There seems to be a confusion of the term LED TV which had been strongly advertised in the media. Is this a new television technology? Actually it is not. An LED TV is actually the same LCD TV we had known all this years, what is different now is the backlit system ( more explained latter). The LED TV is actually and LCD TV making use of LED (Light Emitting Diode) as the back lit light source.

Now here is the explanation about backlit.

LCD TVs are all backlit due to the fact that LCDs are a transparent type of display technology. This means the technology do not generate their own light like in plasma.

Thus in order for LCD TV to form an image on the flat panel display, its pixels have to be backlit by a separate light source. Some thing like the olden days film projectors. The separate light source that most LCD TVs used is the cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL).

The lights deliver good colors and brightness, and decent contrast, but not great blacks. But TVs utilizing brighter LED backlighting can achieve much better blacks, as well as brighter colors and even greater contrast ratios. Contrast is measured between the darkest lit areas of the screen to the brightest area.

But just in case you thought your selection choice was now made easy, there are a couple of LED options – full matrix LED and edge lit LED TVs. Let’s go through the differences and look at what some of the manufacturers are using as their preferred backlighting choice.

Clarification: Is there really an LED TV?

Actually there is but you will need a very large room like a stadium. A true LED TV is one of those giant screens you usually see at outdoor stadiums, at grand prix events and rock venues. They are large screens made up of thousands of extremely bright LED lights. However the sizes of LEDs are too big to be use in your normal TVs, but they are ideally suited as a light source for backlighting LCD crystals.

How LED technology is used in LCD TVs

Edge lighting

Edge lighting is pretty much as described. In this method, a series of LED backlights are positioned along the outside edges of the screen. From there, the light is dispersed across the screen, which means the LED/LCD TV can be made very thin. And while the results may be better than CCFL screens, the black levels in edge lighting are not as deep and, if you look closely, the edge area of the screen tends to be brighter than the middle viewing area.

Full-array backlighting

To take full advantage of LED lighting, some manufacturers use full-array LED backlighting, where many rows of LEDs are placed behind the entire surface of the screen. Although this makes for a thicker TV panel, the LEDs provide more even, brighter colors and greater contrast.

Manufacturers who are introducing this technology to their TVs include: Samsung, Toshiba, LG and Metz.

Expect to see more improvement to this LED backlit technology. At the moment, most LED backlighting is provided by white LEDs that cost less than the red, green, blue ones. But as popularity and demand increase, and research continues to improve, expect to see RGB LEDs, that provide a much greater color gamut and therefore much richer, denser and varied colors, being incorporated into TVs. Apparently a number of manufacturers including Sony and Sharp have models with RGB LEDs.

Features of LED backlit LCD TVs

* An LED TV achieves deeper blacks as well as emitting brighter images, thereby producing better contrast ratios;
* They are slimmer (especially edge-LED lighting systems);
* They deliver better viewing angles than other LCD TVs;
* LEDs are long-lasting;
* LEDs are more energy efficient than their CCFL counterparts, and better than plasma Tvs and much better than CRTs;
* LEDs don’t use mercury like some other backlighting methods.

I just read that Panasonic is planning to release a new plasma TV series which are going to slimmer and more Earth friendly. Here is the news clip :-

New Panasonic plasma TVs

Launches in North America are slated for this summer. — REUTERS

So deciding which set of technology for your next TV upgrade can be a difficult choice. should you choose LCD or plasma. Well sometime later a decision has to be made. And I summarized a few simple pointer of both technology to help you decide.

< < image from plasmatvscience.org >>

Lets start with LCD TV

This choose is good if you want a thin, lightweight TV that comes in a range of sizes.The common LCD TV screen sizes ranges from 23 to 45 inches. Price wise for 32-inch is $1000 plus to $4000 for a 45-inch LCD TV. The price may have drop so is good to check for the latest price.

Here is what’s good about LCD TV. They are slim and the lightest type of TV. Even for size up to 40-inch-plus screens they are not heavy. High end LCDs have excellent picture quality. Native screen resolution tends to be higher than for a similar-sized plasma set, which allows for finer detail. Antireflective surface makes an LCD TV a good choice for bright settings.

Now to the not so good part,most LCD TVs still haven’t caught up with plasmas for viewing angle, color accuracy, and the ability to display the deepest blacks, although the best LCD sets have made strides on all those fronts. Some sets have difficulty displaying the gradations of subtle shading smoothly.

And off to PLASMA TV

Choose if you want a thin TV with a 42-inch or larger screen.Common screen sizes 42 to 50 inches; more 55- to 65-inch models arriving.The prices 42-inch, $1,500 to $4,000; 50-inch, $2,500 to $5,000.Hence price wise they are cheaper than LCD TV of comparable size.

The good thing about Plasma TVs is the capability of displaying vibrant, accurate colors and can render almost as deep a black as a picture-tube TV. The best are capable of excellent picture quality. There’s no limit to the viewing angle, so you can watch the set from anywhere in a room without quality suffering. Plasma TVs are thin, but relatively heavier compared to an LCD TV.

The problem with Plasma TV is the shiny surface of a the screen can create annoying reflections. And static images displayed for a long period of time–such as video games or stock tickers can cause burn in. However, more models have antireflective coatings and features to minimize burn-in. Plasma TVs tend to display more of the screen-door effect (visible pixel structure) than LCD sets. Some sets have difficulty displaying the gradations of subtle shading smoothly.

Well there you have it, simple tips to help you decide.

Over at ConsumerReports.org there is a good article of the debate between plasma and LCD tvs. It’s a short article which I reproduced below. However for my readers convenient I had summarised the key points between the two system in the table below.

Here is the article in full.

LCD vs. Plasma TVs

Both are better than ever, and the best sets raise the bar for picture quality

The vast majority of consumers are buying LCD and plasma flat panels rather than rear-projection sets or front projectors with separate screens. Neither LCD nor plasma is the clear winner for quality; there are excellent sets of both types in our Ratings of LCD TVs and Ratings of plasma TVs (both available to subscribers).

There are reasons to opt for one over the other, though. With LCDs, you’ll have a wider choice of 1080p sets than with plasmas, and the price premium over a 720p TV is usually smaller. You’ll also have more screen sizes to choose from, including sets smaller than 42 inches-typically the smallest size for a plasma.

LCD TVs are generally a bit brighter than plasma, and their screens are less reflective, so many look better in bright rooms. They’re also better for playing video games and for use as a computer monitor because they’re not subject to burn-in from fixed images displayed for a long period, as plasma TVs can be. (Burn-in might have been more of a problem with early plasma sets. We’ve seen no evidence of permanent image retention in our short-term tests, and recent anecdotal evidence from our own staffers and online forum participants hasn’t turned up any burn-in issues in typical long-term use at home.) LCD sets use less power, but the differences aren’t that great.

On the other hand, plasma TVs generally cost a bit less than LCD sets of comparable size and quality, though the price difference is shrinking. The best plasma TVs are better than LCD sets at displaying deep blacks and tend to have better contrast, which makes for rich, natural-looking images, especially in dim lighting. They’re also better than LCDs at handling motion without blurring the image, though some new 120Hz LCDs are showing improvement in that area. (See: When either type is fine)

Another major advantage: Plasma TVs have a virtually unlimited viewing angle, so the picture quality doesn’t deteriorate when you watch the screen from off-center. With most LCD sets (and rear-projection TVs), the picture loses some contrast, color, or brightness as you angle away from the center. You might not notice this too much with bright images and vivid colors like you’ll see in a football game, but the degradation in quality can be obvious with other programs.

Source : ConsumerReports.org - Plasma vs LCD tvs

Following my post on Why buy a Plasma TV? , here is the next series on Why buy an LCD TV?

A good reason to buy an LCD TV is when you have a very bright room. LCDs are generally brighter than plasma TVs, and their screens are less reflective. This makes them better for daytime or in rooms with bright lightings.

Some plasma TVs can look a bit dim in bright lighting when set to the normal or standard mode, which is generally recommend for home use. You can switch to the vivid mode or raise the brightness control to compensate, but the picture quality might suffer.

Another problem with most plasmas is that the glass screens are subject to reflections and glare. If you have the lights on while watching dark scenes, you might see your own reflections on a plasma set.

Another good reason for buying an LCDs is that they can be used for video games and a PC monitor. Although both types of flat panels can do the job, for an LCD, there is no problem of static images will burn in.

However with a plasma TV, burn-in is a concern especially when there are fixed images on screen for a long time. These includes station logos, news tickers, even the bars alongside standard-def pictures. Many plasma sets have screen-saver features to minimize risk, but burn-in is still possible. Burn in are an issue with early plasma sets but this issue is not a problem in the short term.

With either an LCD or plasma TV, consider a screen with 1080p resolution ( the p stands for progressive scan ) for use with a computer. The higher resolution will let you see more content on screen and with greater clarity and finer details. You will need to connect the set through an HDMI input to see all the finer details of the 1080p resolution.

For lower and savings on electric bills. LCDs tend to use less power than a similar sized plasma TVs. The difference is however may be minimal so this might not be a major factor in your decision. But on the other hand there is an environmental advantage using a less power-hungry TV. And combined with the millions of set world wide, the effect is definitely positive on the environment.

If side by sides comparing which type is better, overall LCD does has an edge over Plasma. However this does not mean plasma does not has it’s merits. Plasma has so far dominate the following over these areas.

1) Excellent contrast and black level displays. Thus far LCD TVs have not been able to address this area well. Hence plasma is best for watching movies and be part of your home theater experience.

< < image from plasmatvscience.org >>

2) Plasma TVs provide a wide viewing angle which means if you are watching the TV at an angle, the pictures do not suffer any drop in quality. However it’s not the same with LCD TV. For LCD TV, the images look the best only when viewed directly in-front but when viewed at an angle, the quality drops.

3) Best bang for your buck for bigger screens. The prices of plasma TVs with bigger screen sizes, like 50 inch and above cost much less than an LCD equivalent. Hence when shopping for a wide and bigger screens that meet your needs and budget, a plasma TV can be just the right candidate.

Well the above are three reasons why is plasma better? There is however one more fact I forgot to add to the list and that is plasma has got no ghosting problems for fast moving pictures as do some LCD TVs. However LCD technologies have seemed to caught up on this part and high end LCDs have minimized this issue.

Here are 3 reasons why a plasma TV can be your choice for a flat TV unit.

The first reason for buying a plasma TV is that you get more screen for your money. Inch for inch, plasma is a better bang for the buck than an LCD TV. Thus with the same budget can get a bigger screen. Most of the 50-inch plasma sets now cost between $1,500 to $2,000 while a 47-inch LCD cost between $2,300 to $2,600 ( Take note that prices were current at point of writing.)

The second reason is to enjoy a movie-theater experience. Generally, a good plasma TV’s has deep black levels and high contrast and great for watching movies and TV programs with dark scenes. The strong contrast, realistic and accurate colours result in rich, natural-looking images. Most LCD sets can’t match plasma sets, especially for the dark scenes. Then in certain LCD sets, the back light causes uneven brightness thus creating cloudy areas that can be distracting in dark scenes.

The third reason in getting a plasma TV is for a wide viewing angle. With a plasma TV, as with the familiar picture-tube set, the images on screen look the same from almost any angle. That’s a big plus if a big crowd is watching the TV in a room.

On the other hand it’s a different story with LCD TVs. Most LCDs look their best only from in front of the screen. As you move off to the side, the picture quality deteriorates, appearing increasingly washed out or dim. Vertical position also matters, for example if you’re sitting on the floor or watching an LCD set that’s mounted to a wall or stand.

To have an idea how the LCD TV will look like when viewing at an angle, asked the salesman to set the TV to normal and standard mode . Then tune to a non sport event and look at it from an angle. You are doing this because most of the time in the show room, the TVs are set at the brightest and in dynamic mode, thus obscuring the viewing angle problem in an LCD TV.

Well there you have it, 3 reasons why you should be buying a Plasma TV.

How LCD and Plasma TV fared?

According to ConsumerReports.org, 2007 a was a great year for both types and it looks set to be the same for 2008. Three words can sum up what it is like. Bigger, Better and Cheaper.

Bigger : More LCD are getting bigger screens and they now range from 46- to 52-inch models. These sizes are now included to ConsumerReports ratings. In plasma TVs, 50 is the new 40. Forty-two-inch screens are still going strong, but 50-inch and even 60-inch screens have become the star attractions in many electronics stores.

Better: The best sets are better than ever with the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U a plasma TV having the best picture of any flat-panel TV ever tested by ConsumerReport. Most new breed of 1080p plasma sets combines full HD that’s with resolution of 1920×1080 and this is the highest currently available. This has the ability to reproduce the finest detail, plus its rich, vibrant colors and deep blacks, lend an almost three-dimensional look to images.

Cheaper : While size and quality are on the rise, prices continue to fall. So this year there is going to be plenty of good deals on plasma and LCD TVs. It’s predicted by DisplaySearch that prices of 42- and 50-inch plasma TVs could be about one-third lower than they were last December. LCD sets with 40-inch and larger screens and that comes with 1080p resolution, could cost about 25 percent less.

In 2007, LCD TVs outsold plasmas by about three to one, this is due in part because they come in more numbers, and start smaller in sizes than plasmas, which start at 42 inches. And the report’s opinion is that if you’re buying a bigger TV, you don’t have to follow the LCD path as in some cases, a plasma display can give you a more satisfying TV-watching experience.

Whichever TV type you ultimately decide on, don’t skimp on screen size as surveys showed that consumers said they would buy a bigger one if given a second go. A 40- to 42-inch screen is a suitable choice for an average-sized room. A 46- to 50-inch or larger TV requires greater distance for viewing to ensure optimal viewing experience.

The picture above is a Sony KDL-46XBR4, a 46-inch LCD TV which is the current top selling LCD TV. The other top selling LCDs are listed below. The listing is for the top selling LC TV for January 2008. Sony and Sharp dominating the top 3 positions with Samsung close behind.

1 Sony KDL-46XBR4

2 Sony KDL-40S3000

3 Sharp LC-46D92U

4 Samsung LN-T4665F

5 Sharp LC-32D43U

6 Samsung LN-T5265F

7 Sony KDL-52XBR4

8 Sony KDL-40XBR4

9 Samsung LN-T4061F

10 Sony KDL-46V3000

Lets look at the price of the 3 brands. Lets compare the three prices of the three bran ie Sony , Smasung an Sharp. The LC TV is a 46-inch one.

• Sony KDL-46XBR4, the price range is $2,297.00 - $3,299.99
• Sharp LC-46D92U it is $3100.00 - $1800.00
• Samsung LN-T4665F is $2400.00 - $1850.00

Looking at the price range, if I am given the choice, I will most likely go for Samsung for the simple reason that it’s cheap and Samsung brand and it’s product quality is as good as the other two. Hence it’s a value buy.

Good news if you are shopping for an LCD or Plasma HDTV during this holiday season. The good news is non other than these TVs are getting cheaper and better too. Hence a great buy for consumers. This news is according to a report by ConsumerReports.org. Such television are getting cheaper and better is because of competition and below is an overview of the report.

If a high-definition TV is on your holiday shopping list, here’s news that could have you smiling all the way to the store: Thanks to continuing price cuts, you’re going to get more TV for the money than you would have last year.

Prices are expected to be about 30 percent lower on average than during the 2006 holiday season, with even steeper drops on some TV types and screen sizes.

Read more : HDTV at any Budget