Thread: Useful Tips on Buying High-Definition Television

This is an age of technology. The age has seen so many gadgets replacing the older versions of the things – TVs being replaced by flat LCDs and HDTVs, telephone being replaced by mobile phones, camera by digital cameras and alike. The American broadcasters are taking a step which will make the old analog TV a history and the HDTV will become its future.

From February onwards major broadcasters will only broadcast digital signals instead of analog system which would mean you have to connect the HDTV to your cable or satellite antenna to catch the programs. The first thing that you need to consider while you looking for HDTV is that whether you need plasma or LCD TV to get the best picture quality.

Usually the plasma HDTV is considered better than the LCD TV because the screen provides better picture quality. But the plasma TV has one drawback which makes it only a limited buy. The screen of plasma TV is very much vulnerable to sunlight and can get damaged easily. There are many sources where that have been proved. Therefore the best option that lies in your hand is to get the LCD HSTV. The HDTV is the best considered TV for your home. The quality of the LCD is not that lower than Plasma TV and can provide the same quality of image and effects like the PLASM HDTV.

The next thing to consider while buying an HDTV is to consider the price of high definition televisions. Decide your budget and let the internet search the best LCD TV in the price range. Moreover the price factor increases with the increase of size of the screen and features of the LCD. The 32 inches LCD is often considered the best in the market. There are brands like Sony, Philips, Samsung and alike which are considered the best HDTV manufacturers in the market.

I got one LG SCARLET LH70YR 32 few days back,its picture quality is awesome,and you get lot of feature for money than other brands.

One really important thing you have missed out is the Difference between Full HD and HD ready TVs. Lets face it, most of us will not watch much bluray content at least for the next 1 year. We would still be using DVD rips etc. Is the price difference between the 2 justified ?

PS: For those who think about making the system future proof, go have a look at a bluray movie on a TV with resolution of 720p against 1080p. Spot the difference. Also, HD TV channels will at best provide 720p (they will probably provide even less).

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

From February onwards major broadcasters will only broadcast digital signals instead of analog system which would mean you have to connect the HDTV to your cable or satellite antenna to catch the programs. The first thing that you need to consider while you looking for HDTV is that whether you need plasma or LCD TV to get the best picture quality.

Let us get one thing clear. Digital TV does not mean HD. And you do not certainly need HDTV (LCD or Plasma) for watching digital TV broadcast. There are four types of video/TV out connector - RF Connector, composite (Yellow-White-Red RCA), component (Y-Cb-Cr having red-green-blue RCA) and finally HDMI. Well there are two more - S-Video and SCART but these are rarely used in India.

Out of the above, component and s-video are pure video only. AND ALL BUT HDMI are analog video. Every STB has analog out and I am yet to see an STB with HDMI out - in India that is.

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

Usually the plasma HDTV is considered better than the LCD TV because the screen provides better picture quality. But the plasma TV has one drawback which makes it only a limited buy. The screen of plasma TV is very much vulnerable to sunlight and can get damaged easily. There are many sources where that have been proved. Therefore the best option that lies in your hand is to get the LCD HSTV. The HDTV is the best considered TV for your home. The quality of the LCD is not that lower than Plasma TV and can provide the same quality of image and effects like the PLASM HDTV.

I have mentioned on another thread - plasma is best for movies but for general viewing LCD is better.

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

The next thing to consider while buying an HDTV is to consider the price of high definition televisions. Decide your budget and let the internet search the best LCD TV in the price range. Moreover the price factor increases with the increase of size of the screen and features of the LCD. The 32 inches LCD is often considered the best in the market. There are brands like Sony, Philips, Samsung and alike which are considered the best HDTV manufacturers in the market.

As rightly pointed out above, you have not considered HD-Ready or True-HD. Unless you are watching true HD content, the full HDTV will not make any difference in viewing. In fact, picture will appear bad. Yes, this is true.

And if you are watching full HD content at a distance of more than 10 feet away on a 40" TV, you may not be able to make much difference on HD-Ready (720p) TV or full HD-TV (1080p).

Originally Posted by just4kix

Let us get one thing clear. Digital TV does not mean HD. .

and they are featuring it like HD..

Component Out can yield resolutions of 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p and 1080i.

Only HDMI can deliver true HD, i.e., 1080p.

Then there is digital audio to be considered. Audio is of the following types:

• Analog stereo
• Dolby Prologic II (analog 4.1 channel)
• Dolby Digital 5.1
• DTS (digital) 5.1
• Dolby Digital EX (6.1)
• DTS ES/DTS Neo 6 (digital 6.1)
• Dolby Prologic IIx (6.1)
• Dolby True HD (digital 7.1)
• DTS HD Master Audio (lossless digital 7.1) - the epitome of audio quality (although Dolby purists may disagree)

Only HDMI can deliver the last two - Dolby True HD and/or DTS HD Master Audio.

^^Thanks for the information...
btw which providers deliver the 1080i resolutions in India??

Originally Posted by mickey

^^Thanks for the information...
btw which providers deliver the 1080i resolutions in India??

none.



@J4k : Minor doubt, can optical SPDIF carry 7.1ch audio or is it restricted to 5.1 only ?

10char...not understood this

it was my first post, added '10char' to avoid min 10 char limit.

Originally Posted by mickey

^^Thanks for the information...
btw which providers deliver the 1080i resolutions in India??

Originally Posted by rajan1311

none.

I believe that Sun DTH HD is transmitting in 1080i but I cannot confirm this.

Originally Posted by rajan1311

@J4k : Minor doubt, can optical SPDIF carry 7.1ch audio or is it restricted to 5.1 only ?

Digital optical, digital coaxial and SPDIF cables can carry sounds upto 7.1 but not the lossless format such as DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby True HD.

----
(edit)
In my previous post (# 6), forgot to mention that Dolby True HD is also a lossless audio format.

One going through this thread can refer this too

Refer: Fact or Fiction? 8 HDTV Myths Demystified

@deepmohan, thanks for the link. Most useful.