A Step By Step TV Buying Guide

Whether you are looking for an entry-level TV model or a state of the art 3D TV model, buying a new TV set can be a breezy process. The fundamentals are the same and here is a step by step guide to helping you choose the perfect model for your needs:

1. LCD or Plasma TV?

There are the two types of HDTVs to choose from in the market today. Then there is the LED type. LED TVs are actually a type of LCD TV. It is just that they use LED as their source of backlighting. Plasma and TV models may be priced and look similar but there are some significant differences that you may want to take note off.

To put it simply, the image quality on plasma TVs are generally better than other models. In terms of energy consumption, LCD TVs are by far the most energy efficient.

Plasma TVs usually have a glossy finish on their screen. If you want to put it in a place with bright ambient lighting, you may want to get a LCD model, which usually have a matte screen surface. If size and thinness is an important factor, them LED back-lit models are they way to go.

2. TV Resolution

The next factor to consider would be the resolution of your TV set. Generally, this is expressed in terms such as 480p, 780p, 1080p and so on. If you are looking for a HDTV, be sure to get a model that has at least 780p. 1080p are currently considered as the full HD resolution but in truth, not many people can tell the difference between 780p and 1080p models. As a general rule, the bigger the size of the TV that you plan to get, the higher the resolution should be. The differences in resolution become more apparent in larger TV models (usually 40-inches and above).

3. Contrast Ratio and Refresh Rate

As a general rule, the higher figure, the better. Among all the specs listed on the box, these are among the more important ones. Contrast ratio represents the contrast between the brightest levels of white and the darkest level of black that the TV model can achieve. The bigger the contrast, the better the viewing experience would be as the images would be more vivid and realistic.

The refresh rate represents how fast the TV changes the images on the screen. The faster the rate, the smoother the images would appear on the screen. This is important while viewing videos with fast action sequences such as sport programs and action movies.

4. Extra features

3D is one of the most popular features these days. The truth is, with a pair of 3D glasses, any HDTV can play 3D content. When it is said that a TV model is 3D ready, it most likely means that the model is optimized for 3D videos and would also very likely come with a set of 3D glasses. In my opinion, the extra cost is only justifiable if you plan to watch a lot of 3D content or have some extra cash to spare.

Some other interesting features include wi-fi connectivity, internet connectivity, apps, widget and so on. These features allow you to purchase and view content and movies directly off the internet and some even allow you to play movies directly and wirelessly from your laptop or PC.

So these are the simple 4 steps to help you choose the perfect TV model. Of course, there is the overarching factor of price, but that is always a factor in buying anything so I thought that we could go by without mentioning in. All the best and have fun in choosing your new TV set!