Buyer Guides

LCD Televisions

I'd like to be able to catch a little more television than I normally watch, but I simply don't have enough spare time. I've though about putting a small television in my kitchen but even the smallest CRT-based set would have occupied too much of my counter space. So for years, I read the newspaper during breakfast. With the advent of LCD televisions, recently my dream came true when I equipped my kitchen counter with a 14" LCD television. Since then, I've been accompanied by Breakfast Television, CP24 and even reruns of Daily Planet as I prepare and enjoy my breakfast. To be honest, I flick the television on every time I make a meal that takes a little while to prepare. I couldn't be happier. Putting a television in my kitchen allowed me to squeeze in a little extra television without devoting additional time to it. But this is just one of the numerous advantages of LCD televisions.

This guide will explain the benefits of LCD televisions and inform you of features and specifications to look for when you're ready to delve into LCD territory.

There is no question about it - the biggest benefit of LCD televisions is that they are flat and light weight. Most units range between 2 centimeters (for a 13" screen size) and 10 centimeters (for a 45" screen size) in depth. LCD televisions can be placed virtually anywhere, no matter how small the room or space. Their light weight also makes them easy to wall-mount. It's hard for other television technologies to compete with these kinds of numbers with the exception of plasma televisions which are also flat and light weight. Unfortunately, plasma televisions are available only in large screen sizes, from 37" up. LCD televisions, on the other hand, range from 13 to 45 inches in screen size. Much bigger sizes are also on the way. Samsung recently showed off a mammoth 82" prototype at the opening of their new LCD plant in Korea.

LCD televisions are easy on the eyes since they don't flicker like CRT-based televisions and consume much less energy than other television types. Another benefit of LCD televisions is that they offer a variety of installation options including flat and articulating wall mounts, ceiling mounts as well as table top stands.

Most LCD televisions are also a great way to add sleek, new age styling to your space.

Let's consider all of the features you should look at when purchasing an LCD television.

First, select the right screen size for your space. Generally, the distance from the viewing position should be roughly 3 times the size of your screen. Any closer and the picture may look grainy. Once you've selected the appropriate screen size, you'll have to decide whether you'd prefer your new television to be a regular screen shape (4:3 ratio) or widescreen (16:9 ratio). Smaller screen sizes are available in both ratios, while larger sets come in the 16:9 screen ratio only. Widescreen sets are usually more expensive. If you plan to watch mostly DVDs and HDTV broadcasts on the set, you should definitely look at widescreen models.

Look for a high brightness value. The brightness of LCD televisions varies considerably. A screen's brightness is measured in cd/m2 or nits (both are units of measurement for intensity of light). The higher this number, the brighter the picture will be and the easier it will be to watch the television in bright lighting conditions. Newest LCD televisions offer a brightness between 450 cd/m2 and 600 cd/m2.

Televisions with a higher contrast ratio will produce crisper, cleaner and sharper images. Contrast ratio is a measure of how many times brighter the white tones will be compared to the black tones in the picture. Latest models have contrast ratios between 500:1 and 800:1.

Look for LCD televisions with the smallest response time. Response time refers to the amount of time it takes for the LCD pixels to go from active (black) to inactive (white) and back to active again. Lower numbers mean faster transitions and therefore less visible image artifacts and trailing during fast motion scenes. Look for a response time of 16 ms or less. Response times are continually improving and Samsung recently introduced an LCD computer monitor with a response time of 6 ms. Not all manufacturers disclose the response time of their LCD televisions since there is no industry standard for measuring response times.

Some of the latest LCD televisions have an ATSC tuner built-in, on top of the regular NTSC tuner. ATSC tuners allow the television to receive over-the-air high-definition channels. Currently only a handful of these channels are available in large cities in Canada but more are on the way.

Do you plan to watch high-definition signals? Many high-definition channels are available over digital cable and satellite and high-definition DVDs will be out before the end of this year. In order to watch HD content, the television should have a widescreen (as all HD content is in the 16:9 format) and must be capable of displaying 720p, 1080i or 1080p signals. Typically LCD televisions with 768 pixels vertically (i.e. second number in the resolution parameter) can display 720p HD signals. In order to display the 1080i or 1080p HD signal, the television must have a vertical resolution of at least 1080.

You may also consider the viewing angle. LCD televisions have smaller viewing angles compared to CRT televisions although they have improved significantly since they first appeared. For typical home applications this should not be an issue any longer.

If you're looking to get even more out of a small space or would like a really clean setup, consider an LCD TV/DVD combination. Combination units have the DVD player built right into the back of the enclosure, adding only an extra couple of centimeters or so. They eliminate the need to hook up an external DVD player or connect any cables.

If watching television in different locations in your house or in your backyard sounds interesting, you should take at look at a wireless LCD television. Currently only Sharp and Sony offer wireless LCD televisions in small screen sizes. These sets consist of the LCD display powered by a lithium ion battery and a transmitter with video and audio inputs that sends the signals to the display.

Prices of LCD televisions can vary considerably between different manufacturers. There are many no name brands that use older generation LCD panels and less expensive electronics to drive these panels. LCD televisions are still relatively new and the technology is constantly being improved. If you're looking for the latest technology, best performance and good warranty you should look for a brand name. Otherwise, a no name brand may be a good option if you're looking for an inexpensive solution to place a flat panel television where a CRT television may be suitable.

Although LCD televisions do not suffer from a picture burn-in, it is possible for individual pixels to burn out. A burnt out pixel will appear as a tiny black dot on the screen. Manufacturers have different warranty policies that cover burnt out pixels. Some will replace your television if a single pixel burns out, while others will only replace your unit if several pixels are dead.

All specifications set aside, perhaps the most important part of the selection process should be how satisfied you are with the picture quality. Examine as many sets as possible and bring your favorite DVD along for the ride.

Click here for a list of LCD televisions available in Canada that we think are worthwhile considering. Specifications and pricing that are blank in the charts were not available from the manufacturers at the time of press. There are a lot of LCD televisions to choose from. Happy hunting.

Browse LCD Television on PriceCanada.com

Buyer's Guides courtesy of Canada Hifi Magazine