In recent years the next generation of TV and Movie viewing has come around rather quickly, TV and movies are now made at a much higher resolution, almost double the resolution of DVDs and TV broadcasts in some cases providing much more detail and clarity to the pictures we see on our TV screens. High Definition TVs have become the default models being sold in the shops now and with many brands and models to choose from it can be a bit bewildering.
HD TVs obviously require a HD source whether this is Satellite or Cable HD services or the FreeSat option that costs nothing more than a TV with this ability built in or a set top box connected to a satellite dish. There are also many Video Games Consoles and Bluray disc players that make use of High Definition pictures.
Buying the actual HD TV can be confusing with many similar looking models and features it can be hard to determine which model to go for and what is going to be the best model we can get for our money. The following factors are what you should consider when buying a new LCD or Plasma HD Television.
Plasma or LCD?
Modern HDTVs tend to come in one of two varieties; both have advantages and disadvantages over one another. For instance Plasma TV sets have a greater viewing angle so you can view the TV without having to worry about sitting directly in line with the TV; LCD TVs have the advantage of being more lightweight but also using less power than the Plasma Televisions.
The Size
Many people will want to get the largest screen size they can afford for the ultimate home cinema experience but some people can find massive TV sets can look ridiculous in their rooms and be too big. Ideally you want a decent sized screen that even being sat at the back of the room you aren’t missing out on any details.
Contrast Ratios
Newer HD televisions are able to vary their contrast ratios but many sets have lower ranges which can mean your TV picture can seem too dark or too light. Some LCD televisions use a backlight of LEDs to achieve near perfect colour ratios so it is worth considering this factor almost as much as the size, remember to test out TV sets with a variety of bright and dark scenes to get a feel for the range of each TV set.
The Refresh Rate
Motion blur is a problem that standard definition televisions used to suffer from and the effect can still be present in many HDTVs, the refresh rate is the measure in hertz of how quickly the image is updated. The higher the number the more clear the image will be when there are fast moving images such as sports on the screen.
Remember to test out all Plasma or LCD televisions before buying; you should get the right model for you as long as you consider all of the factors mentioned in this article.
Plasma TVs and LCD TVs can be serious investments, be sure to buy the right model for your home by checking the wide range and their details online.