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Shopping for the best LCD HDTV can seem like an art rather than a science, but here are some tips to help you decide. When you are shopping for the best LCD HDTV, you are better off treating your search as more of an art as opposed to just a straight-up, simple purchase. When LCD televisions first hit the market, they were only available in small sizes, up to about 19 inches. Now they are available in sizes as large as 52 inches, making educating yourself prior to the purchase all the more important. Whether you are in the market for a large screen LCD television or are searching for a small one, each television is going to have strengths and weaknesses.
Five Technical Things to Look at When Choosing an LCD Television
Obviously, the best LCD HDTV is the one with no weaknesses. Since there is no such thing, instead you will need to educate yourself about the most important aspects of choosing an LCD television:
- resolution
- aspect ratio
- contrast ratio
- response time
- viewing angle
There are six primary resolutions that the best LCD HDTVs can display: 480i, 480p, 720p, 960p, 1080i, and 1080p. This is an easy decision to make: you want 1080p. 1080p is the clearest, most vivid picture of all the resolutions. If the television you are looking at is not capable of displaying 1080p, move on to the next one.
All HDTV units have a widescreen aspect ratio. When looking for the best LCD HDTV, you will have to choose between 16:9 ratio and 16:10. 16:9 is the most common, and is the same aspect ratio that movies are shown in a theater. The only advantage that 16:10 has is that more of your screen will be used when you are watching a non-widescreen source, such as a regular non-high definition television. If the majority of what you will be watching will not be natively widescreen, such as really old movies and television programs, choose a 16:10 ratio; otherwise, go for 16:9.
Nowadays, the contrast ratio of most LCD televisions is listed twice, once as a "dynamic" contrast ratio, and once as a "true" contrast ratio. The most accurate number is the true contrast ratio. The higher this number is, the better: brighter whites, darker blacks, and everything in between more vibrant and accurate. The true contrast ratio of the best LCD HDTVs will be at least 1000:1.
The response time is another easy decision. All the best LCD HDTVs have an 8ms response time or lower. If the response time of the television you are considering is less than 8ms, great. If the response time is greater, find another unit to look at.
The final technical consideration you need to look at is the viewing angle. This is where the art of selecting the best LCD HDTV comes in. The technology used in LCD televisions will render the image invisible if the viewer is too far to the side. The best angle to watch the unit from is straight on. If the location of the unit is such that the viewers will all be looking straight at it, then the viewing angle is less important. But if many of the viewers will be to the sides of the unit, then the viewing angle becomes more important. Older LCD televisions have viewing angles of about 90 degrees; that is, 45 degrees to either side of center. That may be enough if the unit will be in a small room, but if you are outfitting a large room, you will want the viewing angle to be as close to 180 degrees as possible. The best LCD HDTVs have a viewing angle of around 160 degrees.
Brand Name or Lesser-Known Name?
One simple step that can help you determine the best LCD HDTV is to stick to big name manufacturers such as Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, or Sharp. You can also consider several manufacturers of computer monitors who have entered into the LCD television fray, like Gateway, Dell, and ViewSonic. Don't be afraid to consider a refurbished television from any of these manufacturers, either.
However, if you're willing to stray away from the big brand names, you may find that smaller, lesser known companies may make the best LCD HDTV for you. Most of the big companies actually buy the components or even the entire unit from smaller companies, and then assemble it themselves or just put their own label on it.
Olevia is one lesser-known company that has been producing LCD HDTVs to rave reviews. With a little research, you can learn which company the big names buy from; often you can buy LCD televisions from these small companies and get the same quality at a much lower price.
Visit R James Cook's website at http://www.BestHDTVReviews.com for HDTV information, products, and reviews.
Welcome to Panasonic Plasma TV Store.We have all models of Panasonic Plasma TV. Help you find your perfect Panasonic Plasma TV. - Marine ElectronicsWelcome to Panasonic Plasma TV Store.We have all models of Panasonic Plasma TV. Help you find your perfect Panasonic Plasma TV. - Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Welcome to Panasonic Plasma TV Store.We have all models of Panasonic Plasma TV. Help you find your perfect Panasonic Plasma TV. - About Us
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