LCD TV vs Plasma TV
June 24, 2007
Before you buy a LCD TV as an output for your home video system or your home computer, it makes great sense if you delve into some of the advantageous features that a LCD TV have over a conventional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a plasma TV.
LCD TV is lighter than Plasma TV
LCD TV weighs less than plasma TV of similar size. This makes the handling and mounting of LCD TV much easy. You can even hang it on the wall or just over the fire place.
LCD TV is brighter than Plasma TV
The backlight device used in the high end LCD TV provides bright light and has a longer life. What’s more the backlight of a LCD TV is replaceable after its half-life period. In a Plasma TV, the phosphors illuminate the pixels which in their turn, produce the display. However, the phosphors get worn-out or suffer pre-mature ageing resulting in short life of plasma panels. Due to its brilliant pictures, LCD TVs are very ideal for bright rooms.
LCD TV produces high resolution pictures.
This is the greatest advantage that a LCD display enjoys. A LCD TV can display pictures of 1080p HD resolution. In other words, the pictures you see on your LCD TV or monitor, are sharper, more detailed than on a Plasma screen of similar size
LCD TV does not give off glare
LCD TV does not produces glare like plasma, which can be vexing in bright rooms. Because the pictures are well-lit, and the screen has an anti-glare coat, the glare is generally absent on a LCD screen.
LCD TV has versatile use and is compatible with all video formats.
LCD TV is ideal for both home videos and for home computer. Especially the smaller LCD displays are often dominant in the television market due to their superior picture quality and competitive prices. LCD TVs can accept all video formats which TV channels broadcast including NTSC, PAL and HDTV.
What about the drawbacks of LCD?
The drawbacks of LCD such as smaller viewing angle, ghosting and lesser black levels have largely been overcome in the latest LCDS. The major LCD makers like Sharp roll out new models in which these deficiencies are minimized to greater extent.
Popular misconceptions about LCD TV
June 24, 2007
There is a keen competition between Plasma TV and LCD TV in the television market. Both are referred to as ‘flat panel technology’ (FPT) and constantly adding new features. When you are about to choose a flat panel between LCD TV and Plasma TV, it is not going to be easy and simple as you think. What are the important factors that you should consider? What screen size you require? What kind of performance you expect?
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) has indeed more versatile use options than Plasma TV or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). They make good computer monitors as well as excellent output for home videos. Moreover, they are compatible with almost all video formats (analogue input as well as digital) and they are capable of displaying a wide range of HDTV resolution (480p or 720p or 1080p).
However, there are a few misconceptions about LCD TV and we try to do justice to the wonderful LCD TV.
Number one: LCD TVs are Expensive
As the price of LCD continues to fall with the time, this statement is no longer valid. In fact larger LCD models are generally more expensive than Plasma TVs of similar size. But they are high end LCD TVs with outstanding specs and many advanced features. When you go for smaller screen sizes, say 15†or 19â€, you will find LCD is the most preferred flat panel display while the mid-ranged LCD TVs and Plasma TVs have more or less same price tag, however LCD of similar size has a higher resolution.
So, we can safely say, LCD TVs are ideal when you go for small and medium sized displays (up to 42â€) for your home.
Number two: LCD has Low contrast ratio/ LCDs suffer from inadequate black levels
To produce display on the screen, LCDs depend on their backlight which has to be blocked completely for the production of black levels on the screen. Although the earlier LCDs were not able to display black shades as good as Plasma TVs, the newer LCDs like Philips 42PF9831D LCD TV or Sharp AQUOS LC-46D62U LCD TV which have dynamic contrast ratio up to 10,000:1 and produce deep black levels as good as the best Plasma TVs.
Number three: LCD TVs have narrow viewing angles
Wider viewing angles provide you better off-axis viewing means you can view from any angle in the room. It was true that Plasma TVs had been enjoying an edge over LCD in the past. However, newer LCD TVs have adopted technologies like MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) and PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) to overcome this problem. Some of the high-end LCDs come with more than 170 degrees viewing angle. It is a good idea to choose a LCD with a wider viewing angle and check it before buying.
Number four: LCD TVs exhibit Motion lag
The latest LCD TVs come with advanced features that can eliminate the so called artifacts or motion lag. Most of the leading LCD makers use their unique innovative technologies to improve the pixel response time. As a result, the high end LCDs come with a quicker response time 2 ms and produce pictures without ‘trails’ or motion lags.
Maintenance guide for LCD TV
June 24, 2007
Maintenance guide for LCD TV
LCD TVs are highly expensive TV sets or even may sound luxury to most of us. As you go for larger screens or high end models, they will definitely cost more. Such expensive products should naturally be cared well to make your investment long lasting.
Here are some tips to increase the life of your LCD TV:
Put your LCD TV in a clean, dry place. The dust-free, moisture free surroundings are very vital for the long life of your TV. This applies to all electronic products. Dust and moisture are great enemies for LCDs, computers and other electronic products
Extreme room temperatures can affect the performance of LCD TVs. LCD TV uses liquid crystals for its display technology. Liquid crystals are materials in twisted shape when they are in their natural state. Once electricity is made to pass through the crystals they begin to untwist and this is the principle used in the LCD technology.
However, excessive hot or cold environment can make the liquid crystals go bizarre and the essential features like refresh rate, contrast ratio can be altered by these factors.
When you handle LCDs, keep in mind their screens are very prone to scratch. Make sure they don’t get scratched while you install them. Also make sure the electrical installation is proper and safely done.
Follow all the instructions printed in the manual book, whenever you use or leave your LCD TV unused.
Sony KDL-40S2530 HD Ready LCD TV Review
June 23, 2007
Sony KDL-40S2530 LCD TV is another high performance LCD panel in the HD Ready 40" S series from Sony. It can display both 720p and 1080i HD formats and provides connectivity options for both analogue TV and digital HDMI sources. The new Bravia Engine video processing technology enables this TV to present vivid, clear and high contrast images. The live colour creation is Sony’s uniue technology that delivers 30% wider colour than conventional LCD technology. The pictures exhibit excellent colour gradations combined with improved contrast and colour saturation. Just like any LCD TV from sony, this LCD has also come with an attractive, glossy, black frame and we find the thin speakers are placed on the bottom panel. The beautiful design and excellent performance of this LCD TV do not fail to impress us.
Main features
- Screen Size: 40
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Native Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
- BRAVIA Engine video technology
- Live colour creation
- Digital Terrestrial Tuner
- Viewing Angle 178 degrees
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio 5000:1
- Static Contrast Ratio1300:1
- Response Time 8 ms
- Four Aspect modes
- Picture in Picture feature (PIP)
- Two HDMI interfaces
- Three Scarts
- Three composite video inputs
- Single s-video input
- Two component inputs
- 15 pin D-sub PC input
Sony KDL-40S2530 LCD TV enables you to enjoy almost every video format you get from your TV channels - right from 576i to HDTV or 720p. Its screen with a native resoution of 1366 x 768 pixels, nicely accommodates any image and presents an excellent viewing experience to us. As a true High Defnition TV, this unit shows a range of HD resolution in 16:9 image format. Its Bravia Engine is incorporated in latest LCDs from sony and features the essential noise reduction for the enhancement of low contrast images. The end result is the pictures which look smoother, crisp and realistic. Within each frame, colours like blue, greeb, white are processed to give an out with greater richness and colour sharpness.
Live colour creation is another technology which enables this LCD TV to produce deeper more precise tones for excellent colour reproduction to match the natural colours. The WCG-CCFL backlighting system in this LCD generates superb colour display showing each colour spectrum distinctly from other. This is much more visible when you watch blues and reds which look deeper and brighter on the screen. This LCD has a static contrast ratio of 1300:1 and a dynamic ratio of 5000:1. Black levels achieved by this LCD are quite admirable and pictures show outstanding details in dark scenes.
Response time of 8 ms is generally considered typical of high end LCD TVs. With this faster response time, this TV does not show any visible image artifacts or ghosting while playing fast paced video games or action packed movies. The viewing angles stretch up to 178 degrees that make you sit any where across the screen and have the uniform picture quality.
When you search for input options, you will find them numerous. There are two HDMi inputs, three Scarts, a S-video input, two component video inputs and 15 pin D-sub PC input. You can also find a USB port to connect your digital camera or any other USB device and you can watch pictures, short videos etc on this LCD TV.
LG M203WA LCD TV
June 23, 2007
LG M203WA LCD TV has come with features like 20 inches screen, flat panel technology, HDTV compatibility, HD ready, inbuilt speakers, 700:1 contrast ratio, 8.0 milliseconds response time, 160 degree viewing angle etc.
The Display Properties
All models of televisions have embedded with a brilliant LCD screen. This model of unit has availed with a screen which is designed with flat panel technology. This technology utilizes liquid crystals which will be sandwiched between two glass plates. These glass plates are thinner than the other screens. You can get the advantage of better viewing angle. Resolution is a vital criteria which determines the quality of display. This TV has the ability to produce resolution in maximum up to 1680 x 1050 pixels. The highest contrast ratio of the TV is measured perfectly as 700:1 and the brightness is also measured as 300 cd/m2. The appropriate viewing angle of the TV is measured horizontally as well as vertically as 160 degrees.
HDTV Technology
The unique advantage of this television is High Definition Television compatibility. It is shortly called as HDTV. This compatibility will be useful for receiving high definition signals and displaying those HD signals, only when you have this compatibility. For your better understanding 720p and 1080i are the examples of the HD signals.
The Sound System
LG M203WA LCD TV can have stereo sound systems with the support of virtual surround and Dolby surround. Stereo system comes along with 2 channels. Virtual surround system offers you richer sound experience only through 2 speakers. You can enjoy the most advanced sound system in the recent trend is Dolby sound system.
The Connectivity and Physical Features
LG M203WA LCD TV has a composite connector and it is essential for getting inputs. It has come with a Video Graphics Array (VGA) input and it is a “D” shaped one. These inputs are only used for serial ports. It has been marketed with smart dimensions as 424 x 496 x 241 cm as height, width and depth. It weighs just as 8.5 kilo grams therefore it is easy to lift the television for installation. There is no need of special technical assistance for the installation.
