Your Next TV Buying Guide

Photo: Sony

Plasma, LED TV, LCD TV, and now 3D TV! The market for high definition televisions was confusing enough when people had to distinguish between 1080p and 720p resolutions, but increasingly new formats have only made things more confusing for consumers. Below we explain what all this means, and then recommend some fantastic televisions that will fit your needs, given your budget.

Which format should you choose?

The truth is, given recent advancements in display technology, the difference between plasma and LCD is negligible for most viewers. Plasma has historically had better refresh rates than LCDs, meaning they don’t blur as much as LCDs in high action scenes, but 120Hz LCDs are now tenable. Furthermore, plasmas also handle blacks very well, but as a consequence, don’t do very well in well-lit environments. Where the two formats do differ is in available sizes, with LCDs ranging from 14” all the way to 60” at the top end, while plasmas start at 32” and go all the way up to about 65”. For the everyday consumer, though, LCD is the format to go with, as at moderate sizes (32”-42”) they are cheaper than plasma without too much of a loss in quality. LED TV, a newcomer in the television platform landscape, is a type of LCD TV that uses different backlight technology. At their most basic, LED TVs are superior to LCD TVs in that they produce better colours, black levels and contrast ratios. However, often being priced at twice as much as equivalent-sized LCD TVs, it is difficult to recommend them.

Photo: Samsung

3D TVs are all the rage right now. Essentially, this format of television will be built on one of the three aforementioned frameworks – LCD, LED or plasma – and will allow for viewing 3D content. At this point, with very little 3D content being available and a limited collection of compatible displays, it is difficult to recommend this platform just yet.Another point of confusion for buyers is the difference between 1080p and 720p televisions. This speaks of resolution, where 1080p TVs have resolutions of 1920×1080 (known as full HD) and 720p TVs have a resolution of 1280×720p. The difference between this higher resolution and its 720p counter is virtually unnoticeable if you do not intend on purchasing a 50” plus screen, however.

Which TV Should You Choose?

Photo: Sony

With the jargon out of the way, we are better equipped to look at actual units. The most important criterion for an HD TV is its display quality. Then one can look at aesthetics, while keeping in mind budgetary constraints. Also, keep in mind how well lit the room you will be in is, for this will help you decide whether you should be looking at plasma or LCD technology.

Sony and Samsung both produce the best LCD TVs on the market, and while they aren’t the cheapest, the price difference between these units and other TVs on the market has become very small. The Full HD Sony KDL-40W5500 is worth considering. At 40”, sporting Sony’s Bravia W engine, this top of the line TV costs as much as basic LCD TVs cost a few years ago.

The Samsung UE37B6000 is is comparable to the Sony Full HD TV.  This HD TV, though slightly smaller than the Sony, is an LED TV built in to a very slick Samsung unit.

For plasma televisions, many people absolutely swear by Panasonic’s range, and for good reason. They look fantastic, produce the deepest, darkest blacks of any LCD TV on the market, and provide warm, rich images. At the top end these units can cost over £2000, but if budget is of no concern, give these plasmas a good look.

Know what to look for HD TV has come of age. The myriad of confusing platforms and performance disparities is shrinking every day, and prices are dropping. If you know what to look for – image quality, aesthetics and budget – then your shopping should make for a pleasant experience.

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