Thread: HDTV educational text

I was looking all over the forum and couldn't find any tutorial/text about HDTV's and HD technologies.
This short text is aimed at people with low or none knowledge for HD TV-s.


There are so many mistakes in steps when deciding which Tv to buy, I'll try to clarify as much as i can in this text.

I know that crossing from CRT to plasma or LCD is big deal, and that there is the most important factor, PRICE.

First question would be, what are difference between plasma and lcd.
Well, those are different technologies, plasma technology is based on noble gas which ionizes by power surge and in that was is activating phosphor particles which are placed in thousands of little cells which are reproducing light.
LCd technology is based on cell field with liquid crystal molecules and filters which under power surge will change their orientation and release/not release light from rear source (CCFLs lamp or LED diodes).

I know it maybe sounds scifi, so I'll get to more important facts.



What do you want to watch? SD signal or HD materials? Which comes first, which is more important.
Well, if you'r up to watching mostly SD material than plasma is better choice, because of it's technologies it hides all the flaws of SD signals.
If you'r up for Hd materials, and sometimes SD you will have to choose between plasma or LCD.
How do I choose?
It depends, is your room darker or brighter, are there big windows, where will you put your TV.
Plasmas are weaker in bright condidtions while much better in darker conditions.
There is also a question of viewing distance. How big Tv do you want.
If you'r up for 32"-37" than LCd is your choice since plasmas are manufactured in sizes from 42" and above, except one panasonic plasma 37".
Keep in mind that LCd/LED can't give you great Hd performance since it's weaker on contrast response time, black level etc. All these facts will result in blurry picture when watching faster movies, sports etc.
LCD also cant give 1080 lines of motion resolution, but only about 700, so there is no need for Full HD LCD/LED at this moment.Plasma on the other hand can give all 1080 lines of motion resolution and therefore can give maximum out of 1080p materials.


Plasma has slight advantage over LCD in it's black colour reproduction and with that contrast also.
Plasmas give better colour reproduction since you get colours directly from source, by that I mean that you get directly by luminance from RGB pixels, while on LCD colours are reproduced by
white light filtering which is combination of all colours.
One last thing, do not judge a TV by looking thru the shop window as all those TV's are in SHOP MODE and HIGH on contrast to look all fancy and shiny. Go in there, ask for salesman to play some bluray's on it, to let you see SD performance etc.
Concerning calibration methods;
I will not post that here since it's retarded to write about that, every TV has it's special way of calibrated settings.
On the other hand, if you wish to know recommended settings for specific TV, i'll be glad to post them here or direct you to site that haves them.

Do NOT flame this text as it is "from the head" and aimed at begginers.
It is short because I want it short and understandable and not some 10 page text where you get lost reading.

If there are any, and I mean any questions, newbie or expert I'm here to answer them.
Don't wanna see people dissapointed when they buy a new TV and it doesn't deliver.

Nice text man, thank you for the post, I would like to just add a few bits if at all possible.

One thing that alot of my customer have been caught out on is the new and latest LED technology that Samsung has been promoting. They are not LED screens and they have been taken to court by the trading standards and have now changed their advertising campagn. These screens are NOT LED screens instead they are LED backlit screens with LCD displays. Standard LED displays consist of flourecent backlights that are generally not as vibrant as LED arrays. This is why at the moment the Samsung looks stunning as they are very very bright. However like Cereal says LCD's are generally regarded as slow in refresh rate as the crystals cannot change colour quick enough. The only company currently doing REAL LED screens are Sony. They produce an 11" OLED (organic light emitting diode) screen and it costs roughly £4000.

The second point I would like to make is that instead of asking the dealer to put a bluray on which will look great on most screen, instead as to look at standard freeview. This standard freeview will show you just how good the scaler is in the set and as most people atm currently watch freeview the most it will pretty much make or break a purchase. Alot of customers buy from big retail stores that have been demonstrating bluray "high def" content on the screen and when getting it home being very dissapointed in the picture they get on standard freeview.

Thank you, it's just a little part :)
I agree, Samsung is really on wrong road out there.
I don't know did they lose their court case about false promotion of LED screens?

Good tutorial, i really have no idea about TV's and this article should help when i am trying to buy my new TV. Do you have any recommendations on specific TV's? i am looking for about 40 - 50in, one that will look good on SD, and also have great HD quality. Its going in the basement, no windows and is usually pretty dark when watching movies / TV. Price really isn't that much of a concern.

Yes I do, since you'r going for 40-50" you'r best choice should be plasma TV.
Excepcially since you'r going to watch it in dark surroundings.
Because SD and great Hd are you'r choice I would recommend Panasonic G10 model, I own it myself, it's best Sd performer together with Panasonic X10, but X10 is Hd ready only (720p) while G10 is FUllHD (1080p).
SD quality on G10 can't be topped by any LCD, and HD looks better than on any other LCD since G10 has all 1080 lines of motion resolution.
I won't recommend you panasonics V10 model, or some of Pioneer KURO models since V10 has bad Sd performance while KURO has excellent SD performance and trust me not better HD performance than G10.
Black levels on G10 are great, same like KURO G8 model, and almost exact like V10.
At the end, what will be your viewing distance?
And if you'r going to watch lots of HD materials i recommend 50" model, trust me it's not too big and I watch it from less than 3 meters :)

thanks for the info man, looks like I'm going to be leaning towards the Panasonic g10. The room I'm going to be putting it in is a really big space so the distance from the TV can be changed up.

Than, if you have enough cash go for 50" version, I promise you won't be dissapointed :)
One question though, where do you live? It's rather important because Panasonic divides it's models by regions.
There are different features and differences between Europea models, UK models and US models :)

living in Canada.

I'm actually going out today to buy the TV, going to make some final decisions but based on what you said I'm probably going to be going for the G10. I'm just wondering if you had any ideas for a good sound system. Again cost isn't a concern.