Tips on Buying the Best LCD TV

Must Use Tips for Purchasing an LCD Television

Tell friends and family you are going to be purchasing a Liquid Crystal Diode television and they may be very impressed. At this point, there is no need to tell them that an LCD TV is currently one of the most common televisions being sold.

LCD televisions now have higher color contrasts and are significantly brighter than conventional TV sets. This means that you can use an LCD TV in rooms with large windows or glass doors. Sunlight and home lighting do not create the usual reflective screen glare.

The flat screen of an LCD TV enables the picture to be seen from virtually anywhere in the room. Unlike conventional televisions with curved screens, anyone the complete picture can be seen by anyone seated even at sharp angles to the front of the screen.

Once available only in smaller screen sizes - 27 inches or less - larger sizes up to 55 inches or larger are now being offered. The orientation of the screens is now similar to that of a movie screen, generally 16 units wide by 9 units high. This is a big difference when you compare it to conventional TV's with a 4:3 ratio. An LCD TV can be purchased with HD features, and you can even use these sets as a monitor.

When trying to decide on the right size of LCD TV, bigger is not always better. Be aware of the size and configuration of the room so that you can get the best television for your needs. Those screens that are 37 inches and less are still the most common ones that are being sold. As the screen size increases, the quality of the color reproduction will decrease slightly. This is usually more apparent in LCD TV models with screens that are larger than 37 inches. Often the colors can appear to be slightly faded.

While sitting too close to the TV will not make you cross-eyed as Mom said it would, certain LCD TV screens are best viewed at certain distances.

Models with screens that are sized 20-27 inches are best viewed from 2.5 - 5 feet away; 32-37 inch displays from 6-8 feet; 42-46 inch displays from 10-14 feet; and 50-inch screens from 12-16 feet.

One critical component for any LCD TV is the light source. The backlight will maintain the proper white color balance on the television. Higher quality backlight bulbs are usually produced by leading brand name manufacturers and these will provide truer colors for the LCD TV over a longer period of time.

The warranty for the backlight bulbs are often shorter than the warranty that is given for the entire unit. The backlight bulbs in some models are replaceable, while other models have this bulb integrated into a base. These relatively modest components can be quite expensive, as in the $200+ range.

This means if the backlight goes after the warranty period has expired, buying a new LCD television may be your best option. It is very important that you ask about the backlight design during your decision-making process.

Question the sales staff about the backlighting system; find out how it's configured and what type of warranty comes with it. Gone are the days when you could buy a television, open the box, set it on the floor (or any flat surface), and plug it in. Now, with the ability to incorporate an LCD TV into a room's decor, options abound when it comes time to install your new toy. You now have the choice of flat, tilt and articulating wall mounts (using swivel arms to move the TV in and out of the way when it's not in use) as well as ceiling mounts, lifts and table stands.

Your LCD TV can be purchased in a conventional retail store or you may prefer to buy it online. Be sure that you comparison shop - check out the prices and features of a number of different TVs before you make your final decision.

Stores try to lure consumers into purchasing extended warranties, but these are usually offered at highly inflated prices. Give this added option careful consideration before you tack on the extra cost.

The advantage of purchasing at a local store is the immediate gratification of having your new LCD TV in your home that same day. However, you can request expedited shipping from an online vendor and your set can be delivered in just a few days.

When making your purchase on line, stay with the reputable sites. You can often get a better price on line, and you might even get free shipping.

Final Tips

LCD sets give the best picture quality if you get a model with a screen size of 27 inches or less.

Determine which size screen will work best for you needs by checking out the floor plan of your rooms and adhering to your budget.

Find out if your LCD set is HD compatible. Ask if the LCD set has a built in ATSC tuner or will come with a pre-packaged ATSC and cable tuner.

Check to see if there are connections on the set that will handle extra speakers if you want to upgrade the sound quality, or add surround sound.

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