HDTV BUYING GUIDE
Here we at digital-offers.net will take you through the process of choosing the right digital HDTV equipment for your needs
What kind of digital HDTV do I need?
You can spend anything from £200 to over £1000 on a HDTV television so it’s important that you understand the different types available. Many HDTVs come with Freeview or Freesat built in to the set. This is handy if you don’t currently have a set top box or wish to free up the space around the TV, however if you subscribe to Sky, BT or Virgin you will still need to have their box so having a Freeview box built in is not necessary at all, as all of those boxes have this capability.
Plasma or LCD?
What is the difference and which one is best for you?
Both LCD & Plasma come under the umbrella of ‘Flat panel TVs’ and at first glance it isn’t obvious the difference between them. Recently LCD technology has caught right up with the Plasma screens and there is very little between them up to a size of about 50”.
Plasma screens are still the preferred format for extra large screens due to the slightly superior contrast ratios and they generally display fast moving objects marginally better.
LCD screens deliver even brighter images than plasmas and are ideal for brightly lit rooms, also LCDs tend to be slightly thinner and lighter than their plasma equivalent, so perfect for mounting on a wall.
What makes HD better than a normal picture?
HD television programs have amazing detail and quality, with intense colours and and superb clarity. The reason for this is the extra pixels that the television displays. A normal analogue TV displays 576 lines of detail whereas a HDTV set can display up to 1080 lines of detail if the program you are watching is HD. HD also displays millions more colours than a normal TV.
HD Ready, 720P, 1080i or 1080p?
Older products that bear the label "HD ready" may not display the full picture resolution possible from an HD source.
720p is the standard full HD resolution, with some models displaying the more impressive 1080i & 1080p resolutions. No TV under 32” really needs these higher resolutions as the difference will be negligible on that size television.
However if you are getting a Blu Ray player or a next gen games console and you want to see the best picture possible then on a large TV then we advise you get an HDTV with 1080i or 1080p.
On “HD ready” TVs we recommend that you check the specifications, 1280x720 is the amount of pixels shown on a 720i or 720p TV. The ‘I’ stands for interlaced and the ‘P’ for progressive scan, you can find a very detailed description of the difference here, all you really need to know is that ‘P’ is slightly superior but the difference is barely noticeable to the untrained eye.
So what should you go with 720p , 1080p or 1080i?
720p – This is the most affordable with nearly all ‘HD Ready’ TVs able to display 720p. It delivers incredibly detailed pictures and for most of us will be more than sufficient to enjoy the emerging HD technologies.
1080p – This is for gaming enthusiasts with a next gen console (PS3 or Xbox360) and for movie fans who have the space and the money for a large TV in their home. 1080p is for the true HD experience providing a cinema quality experience in your home.
What else affects the picture?
The resolution isn’t the only factor affecting the picture quality. Contrast ratio and brightness affect how good the TV looks. A higher level of brightness, for example, will produce a more vibrant picture. Average brightness is 500cd/m2. In a competitive market many manufacturers also have their own picture-enhancing technologies to deliver more brilliant, realistic colours and further clarity to fast moving action. Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG and Philips all have their own versions of such technologies
What do you intend to connect to your HDTV?
Blu Ray Player – Next Gen Games Console – HD Sky, Virgin or Freeview box.
There are a number of ways to connect to an HDTV but to get true high definition picture quality you should look to connect with an HDMI cable where possible. If you have a HD device like the ones listed above and you are not using an HDMI cable to connect it then you are not getting the best possible picture from your TV. Most new HDTVs come with at least 2 HDMI connections allowing you to connect multiple devices at the same time. This is the key if you want to avoid scrambling around at the back of your TV when switching between devices.
I want to watch movies in the best possible resolution what should I get?
BLU RAY
You may have heard of the fairly new Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats. Now to put it simply they are both types of DVD that can hold more data than a standard DVD. Because a high definition movie takes up more space on the disc the HD resolution movies will be on one or other of these disc types. Blu Ray recently won the battle and new and future releases are likely to only appear in the Blu Ray disc format. Blu Ray discs look best on a TV with 1080i or 1080p resolution, they require a special type of DVD player to play and will not play in a normal DVD player. The Playstation 3 console has a built in Blu Ray player. Make sure you have an HDMI cable to connect with and a decent set of speakers to maximize the experience.
Here are some links to Blu Ray players…
Does my TV do HD?
You can check if your TV is HD ready here. Another way to check is to look for a HDMI connection on the side or the back of your TV or refer to the instruction manual.
SOUND
Here we explain the different types of sound systems incorporated in new TVs
Nicam Stereo
This is a simple, clear stereo sound that comes from built-in speakers. It is the normal average sound that most people take for granted from their televisions.
Virtual Dolby
Virtual surround sound goes a step further by distributing the sound around the room from the twin, built-in speakers creating the illusion of surround sound. This is not true surround sound but as close as you will get with just the speakers that are built into the television
Dolby ProLogic
This is a five-speaker system which most programmes broadcast in. This will not be appreciated without a home cinema speaker system or similar.
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital is the official audio standard for HDTV's. It delivers five separate channels of sound (left, right, centre, rear left, rear right), plus a sixth channel devoted to bass. Dolby Digital 5.1 is now available from DVDs, Sky Digital's Sky+ boxes, PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Again without a home cinema speaker system you will not be hearing the true surround sound experience.
To hear the Surround sound…
Audio is an integral part of the HD experience. HD programming is broadcast digitally for crystal clear audio, so its worth investing in a good surround sound system if you are a subscriber. These typically include a powerful sub woofer and further satellite speakers for a richer sound.
Inputs & Outputs
Scart
Most plasma and LCD TVs have scart sockets to connect digital boxes or adapters, DVD players and VCRs. Scart is simply a type of connection and cabling used to carry analogue video and audio signals.
Component video
Component video is an analogue signal down a single cable (yellow) often paired with two audio cables (red & white) for the left and right stereo sound signals.
HDMI and DVI
If you choose a HD-ready TV it will have either HDMI or DVI connections to allow it to accept a digital signal from HD receiving equipment. You’ll need a HDMI or DVI cable to allow you to watch High definition broadcasts.
PC input
Many televisions offer a PC input so you can hook up your PC. Gaming enthusiasts will love bringing all the high-def enhancements to their favourite games.
Accessories
Stands
Most TVs come with a simple stand. However, you may want to give your TV more prominence with a floor stand or a cabinet style unit.
Wall brackets
This is fast becoming the most popular way to show off a new TV, with the brackets available allowing you to angle the TV to suit the room. The TV needs to be mounted on a solid, brick or stud wall and not above a heat source such as a radiator.
Digital Offers Home | Digital Switch Over | HDTV Explained | Digital Glossary | HDTV Buying Guide
Sky - See Speak Surf - Sky Boxes - Sky+ - Sky+HD - Football on Sky
BT Vision- How BT Vision Works - Virgin Media - Virgin Media Updates
TV Football Fixtures -Freeview/Freesat
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Details | Useful Links | Sitemap
Follow us on twitter! @digitaloffers
