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.