Full HD TV Buying Considerations

By Hermione Cook

It's more than likely that you have seen the hundreds of HD TV adverts scattered all over the papers, on TV and on the Internet. The problem is however that not all high definition TV is Full HD TV. There are hundreds of TV models out there which offer a higher definition picture quality which is not actually up to high definition quality standards, and will not give you the experience you wanted if for example you wanted to watch a Blu Ray DVD. By ensuring you are buying a Full HD TV you will be getting the best viewing experience possible from HD TV.

You have choice of LCD or Plasma when buying a Full HD TV both types are available in 1080p or 1080i. This in itself can be confusing and the choice of specifications can soon become overwhelming. A 42 inch TV size is probably the most common size of television as they are suitable for most living rooms and other larger rooms. Cost obviously comes into it but with the price of HD TV decreasing all the take time to consider your options.

If youre considering a Full HD TV one of your first decisions is between Plasma and LCD sets. Full HD Plasma TV sets are known to have a better picture quality. LCD displays tend to have a longer life span than plasmas but due to improvements in plasma display quality and screen saving features, pixel burn is not really an issue and the expected viewing life of plasmas is not an issue for the average owner. Plasmas are however more expensive than their LCD equivalents.

By far the more prevalent HD technology is Full HD LCD TV. The issue of screen burn and shorter life span do not come into the equation with LCD televisions. These type of televisions have good quality pictures and refresh rates but the colours produced by plasma displays still outperform LCD TVs. Due to these qualities, Full HD LCD TV sets make it a great choice for gamers and the fast paced high detail action produced by modern games consoles. The generally cheaper prices of todays LCD TVs are also of benefit to shoppers with less to spend.

A HD TV converter is not all they are made out to be. The converter is capable transforming a high definition signal and outputting a signal that can be displayed on an old analogue television set. It can also work in reverse by taking an analogue signal and converting it as an output for a HD TV, the picture quality may be improved by the features of your Full HD TV set but at the end of the day it is still an analogue signal.

All HD TVs are not equal and HD is not the same as Full HD TV. HD ready sets are usually 720p and are better suited to smaller size screens laptops and computers. When looking for the best HD experience then 1080p or 1080i has a visible improvement over 720p sets which is more noticeable with larger screen sizes. Be sure to look at the specification of televisions before handing over your cash, 1080p is the true Full HD TV.

1080i has a native resolution of 1280 pixels by 1080 pixels and still meets full HD standards. 1080p is 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels, but combined with the progressive scanning the viewing experience will be more pleasant to your eye. So if youre in the market for a Full HD TV, and you're on a budget then the cheaper 1080i models will provide an adequate viewing experience, but if 1080p is in your price range then this is your only option.

Despite looking like a complicated affair, the decisions involved in buying a Full HD TV are quite simple. If you want the best viewing experience, a television to enhance your home gaming needs, and a set to do your Blu Ray DVDs justice. Then a full HD TV is the way to go, if you do your homework and choose wisely then you won't need a second mortgage either. - 29872

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