Choosing a High-Definition Television

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LEDs are one new wave in television innovation. More environmentally friendly, LEDs also can improve picture because each tiny lamp brightens and dims individually. A few years ago, high-definition television was barely a blip on the average consumer’s personal entertainment radar. But HD has quickly taken over the television landscape, and now there are many choices for equipping your home with a crisp, clear, high-definition image. And as prices drop and selection rises, understanding which type of set is right for you can be an overwhelming task. To help you decide which set is right for you, here’s a quick guide to the four major types of high-definition televisions commonly known as HDTVs. LCD: Liquid Crystal Display Pros: LCD is the most popular type of high-definition television sold now—outselling plasma 5 to 1 in 2007. “LCD is kind of taking over the market right now,” says Dan Tynan contributing editor at PC World magazine and writer of the publication’s “Gadget Freak” column. Tynan says part of the reason for the surge in LCD sales is simple: dropping prices. “It’s an economy of scale,” he says. “LCDs are on computer monitors, laptop screens, televisions—as more are produced, they get cheaper to make.” But price isn’t the only consideration for those who buy LCD televisions. LCDs are thin, bright and versatile. “LCD is very light, which makes it easier to mount than plasma or a projector,” says David Berman, director of training and entertainment technology expert for the Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA). It is great at fixed image display, which is great for playing video games or using computers.” Another advantage of LCD is the screen itself, says Jim Willcox, electronics editor at Consumer Reports magazine. “LCD TVs have brighter images and the screens are less reflective, so for someone who has a brightly lit room with windows and lots of light, LCDs are the best choice,” he says. Cons: While LCDs are the bestselling sets on the market today, there are some downsides to the popular technology, particularly for real video aficionados. “LCDs don’t have the rich blacks that plasma has,” Willcox says. “There’s always a backlight with LCD because that’s just the way the technology works, but it means you don’t get the good blacks that make a really great picture.” If you watch a lot of sports or other fast-action video, you’ll come face-to-face with another disadvantage of LCDs: difficulty with fast motion. “Fast action scenes can give you motion blur with LCD because of the screen refresh rate,” Willcox says. He notes, however, that new technologies are coming out to address the motion blur problem in LCD televisions, but it’s not a standard feature in most sets. Another issue with LCD is viewing angle. “LCD has a sweet spot right in the middle where you really get the best picture, but if you move to the side, picture quality can suffer,” Willcox says.

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