High Definition TV

LCD HDTV

Eventually you, along with the rest of the world, will be in the market for another TV set. In your cogitation, no doubt your curiosity has been aroused by the LCD phenomenon.

LCD TVs are dominating the market by a factor of 7 to 1 over CRT TVs. They are also overshadowing plasma sets in the flat screen TV space. Given their overwhelming dominance in the TV category, it is inevitable you will be considering an LCD TV as your next TV purchase.

In all likelihood, there is an LCD TV in your future. However, before you run out to make that LCD TV purchase, this is everything you should know about LCDs.

Starting with the key selling points for LCD TVs, first, the prices are coming within reach of the average family. This is consistent with improved technology and increased production that are serving as drivers to lower prices. Second, LCD TVs deliver phenomenal colour clarity in the HD format.

Depending on your reference source, we’re informed the human eye can perceive up to 10 million colours. HD LCD TVs deliver an unbelievable 16 million colours, including colours we cannot even see! The extra 6 million colours are apparently beyond the range of human perception! Finally, the stylish thin designs and light weight facilitate placement or mounting of the units wherever the viewer pleases.

From our CRT TV orientation, many of us have come to accept that a large screen TV is preferred over smaller screen sizes. This is not the case with LCD TVs. Buyers are advised to match the size of the LCD viewing screen with the size of the room. Close quarter viewing of a large screen LCD creates pixilation. This is where the image on the screen is perceived more as pixels than as the actual image itself. It is better to view the screen from a distance to allow the pixels to naturally blend together to give the viewer the perception of seeing the image as a composite whole rather than as pixels.

Low resolution LCD TVs are to be avoided. The screens fail to update the pixel colors with new information with sufficient speed as images on the screen change. The result is a ghosting effect as the screen displays two images, past (the ghost) and present. The faster the images change on the screen, the greater the ghosting effect. The experts claim that a minimum resolution of 1280 X 720 is required for a typical viewer experience. Gamesters require substantially higher resolution LCD TV’s.

For the more esoteric buyers [sport fans!], motion response time is a very important consideration. Low response time creates a blur for fast moving images such as in a tennis match or in auto racing. The acceptable range is from 6ms on the low end to 12 ms on the upside for average viewing. Anything less will create a blur, which is unacceptable.

If you are an avid sport fan with a preference for fast action sports like tennis NASCAR, even football, motion response time should be an integral part of your purchase decision. LCD TVs with low motion response times will give you an unwanted blurring effect. Confine your purchase options to LCD TV’s having a motion response time within the range of 6 ms to 12 ms. Anything lower will garner you aggravating blurred images on the screen.

In the debate on which is preferred, HD or HD compatible, it is better to go with the flow and opt for HD. After all, HD is the future, and the future is now.