If you are not clued-up in the new TV technologies, it can also be overwhelming even when trying to understand, and choose from, all the choices out there. Which happens to be best for what you are seeking for in a TV? LCD, LED or 3D? If only the answer was so simple! Unfortunately you can find many models of each of the above described categories which means a long-winded comparison having many headings and sub-headings is sure to follow, but is that now helpful compared to merely reading the specs (that you really hardly understand) of different products you are interested in? Probably not! So let us try simplifying the comparison of these technologies for those of us who are not technology gurus and purely want some basic, solid advice in our journey in shopping for our ideal TV.
LCD TVs
LCD TVs are television sets that usage Liquid Crystal Monitor technology to produce images. This energy efficient technology makes make use of of liquid-crystal-filled cells which can be placed between two sheets of glass and a fluorescent backlight. The light-weight is shone onto thinner film transistors that allow varying amounts of light to pass through the liquid-crystal-filled cells. The liquid crystals are light-sensitive -- the more light-weight they receive, the darker they become. Images are in that case displayed on your screen in monochrome or color by means of the color filters that receive the light-weight intensity from the liquid crystals.
Pros:
. Thinner, light-weight available in huge sizes.
. Energy efficient.
. Largely introduced and available.
Cons:
. Lower contrast ratio -- less detail in dark areas of picture.
LED TVs
LED TVs are technically a member of the LCD TV family. The display screen on a LED is a liquid crystal display the same since it is on any other LCD TV. The key significant difference between the two lies within the different backlighting techniques which generally may change the image quality characteristics dramatically.
Where LCD TVs consumption numerous form of fluorescent lighting, LED TVs usage Light Emitting Diodes to light-weight the LCD panel. Just as you can find different styles of fluorescent lights in traditional LCD TVs, there you will find also different styles of LED backlighting. In some LED TVs there was a panel of LED lights behind the LCD panel. These LEDs are tri-colored and could be controlled in banks for an effect known as "local dimming". This allows darker areas of the photo to have the backlighting dimmed behind them resulting in better contrast and black levels. Other LED TVs are functionally similar to traditional LCD TVs. In these TVs, the LED lights are surrounding the edge of the panel, allowing for a very slim depth but without the ability to do local dimming.
Pros:
. Thinner, light available in huge sizes.
. Higher contrast ratio -- nice detail in image.
. Tri-colored LEDs make for more realistic colours on screen.
. 'Edge-surrounding' LED TVs use less power in comparison with LCD TVs.
Cons:
. Expensive.
. 'Local-dimming' LED TVs usage more powerin comparison with LCD TVs.
3D TVs
A 3D TV is a television set that employs techniques of 3D presentation. To recognize how we see a 3D photo, we must understand that our eyes are two separate lenses that register two differently-angled images of an object which are sent to the brain, put together and made into one three-dimensional picture in your mind. Making screens display 3D images is determined by an identical mechanism, but is divided into two categories -- Stereoscopic TVs (which require special glasses to see 3D images) and Autostereoscopic TVs (which actually appear 3D without functional accessories).
Stereoscopic TVs require the consumption of either shutter or polarized glasses. Both kinds of glasses have the same main make use of -- they make use of the lenses to show each eye a different image which can be then processed by the brain to form one three-dimensional image in your mind.
Autostereoscopic TVs rely on either lenticular lenses or parallax barrier. Lenticular lenses are tiny cylindrical plastic lenses that are pasted on a transparent sheet, and that is you should stuck in the display exterior of the LCD screen. These lenses magnify the images on your screen and even when looking at the new cylindrical images, each eye sees different 2D images which are combined by the brain to form one 3D photo. Parallax barrier is an excellent grating of liquid crystal placed in front of the screen, having slits in it that correspond to certain columns of pixels of the thinnerfilm transistor screen. These deliberately placed slits direct light from each photo a little bit differently to each eye, again creating a 3D picture on your brain.
Pros:
. High refresh rates make for smooth, rich seeing.
. Autostereoscopic TVs allow the parallax barrier to be turned on/off -- 3D and 2D seeing in one.
Cons:
. Picture seems darker as a consequence of less light-weight reaching eyes because of glasses.
. Glasses are inconvenient and take away the simplicity of viewing TV.
. Autostereoscopic TVs have a viewing 'sweet spot' as well as the picture is going to be distorted if the viewer sways from this specific spot.
. Noted health risks; especially in children, pregnant women as well as the elderly.
So where does this specific leave you, the consumer, in your decision in purchasing a television? This is just a start to the process. There you will find obviously more aspects to consideronce comparing TV technologies such as; functional considerations, response time, refresh rate, longevity and cost of exact types you are interested in. But at least now you could begin in the informed expedition!
Author Resource:
Connie Alexander is article writer with a lot of experience writing about new technology and innovative products. Visit one of her latest site dedicated to LED monitors, especially page about led vs lcd monitors