HDTV Tech Talk

Quick Primer on LCD, 120HZ, 1080p, HDTV, Size and Brands

LCD: A liquid crystal display (LCD) is an electro-optical amplitude modulator realized as a thin, flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector. It is often utilized in battery-powered electronic devices because it uses very small amounts of electric power as well as high quality televisions including HDTV's. 

High Definition (HD): High Definition television is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (Standard Definition) and is digitally broadcasted. High-definition televisions (HDTV) yield a better-quality image than standard television do, because it has a greater number of lines of resolution. The visual information is some 2-5 times sharper because the gaps between the scan lines are narrower or invisible to the naked eye. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The lower-case "i" appended to the numbers denotes interlaced; the lower-case "p" denotes progressive. The interlaced scanning method, the 1,080 lines of resolution are divided into pairs, the first 540 alternate lines are painted on a frame, the second 540 lines are painted on a second frame, reducing the bandwidth. The progressive scanning method simultaneously displays all 1,080 lines of resolution at 60 frames per second, on a greater bandwidth. If you are in the market to buy a TV you need to make sure it is a HD TV. Also, keep in mind that the "cable box" that you use with your HDTV needs to be a HD compatible box so your HDTV will receive High Definition content. You generally get this from your cable or satellite television provider.

120HZ: This is covered in more detail by clicking 120HZ but in a nutshell - 120HZ refer's to the refresh rate in a LCD HDTV. The number of times per second in which the monitor "draws" the data it is being given. A refresh rate that is too low can cause flickering and will be more noticeable on larger monitors. The industry is moving towards 120HZ and if you are in the market to buy a LCD HDTV, you really need to buy it with the 120HZ designation.

1080P: 1080p is the shorthand name for a category of display resolutions. The number "1080" represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1080 horizontal scan lines), while the letter "P" stands for progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). 1080p can be referred to as full HD or full high definition to differentiate it from other HDTV video modes. The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels in total.

1080i: Is similar in many ways to 1080P, except the frames are interlaced.

1080P has a superior picture and is the mode that most HDTV manufacturers are moving to. We could have you fall asleep by going into all the technical details but the bottom line is that you need to purchase your 120HZ LCD HDTV with the ability of 1080p.

Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get.  Minimum size = Viewing distance/3 Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Generally, the highest rated brands are Panasonic, Sony and Samsung. Pioneer is the strong performer in the higher end of the price range and on the lower end - Vizio seems to be a decent performer.

SUMMARY:
The question that you probably have is what should you be looking at...

Brand:  Sony, Sharp and Samsung are the most popular and best sellers.  If your budget is on the lower end of things - check out the Vizio line. If you have money to spare... take a look at Pioneer.

Size:   For most people - 46 to 50 inches should do the trick.

Type of HDTV: 1080p with the 120HZ capability.

WHERE TO BUY: CLICK HERE - BEST SELLING 120HZ LCD HDTV's