| You want a flat screen TV that's HD ready and | | | | inches as you are not really enjoying the benefit of HD. |
| you've heard about digital television but you don't know | | | | Contrast Ratio: Well Plasmas in general are better for |
| if you can receive either of these. Also you're not sure | | | | contrast ratios (5,000:1 is a good ratio). This is often |
| which is better LCD or Plasma. Well hopefully, I'll try to | | | | thought as being the crucial aspect in picture quality. |
| break it down into very simple points, so you know | | | | However, there is another aspect that is of |
| you are getting the right product for you. | | | | importance.....pixel resolution. |
| High Definition (HD) basically improves the quality of the | | | | Pixel Resolution: Basically the higher the number of |
| picture (approx. 4x better) and manufacturers are | | | | pixels the better picture you get. However, you may |
| continuously trying to improve the picture quality. You | | | | be paying unnecessary amounts of money for bigger |
| may say "I'm happy with the image I have already" but | | | | resolutions when the picture being broadcast is smaller, |
| wait till you see anything in HD then you will not want | | | | as mentioned earlier. Out of interest I believe at |
| to go back to Standard Definition. Films and | | | | present Sky and Virgin broadcast HD at 1440 x 1080 |
| documentaries come to life when you have your | | | | (this is to save on bandwidth). Therefore the only way |
| television set up properly. | | | | to see full HD at 1920 x 1080 is via a Blu-ray or |
| Reasons to buy an LCD or Plasma: | | | | HD-DVD player or PS3. These all output at 1920 x |
| - If you want to watch HD content | | | | 1080. |
| - If you think they look nice in your living room and | | | | Refresh Rate: This is only important if you like |
| want to save space. | | | | watching fast moving images on your television, like |
| Do not buy one if you think that because LCDs and | | | | Formula 1 etc. If you do, then get a 100Hz TV. |
| Plasmas are newer technology the picture will | | | | Otherwise I personally wouldn't worry too much about |
| automatically look better. In fact, if you are only going | | | | this. |
| to be watching normal TV then in most cases the old | | | | Progressive or Interlace: This describes how a picture |
| fashioned CRT TVs will still be your best choice for | | | | is filmed and displayed on your television. Normal home |
| picture quality. However, if you want to watch HD then | | | | video cameras (i.e. DV cameras etc.) shoot interlace. |
| you need an LCD or Plasma. | | | | Old TVs (CRTs or Cathode Ray Tubes) display the |
| HD LCDs and Plasmas have a higher number of pixel | | | | image interlaced. |
| lines of resolution, hence the name High Definition. Full | | | | EXPLANATION: |
| HD is currently 1920x1080 lines. If you are only going to | | | | CRTs have 720 lines of vertical pixels and 576 lines of |
| be watching normal Pal tv (Terrestrial, Freeview, | | | | horizontal pixels. In the UK (i.e. Pal) it takes 1/25th of a |
| non-HD Sky/Virginmedia) then this resolution is | | | | second to display all 576 lines. It does this by displaying |
| 720x576. Therefore this image resolution has to be | | | | 288 alternate lines in the first 1/50th of a second and |
| 'uprezzed' to fit on the HDTV - i.e. pixel lines will have | | | | the other 288 lines in the second 1/50th of a second, |
| to be duplicated. Imagine you have a photo that looks | | | | therefore taking 1/25th to display all the lines. LCDs, |
| fine small but if you want to blow it up to poster size, | | | | Plasmas and film are inherently progressive. This |
| the quality will reduce. Obviously, good quality TVs | | | | means that the image is captured and displayed in one |
| such as Sony and Samsung have invested in good | | | | pass. Each line is displayed at the same time. Most |
| 'uprezzing' technology therefore the picture still looks | | | | people (including the sales advisors in the shops) are |
| very good but you pay more for this. | | | | unaware that LCDs and Plasmas do not display |
| Once you've decided that flat screen TVs are for you | | | | interlaced images. If something is shot interlaced and is |
| then which type do you get? | | | | shown on an LCD or Plasma, the TV will de-interlace it |
| Quick Answers: | | | | and display all the lines in one pass (1/25th of a |
| - Get an LCD for HD through Sky or Virginmedia on | | | | second). |
| 42" or less. | | | | THEREFORE, PROGRESSIVE OFTEN MEANS |
| - Get a full HD Plasma TV for Blu-ray or HD-DVD 42" | | | | BETTER PICTURE QUALITY, as progressive gives a |
| or more, if you can afford it. | | | | higher resolution at any one moment in time. However, |
| There will be exceptions to these rules - the main one | | | | at present all broadcasts are interlaced (to save on |
| being this: Some Plasma TVs that offer smaller | | | | bandwidth.) Therefore the only way to benefit from an |
| resolutions have such a great contrast ratio that the | | | | HD progressive TV is by watching a Blu-ray disc. |
| picture quality is still good. But in general my rule sticks - | | | | Summary |
| High Definition means higher resolution and if the TV | | | | 1. Get a plasma for large screens (42'' or more) with a |
| doesn't have it then you're not getting true HD, no | | | | good contrast ratio. |
| matter how good the 'uprezzing' is in the TV. | | | | 2. If you don't have Sky HD, Virginmedia HD or a |
| Size of Screen: If you want a big screen (i.e. 42'' or | | | | Blu-ray/HD DVD player then there is little point |
| more) then I would go for Plasmas. Bear in mind | | | | spending extra money on a television that has full 1920 |
| though you also need a big room to appreciate that | | | | x 1080 resolution when you will not see the benefits. |
| size. Anything less than 42'' then something called | | | | 3. Don't worry too much about refresh rate if you are |
| bleeding can occur in Plasmas. That is when the image | | | | not watching many fast moving pictures (i.e. if you |
| colours start to mix in with adjacent colours. Finally, if | | | | mainly watch dramas, I wouldn't spend an extra |
| you want to enjoy HD don't get a TV less than 32 | | | | £100 for a higher refresh rate. |