Televisions
When buying a television a lot of aspects need to be taken into account. A television is one of the products that is used every day for many hours. Today television is a part of our lives and therefore you have to acquire some knowledge on which your buying decision can be made.
Extensive Description
We can divide television specifications into different categories which all contribute to the buying decision.
Image
Image quality depends on the incoming signal and the television itself. The signal can be SDTV, EDTV and HDTV, which are different in quality. Your new television should be EDTV or HDTV ready, the HDTV signal enables resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. The normal EDTV signal enables resolutions up to 853 x 480 which is considerably lower.
The television itself also contributes to the quality of the image. Televisions use comb filters like Glass, Digital and 3DY to fine tune the picture signal so that colors and lines are displayed more accurately. Your screen size and ratio also plays a big role in the quality of the picture. Large screens often need HDTV quality otherwise the picture displayed is not very sharp. The screen ratio influences how the image is displayed. For example a 42 inch square or 4:3 screen will not display a HDTV signal as good as a 42 inch 16:9 screen. You should consider choosing a ratio the matches your incoming signal best in order to ensure high image quality. Interlacing and progressive scanning are used to improve quality and convert the image to the screen ratio. Your to be acquired television should have several functions that enable the user to change video settings, like contrast, brightness, image ratio and color saturation in order to tune the image to your own personal needs.
Audio
Audio is another important aspect on which your decision is based. A television can have built-in speakers, but us that what you want? You can also connect your television to a nice 7.1 sound system. For using this kind of sound systems the television uses an amplifier/receiver which enables high quality sound. Some televisions already have a built-in amplifier/receiver; when not present an external device has to be used. Functions like, balance, bass and treble control are necessary to personalize your audio. Total output should be kept in mind.
Connectivity
The television should have as many connections as possible. The most important jacks are HDMI (or DVI), composite video input, component video input, S-video input, audio input and headphone. You should also check whether the television has a ATSC tuner, which enables you to do HD programming.
Techniques
There are several types of televisions there are many differences between them. The conventional CRT television can have many different shapes and sizes op to 40 inches. Their image is viewable from all angles and have a long lifespan.
- The PDP (plasma) televisions can be very large, up to even 100 inches. They have a better contrast ratio, are able to render deeper blacks, high color accuracy and saturation. Some disadvantages are heat production and the fact that plasma televisions are prone to ‘burn-in’. The lifespan of plasma televisions varies from 30000 hours up to 60000 hours and have a very high viewing angle.
- LCD televisions are not prone to ‘burn-in’ and produce less heat. Compared to plasma it has a longer lifespan; at least 60000 hours, and increased image brightness. Some disadvantages are the lower contrast ratio, a smaller viewing angle and the maximum size of around 45 inches compared to plasma.
- The size of DLP televisions start from 42 inches and go up from there. They are not prone to ‘burn-in’ and last around 80000 hours. In most cases a new bulb can be installed and the life span increases even more. Contrast ratios are higher compared to LCD and plasma, but DLP televisions render blacks less accurate. The viewing angle for DLP televisions is also lower compared to plasma.
It is very difficult to draw an end conclusion on which you can base your buying decision. LCD and Plasma televisions are somewhat more expensive than DLP televisions but deliver an overall higher image quality. LCD televisions have a lower power usage, but DLP televisions have a longer life span.
Televisions Deciding Factors
| Term | Explanation | Priority | Quantity | Range Home | Range Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Video resolution describes the detail and thus quality an image holds. | 2 | VHS - HDTV | HDTV |
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