LCD TV Buying Guide
Before buying a LCD TV there are few factors you should consider:
What kind of TV will you watch on your LCD?
The TV resolution best for you will vary depending on how you want to use your LCD TV. Will you watch DVD's, sport, analog TV, Digital TV or will your use your LCD as a computer monitor?
- You can use your LCD TV as a computer monitor, as the resolutions offered by LCD TVs allow you to view the sharper images and intricate detail in web pages and software applications.
- If you will be primarily watching broadcast TV or sport, you can get away with a resolution less the 1024 horizontal pixels as the rapidly changing images tend to make the lack of image definition less noticeable. However, it is worth buying a LCD with a response time less than 8ms so fast moving images don't appear as a blur. Keep in mind that the advantages of High Definition TV will be lost on a Standard Resolution LCD.
- LCD TVs have difficultly displaying true blacks so to avoid the image appearing washed out it is best to purchase a LCD TV with a contrast ratio greater than 800:1.
Where are you going to put your LCD TV?
Before buying have a good idea of where your new LCD display might best be located - in which room, and will it be wall mounted or free-standing? You can read more about installation and mounting options in our section Installing a Flat Panel TV.
Since the LCD TV takes up little- or zero- floor space, you don't need a lot of room for it. Also, because your new LCD display is a highly valuable piece of merchandise, you'll want it in a position where it can't be disturbed by dogs, kids, or excited sports fans.
Is a LCD TV Right for Me?
So, is a LCD TV the right choice or should I consider another type of TV? To assist, we have put together a list of common scenarios to guide your purchasing decision.
Scenarios where a LCD TV will work well include:
- When you have limited space for your TV or you want to wall mount your TV.
- When you want to use your LCD TV as a computer monitor, as LCD displays usually have high resolutions and don't suffer from burn-in.
- If a clear, bright picture is what you are looking for a LCD TV is ideal, but it is best to look for one with a contrast ratio greater than 800:1.
- If you care about the environment as LCD TVs consume less power than other equivalent sized CRT and Plasma TV's.
Scenarios where another technology might be more effective include:
- Any application that requires a large screen — more than 117 cm (46"); diagonal. Common LCD displays are generally sized at 106cm (42") or below, though this is changing.
- Situations where the audience is 3.8 m (150") or more from the screen. With these larger rooms, a front projector or a plasma may be less expensive for the image size required.
- Tight budgets - LCD displays are expensive in comparison similarly sized Plasma TV's and new micro-display powered rear projection televisions (e.g. DLP).
- If you can notice when an LCD image is a dark grey rather than a true black - LCD TVs have difficulty displaying a true black image.