LCD Televisions

LCD televisions are the most popular flat-screen televisions sold today, and it is easy to see why. Unlike old-fashioned CRT televisions, they are thin, widescreen and high-definition, and come in a variety of sizes, from below 20” to over 60”.

Compared to plasma TVs, the other variety of flat-panel television, LCD TVs offer lower power consumption, lower prices, comparable performance, and a wide range of sizes. Another important feature of LCD TVs is their wide array of different features, classes, and variations. Depending on one’s specific needs, it is easy to find an LCD TV to fit his or her needs, whether they are humble or extravagant.

In general, an LCD TV is a television that use LCD shutters to filter white light into a variety of colors or, alternately, to black. This technology enables LCD TVs to be much thinner and less bulky than traditional CRT televisions.

Today, almost all LCD TVs sold are high-definition, meaning that their resolution is high enough to display clearer, crisper (called HD) images. Some different features that vary in LCD TVs are size, resolution, contrast ratio (the deepness of blacks and the brightness of whites), and special technologies.

An important part of the LCD TV is the resolution. The resolution of a TV refers to the amount of pixels that the TV has. Obviously, a higher resolution means more pixels and, thus, a clearer, crisper picture. The resolution of LCDs is generally either 720p or 1080p. 720p is lower-resolution and, as a result, may not appear as crisp as 1080p televisions.

However, the difference between the two is a debated subject. Generally, though, it is said that, on a TV under 37-40”, the difference between 720p and 1080p will be difficult, if not impossible, to see. In the case of TVs under this size, it may actually be a good decision to consider a lower-resolution LCD. Certainly, on a set as big as a 73" TV, the difference would be noticeable!

One new type of LCD TV that is gaining in popularity is the LED LCD TV. Although these TVs are sometimes simply referred to as “LED TVs”, they are actually a variation of LCD technology. The “LED” in “LED LCD TV” refers to light-emitting diodes, which, in these televisions, light up the screen instead of the bulbs used in traditional LCD TVs.

There are many advantages to this method of illumination, including lower energy costs, deeper blacks, better color reproduction, and thinner TVs. However, these LED TVs do come at a cost, literally – they still are considerable more expensive than traditional LCD TVs.