat Panel LCD HDTV

LCD Televisions: Sleek, Sexy, and Versatile ...but do they really make good televisions?

Up to a few years 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.

Anything bigger, still means plasma; present-day prices for both LCD and plasma television sets render plasma TVs as the most flat-panel option that makes sense, but...

It is the 50-inch TV segment, which is the real immediate target of LCD panel manufactures. Why?

As prices of flat-panel displays continue to fall, 50-inch TV sets are expected to become the real favorite screen size in home entertainment.

LCD panel makers are therefore addressing their efforts towards next-generation LCD production techniques. These are expected to lower production costs - thus making 50-inch LCD televisions more competitive against same-size plasma TVs.

Meanwhile, some really big LCD display panels have started to emerge. During CES 2006, Samsung and Sony had come up with the then largest LCD panel, an 82-inch prototype LCD TV. However, during CES2007, Sharp presented an LCD giant that is 108-inch in diagonal - that's over 2.5m long!

However, development in LCD flat-panel display technology does not imply only a bigger screen size - there is also improved picture performance.

For example, the use of backlights running off 3-color RGB LED light sources on some of high-end prototypes displayed by Sony and Samsung enjoys several advantages over LCD panels using white cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL).

The most significant of these advantageous include:

  • Improved color rendering that is more true to life since the white light is produced from frequencies that are closer to those of the three primary colors.

  • Improved video performance that is similar to CRT TVs.

  • Reduced power consumption

  • Longer life that is typical twice that of CCFL-based models.

 

Performance wise, LCD display panels are now on par with their plasma counterparts; high refresh rates, supported wide viewing angles - more than 170 degrees, and high contrast levels, are no longer the dominion of plasmas. LCD TVs black level performance have also improved to a point that compares favorably with that of plasma televisions. The reality is that both plasma and LCD display technologies have their share of advantageous and disadvantageous; there is no winner and choosing one technology over the other, is more up to your preference and specific needs.

What's more, there are many similarities between these two flat-panel display technologies. Like plasma televisions, LCD TVs are just a few inches thick. Large LCD televisions can literally be hung on the wall, while smaller sets, up to 21-inch screen size, can easily fold under a wall cabinet. Their unobtrusive nature integrates well with the rest of any room furniture and decor. The only major drawback with LCD television sets is that larger screen size LCD panels are usually more expensive than their plasma equivalents.


Though LCD Television sets are turning out to be even more affordable than ever, with 40-inch LCD TV sets selling almost on par with similar screen-size plasma televisions, yet LCD televisions still represent an expensive investment.

We therefore hope that the featured guides and LCD TV reviews included under this section will provide the necessary information to help you in your selection process, and eventually lead you to a more confident buy. 


LCD Television Guide - Section Index:

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How-it-works: LCD Display Panel:

What is LCD Display Technology, and how does LCD panels work?

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Developments in LCD flat-panel Technology:

Discussing some of the latest advancements in flat-panel display technology as applicable to LCD TV systems.

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Plasma vs. LCD Television:

A detailed 3600 comparative guide to choosing between a plasma TV and an LCD television. Issues discussed include
Price and Size Considerations, Picture Related Issues, and Functional Matters.

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The Contrast Ratio Game - Playing with Numbers!

Discover to what extent high contrast ratio ratings affect the performance of a video display device.

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LCD Response Time and Image Lag:

Is faster always better? Is it possible to compare LCD TV response times between different manufactures when the different ways of reporting seems simply designed by some to disguise the hard facts?

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Image Sticking in LCD Televisions: 

Image sticking is surely one of the least known phenomena associated with the use of TFT LCD panels, yet image retention is not just an issue with plasma televisions. Discover what causes image retention in LCD TVs. What can you do to avoid it?

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Buying a refurbished LCD Television - Is it worth the risk?

A way to a cheap LCD TV is to opt for a refurbished product but... Discover all you need to know in our guide to buying refurbished electronics and see how you can transform the risk into a smart buy!

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A Guide to LCD Television Installation:

Thanks to the use of LCD mounts, installing an LCD TV should be a fairly straightforward task, but... Help is on the way. This installation guide looks at various installation issues from placement to running cables and safety considerations.

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LCD TV Mounts:

The different types of LCD TV mounts give rise to mounting options undreamed off with CRT and RPTVs. In this second part of our LCD TV installation guide, we discuss the various LCD mounts - identifying their pros, cons and use.

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Wiring Solutions for Flat Panel TVs - Superb Home Theater Wiring Channels

The Superb Home Theater wiring solution concept is easy home theater installation. It is designed for the home installer with basic DIY skills, but not only; more info in this review article.

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Home Media Cabinets for that Unique Finishing Touch in Flat-panel TV Installation

Maria Yee Line of EcoLuxury™ Home Theater Furniture represents an exclusive three-piece collection of AV cabinets that offers more than just style and functionality. Read here to discover more.

LCD TV Reviews

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Choosing Your LCD Television Set - A Product Guide

As always, it is not easy to choose especially when considering that more manufactures are competing to come up with feature-packed LCD HDTV sets that are larger, better and cheaper than ever.

To assist you in this selection process, we are presenting a number of product reviews featuring some of the best-selling LCD televisions on the market.

Products covered so far include:

Samsung LN-T42H series

Sony KDL-S3000 series

Samsung LN-T53/54H series

Samsung LN-T4665F 1080p LCD HDTV

Sony KDL-46XBR4 46" 1080p LCD TV

 

Other 1080p LCD TV reviews in the pipeline include the Sony KDL-xxXBR2 series and the Sharp LC-xxD62U. These should be covered in the coming weeks.

Read here to discover more...

 

   

 


LCD HDTV sets at amazon

The LCD television sets featured under our LCD TV 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 following their purchase. Just click on the respective product link below and then follow through the 'Customers Reviews' section on the same webpage:

 

 

Alternatively, follow through this link to access the full range of LCD HDTV sets available at amazon: LCD HDTV Sets

 

 

 


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Last Update:
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Suggested Further Reading:

Choosing a Plasma Television
Features to look for when buying a Plasma Television.

TV Viewing Distance
Buying a big screen TV? Care should be taken as you may easily fall into the trap of buying a too large TV.

The Contrast Ratio Game!
Contrast ratio ratings affect the performance of a display device, but to what extent?

Should You Opt for a 1080p HDTV?
Discover the strengths and weaknesses of the different HD formats - 720p, 1080i, and 1080p - in this HDTV Guide.

Quick Guide to DVI
The DVI Cable Guide - explaining the different flavors of DVI interconnects

HDMI Cable Guide
A short guide explaining all you need to know about HDMI cables & connectors.

Extending DVI & HDMI: Fiber or Copper?
Discover available options to extend a HDTV connection beyond the practical distances supported by DVI and HDMI.

RGB & Component video, or DVI & HDMI?
Is digital always better?

HDCP and HDTV:
What is HDCP, and why it impacts HDTV viewing? What about HDCP strippers as a solution to non-compliant devices?

Home Theater Set-Up DVDs
Discover how these calibration discs can come in handy during equipment setup.

Home Theater Design:
A series of articles covering all aspects of a home theater from design to realization.

Audio Video Equipment Racks
There is more to equipment racks than a storage space for your home theater gear. More in this info guide. 

 

A Quick Guide to

Home Theater Design

A complete e-Book on how to research, design and build your own Home Theater.

Home Theater Design e-book

by Duncan McClelland

More information HERE.


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