Buying a new flat screen TV can be very confusing. For the average consumer, the amount of different makes, models and technologies can be overwhelming. To make matters worse many sales representatives make matters worse by serving up an endless stream of technical data and buzz words that most people do not understand.

This guide was written to make the decision process easier when shopping for a TV. It explains the differences between the three different types of flat screen TVs, what technical specifications to look for, and finally some tips on how to pick the best performing model.

The first decision to make is what type of TV you want to get. Currently the three major classes of flat screen TVs include LCD, Plasma and Rear Projection. While large flat screen TVs were pioneered by plasma TVs, the current trend seems to be towards LCD.

A rear projection TV works by having the image projected onto a screen. As the name implies the image is projected from the back of the unit and onto a canvas. The major advantage of this technology is price. Rear projection TVs can offer very large pictures for prices that can’t be rivaled by a plasma or LCD TV. Rear projection TVs become a real alternative if you are looking for screen sizes above 60 inches. The major disadvantages with this class of TV are the bulky size and picture quality. While still significantly smaller than a traditional tube TV, a rear projection TV is still much thicker and heavier than a plasma or LCD TV. A rear projection TV can not be wall mounted.

With the advances in HD broadcasting, one of the major technological steps forward is a jump in image quality. A rear projection TV will not be able to replicate the crisp clear images of a LCD or plasma TV. While the quality of the picture is still above a regular TV, the technology used to project the image makes it difficult to deliver images that are as vibrant and sharps as what the other classes of TVs can offer. One last disadvantage is that rear projection TVs are getting harder and harder to find. If you want to get one of these sets you might have a hard time finding a local retailer that still carries these TVs.

A Plasma TV works by energizing tiny pockets of gas that creates a bright light. This process is very quick wich leads to Plasma TVs having very good response times compared to many LCD TVs. Plasma TVs became very popular as the image quality of the earlier sets was unrivaled on the market. The images most of us associate with HDTV where introduced by plasma TVs. The ultra sharp images and bright color rendering was revolutionary. Today the quality gap between plasma and LCD TVs is barely noticeable. Enthusiasts still favor plasma TVs for the better image quality, but for the regular consumer this difference will most often not be a major factor. Typically, a plasma TV will produce deeper black levels and have crisper contrast than a LCD TV.

Early Plasma TVs had a very limited life span, with models burning out in as little as a few years. The sets that are sold today have improved on this flaw, but due to the type of technology used you should still expect a plasma TV to have a limited life span. Another factor is that Plasma TVs tend to be more expensive than LCD screens. They are also heavier which makes wall mounting large plasma screens more difficult.

LCD TVs not only weigh less than a similar plasma TV they also use less energy, run cooler and perform better in bright light. Another advantage of the LCD TVs is that they generally cost less than a plasma TV. The trade off is mainly in picture quality as plasma screens are still holding on to a slim lead in image quality.

Early LCD models suffered from a noticeably grainy picture. Especially contrasted to the silky smooth images of a plasma TV the clearly visible pixels of the LCD TVs seemed to negate many of the advantages of the HDTV format over regular standard definition TVs. As the technology has improved LCD TVs look better. Still, keep this fact in mind as you are shopping for TVs. Make sure that you watch any model you are considering at the distance and angle you expect to view the TV in your own living room. In store displays are configured to show the TVs off from their best side and they might not perform as well in your house.

One of the most important factors in deciding on a class of TV is how bright your viewing area is. If the TV will be placed in a room with many windows and will be used during the daytime, the brightness of the picture becomes important. In a bright viewing environment most rear projection TVs will perform very poorly. A Plasma TV will typically perform better than a LCD screen in bright rooms as well. If possible, ask if you can view the TV you are considering in a bright environment. TV showrooms are typically very dark as this shows the TVs from their best side. This environment is unrealistic for most common uses for a TV though. Checking the TV in a more realistic light can often have a very big impact on performance.

Also consider how the TV will be placed and what angles the TV will be viewed from. Most living rooms have different seating sections that will view the TV from different angles. Some [plasma or LCD] TVs will show a distorted image at certain angles. When shopping for a TV, make sure you view the screen from many different angles, especially from side angles that you think will be relevant to your viewing area. The picture should look the same from all angles you view the TV.

The other major factor to consider want buying a TV is what you will be using the TV for the most. If you will be watching a lot of sports, look for TVs with a fast response time and a high refresh rate. If you will be using it primarily for watching movies, black levels and contrast becomes more important.

The response time of a TV is measured in milliseconds. This number indicates the amount of time it takes to light up and turn of a single pixel. The lower this number the faster the response time is. A picture that will change very rapidly will benefit from lower response times. Fast paced sports typically will benefit from having a short response time. If the action seems to be choppy or if you see ‘motion blur’, the response rate of the TV is too high to keep up with the action on screen. Some manufacturers use creatine ways to measure the response rate, so always let your eyes be the final judge.

The refresh rate is measured in mHz and describes how often the image is refreshed. Typical refresh rates are 60 mhz, 120 mHz and 240 mHz. A low refresh rate often shows up as flickering in the image. Higher refresh rates usually means a higher price tag, but if you are considering a 60 mHz TV make sure you test the model thoroughly, preferable with a variety of different sources. A brand new TV with a flickering picture can be very annoying.

Test viewing a TV can be challenging. Store clerks will have their own preferences that they might try to point out to you, the viewing environment is set up to hide the weaknesses of the TVs and the images sources are of very high quality. Buying a new flat screen TV can be a vary large investment though, and you should take the time to make sure you make the right decision.

In a large retail store all the TVs are hooked up to high quality equipment. To be able to judge the quality of the set you should ask to see the TV connected to a similar source as you will be pairing it with. If your local large retailer will not set up this kind of test for you, consider going to a smaller specialty shop. They will usually let you test sets with many different components so you can more accurately judge how a TV will work for you. Of course these shops will probably not be able to offer the TVs at the same prices as a large retailer so after you have compared the TVs on your shortlist find the cheapest outlet for the TV you chose.

Some things too look for when comparing TVs include contrast and black levels. Judging the black levels of a TV is important if you plan on watching a lot of movies on your TV. The best way to judge black levels is to ask to watch a sequence from a movie you know to have a lot of shadows and blacks. Black levels are easily seen when showing people in dark clothing for example. Watch for people wearing a black suit. The amount of detail you can pick out in their clothing will be a good judge of the black levels. Contrast TVs against each other. Where one TV might show a solid black, another TV might pick out wrinkles, pockets etc in the clothes.

The contrast is the difference between the black and white levels of the picture. A low contrast ratio will make the picture look murky. Plasma screens have better contrast ratios which is the main reason why they are generally considered to have the best picture.

What type if TV you buy ultimately comes down to personal preference. Compare the different options side by side and see which set you like the best for the money. Often people will have personal preferences that go against common conventions held in the industry. If you do some research before picking a big screen TV, the shopping experience will be a lot more enjoyable.

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