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To gain comfort and worsen vision is not at all the goal that should be pursued when buying.
Types of TV screens
Manufacturers produce models with screens of the following sizes:
- little;
- average;
- big.
How to choose a TV for home
The image looks better on a medium-sized screen. With a large one - even peripheral vision will not help to cover the whole picture - you will have to “run your eyes” around the screen. The small screen is not suitable if you plan to watch programs with the whole family. In addition, on a small one it will not be possible to see small details, which will reduce the effect of presence.
Criteria for choosing a TV for the home
Which TV is the best depends on the premises and the desires of their owners.
Determine your financial possibilities
You should ask yourself the question: “How much of the budget can I allocate for this?”. If a good model can be purchased for 20 thousand, then there is no upper bar.
Choosing a TV for the family
A TV of any level performs its main function - to show broadcast programs. The increase in cost is due to the features that enhance the viewing experience and the availability of additional features. You should consider which features will be useful and which will not be used. After all, you have to pay extra for each of them.
Advice! The appearance of the model should be combined with the interior of the room. It will look harmonious if the TV is at the same price level as the rest of the furniture. If you want to impress your friends, think only about the functions, but also pay attention to the appearance.
Features of the room and the optimal distance to the TV
Before visiting the store, it will already be clear in which room the TV will be placed. It could be a living room or a kitchen. The premises may have an unconventional shape, for example? with corner windows, which reduces installation options.
Consider where the TV will be installed:
- special bedside table;
- bracket on the wall;
- place in the headset.
Placement of the TV in the house
Do not place the TV in front of a window, which will create glare and interfere with viewing.
Important! There is such a norm as the optimal distance to the screen when watching TV. It is 3-4 diagonal TV.
| Screen diagonal, inch | Minimum distance, m | Maximum distance, m |
| 22″ | 0.9 | 2.5 |
| 26″ | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 32″ | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| 37″ | 1.4 | 3.7 |
| 40″ | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| 42″ | 1.7 | 4.4 |
| 46″ | 1.8 | 4.7 |
| fifty" | 1.9 | 5.0 |
| 60″ | 2.2 | 5.3 |
| 65″ | 2.5 | 5.5 |
Diagonal
The diagonal is indicated in inches. One inch equals 2.54 centimeters. Knowing this, it is not difficult to calculate the screen size. The relationship between the recommended optimal viewing distance and the diagonal is straight - the farther the place intended for the viewer is, the larger the diagonal should be taken.
Distance to the TV depending on the diagonal
We should not forget that a large diagonal increases the cost. For a bedroom or kitchen, it is enough to purchase. For a home theater, you will have to purchase a TV with a diagonal starting from 50 inches.
Permission
This characteristic determines the clarity of the image on the screen. Its high value "allows" to distinguish each element of the picture separately. At low resolution, the image is blurry.
The unit of measure for screen resolution is a pixel. Screen resolution is calculated as the ratio of the number of pixels on the horizontal screen to the number of pixels on its vertical. Thus, if the passport, for example, indicates a resolution of 1920 × 1080, then this means that it has 1920 pixels horizontally and -1080 vertically.
Important! The higher the number of pixels, the clearer the screen image will be.
Screen resolution
HD (1280x720)
HD is a resolution format. These letters stand for "High Definition" - "high resolution". The HD resolution is 1280×720 pixels. If you multiply these numbers, you get 921600. This value means that the clarity on the screen is very high.
Full HD
Full HD - this is a resolution format, which in translation means "full high resolution". Full HD resolution -1920×1080. This is 2073600 points.
This is the main difference between just HD and Full HD. The resolution is higher for Full HD. The consequence of this is that the quality of the transmitted image will be much better.
The main differences between these resolution formats are:
- Full HD has higher image quality due to more pixels;
- HD has only one kind of resolution 1280x720, while Full HD has 1920x1080, 1920x720 and 720x576;
- HD has only one scan - progressive, while Full HD has progressive and interlaced;
- HD has higher device requirements;
- Full HD have powerful processors, which has a positive effect on the TV.
TV screen resolution difference: HD, FHD, UHD
Ultra HD (4K)
New generation - Ultra HD 4K TVs. The Ultra HD digital standard refers to ultra-high definition television. The 4K add-on is a professional production standard that guarantees high resolution.
Dimensions
When choosing the dimensions of the TV, you can be guided by the principle "The more the better." Restraining moments are the size of the premises and financial possibilities.
The functionality of large TVs
Frequency
The passport indicates the refresh rate of the screen. Otherwise, this characteristic is called sweep. The refresh rate unit is Hz. This value indicates the number of frames per second that the TV screen is capable of displaying.
For information! The higher the refresh rate, the clearer the image on the screen will be.
Matrix type
The matrix is responsible for the image quality. All modern TVs are divided into:
- liquid crystal;
- plasma.
Therefore, when buying, you have to make a choice: LCD TV or plasma.
Choosing the Right TV
The advantages of plasma panels include brightness and contrast. They have more viewing angle. But keep in mind that such TVs are not available with a diagonal of less than 32 inches. Viewing a high-quality image is possible only from a long distance. The disadvantages also include a short display life, high power consumption and a high price.
LCD panels have the best picture quality. Energy saving has been increased. Contrast and color reproduction are good. All matrices of the latest developments work on liquid crystals. They are so widely used due to the ability to maintain a crystalline structure, being in a liquid state.
LED
LED-TV is a cross between liquid crystal and plasma. These are advanced models of the previously widely used LCDs. Compared to LCD, they have a higher contrast ratio.
AMOLED matrix 
IPS matrix 
LED matrix 
TN matrix
AMOLED
This is the type of matrix that can be called organic. The difference of this technology is that the image is transmitted using small LEDs. The disadvantage is that over time a number of LEDs fail and the brightness decreases.
TN
It is the cheapest matrix option. Among the shortcomings - a small viewing angle and less high-quality color reproduction.
IPS
The best option for color reproduction and viewing angle.
Color gamut
All modern screens are made using the same technology. It is well-adjusted and covers the entire range of colors, allowing you to display a good quality image.
Saturated colors
For picky viewers, there is a fine-tuning of color.
Advice! When choosing a TV, color gamut is not the main criterion.
Screen Shape
There are two types of screen:
- flat;
- curved.
The curved screen is a kind of magnifying glass. So that the picture on it is not distorted, it must be viewed, located directly opposite.
Curved TV
3D technologies
The principle of 3D technology is that the image is formed for each eye separately. Their connection allows you to see a three-dimensional image.
3D technologies are divided into:
- active;
- passive.
For active, special glasses with lenses made of liquid crystal material are needed. The glasses are powered by a battery located between the lenses.
With passive technology, the principle of operation of glasses is autonomous.
3D technologies
For reference! The presence of 3D technology increases the cost of the model.
Smart TV
They are the result of integration into television of the Internet and digital services. TVs that support Smart TV are actually computers in the form of a TV with its functions.
Simultaneously with Smart TV, set-top boxes running on the Android operating system appeared. Set-top boxes provide advanced features, so it makes sense for "advanced" users to opt for them.
The presence of the Smart TV function turns the TV into an advanced multimedia system
Number of HDMI ports
The HDMI connector allows you to connect multiple devices at once using cables. Even budget options have a sufficient number of HDMI ports. The optimal number is three ports of each type.
Sound
Modern TVs are getting thinner, making it impossible to fit large speakers inside. Accordingly, with excellent image quality, the sound will be mediocre.
The solution would be to purchase acoustic speakers. This is an almost inevitable purchase, therefore it does not apply to the main selection criterion.
Acoustics for TV
What to look for when choosing a TV:
- LCD or plasma screen.
- Diagonal. Choose a diagonal, taking into account the size of the room and financial capabilities.
- Screen resolution. The bigger, the better.
- Brightness and contrast. You can decide right in the store.
- Update frequency. Should not be too big.
- Number of HDMI ports. If you plan to use the TV with external speakers, make sure you have the right connectors.
- Various technology. The most common is LED: good image quality, thin display, average price.
- Screen type: it is better to choose flat.
- Availability of Smart TV. This feature is desirable.
- Sound quality. With wireless acoustics, there must be a built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi module.
How to choose a TV: simple tips
Despite the massive invasion of online technology, watching satellite and cable channels with all the annoying ads is still a popular pastime. Equipment is sold, new types, types, formats appear, so it is important to know what to look for when buying a TV. The model can look wonderful in a store or on an exhibition stand. But this does not mean that all its indicators should not be considered, so to speak, with a magnifying glass.
The modern TV has not actually changed since the idea of forming an image using a liquid crystal matrix was implemented. Over time, improved, minimized components, improved technical performance.
Today users are forced to pay a hundred dollars for one added LED and a couple of blocks of code, whether they need them or not. Buying a modern TV can be characterized by an example.
Need a pickup truck to haul potatoes. Arriving at the salon, the buyer finds a car in which there are three rows of seats, a gypsy orchestra with a couple of bears sits in the back, there is a lift for wheelchairs, places for children, an oxygen mask, in the passenger seat there is some kind of bag with something, which needs attention from time to time. And everything is sold as a set, and the truck itself is so-so.
The user is “pushed” for his money with software functionality that, in principle, he will never need. Therefore, you need to know what to look for and evaluate what technical features may be required for comfortable use of the device, and pay a much lower price, often getting the best TV that perfectly meets your needs.
Basic Specifications
First of all, you need to evaluate the image quality on the TV. This can be done both according to the technical indicators given in the documentation for the model, and empirically.
Screen size
Diagonal should be chosen according to a simple formula. The distance from the viewing position to the screen is estimated. The resulting figure in centimeters is multiplied by 0.54. Dividing the result by 2.54 and rounding up, we get the size of the TV that will be comfortable to watch.
Permission
The physical resolution of the matrix is \u200b\u200bresponsible for the formation of a detailed picture. It also plays a role from which source the signal will come. If we are talking about CD players or BlueRay, you should choose an HD-Ready (1366x768 resolution) TV with a relatively small screen or FullHD (1920x1080) for a model with a diagonal of 40 inches and above.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the modern standard UltraHD 4K. These are the newest models, very expensive, the resolution of the matrix is 3840x2160. Before you reach for your wallet, after listening to the consultant's speeches and enjoying the demonstration pictures, it is worth considering a simple fact: there are very few films, broadcasts, any multimedia content of this quality and the TV's capabilities cannot be fully used.
Brightness and Contrast
These two parameters are directly responsible for the viewing comfort under different lighting conditions, as well as for the formation of a clear picture. The minimum brightness setting should be 450 cd / sq.m, and the higher the figure, the better. The contrast level is responsible for the accuracy of color reproduction and image clarity. The value of the parameter must be at least 600:1, the rule “the more the better” works.
Choosing a TV according to the technical indicators of brightness and contrast is also worth being careful. When the values approach the maximum possible, the price rises very strongly. Therefore, you need to approach the issue correctly. If the room where the TV will stand is brightly lit by the sun, the choice leans towards a model with high brightness and contrast, and if the room is dark, a TV with average indicators will do.
Viewing angles
The main feature that a TV should have is the convenience of viewing from anywhere in the room. But in fact, color deviations and a sharp drop in brightness are already observed within 15-20 degrees from the values declared by the manufacturer. Therefore, in the first place on the wish list, you need to put TVs with a viewing angle of at least 170. Today, you can easily buy a model with a declared zone of 176 and even 178 degrees.
Reaction rate and matrix type
The human eye is inertial. Medical research has long established that a simple physical response to a change in color or light level, together with the transmission of nerve impulses, lasts approximately 4 ms. Knowing this fact will help you choose the type of TV matrix. Typical characteristics of engineering solutions are as follows (we give indicators close to the maximum):
- TN-Film is the most common type of matrices, characterized by the coverage of an incomplete color spectrum, a response speed of about 5 ms. Acceptable in terms of the price of finished products (TVs), however, the image quality strongly depends on the type of backlight used;
- IPS matrices transmit colors close to ideal, the reaction speed can be 1 ms, TV manufacturers with such a screen neutralize the problems that arise due to backlighting. Models are expectedly expensive, but the image quality is very good.
The low reaction speed of the matrix (8, 10, 12 ms) leads to the following: with a sharp change in the image (frames), the display does not have time to form distinct color dots. The picture is blurry, this is especially noticeable in dynamic scenes, small details are blurred very much, in the most severe cases, even the brightness drops. Reaction speed data is exactly what you need to pay attention to when buying a TV of any class.
Backlight type
The thinnest TVs are not always the best. There are the following types of lighting systems:
- DirectLed, when the entire matrix plane is illuminated evenly;
- EdgeLed, in which LED blocks are located around the perimeter. TVs of the latter type are thin, but the screen area is illuminated unevenly.
The overall light output from the EdgeLed screen is less compared to DirectLed models, which have a brighter image, but the device itself is more bulky. Separately, it is worth mentioning OLED technology, where each pixel is equipped with its own light source. These are expensive TV models, however, their picture is amazing.
The given technical characteristics and indicators directly answer how comfortable it will be to watch TV. The rest can be estimated empirically, and in many respects - by applied engineering solutions.
Sound
Modern TVs cannot boast of full-fledged speakers with good membrane movement. The power indicated by the manufacturer does not say anything about volume or sound quality. Therefore, it is worth evaluating each model empirically. For example, ask the seller to "play with the remote control." Do wheezing appear at high volume levels, does the model sound clearly at low levels, do basses and trebles reproduce, how reliable is the sound picture.
Another evaluation criterion is the availability of simple connection interfaces. Headphones are still the most common way to watch programs without disturbing others. Therefore, a model that does not offer a standard 3.5 mm jack, to which you can also connect any type of external acoustics, is a bit disabled.
Connection ports
All modern models, without exception, have a cable gland, an HDMI port. The set of the rest should be chosen based on the possible set of signal reproduction equipment. May require SCART, analog audio-video, digital audio, S-Video, D-Sub VGA for computer.
You can give advice: there should be at least two HDMI ports, and preferably three. Then a disc player, computer, device for expanding the functionality or a set-top box for viewing digital TV will be connected to the TV. A USB port is also very useful.
Digital Opportunities
If you do not need a SmartTV, the functionality of which is easily replaced by a small additional device, you can buy a model with extensive digital data sources. Among the many incomprehensible terms, there will be:
- audio and video decoding;
- DNLA technology;
- support for PCMCIA cards.
In short, with such equipment, the TV will be able to:
- through the USB port to work with flash drives, external drives - it is convenient to watch movies;
- DNLA will allow the device to become part of the local network, access computers and receive from there both IPTV broadcasts and movies, content from Internet resources, and so on;
- PCMCIA cards expand functionality. There are add-ons that provide work with unique ports and signal sources, receivers for direct connection of satellite dishes, WiFi adapters.
With just three technologies that are considered almost basic today, the TV can become a low-cost solution that approaches expensive SmartTVs in terms of useful features.
3D or not?
The 3D technology used in TVs is of the passive type. Roughly speaking, the image for each eye is translated into one frame, interlaced. Polarized glasses separate pictures, but the overall brightness of the image drops. To display high-quality three-dimensional video, you need an appropriate signal: special discs or broadcast.
TV manufacturers claim that the built-in programming code can turn any movie into 3D. But in practice this is not the case. If you need exactly 3D, there are appropriate discs or a signal source, then you should pay attention to Samsung products - the brand has its own imaging technology with good contrast and brightness. If the interest is doubtful, it is not worth spending money.
Conclusion
Many marvels of marketing and advertising are easily discarded when considering the usefulness of a particular TV functionality. You can make a SmartTV out of a simple model using an inexpensive set-top box the size of a lighter, a curved screen is only interesting when a matrix larger than 40 inches is used as a monitor at a distance of half a meter from the head. 3D technology looks similar, which requires special content. Therefore, buy a TV, evaluating its performance, you should not buy a ton of unnecessary rubbish just like that, in addition.
So let's buy a TV. Cash and a credit card are loaded into the wallet, one leg is already, as they say, in the trouser leg, the decision to return home with a purchase is harder than a pea. If you are an advanced specialist in modern consumer electronics and have spent a decent amount of time studying reviews and comparisons of various models - well, good luck! Although, it won't hurt you to refresh the key characteristics "on the road".
If your ideas on the criteria for choosing a TV are limited to the epithets "color, flat, more and cheaper" - well, our selection of tips is just for us. Stop for a few minutes, put on the second leg and just read this short text before going to the store - it won’t get any worse anyway, but, you see, something will do.
Issue price
First of all, decide on the amount you are willing to spend on buying a new TV. It is important at the same time to clearly define the purpose for which and what conditions of use the purchase is made. The difference in the choice for a country house, kitchen or living room is determined not only by the diagonal or the order of costs, because additional functionality or an Internet connection will be in demand only where they are in place. Today, however, we are talking about choosing a serious model for the whole family.
In any case, having decided on the maximum amount of the proposed purchase, add at least 20% more to it. Why? To be prepared for various surprises, pleasant and not so. For example, in order not to miss an unexpectedly profitable offer from the store, when, along with a planned TV, for which you will have to overpay - well, maybe just a little, some nice “appendage” in the form of a Blu-ray player or external acoustics will get almost free of charge.
Or, as in that immortal comedy, there is almost the same model, but "with mother-of-pearl buttons", that is, a similar TV of the same price category, but with additional functionality and, of course, a slightly higher price, to be missed due to lack of share money will be just stupid.
Finally, do not forget that purchases made during the "high season" of rush demand, that is, on the eve of Christmas and New Year, will certainly come out a little more expensive than usual. You come to the store, and there they kindly assure you of a discount, made, however, on a previously raised price. You can, of course, wait it out, but ... then there will be no holiday! That is how we live.
Diagonal and screen resolution
Why can the price of two superficially similar TVs with the same diagonal differ by two or even three times? Why is it not worth buying a practically free TV with a huge diagonal, which, as a rule, is tempting at the very entrance to a large retail chain?
The reason is prosaically simple: because the electronics of previous generations also need to be sold somehow. For example, manufacturers are constantly putting into operation new factories for the production of the most modern LCD panels, but this does not mean at all that old factories automatically go under the bulldozer: as a rule, obsolete displays are used to equip various information boards, kiosks, or even just are sold to companies of the second or third echelon, which produce inexpensive models based on them, perhaps somewhat obsolete.
Such TVs also have the right to life and to their buyer, but the main thing here is not to go to extremes. If you are choosing a really modern TV on which you plan to watch high-quality programs and movies, the first thing you should pay attention to is the screen resolution. Recall: Full HD (or HD Ready 1080p) class screens, sometimes also called HDTV (High Definition TV), out of habit, have a resolution of 1920 horizontal dots by 1080 vertical dots (lines) (sometimes even 1920 x 1200). These TVs support 1080i interlaced signal and 1080p progressive (progressive) signal without intermediate transcoding.
A TV labeled HD Ready, or HD 720, will most likely work fine with 1080i and 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) signals, but it will have to play a progressive 1080p HD signal already with interpolation.
However, the same insanely-cheap-tv-at-the-entrance", most likely, has an even lower real resolution. Take a closer look at the specifications: the screen resolution may well be 1440 x 900 pixels, 1366 x 768 pixels, 1280 x 720 pixels and similar variations. Moreover: it may turn out that this is a very old plasma with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.Unlike modern screens, the "dots" of which can be seen very close, on obsolete screens they are visible from afar, as they say, with the naked eye - sort of rather rather big squares, of which the image is composed.
Do you need such quality, albeit for quite ridiculous money? Of course, it is up to you to decide, but it would not be out of place to warn that the TV tuner on such a TV will most likely turn out to be only analog, as well as video inputs, and you can immediately forget about modern online interactive features.
Also, do not discount the fact that now the TV is quite often used as a large external display for a computer, player, game console. In a word, remember the quality and pity your eyes.
Thus, we figured out not only the issue of screen resolution, but also with its diagonal. Of course, no one will refuse a huge home screen, which to some extent can partially replace going to the cinema. But the final and only correct answer for you to the question "which is better - a mediocre 60-inch diagonal, or an excellent 50-inch diagonal for the same money?" only you can give.
Plasma or LCD? What about LED and OLED?
Despite the victorious march of liquid crystal (LCD) technologies, do not underestimate the possibilities of modern high-quality plasma. Its undoubted traditional virtues, such as excellent sharpness and contrast, deep blacks, incredibly high response time and smooth reproduction of moving objects, have not gone away. At the same time, engineers managed to work hard on the traditional disadvantages of technology - high weight and power consumption, as a result of which modern plasma panels have significantly "lost" and become considerably lighter. Of course, they can no longer catch up with the best examples of current LCD panels by any of these criteria, nevertheless ...
The parameter for which plasma has always been scolded is its tendency to "burn out" over time (in fact, the phosphor in plasma cells burns out), as well as for the side effect of this phenomenon - faster "burning out" of those cells that are most often illuminated (for example, in situ logos of constantly watched TV channels). And here we must pay tribute to the engineers who have significantly improved the "survivability" of plasma panels in recent years. So, for the latest samples produced by Panasonic and Samsung in 2010-2012, the resource of plasma panels reached 100,000 hours, which is several times higher than that of previous generations.
Unlike plasma panels, where light is emitted by an ionized phosphor, LCD panels themselves do not emit light. Liquid crystals only open or close color filters, which, in turn, are illuminated by some kind of light source.
So, the name "LED-TV", that is, LED TV (LED - Light Emitting Diode), in fact, is a marketing slyness. "LED" in this case does not mean LED pixel dots at all, in fact, it is a new type of liquid crystal backlighting with white LEDs, which has replaced the traditional backlight fluorescent lamps (CCFL). However, the progress that has been made in the LED TV industry is enormous.
First of all, it was possible to get rid of the dangerous mercury and lead contained in fluorescent lamps. Also, the life of the backlight has been significantly increased, while the power consumption and heating of the TV has been drastically reduced. But the main thing is that thanks to the LEDs, it was possible to significantly increase the contrast, black depth and backlight uniformity over the entire area of the LCD matrix. In this quick TV selection guide, we won't go into detailed descriptions of the types of LED backlights, but only note that the best examples use intelligent dynamic backlight switching technologies for different sections of the LCD panel depending on the nature of the displayed image, so that dynamic contrast such TVs achieves simply incredible performance.
By the way, all these inscriptions on packages and advertising booklets about 480 Hz, 600 Hz and even 1200 Hz backlight scanning system are only partly an advertising ploy, in the best models the usual 50 Hz/60 Hz TV picture is really analyzed by the TV processor , then intermediate frames are created, and with the help of a scanning backlight that alternately turns on different parts of the screen, the image is clearer and less flickering.
What you definitely won't expect in this brief review is a detailed description of the difference between TN-type and IPS-type LCD matrices. If you want more details, read the relevant articles. But if you explain it on your fingers (in a nutshell), TN matrices will be faster, but IPS matrices will have better color gamut (although IPS-Alpha matrices are also so fast due to the original switching backlight that they are used for active-shutter 3D TVs). Of course, TVs on IPS-matrices on average turn out to be somewhat more expensive, although it will not be so easy to notice the difference with the naked and inexperienced eye without special devices.
Stereo 3D: active, passive and without glasses
Be prepared for the fact that choosing a modern TV in the middle or premium price categories, you will receive support for stereo 3D technology, as they say, in the form of a free download. Simply because almost all modern TVs can display a stereo picture without much difficulty. If stereoscopy is critical to your choice, all that remains is to decide on the type of 3D imaging.
Unfortunately, at the present stage of development of technologies for a TV with an adequate price, there is no alternative to the use of glasses, and in the next two or three years it is not expected. What is sold today under the guise of an autostereoscopic TV is insanely expensive, and the observed stereo effect is very, very modest, and you can see for yourself in one of the showrooms of large stores.
There is only one choice - passive polarization technology or active shutter technology. In the first case, the picture on the screen is decomposed for different eyes into alternating horizontal lines, and then, using a special film, they receive different circular polarization, in opposite directions for the right and left eyes, respectively. The disadvantage of this technology is that physically each eye gets only half of the lines, that is, 540 lines in the case of a picture with a resolution of 1080 lines (although LG marketers still insist that the brain still interpolates the picture to full resolution). A huge plus of this technology is extremely cheap glasses with conventional polarizing filters, which are light and do not require any power.
Active-shutter technology, in turn, requires a high refresh rate of at least 120 Hz to show 60 frames per eye, alternating with frames for the other eye, for a total of 120 frames per second. Such a high frequency is necessary to reduce the effect of flicker and ghosting of the picture due to channel interference.
Plasma handles 120 fps effortlessly, most TN matrices do too, and even some IPS displays have been "trained" with switchable backlighting. The point is small: connect active-shutter glasses that could close one or the other eye alternately using the usual LCD technology to view the corresponding picture.
The control signal for the glasses comes from the TV, and in most cases infrared signals are used, such as those operated by the remote control (although Samsung, for example, prefers to use Bluetooth wireless technology for this). Active glasses have a built-in battery that needs to be recharged from time to time, which makes the whole structure somewhat heavier than passive glasses, and the price difference is even more significant from three dollars for passive glasses to hundreds of dollars for active glasses.
That, in fact, is everything you need to know about modern 3D technologies when choosing a TV. It’s up to you to decide which technology to choose, but our advice to you is don’t listen to anyone, it’s better to go and try both methods in practice, and then you’ll see.
Smart TV (Smart TV): do we need it?
A few years ago, when "smart television" technologies were just emerging, it really was not entirely clear why "let" TV on the Internet. It seemed that for these purposes a computer or, in extreme cases, a tablet, the pictures from which are displayed on a large TV screen, are more like, but all the surfing and control functions are still assigned to external devices.
Modern televisions are so adept at their specific intellectual capabilities that, frankly, not a single computer can compete with them. Perhaps you can display the video in full screen, and in an additional window of Twitter or Facebook, or connect Skype in the same way. But in no way will you get access to the TV manufacturer's specialized app store, which offers a huge selection of information, entertainment, children's, educational, educational and other applications.
What's more, there's no other way than through the TV to get into the TV manufacturer's specialist network with a huge selection of great content - mostly free, that you would have to spend an incredible amount of money on.
There is no other way to appreciate all the benefits of intelligent Smart TV technology other than to join them and enjoy them for a while. But you can take my word for it: already at this stage, such large companies as, for example, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, online services and applications represent a certain and quite significant value, which it makes sense to consider when choosing a TV.
About the rest of the wonders of modern smart TVs like voice control, gestures and Apple or Android gadgets, let the clerks in the store tell you, for each model from different manufacturers, a set of such wonders is specific.
Tuner and interfaces
If you, like many modern city dwellers, are already connected to the delights of multi-channel television broadcasting via the Internet (IPTV) and receive a hundred or more channels through a special set-top box, you are unlikely to be interested in the prospect of returning to an external antenna to receive terrestrial channels, whether digital or analog.
But we will still report some minimum information about this. According to the directive of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which includes Russia, the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting should be fully completed in 2015. Without options, because those who have not switched to digital will simply interfere with neighboring countries.
In Russia, the process of transition to digital is going on with varying degrees of success: the already “last” year 2015 has been set as the last frontier, in terms of accelerating the introduction of new broadcasting technology, the government nods to private traders, private traders to the government, and as a result, everything moves with a creak.
For some time, the DVB-T standard was being introduced for terrestrial digital television broadcasting in the country, but during this time the whole world has moved to DVB-T2, so since 2012 we have decided to switch to DVB-T2 without fail. Those who bought broadcasting and receiving equipment of the DVB-T standard turned out to be evil Pinocchio themselves, since, as you know, the sheriff does not care about the problems of the Indians.
Please note: DVB-T2 tuners are equipped with TV sets supplied to Russia only in the model range of 2012, and even then, not all and not all manufacturers. Therefore, if the issue of receiving terrestrial TV is critical for you, you can specify this parameter in stores or when choosing online, the choice of such models is still very limited.
As for the various low-frequency interfaces of the TV, I would like to draw your attention when choosing the number of HDMI ports in the model you are interested in. Perhaps, at first, one HDMI input will be enough for you to connect the same IPTV set-top box, but, as you know, appetite comes with eating: then a game console will appear, followed by a Blu-ray player, a computer, etc. However, most modern TVs have three or four HDMI inputs by default, and some even have an additional HDMI output.
It also does not hurt to have a wireless Wi-Fi interface, or at least a port for its optional connection for the future - a very convenient way to connect all the multimedia content of home electronics and computers to the TV.
Most modern TVs also have a built-in multimedia player, check if the model you have chosen can "perceive" videos and photos from external drives and flash cards, if USB ports and card readers are provided for this purpose.
Buy online or go to the store?
Online offers are usually more tempting in terms of prices, and there is always more choice than in any single "real" store. If you do not have time to run around the street and have absolute confidence in the correctness of your choice, why not - unless during the ordering process do not forget to specify the cost of delivery (no matter how expensive it is for yourself), as well as the availability of all necessary guarantees.
However, do not forget the good old saying "it is better to see once ...". In addition to the fact that going to the store in itself is already an entertaining entertainment, you have a unique opportunity to compare the picture quality of many models in one place and choose what you liked, and not the author of the review or the test program. Personal impressions are perhaps the most important selection criterion, no matter what they say.
It's one thing to see a TV in the picture, and quite another - "live", in work. It can very easily turn out that in reality you will not like the design of the TV itself, the bulkiness of the remote control or some other nuances, not to mention the picture quality.
Finally, who is stopping you from going to the store first, assessing the quality and looking at the price tags, and then ordering what you like online?
On the road
Remember the main thing: no expert opinion can replace your own impressions of the chosen model. So, when choosing a TV taking into account the above parameters, do not forget to properly examine the displayed picture, look through the channels, evaluate the quality in sports, cinema, animation and other scenes. So that later it would not be excruciatingly painful for the wasted funds.
Quartblog understands how to choose a TV for the home, what characteristics are required, and what can be neglected.
Which TV to choose for home
In the modern world, a TV is present in every home. He became practically part of the family. This item is bought every few years. Its wide range is constantly updated with new products. The article contains characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a TV.
The obsolete cathode ray tube and plasma models, which have almost ceased production, have been replaced by televisions with new image transmission technologies.
- LED (abbreviation of the English name of the LED) - liquid crystal, with thin panels. The advantages are a wide selection of models, the possibility of various mounting, lightness, as well as the saturation of the tones of the transmitted image. Low contrast and a small viewing angle are the disadvantages of this option.
- OLED (abbreviated English name for organic light emitting diode). Such products are more expensive, because they have a number of improved indicators: a smaller monitor width compared to LED, high contrast, wide viewing angle. The assortment is mainly made up of large diagonals.
- QLED - quantum dot display. This name belongs to Samsung. Other manufacturers may call the exact same technology differently.
Outwardly, you can hardly distinguish these technologies. And the cost of a TV directly depends on the manufacturer, size, additional functions and a number of technical indicators.
Diagonal
Sizes range from small (19 inches) to large (180 inches). The latter are used as To calculate the ideal monitor format, you need to divide the distance between the TV and the viewer by 4.
For example, a 50-inch diagonal is suitable for a room where the sofa is located 3 meters from the TV. A properly selected model will provide a comfortable and safe viewing of your favorite TV shows and movies.
Image quality
Many characteristics will help to evaluate this property of the screen.
1. Permission. The indicator is measured in pixels per unit area. The larger it is, the better you can see the details of the image. The main and most common formats are HD Ready (1280 * 720 pixels) and Full HD (1920x1080 pixels per inch). You can appreciate the differences in the quality of the resulting picture only on a large screen (over 32 inches). Recently, a new Ultra HD (4K) has entered the market with a resolution of 3840 * 2160. The picture is very clear even on small monitors. But you will have to watch TV programs in mostly ordinary quality, since very little content of this format is now being released.
2. Screen frequency, which determines how many frames per second are shown. Measured in hertz. The image will be blurry and clear at a rate of 100 to 200 Hz.
3. The type of matrix that determines the device of the pixel. Most Popular:
- TN (used in low-cost models, the crystals in the pixels of which are arranged in a spiral, this option is economical in power consumption, does not convey the entire color palette, and the color image depends on the viewing angle);
- VA (the abbreviation stands for vertical alignment, and due to the presence of zones in pixels outlined by low tubercles on the filters, the output is a clear, bright picture that does not change from the viewing angle);
- IPS (stands for flat off, in which case the control electrode is on one side, which is why the pluses are a wide viewing angle and color saturation, and the minuses include high price, reduced contrast, pronounced grid between pixels).
4. The response time is responsible for the quality playback of fast scenes. At a value below 8 milliseconds, the edges of the object may be fuzzy.
Screen and viewing angle
Models with a flat and curved screen are available. The latter allows the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the action on the monitor. At the same time, he should sit opposite the center of the TV. The larger the viewing angle, the more accurate the images. For comfortable viewing, models with an indicator of 170 degrees and above are suitable.
Smart TV
Smart TVs are made with a built-in browser, so you can immediately access the Internet and download applications, watch movies online and communicate through social networks. Smart TVs work on different platforms, but the most familiar and popular is Android, which is installed in smartphones.
Sound
But since it is impossible to evaluate the model completely in this way, then The next step is to visit the store. where the client will receive additional advice. In addition, expensive purchases via the Internet cause some concerns. The advantage of a brick-and-mortar store lies in the customization and installation services provided. Branded points can provide favorable conditions for the purchase.
Assessing the TV in the trading floor, use the remote so you can see how the sample works. Viewing should not be uncomfortable. If some parameters do not suit you, you should not change them, since the buyer should like the image that has the manufacturer's standard settings. However, by further increasing and decreasing the contrast and brightness indicators, the client will fully recognize the capabilities of the monitor.
The sound can also be assessed by asking the consultant to play your recording. Bass must be low, do not cause rattling even at the highest volume, and be as natural as possible.
In stores, a bad video signal is often fed to the screens. To get acquainted with all the possibilities of the presented sample, it is worth ask to broadcast your recording on the screen. There is also a list of recommended movie scenes for this. It is important to make sure the quality of the TV signal. Often retailers manually adjust the image to show off the product in a favorable color, and low-end manufacturers often decorate the TV with stickers that talk about the presence of many features that are not really there.
Having heard a large amount of information from a consultant, it is difficult for the buyer to concentrate, so you need to purchase the product after a while, weighing all the pros and cons.
It should be noted that the choice of a TV is a matter that requires a lot of effort. It is important to analyze all the factors and not make a purchase in a hurry. If you know exactly the brand of the desired device, then it is more profitable to use the services of a manufacturer. All modern models have similar characteristics, so you just need to compare them in practice.
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In most homes, there is more than one TV. Maybe two, three or more. They are installed in different rooms - in the kitchen, in the living room, in the bedroom or in the nursery. Depending on the place of “registration”, the requirements and selection criteria change. So it turns out that choosing a TV is not so easy.
To choose a TV, you first need to decide on at least the technology by which it will be manufactured. All of them have their pros and cons. But even cons can be used "for the benefit."
Plasma screens
The device of the plasma panel is fundamentally different from all other technologies. Between two glass plates there are cells filled with gas - xenon or neon. Because such TVs are sometimes called gas-discharge. When the current passes, the cells glow, the brightness of the glow depends on the magnitude of the current.
The main advantage of this technology is the high quality of the "picture", which is preserved even in very dynamic moments. Other advantages of this technology look no less impressive:
Very good performance, which contributed to the rapid growth of popularity. But there are also disadvantages:
If you want to choose a TV with a large screen, high-quality image and good color reproduction, pay attention to plasma panels. It is they. Only if you want to, you will have to look for appropriate brackets and the wall must be of good bearing capacity. Drywall or foam concrete will not hold such a mass.
Properties of LCD TVs (LCD)
LCD screens use a digital method of image transmission. They are so named because the cells are filled with liquid crystals, which in an electromagnetic field polarize the light passing through them, changing the degree of their own transparency. To obtain an image, a matrix with liquid crystals is illuminated from behind (with cold cathode lamps), color filters are used to convey shades.
The advantages of LCD TVs are as follows:
- Models of recent years have low power consumption.
- Higher resolution (compared to plasma).
- Ability to play in FullHD format.
- Light weight.
- There are screens of different sizes - both small and large. The image on them has the same quality.
- Good image geometry.
- Low level of electromagnetic radiation as they are powered by low voltage.
- No screen burn-in or see-through.
- The screen does not attract dust.
A similar set of qualities contributed to the rapid spread of televisions with liquid crystal screens. But they also have a number of disadvantages that you should be aware of:
If you want to choose an LCD TV with a good resolution, you will have to shell out a substantial amount. If the requirements for image quality are not so strict, it is quite possible to look at models from the middle price range.
LED technology
The difference between LCD and LED TVs is in the different lamps used to illuminate the matrix. LED TVs use LEDs. They are smaller in size, which allows you to make screens very thin. They are also more durable and consume less electricity. There are two types of LED backlight screens:
Due to the use of LEDs, LCD TVs receive additional advantages:
If you decide to choose a TV with high image quality, take a closer look at LED models. They have, perhaps, only one drawback - the high price. A good quality LED TV costs $600-1000. Compared to conventional LCDs, they cost 40-50% more. However, these are not the most expensive models today, and many opt for LED TVs.
OLED and QLED technology
This technology for the manufacture of televisions appeared already in this century, and they have been mass-produced for only four years. The image is formed by organic LEDs, which themselves emit light and do not require backlighting. In English, they are designated OLED, which gave the name to this type of TV.
Today there are two main technologies for the production of OLED TVs:
