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LCD stands for ‘Liquid Crystal Display’. LCD
TVs contain millions of tiny crystals in a liquid solution. The crystals
are twisted, which stops light passing through them, an electric current
can untwist the crystal letting different amounts of light through to
form the picture that you can see.
However most consumers have little interest on the internal workings
of their TV, and really want to know how the product will perform, this
guide will provide you with everything you need to know before purchasing
a new LCD TV from Laskys.
Why Buy
LCD TVs tend to be brighter than their plasma counterpart and are available
in a wider range of smaller sizes, so are the ideal choice for a second
screen in a bedroom or kitchen. Large LCD screens are also available
and provide an excellent option for a flat screen TV perfect for day-to-day
use.
LCD screens also perform better with PCs than plasmas so if you are
planning to also use your new TV with your PC then an LCD is the best
option, just ensure that it has the correct connections to allow it
to connect to your computer, the detailed features that every product
sold on Laskys have will help ensure you buy the best set for your needs.
A major reason for the huge popularity of LCD TVs are their size. LCDs
are much thinner than traditional CRT TVs, with new designs both types
of flat screen sets are much more attractive looking than CRTs and you
can also hang them on a wall much like a painting. Laskys stocks a wide
range of wall brackets and stands to match your new LCD TV, with many
available at a discounted rate when bought with a TV.
Things to Consider
HD TV
We have seen black & white pictures turn to colour, analogue signals
becoming digital and now the ultimate in picture quality in the form
of High Definition TV.
It will bring clarity, colour and definition never seen before on a
TV. In order to enjoy high definition programmes you must have a HD
Ready TV. Sky have already started broadcasting in high definition,
via their Sky HD service, with lots of great programmes now seen and
heard as never before. You can now enjoy a host of your favourite programmes,
films, and sporting events in breathtaking quality.
Naturally all HD Ready TVs will also work excellently with standard
broadcasts, so don’t be concerned if you haven’t yet invested in a high
definition source such as Sky HD. As well as enhancing the picture quality
and enjoyment you get from the TV, purchasing an HD Ready TV is a way
of ‘future proofing’ yourself.
Key benefits of HD TV
• Picture clarity like we have never seen before
• True to life colour and detail that will make you feel like you are
there
• Widescreen broadcast for a breathtaking home cinema experience
Integrated Digital Tuner
A TV with an integrated digital tuner (also known as an idTV) allows
you to receive all free to air digital channels, including BBC3, ITV2,
Sky News and many more without the need for a separate set top box.
It can also be seen as a way of ‘future proofing’ your set over the
next few years, analogue TV signals will be switched off and replaced
with digital signals. It will happen gradually, region by region, between
2008 and 2012.
There are also many other reasons for choosing a TV with an integrated
digital tuner ahead of a separate set top box:
• You get a much more sophisticated on-screen programme guide system
to help you search through all your new digital channels.
• On some idTVs you can record a digital channel on your VCR while watching
an analogue one.
• Convenience. With an idTV there are no extra boxes, remotes or cables
to clutter your room or your brain!
• Direct connection to a VCR - not possible on a set top box unless
your VCR has two Scart sockets.
• Better picture. A 100Hz digital TV cuts out two stages of the digital/
analogue picture process necessary with an adapter box. Since such conversions
always reduce picture quality, 100Hz idTVs should give a clearer digital
picture.
However if you plan to team your new television with a sky digital subscription
than an idTV may not be necessary.
Sound
TV sound is no longer just a matter of picking between mono and stereo.
Here we explain how all the formats work, and what each has to offer
The TV sound experience
Most LCD TVs only have Nicam stereo sound rather than surround sound.
This is fine for smaller TVs that will be used in the kitchen or bedroom
but larger LCD TVs are best used with separate home cinema sound systems.
Nicam Stereo - Ideal for anyone who would prefer not to have full surround
sound, or has /intends to invest in a more powerful separate sound system.
Traditional two-speaker stereo sound. 'Nicam' refers to the technology
developed to make stereo sound broadcastable.
Virtual Dolby - Ideal for anyone who wants to improve the sound from
videos and TV broadcasts but doesn't want rear speakers.
Virtual Dolby is an audio compromise that adjusts the way the sound
emerges from the pair of stereo speakers on your TV so that your ears
are fooled into thinking they are hearing sound from behind them, even
though no rear speakers are there.
Dolby Digital 5.1 - Ideal for anyone who wants to get the best from
their TV, DVD player and Sky+.
Dolby Digital, available on a few high-end TVs, represents the pinnacle
of surround sound. It delivers five separate full channels of sound
(left, right, centre, rear left, rear right), plus a sixth channel devoted
to bass - the '.1' of 'Dolby Digital 5.1'. Dolby Digital 5.1 is now
available from DVDs, Sky Digital's Sky+ boxes, PlayStation 2 and the
Xbox. If you have one of these and haven't got a Dolby Digital TV, your
missing out on half the fun!
If you want Dolby Digital sound without replacing your TV you can buy
a separate surround sound package.
BBE High Definition Sound - Truly lifelike movie experience, expands
the spatial dimension of the 5.1 experience like nothing else.
Watching an action film on DVD through an A/V system featuring BBE is
breathtaking, with sound effects such as jet planes or explosions becoming
truly lifelike, not just loud. With BBE, details otherwise inaudible
are revealed, such as the subtle movement of ice cubes in a glass held
in an actors hand. This is a great example of why BBE's Pro Audio tag
line is "Reveals All The Sound You've Never Heard."
How to achieve the best sound?
To get the best sound performance from a larger widescreen, LCD TV it
should be used with a separate Dolby Digital 5.1 home cinema system.
This system will give you 5 full channels of surround sound plus a sixth
channel devoted to bass, the ".1" of Dolby Digital 5.1. All-in-one
home cinema systems offer the most cost effective and user friendly
way to achieve the full cinema experience at home but to achieve the
best possible sound it is wise to invest in separate components.
Key features
Contrast - Is the measurement of the difference in light intensity between
the brightest white and the darkest black. The higher the contrast ratio,
the sharper the picture will be.
One point to note though, over a measure of 1000:1 you will need to
increase the ratio a lot to see a visible difference. i.e. There would
not be a lot of difference between 1000:1 and 3000:1 but you would notice
a difference if the ratio increased to 8000:1.
Resolution - Measured in pixels (horizontal x vertical) simply put the
greater the number of pixels the better the quality of picture will
be. HD ready TV’s can have a resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,080.
Connectivity - To get the most out of a LCD TV you need the right connections.
Most LCD TVs have scart sockets to connect digital boxes or adapters,
DVD players and VCRs. However more TVs now have component video inputs
which provide a far higher quality connection to a DVD player (with
a corresponding output) ensuring you get the best possible picture from
your new LCD TV.
If you choose a HD ready TV it will have either HDMI or DVI connectivity
to allow it to accept a digital signal from HD receiving equipment.
As a result you will need to purchase a HDMI or DVI cable to allow you
to watch High Definition broadcasts. Look out for HD ready TV’s that
include multiple HDMI, further future proofing your set, allowing you
to connect other High Definition sources such as an Xbox 360 or HD/Blu
Ray DVD players.
Cables - Different cable types carry pictures in different ways and
vary considerably in quality. Always use the higher quality options
such as component video cables to get the best out of your equipment.
Cables vary enormously in price, simply because they are built to different
standards. Expensive cables take extra measures, thicker wiring, better
insulation etc. to ensure they keep external interference to a minimum.
Better cables can make a massive difference to sound and picture quality
and aren't worth compromising on.
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