By Daniela Sperotto
With the introduction of HDTV (High Definition Television), we are faced with the new craze of upgrading our old TV screens to the new sleek, chic and elegant flat screens. Not to mention it being a must-have for anyone with a home theatre system.
There are three types of flat screens that seem to be occupying the market – DLP, LCD and plasmas, of which LCDs and plasmas seem to be in the most competition.
Mike Sharp, from Bang and Olufsen, suggests deciding on what the TV’s function is to be before embarking on your search for a new one. Each has its own specific features, pros and cons, which are outlined below to help you find your way through the high-definition, audiovisual world of today.
DLP (Digital Light Processing)
DPL is a rear projection TV. It is a combination of tiny mirrors, each projecting one pixel onto the screen. This version may be the cheapest of the three, but it still delivers the highest resolution currently available. This is great for day to day use, but for those who use their TVs for a bit more than just catching up on their nightly sitcoms or news, there may be a few drawbacks to consider:
• Colour and resolution may not be as sharp and blurring may occur.
• Some models come with a cooling fan, which may make a continuous noise.
• Due to it being more mechanised, it is more susceptible to breakage or damage.
LCD (Light Crystal Diode)
LCDs consist of two transparent polarised glass panels, which are “glued” together and hold a liquid crystal gel. Depending on the voltage being passed through the gel, pixels can appear darker or lighter and are transmitted by an external light.
LCDs used to be more commonly used with computers, but now range from your standard 15-inch computer screen up to a 70-inch big screen TV, yet still seem to come under huge scrutiny when compared to plasmas due to:
• Its contrast ratio tends to be lower, thus making blacks and greys fuzzy – this decreases the clarity and crispness of images.
• There is a slower screen response, which creates blurring in fast action scenes or when watching sports. Contradicting this, LCDs still showcase an abundance of good quality features and excellent value for money.
• Viewing is unproblematic in dark or well lit rooms.
• They are immune to burn-in of images.
• Very low generation of heat, minimizing need for a noisy cooling fan.
• They are lightweight and thin so can be set up anywhere.
• Can be used as a computer monitor as well.
Plasma
Built similarly to LCDs, a plasma holds a gas instead of a gel between its panels, illuminated by a florescent light. This makes plasmas much brighter and sharper in contrast to its competitors. Plasmas are considered top of the range, yet you must expect to get what you pay for. Cheaper sets are available but features will not be of “top notch” quality as the more expensive versions, but most contain excellent attention to detail and clarity.
• Range of screen sizes is incredible – it can go from a mere 42-inch growing up to an astronomical 150-inch TV.
• Screens are ultra thin and can be mounted, eliminating clutter altogether.
• Better contrast ratio, making black and greys much deeper, and creating vividly sharper and clearer images.
• There is almost no motion lagging, making action movies and watching sports so realistic.
Yet even with these remarkable features, plasmas generate a large amount of heat and still seem to be susceptible to screen burn-in of static images.
Not only is size a great benefit to the flat screens, but upgrading can take you to another level for viewing pleasure.
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