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	TV Buying Guide
	Introduction
	1. The HDTV revolution
	2. Which TV technology is right for me
	3. Choosing the right screen size
	4. What features should I consider
	5. TV selection tools
	6. Putting it all together
	7. Your consumer rights

 

TV Technology

At this stage you don't have to make a firm commitment to a particular type of TV screen technology, but it is useful to know what your choices are and to get a feel for your preferences. Although they are not in themselves a type of screen technology, we also mention LED and 3D as they both warrant early consideration.

At the moment there are two affordable types of flat screen TV technology, LCD or Plasma. You may have come across the term LED, which is actually a particular type of LCD TV. You may also have heard of OLED, which is a revolutionary new technology that for the moment, remains prohibitively expensive.

Anyone looking to buy a new TV will quickly become aware of 3D. Extra dimensional thrills come in a few different flavours and can be enjoyed on either LCD/LED or Plasma TVs.

If you are looking for a TV below 40-42in then your choice is largely restricted to LCD. As a rule of thumb, plasma becomes cheaper the bigger the screen size and is considered the most cost effective option for really large solutions.

Note: Although a comparison of the different types of screen technologies is useful as a general guide, picture quality is just as much to do with the TV Manufacturer and Model.

LCD TV

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is the same technology you find in a flat screen computer monitor. The screen is made up of millions of tiny liquid crystal molecules, called pixels. The colour is added to the LCD display through three filters (red, green, and blue) applied to each pixel. LCD TV screens always maintain sharp, clear pictures without reflections (from artificial lights or bright sunlight).

The technology is extremely lightweight with products that are both highly portable and versatile. With screen sizes ranging from 13" (4:3) to 60"+ widescreen, this means you can watch LCD TV wherever you want!.

LCD offer flicker-free images for a more comfortable viewing experience with less eyestrain, even when viewing close-up. Also, since no static electricity is generated on a LCD screen it remains virtually dust free and clean for perfect viewing all the time.

LCD TV technology is improving all the time, but in our experience, Plasma still just about has the edge. It offers greater levels of contrast (deeper blacks whiter whites) better colour and more effective motion handling capability than LCD.

Plasma TV

Plasma TVs contain thousands of gas filled cells which emit ultraviolet light which then hit red, green and blue posts on the screen, which in turn glow to build a picture.

Plasma TV’s screens are perfectly flat. They produce natural, vibrant colours while maintaining a very high level of detail. Pixels on a Plasma screen are 'lit' at once, unlike normal TVs, where the image is scanned across the screen. The image is therefore sharper and brighter.

Plasma displays do not use electron beams, as conventional TV displays do. They are therefore immune to the effects of magnetic fields. This allows for speakers to be placed quite close and will not compromise your home cinema set up.

On the downside, Plasma TVs generally consume more power than their LCD counterparts. Although less of a problem these days they can suffer from 'burn-in' where a static image is permanently etched onto the screen.

LED TV

With LED, the bulky 'fluorescent tube' backlight found on a traditional LCD TV is replaced by hundreds or thousands of LEDs (light emitting diodes) arranged along the edge or the whole of the back screen.

The technology was designed primarily to achieve deeper black levels and also comes with the benefit of ultra slim screens. The jury is still out on the effectiveness of the technology.

Of course, the effectiveness of various implementations differs from manufacturer to manufacturer; but unless you are set on one of those ultra slim screens typical of LED then we wouldn't recommend the extra expense.

If you would like to find out more, you might like to read our LED Technology guide

3D TV

You can enjoy the benefits of 3D on either an LCD or Plasma TV.

Although the technology in its present form requires the use of glasses, we think that it is a genuinely innovative home entertainment experience.

Our advice is to go for it if you can afford it. Get a demo first at your local electrical retailer and remember that you will probably have to pay for 3D material. Sky have launched a subscription based 3D TV channel. Virgin Media also make available a selection of material. Alternately you can buy a 3D Blu-ray player.

If you would like to find out more, you might like to read our 3D TV Guide