Looking for a new TV?
Whether you’ve just started looking or you’ve narrowed down your choice to one or two models, this site aims to provide you with useful information. We have Buying Guides, Best Buys and of course the very latest best prices for all the popular TVs available in the UK.
The technology is changing so fast that we can forget that many of the offerings are often useless to us. For example:
Picture in a Picture
This enables you to watch a second TV programme in a small window. Some versions are able to allow you to resize it, move it around the screen, or create still or multiple still images..
You need to know– If, like many, you use an external tuner such as a cable box or satellite receiver – you usually can only watch one programme at any one time.
Universal Remote
Lots of TVs now come with a universal remote that can control other audio visual equipment.
You need to know – Not all can control everything. Some types, called unibrand, can only control equipment made by the same manufacturer as the TV. Also,, most are pre-programmed with codes, but only for newer models. It may well not work with any of your older models, as many don’t have any learning modes, or ability to add in new equipment.
Channel Info
Favourite channel lists, channel surfing modes and other features can make choosing and switching channels much easier.
You need to know – Most people use an external tuner in a cable or satellite box to change channels. If so, these extras will be of no use to you.
Gone are the days when you simply looked up an attractively priced television ad in the newspaper and walked into a store to make a deal. With so many television brands available in the market, each boasting the latest technology, you cannot equate the best prices with the best deals anymore. Therefore, if you want to grab that much coveted best deal, you should not overlook the following essential tips:
1 The space for placing the TV matters
Even before, you think of buying a TV, measure the dimensions of the entertainment corner of your home to ensure that your TV fits in perfectly. It is better to leave out 1-2 inches on all the sides of the set to leave scope for easy installation of cable or audio/video connection.
2 Viewing area is an important consideration
To make viewing comfortable, you must see that enough space is left between the couch and the TV. The space between you and the TV would depend on the size of the TV and the room. Ideally, you should leave 8 feet for a 25-27 inch TV, 10 feet for a 32-inch TV and 11 feet for a 35-36 inch TV. For bigger TV screens measuring 50-60 inch, at least 12 feet to 15 feet of distance should be accommodated.
3 Other factors contributing to better TV watching
Along with maintaining the right distance from the TV set, you must pay attention to the actual environment of the TV room. Factors such as the size of the room, the type of video or audio set up and acoustics along with the amount of light coming in through the doors and windows determine how well you can enjoy TV watching.
4 Factors determining picture quality of TV
You can judge the picture quality of a TV by looking at the degree of darkness of its screen and picture tube when it is switched off. A TV with a flat screen reflects lesser glare from the windows and helps in comfortable viewing. TVs with comb filters are equipped to remove the ‘dot crawl’ appearing along the object edges in the picture. Consider buying a TV with progressive scan image to give a film-like look to a plain video.
5 Look for TV sets with user-friendly remote controls
While buying a TV, check out its remote control configuration and see whether you find it easy to operate. Also, check whether it is a universal remote so that it could be easily replaced when damaged or lost. You can find out about its universality by checking its compatibility with some other electronic gadget at your home.
The focal point of any home entertainment system is usually the television. Therefore,it is crucial that great care is taken when buying a new TV. Every month large numbers of TV models with the latest technology are launched on the market – from CRT TVs to LCD TVs, Plasma TVs to LED TVs, HDTVs to full HDTVs, and Micro-Display TVs to Rear Projection TVs. If you are considering buying a new TV set and you are already confused about making your choice then consider the following important specifications:
How much can you afford?
The most important aspect while buying a television for most of us is probably the cost. LCD and Plasma televisions are more expensive than the older style CRT televisions. Televisions with full HDTV compatibility are more expensive than HD Ready or Standard Definition TVs.
Number of Colours
The number of colours is one of the main features to be considered when buying a TV. These days most televisions offer some 20 billion to 550 billion different colours. The number of colours reproduced determines the true-to-life quality of the image. Always go for High Definition if the quality of picture is important to you because it does justice to this feature.
Screen Size
Your viewing experience is directly related to the screen size. Some buyers believe that the larger the screen the better but it is not so always. If you have a small room with a large TV, it will never be a pleasant experience. Screen size is primarily dependent on the size of the room. A 46-inch television set cannot be accommodated in a 10 feet by 8 feet room; rather it can fit well only in a 14 feet by 16 feet room. Any 34 inch television would work well for rooms measuring 10 feet by 8 feet. If you go for large-screen televisions, the minimum viewing distance should be around 7 feet.
Sound Quality
Audio quality is a very important factor – your best bet would be stereo with a simulated surround sound. A HDMI or High Definition Multimedia Interface offers a digital audio and high definition video output through one port.
Screen Resolution
The resolution of the television set is related to the screen size. An HDTV compatible set will support a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, with a HDTV broadcast supporting around 1080 active pixel lines with a 16.9 wide-screen format. The HDTV-compatible flat panels TVs can support 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Contrast
The contrast ratio is an important feature for superior picture quality. This ratio determines the difference between black and white, meaning that the higher the ratio, the darker will be the black portions and lighter will be the white portion when the contrast ratio is more. A LCD TV set will give a minimum contrast ratio of 500:1.