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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As one would expect, the prices of LCD televisions will vary quite a bit depending on the size of the display, the quality of the display, the resolution of the screen, the brand name of the television and a number of other factors. The prices of LCD TVs has come down quite a bit, and the smaller models are generally available for a couple hundred dollars at many discount retailers and electronics stores.

When it comes to the high end of the market, however, the sky is still the limit, and it is possible to purchase a room filling LCD or plasma display that can run to $10,000 or even more.

Most LCD TV shoppers, of course, will fall somewhere in the middle, and most consumer sized TVs, those in the 23″ to 40″ inch range, will have retail prices set from just under $1,000 to just under $3,000. The world of LCD technology is populated by the biggest names in the world of electronics manufacturers, including such names as Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Phillips, Panasonic and Toshiba. Computer maker Dell also makes a line of LCD television displays that have been generating a great deal of excitement with all kinds of technology buffs.

While the prices of these LCD televisions are still quite a bit higher than traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) models, consumers do get a number of important advantages for this extra outlay of cash. Some of the most significant benefits of the new LCD TV technology include:

Perfectly Flat Screens

The curvature built into the display of a traditional CRT television can introduce edge distortion and shadows on the screen. The true flat nature of the LCD screen eliminates this edge distortion and provides a steady and more reliable display.

True Widescreen Performance

Unlike traditional televisions, the LCD television display uses a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9. This aspect ratio is the relationship of the width and height of the screen, and the LCD display will appear much longer than it is high. The 16:9 aspect ratio is used to send HDTV signals, and it is also used in the production of widescreen DVDs and VHS videos. The LCD aspect ratio allows owners of these TVs to watch movies as they were intended to be seen in the theater.

Superior Viewing Angle

Compared to rear projection TVs, LCD television displays provide a 160 degree viewing angle, and they can be viewed at virtually any angle, horizontally or vertically.

Exceptional Color Accuracy

The best LCD displays are capable of producing more than 16 million unique colors, and this incredible depth of color provides for exceptional color quality and superior color accuracy.

Flexibility and Versatility

Many LCD televisions are designed to accept input from a variety of different devices, including computers, DVD players, VCRs, Laser Disc players and of course satellite and cable TV systems. In addition, multisystem LCD displays are designed to work with a variety of different television signals, including PAL, NTSC and SECAM. This allows the same television to be used in a variety of different countries, as the television broadcast standards vary from location to location.

Better Expected Reliability

Tests of LCD and plasma TVs have found that the average life expectancy for such devices are approximately 35,000 hours. That means that if the display was used for four hours a day it should last about 20 years.

In order to better understand these important advantages it is a good idea to understand just how this technology works. The LCD display is made up of a large number of picture elements, known in the industry as pixels. The number of pixels is one of the elements that will determine the overall quality of the picture. The number of pixels used in an LCD display will vary from hundreds of thousands to many millions, and the higher the number of pixels the better and sharper the display of the unit should be.

The aspect ratio of the LCD display is also different from that of the traditional CRT television. While the traditional CRT display uses a 4:3 aspect ratio, the LCD display uses a 16:9 aspect ratio. Simply put the aspect ratio is the relationship between the length and height of the TV, and the 16:9 aspect ratio is used to broadcast HDTV signals, as well as being used by manufacturers of widescreen DVDs and VHS tapes. This widescreen aspect ratio allows watchers of LCD displays to experience movies in true movie theatre format.

There are a number of considerations when looking shopping for an LCD display, including the tuner used by the set. The LCD TV should be able to accept inputs from a variety of different tuning sources, including satellite TV boxes, cable TV boxes, DVD players, VCRs and the like. For those living around the world, it is also important to make sure that the LCD TV you choose be capable of accepting not only NTSC video signals, which are the standard in North America and Japan, but also the PAL and SECAM standards used around the world.

Of course it is important to shop for the highest quality LCD TV you can afford, just as it is important to shop for the best price on the highest quality TVs. It is often possible to shave hundreds of dollars off of the retail price of an LCD display simply by shopping around at a wide variety of retailers, both on and off the internet.

In addition, it is important that the accessories and cables you purchase are of the highest quality. The right cables will enhance the value and versatility of the television itself, and it is important to spend a little more and get the highest quality cables to connect your DVD player, VCR, game console, computer or other device to that great looking LCD display.
For information on LCD TVs and PAL LCD TVs 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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