Product review by user

LCD, or liquid crystal display, televisions use a unique form of technology to produce their display, and although early models had a number of technological issues, those issues have largely been overcome, and these days there are excellent quality LCD TVs available from virtually every manufacturer of electronics in the world.

The earliest models of LCD televisions often had problems with “ghosting”, especially when displaying fast action or fast moving imaging, and these early televisions were best viewed straight on or from a slight angle. These early problems have been overcome by advances in technology, and LCD and plasma TVs are making serious inroads on the traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) television market.

The prices of LCD televisions have come down quite a bit as well, even as the technology they use has continued to improve. These days the least expensive, small screen LCD TVs can often be purchased for a couple hundred dollars, while the largest displays sell for several thousand dollars. There are even larger LCD displays on the market, as large as 65″ and even more, that may sell for $10,000 or more. If price is no object it is possible to find an LCD TV for virtually any taste.

The advent of these large screen LCD TVs is another indication of how much the technology has improved in a short period of time. When LCD technology was first being developed, the conventional wisdom was that it would be suitable only for small size televisions, and that the LCD technology would not be able to compete with plasma screens for larger sets. These days, however, ever larger LCD TVs are being developed and introduced, by the likes of Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Phillips and others.

The modern LCD TV is good for much more than watching TV, and the best sets on the market come with a multisystem tuner, which allows the machine to display not only the NTSC format common throughout North America, but the PAL and SECAM signals that are common in other parts of the world. In addition, many LCD TVs include a step down and step up transformer which can automatically use either 110 or 250 volt AC current, as well as universal grounded adapter plugs for added versatility.

In addition, virtually all modern LCD TVs on the market today are capable of displaying the latest HDTV (high definition television) and DTV (digital television) signals, and most can also be used as a computer monitor, by connecting them to a VGA or DVI signal. Those TV shoppers planning to use their new LCD TV as a monitor should be cautious, however, since the quality of the resolution can vary widely between brands and models.

LCD TV Considerations

Those in the market for an LCD TV to replace a traditional CRT TV should be aware of the differences in the technology, and what those differences mean in terms of viewing pleasure and lasting value. LCD televisions based on the PVA and S-PVA LCD panel are able to deliver a very good viewing angle at up to 140 degrees, and they also can provide a good contract ratio for viewing both light scenes and dark ones. The downside of the PVA and S-PVA technology is that they often have problems with “ghosting” when the scene moves between different shades of dark.

Traditional CRT televisions to not have this problem with “ghosting” since the phosphor contained in the CRT is charged by the strike of a beam of electrons, and it emits most of the light in a fast period of time, generally less than 1 millisecond, compared to a refresh period of about 20 milliseconds. For an LCD TV, each pixel emits light of a set intensity for a period of about 20 milliseconds, in addition to the time it takes to switch to the next state, which is typically between 12 and 25 milliseconds.

This response time, also known as the response time, can be shortened by the design of the panel, and by using overdriving technology, but the response time can only be cut down to the length of the refresh period.

Getting the response time equal to the refresh period is generally sufficient for watching films and television programs, but for videos shot at 50 or 60 frames a second there can still be some ghosting issues with some LCD TVs.

Fortunately, there are a number of emerging technologies within the world of the LCD TV, and these technologies promise to eliminate some of the ghosting and other issues that have been encountered by owners of these TVs. The first solution on the horizon is to make the backlight of the LCD panel fire during a period of time that is shorter than the refresh period. The goal is to make this period of time as short as possible, and to time it for when the pixel has already settled to its intended level of brightness. This technique, however, also introduces the problem of flicker that is so familiar to users of CRT computer monitors. This flicker problem occurs because the human eye is able to see flicker at the typical 50 or 60Hz refresh rates used in this technology.

Another emerging response to the problem is to double the refresh rate of the LCD TV, and then to reconstruct the intermediate frames using a variety of motion compensation techniques. This second method is being extensively studied on the new high end televisions currently being designed in Europe.

No matter what type of LCD TV technology you decide to buy, however, it is important to shop around for the best possible price. These days even discount retailers often sell some very good LCD TVs, and of course many electronics stores are virtually replacing their existing stock of CRT TVs with the newest in LCD and plasma screen technology. As with any major purchase, it is vital to shop around for the best deal, and to read the reviews of each model carefully. As with any piece of electronic equipment, the quality of an LCD TV can vary quite widely from model to model and brand to brand.
For more information see: http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You’ll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country’s outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you’ll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you’ll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world’s 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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What is an LCD Display?

LCD is short for liquid crystal display, and while LCD technology has been around for quite some time, it has been only in the last decade or so that the technology became suitable for the high quality flat panel television and computer monitor displays we see today. The most notable feature of displays using LCD technology, of course, is the thinness of the unit, but the power behind that thin design is actually quite extensive.

The display on an LCD panel is comprised of picture elements, or pixels as they are known to computer geeks everywhere. The resolution the flat panel display is capable of is determined partially by how many pixels are contained in the display. A typical LCD panel display can range from hundreds of thousands of pixels to millions of pixels, and the higher the number of pixels the better the resolution will be. LCD televisions come in a number of different shapes and sizes, but they are typically designed to accommodate a 16 to 9 display ratio. This ratio makes them perfect for watching widescreen displays like DVDs, as well as traditional television shows.

What are the Differences between LCD and Traditional TVs?

LCD televisions, flat panel computer monitors and other devices have a number of built in advantages, and it is these advantages that have made them such a hit with technology buyers everywhere. Some of the many advantages of LCD technology include:

*Brighter display - the displays on LCD televisions are brighter than those on a traditional CRT television, due to the special way these displays work. While a traditional CRT television or monitor uses a tube to create the display, the LCT TV uses pixels, providing for a brighter display.

*Flicker free performance - the display of the LCD television or computer monitor will also be free of flicker, since the LCD display will have a constant source of light throughout the entire screen. Once the pixel is turned on it remains on. Contrast this to the design of the CRT television or monitor, which must refresh the screen periodically with a ray of light moving down the monitor or TV.

*Low power consumption - another big advantage of the LCD TV is its superior energy efficiency. LCD televisions will be up to 65% more energy efficient than traditional televisions, helping to protect the environment while saving you money.

*Ultra slim design - it is of course the thin and sleek design that turns heads and gets the attention of buyers. LCD displays can be as thin as 49mm (just over 19 inches), meaning that these TVs can be placed virtually anywhere.

*Wall mountable designs - Many LCD TVs are so thin that they can be hung on the wall as you would hang a picture. It is important of course to purchase a wall mounting bracket that is suitable for holding the weight of the unit.

A Guide to Some LCD TV Terms

If you are in the market for an LCD TV, you will likely hear a number of new, and sometimes confusing, terms bandied about. It is important to understand what these words mean to you, the television technology shopper.

*Aspect Ratio - the aspect ratio of the TV helps to determine its suitability for watching movies and television programming in true widescreen format. While the traditional television has always used a aspect ratio of 4:3, i.e. 4″ wide, 3″ high, the typical LCD television uses an aspect ratio of 16:9, providing a truer widescreen picture perfect for watching DVD and VHS movies, as well as traditional television programming.

*Candela - one of those words you may hear from time to time is candela. Put simply, the candela is a standard unit of brightness, and it is equivalent to the number of candles that would be required to produce the same intensity of light. Therefore a rating such as 450 cd/m2 means that it would take a concentration of 450 candles in a square meter area to produce the same amount of light.

*Contrast Ratio - the contrast ratio is simply the difference in intensity of light between the darkest black and the brightest white on the display. The higher the contrast ratio the sharper and cleaner the picture will be.

*HDTV - high definition television, or HDTV for short, is quickly becoming the standard for television signal technology, and it is important to look for an LCD TV that is HDTV ready.

*Inputs - the TV inputs are important if you plant to connect a DVD player, VCR, game console, computer or other device to the LCD display panel. There are many different types of inputs, and it is important that the TV you choose provide a number of different options for getting signals to the device. A TV with a great many inputs will allow you to connect a number of different devices to the TV, greatly enhancing its versatility and its value.

It is also important to make sure that LCD TV you choose has the proper tuner for playing the TV signal you have coming in to the house. Many plasma screen and LCD TVs will lack a built in tuner, meaning that they will need to pick up that television signal from a cable box, satellite TV box, DirectTV signal or other similar device. It is important to make sure you understand the type of tuner that comes with the TV you are considering, and it is important to purchase all the accessories you will need when buying the TV.

Speaking of accessories, it is important to buy only the highest quality component cabling to connect that LCD display to your DVD player, VCR, Laser Disk player, computer or other device. The highest quality cables will provide the best picture and sound quality, which will further enhance the display of the LCD TV you have chosen.

It is also important, of course, to get the very best price you can on the LCD TV you want. The suggested retail price of the typical LCD TV will vary according to a number of factors, such as the size of the display, the thinness of the display and the quality of the manufacturer. It is important to shop around as much as possible, and to read the reviews of all the models you are considering.

Finally, the ability to play several different television signal formats, such as PAL, NTSC and SECAM, is an important consideration. Different parts of the world use different formats for television signals and video products, and buying one of these multisystem LCD TVs is a good way to make it more versatile and useful while getting the best value for your money.

For more information see: http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You’ll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country’s outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you’ll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you’ll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world’s 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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When the first plasma screen televisions came on the market a number of years ago, they were unaffordable by all but the wealthiest individuals and businesses. As with many other forms of technology, however, the passage of time and the improvements in manufacturing methods have led the prices of plasma televisions to fall a great deal, making these great TVs more affordable to a large part of the marketplace.

There are of course a number of different manufacturers who make excellent quality plasma televisions, and the marketplace for these TVs includes a veritable who’s who of electronics companies, including Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Zenith, Phillips and Sylvania.

And while the prices of these and other plasma televisions have come down quite a bit from their early days on the market, they are still quite a bit more expensive than traditional CRT televisions. The prices of most plasma televisions range from $2,000 to $3,500, but the sale prices many retailers often run can sometimes allow consumers to purchase a good quality plasma TV for as little as $1,500 or even less.

Those in the market for a new plasma TV should begin their shopping with a good idea of what to look for and what to expect from this new technology. Plasma TV technology is quite different from the technology used in traditional CRT televisions, and it is important to understand these differences in order to get the best deal.

It is also important to purchase the highest quality accessories and cabling to go with that new plasma TV. Buying cheap generic cables can ruin the otherwise excellent picture and color quality of even the best plasma TV, so it is important to look for high quality and dependability when shopping for the cables that connect your DVD player, VCR, computer or other input device to the plasma screen.

It is also important for consumers to know that in most cases the plasma TV will not come with its own tuner, and the signal must therefore come from a satellite TV box, cable TV box or similar device. In addition, a number of different accessories, such as DVD players, Laser Disk players and even computers and laptops, can be connected to these large flat screens.

Even though the plasma display TV has only recently come into widespread home use, plasma technology actually has quite a long history, dating back to July of 1964 and research by the University of Illinois.

The screens of these first plasma devices were quite small, and the materials to create them were expensive and hard to come by. The lower cost of these materials in today’s world, coupled with increases in technology, have brought these great TVs into widespread use, and their penetration in the marketplace is likely to grow as the prices continue to fall.

How does plasma technology work?
The secret to plasma TV technology is found in between the two thin panels of mounted glass that make up the screen. These panels are made up of pixels, which are small pockets of compressed gas. Each of these pixels consists of three sub-pixels, which consist of blue, green and red phosphors.

The thing that makes the plasma TV so unique is that each of the sub-pixel is individually controlled using advanced electronics capable of producing more than 16 million unique colors. When the pixel receives an electric current, the gas in the television reacts to form a plasma, which in turn produces light. This light then reacts with the red, green and blue phosphors in order to provide a higher contrast ratio and a better picture. There is considerably less flicker on a plasma screen, due to the fact that all the pixels are emitting light at the same time.

In addition, there is no backlighting or electron beam associated with the plasma TV, and this provides a sharper, brighter and richer picture with a very thin screen. The thinnest and lightest plasma TVs are barely more than three inches thick, and the true flat screen eliminates the fading and distortion at the edges that often accompanies CRT televisions.

These plasma TV displays also provide a much higher screen resolution than CRT televisions, and in addition most sets are capable of displaying a number of different signals, including HDTV (high definition television), DTV (digital television) as well as XGA, VGA and SVGA signals from a computer.

Plasma TVs are also free of the scan lines that plague traditional CRT televisions. The conventional CRT television uses a beam of electrons which scan the picture tube from top to bottom. As the phosphors are lit the image is created. This results in visible scan lines, but plasma TV technology includes built in line doubling, which further improves the quality of the images, particularly when viewing a standard analog signal like broadcast television of VHS tapes.

In addition to the lack of scan lines, plasma displays also have superior color quality and superior depth. The plasma screen is capable of displaying more than 16 million different colors, as well as more realistic colors and more subtle gradations within colors.

Plasma displays also provide a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, providing the best aspect ratio for widescreen DVD movies and for HDTV programming. This wide aspect ratio more closely matches the format of large screen movies, providing for a more enjoyable and realistic viewing experience.

Those viewers who are familiar with the limitations of the rear projection big screen TV will want to know that plasma TVs provide a much more uniform brightness, without the “hot spots” frequently seen in the middle of the screen on rear projection TVs. The plasma display is also free of the corner dark spots that plague rear projection televisions.

And then of course there is the size and slenderness of the plasma TV. It is this thinness that attracts so many buyers, and in fact many plasma televisions are lightweight and thin enough to hang on a wall, as well as thin enough to fit virtually anywhere. This contrast is particularly obvious when one compares a new plasma screen TV to the old rear projection big screen TVs, which could fill an entire room and were very bulky to move from place to place.

There is no doubt that plasma TV technology has a great many benefits over both traditional CRT televisions and rear projection models. In addition, the fact that the prices of plasma televisions have been steadily falling since they first came on the market has made this great new technology more affordable than ever.

For more info. see http://www.planetomni.com

110-220 Volt Electronics - A multisystem TV is a TV capable of receiving and displaying different video systems like PAL, SECAM and NTSC. You’ll be able to operate a multisystem TV in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 voltage source or a 220 voltage source. In some cases, the plug on the television will not fit your country’s outlet, so an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. They can generally be picked up at an electronics store such as http://www.planetomni.com for $1.95. With a multisystem TV, such as a plasma, CRT tube type, LCD or DLP, you’ll likely need a codefree (sometimes called region free) DVD player. These exist in many forms. When used with a PAL-NTSC TV you’ll be able to see the full 625 lines of resolution available in the PAL system and the full 525 lines used in the USA NTSC system. There exists a converting type of DVD player which is codefree in that it can read all of the world’s 6 regions and both standards, PAL and NTSC. 140,000 other products are available here: http://www.planetomni.com Tel. # 800-514-2984

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