Nowadays, the variety of TV sizes, screens and types is tremendous. Buying the right television does not come down just to the size and price. These are important for sure, but there are other factors that are often neglected in the choosing process, but still play a crucial role in getting the TV experience we expect.
If you are facing the dilemma of what TV model should you buy for your place and want to know what to look for in a television, then you are at the right place. We’ve prepared for you a simple but comprehensive buying guide that will help you make an easy and informed choice.
Consider the size and layout of the room
It’s important to pay attention to the size and layout of your room from the start. Think of the best position for your TV relative to the furniture you’ll watch it from. A TV wall mount is a great option to keep in mind. It can save you space, optimise the room’s organisation, and keep the TV safely away from children. It’s best to have the TV mount installation done professionally to get the expected results.
TV screen sizes & viewing angle
Perhaps the most important choice you’re going to make with a new TV is the size of the screen. TV screens are measured diagonally, and they range in size from fewer than 20 inches to more than 100 inches.
The Guidelines from the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommend sitting at a distance where the screen fills up about 30° of the field of vision as a minimum for a great experience.
By increasing the distance from the TV, the density of the details will also increase, creating a better image. This is called angular resolution: the number of pixels per angle. The further away, the higher the angular resolution will be.
Types of TV
The type of screen technology determines the colour richness, black purity, brightness, contrast, and detail you see on the TV. These days there are two main principles of TV screen technology – LED and Plasma. The former uses tiny diodes that act as pixels to form the bigger picture. The latter uses thousands of gas-filled cells that change colours under the effect of electricity running through them.
Plasma
Plasma TVs have excellent colour quality and a high contrast ratio. It’s easier for multiple people to gather around the screen and still see a clear, cinematic picture without colour distortion. Ambient light can be a problem for plasma TVs as the colours are not so bright and the screen is made of glass. However, they provide a better viewing experience in dark rooms because the blacks are darker than, for example, LCD. This is because plasma TV displays are locally lit and require no backlight.
Pros:
- Good contrast ratio because of the deep black.
- Wide viewing angle
- High refresh rate and faster response time mean rapid motions will look smoother.
- Less expensive than other technologies.
Cons:
- Uses more electricity
- Interferes with radio frequencies
- Heavier and generally bulkier
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display TVs are widespread and low cost. They’re energy-efficient and have good, bright colours. However, because of this, they don’t have deep black colour. Practical and good for simple use, but they have limited viewing angles. Colour distortions are expected when viewed from the side.
Pros:
- Light and thin
- High refresh rate
- Little to no screen flicker
- Can be easily connected with an HDMI cable and will always display correctly because no conversion to analog is required.
Cons:
- Uneven backlighting, especially in older models.
- Black levels are in the grey zone because the crystals can’t completely block the backlighting.
- Only one native resolution, which can cause problems if the input is in a different resolution.
- Dead or stuck pixels may occur after some time. Dead pixels always remain black, stuck ones are always lit.
- Operating in a hot environment may cause a loss of contrast.
LED-backlit LCD
LED TVs use the same technology as LCD displays, but instead of being lit with cold cathode fluorescent lighting, they use LEDs. This results in better image quality and reduced consumption of electricity. This is due to the dynamic backlight dimming, whereas the backlight in a standard LCD is always on. Simply put, this allows the display to turn the backlight off where it is not needed to provide deeper dark colours.
Pros:
- Better contrast and deeper blacks
- Lifelike colours
- Energy efficient
- Extremely slim and light
Cons:
- The flicker of these displays, especially on low frequency, can cause eye strain and discomfort to some people.
- Less detail in small bright objects on a dark background because of the local dimming technology.
OLED
OLED TVs are a fairly new type of TV and take television realism to another level, giving you the very best picture quality. TVs have no backlight, so you see deep blacks and explosive colour on an OLED screen. An OLED TV has a pencil-thin display and gives you excellent picture quality and rich, vibrant colours. The O in the name stands for organic. These TVs use organic electroluminescent compounds. Hence the name.
Pros:
- Best contrast and colour vibrance all around.
- Most energy efficient
- Highest refresh rate – Best motion smoothness.
Cons:
- Relatively short time span compared to other technologies.
- Blue pixels fade faster than red and green pixels which eventually leads to discolouration.
There are also other more specific types of TVs that are worth mentioning…
Smart TV
Smart TVs connect to the internet and can stream content online. They receive television content over the internet instead of traditional systems. Some connect via Wi-Fi, while others have an internal jack. The devices allow viewers to play videos, movies, TV shows and even photos.
4K ultra HD
4K Ultra HD TV refers to a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels which is four times the 1,920 x 1, 080 pixels of the full HD TV. They are about 8.3 million pixels on the screen. More pixels mean a higher pixel density and a clear, bright image. Small details and textures are looking great for this type of TV.
Curved TV
Some OLED and LED LCD TVs have curved screens that add a modern style to your home and create the iMax cinema experience, but it really depends on your preference. If you’re in two minds, go to your nearest The Good Guys Store to see for yourself.
TV wall mounting brackets
Here are the types of wall mounting brackets available.
Fixed-mount
Fixed mounting is the easiest, lowest-cost type of mount. It places the TVs closer to the wall than the other mounting types. Fixed-mount brackets don’t have angle adjustments, and the TV position is parallel to the wall. This type of mount is great if you’ll be sitting straight against it.
Tilt mount
Tilt mount provides vertical angle adjustment. This is a great solution if the TV needs to be positioned higher than the optimal viewing angle. The adjustment can also reduce screen reflections from windows or lamps. The tilt mount brackets place the TV further from the wall.
Full-motion mount
The full-motion mount allows the tv to be angled horizontally and vertically to provide the best viewing point. It’s great for rooms with more than one viewing places [focal points].
Ceiling mount
Ceiling mounting is a great choice if there is no free room and floor space or if the material from the wall is not allowing to attach brackets. This type of mounting is also easily adjustable and allows the TV to be watched from different angles.
Mantel mount
Mantel mount or pull-down mount lets you easily pull the TV up and down over the mantel and put it on the height of your eyes when you want to watch. This is a great decision for a TV placed above a fireplace.
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