By Edward McKellen

When shopping for clothes, you compare between different styles, brands, sizes and price tags to find what’s best for you. The same goes when shopping for HDTVs. In fact, there are several ways to compare HDTVs, which are detailed in this HDTV comparison guide.

HD Ready or Full HD?

When browsing HDTVs, you will notice that some come with a label of Full HD, while others do not. This is an important basis of HDTV comparison since it can affect the quality of the images you will see on your screen. Basically, a Full HD television is one that receives High Definition signals on its own since it comes with a built-in ATSC tuner and displays them as they are meant to be displayed, with optimal crispness and clarity, while an HD Ready TV can only receive HDTV signals with the help of an external tuner and cannot display them in full resolution since it does not have enough pixels.

LCD or Plasma?

As you continue looking for the best HDTV, you will eventually notice that HDTVs are split into types – LCD and Plasma. Some people will tell you LCD is better while others will vouch for Plasma. Rather than believing any of them, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each type. LCD HDTVs are usually lighter, and therefore, easier to mount on the wall. They are also very energy efficient and make excellent monitors and gaming templates. Many LCD HDTVs do not have a wide viewing angle, though, and have a poor refresh rate, which can lead to blurry images during fast motion sequences. Their blacks are not too rich, either, although this is being corrected on LED-backlit LCD HDTVs. On the other hand, Plasma HDTVs have very vivid blacks and rich colors and have a fast response time, and though screen burn-in can be a problem, most Plasma HDTV models already have built-in mechanisms to prevent it.

1080p or 720p?

More and more HDTVs are carrying the 1920×1080 or 1080p resolution rather than the 720p. Before you buy a 1080p HDTV, however, you have to keep in mind that you will only be able to enjoy its superior picture quality if you have a 1080p source, like a Blu-Ray disc or a 1080p video game. Otherwise, your HDTV will display the signals in their original resolution. Because of this, a 720p HDTV remains a good choice, and is still far better than your regular TV.

16:9 or 4:3?

Most HDTVs are widescreen, which means they have a 16:9 resolution. This allows you to watch most movies and high definition TV shows without the black bars near the top or bottom of the screen. You will still see black bars at the sides if you are watching a 4:3 show, though, unless you choose to zoom or stretch the image to fit the entire screen.

Other Picture Quality Considerations

Both the resolution and the screen ratio of the HDTV largely account for the quality of the images you will see on the screen. However, there are still other points of HDTV comparison worth noting when it comes to picture quality, such as the contrast ratio and the number of frames per second it can display. The contrast ratio helps you determine how deep the black levels are – the greater the difference, the better. On the other hand, the number of frames per second is displayed in Hz – the higher it is, the smoother the images are likely to be during fast moving scenes.

32, 42 or 52 inches?

You can also use size as a basis for HDTV comparison since the bigger an HDTV is, the higher its cost also is. While the picture quality isn’t necessarily better, the difference between HD and regular televisions is more apparent with large HDTVs, too. When choosing the size of your HDTV, think of your budget as well as the room where you will be placing your HDTV. A 32 or 34-inch is suitable for a bedroom, kitchen or guest room while a 42 or 48-inch HDTV can be perfect for a sizeable living room. A 65-inch HDTV is not necessary but feel free to buy one if you want a home theatre centerpiece to brag about and have enough money to buy one.

Sony, Samsung or Panasonic?

These are the three leading HDTV brands. However, brand is not really a main point of HDTV comparison since HDTVs of the same brand have different features and only share a few patented technologies. If you have a preferred brand in mind, it is okay for you to go with it. Just be sure to consider other brands and factors, too, before doing so rather than making a hasty HDTV comparison and a decision you may regret.

About the Author

Edward McKellen is an expert on the latest gadgets and appliances, such as HDTVs. To read the latest HDTV consumer reviews or learn about the best hdtvs, visit HdtvReviewLab.com.

Popularity: 1% [?]