TV technical characteristics such as brightness, contrast, viewing angle, response time and resolution affect the picture quality. You can see the numbers for these indicators in the specifications for the TV.
But in my opinion, no one and nothing will give you such objective information as your eyes and your preferences related to this. I know people who prefer softer transitions to high contrast images. Therefore, choose, relying only on yourself. Below in the article you can read what these TV characteristics mean. And such an indicator as resolution is worth paying closer attention to.
TV response time
This is the time during which a pixel changes its state. Let's say a pixel in this moment black, and when changing the picture it needs to become white. There is some inertia in this process and a trail appears behind fast-moving objects. The faster the TV's response time, the less blurry the picture is. Plasma TVs have a slower response time than LCD TVs, although afterglow is still an issue. 8-10 ms is enough to watch TV shows and movies. If you are going to connect the TV to a computer or game console, you should pay attention to this parameter. However, some modern TVs do not even indicate this parameter. But there is a game mode, which optimizes performance for a comfortable game with many dynamic scenes.
Viewing angle
Viewing angle is the maximum angle to the screen plane at which we see the image without distortion. Distortion can manifest itself as changes in brightness, contrast, and color changes. Less expensive models of LCD TVs can have an angle of 160-170 degrees, the best indicators are 175-178 degrees. For plasma TVs this figure is 175-178 degrees and this is due to their structure. Imagine where you will have the TV and from what angle you will watch it. Simulate this situation in a store, and if everything suits you, forget about this indicator.
TV contrast
This parameter shows how many times one area (pixel) of the TV screen is brighter than another. That is, the difference between the brightest and darkest areas. This will be the static contrast value. The larger this value, the clearer the picture and the more saturated the colors. It is usually written as 1000:1. If the contrast value is low, black colors will appear gray. There is also a dynamic contrast value. It depends on the nature of the image. When displaying bright images, the backlight brightness increases, and when displaying darker scenes, the backlight brightness decreases. To measure dynamic contrast, use the white level at the brightest backlight, and the black level at the minimum. Therefore, large dynamic contrast values are obtained. This value is not as objective as the static contrast value. And it is used more as a marketing ploy.
It is believed that the contrast of plasma TVs is better than LCD. But the advent of LED backlighting (LED TVs) has somewhat changed the situation. In general, the contrast of modern TVs is at a fairly high level. It may differ slightly for different manufacturers of the same technology. Look at the store for images of several TVs and change the settings. And choose the model that appeals to you and your wallet.
TV brightness
Such a parameter as the brightness of a TV still appears in many articles on the Internet as one of the most important indicators. Memories are still fresh when they dimmed the lights when watching TV to improve the picture due to insufficient brightness of the screen. How are things going with this today? Having looked at the specifications for plasma, LCD and LED TVs from leading manufacturers, you will not even find such an indicator. The brightness of all televisions produced today is sufficient for comfortable viewing. Although plasma is inferior to LCD and LED TVs in this regard. In addition, this parameter can be adjusted and it is unlikely that you will watch your TV at the maximum of this value.
TV resolution
This value shows the ratio of the number of horizontal pixels to the number of vertical pixels. For example, 640x480 (in models with a small diagonal) or 1920x1080 (in models with Full HD function). The greater the number of pixels on the screen, the better image quality. But the television signal in Russia today is transmitted with a resolution of 720x576 pixels. Those. Realizing the capabilities of a high-resolution TV is possible only by watching the corresponding video (for this you need a blue-ray player and appropriate discs), several channels satellite television and in computer games Oh. No one knows when television broadcasting in HDTV format will begin in Russia. This format is widely used in Japan and the USA. In Europe there are several channels with such broadcasting. You can read more about the HDTV format in the article about the difference between HD Ready and Full HD TVs. And although television does not currently transmit high-definition signals, I would like to believe that this will happen in the foreseeable future. And if the resolution of the TV you decide to buy allows you to watch HD quality images, it will be nice.
Selecting the diagonal of the LCD TV
When choosing an LCD TV, you should start by determining the size of its diagonal. LCD TVs with a diagonal of 19-20 inches will fit well in the kitchen or children's room; for a bedroom or small living room, a diagonal of 26-37 inches will be optimal, and for a home cinema room, choose a TV with a diagonal of 40 inches or more.
Working resolution: FullHD and HD Ready
One of the important technical characteristics of a TV is matrix resolution. It is indicated by two numbers, the first of which indicates the number of pixels in the width of the screen, and the second in the height. The higher the resolution, the greater the number of pixels, which means the clearer image you will see on the screen.
In the specifications of many modern TV models you can find the terms Full HD or HD Ready. Full HD corresponds to a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and means that your TV screen will have at least 2 million pixels (five times more than in the picture of a regular television signal). This is a high-definition image format that allows you to watch HDTV TV programs and videos from Blu-ray discs. For you, this will mean a clear image with excellent detail rendering.
With a 1366x768 HD Ready TV, you can still receive high definition signals, but your screen will have an average pixel count of about 1 million pixels.
Brightness, contrast and viewing angle
Important indicators of the LCD TV matrix are brightness and contrast. The numbers of these parameters affect the quality of color reproduction and the comfort of watching TV in different lighting conditions. The width of the viewing angles will determine how well you will see the image if you are not in front of the screen, but slightly to the side.
Let's start with brightness. The higher the number indicating this parameter, the more free you will be in choosing options for placing the LCD TV in the room. If you want to place the TV in front of a window or are going to watch it in bright electric light, for example, in the kitchen, choose a brighter model - from 450 to 500 cd/sq.m.
A TV's contrast numbers indicate the difference between white pixels and black pixels. IN technical specifications they are designated by a ratio such as 100:1. this means that the brightest parts of the picture differ from the darkest by a factor of 100. This means that the higher the first number, the more shades you will see on the screen. There is another type of contrast - dynamic contrast. This figure is always higher than the static contrast figures. This is the monitor’s ability to automatically change the brightness of the bright colors and the depth of the dark shades of the image. High level dynamic contrast visually greatly expands the color gamut of the image.
TV is often watched by several people at once. This means that it is usually convenient for them to be located not directly in front of the screen, but throughout the room. At the same time, we should not forget that the greater the viewing angle of the TV, the more contrast the image will be. Models with a viewing angle below 170 degrees are only suitable for single viewing. If you have a large family or like to watch movies with friends, choose a TV with viewing angles of 180 degrees or more.
Pixel response time
An important indicator of an LCD TV is its pixel response time. The smaller it is, the faster the transparency of each pixel will change without loss of quality. The unit of measurement is milliseconds.
Why you need to choose TVs with shorter pixel response times becomes clear when watching dynamic scenes in movies or computer games. With a pixel response time greater than 8 ms, you will notice blurred details, as if a moving object has a trail. For large-diagonal TVs, the recommended pixel response time is 5 ms or lower.
Technology 100, which is used in some TV models, increases the amount of information that is displayed on the screen. The technology allows you to calculate intermediate frames. By adding an intermediate image to each original frame, an increase in image smoothness is achieved.
A TV tuner is a device that decodes the incoming signal and converts it into a “readable” picture. Previously, a tuner was installed in all TVs. Now manufacturers leave the choice up to you - whether you need a tuner and which one. For satellite or cable TV users, a TV tuner is not required. Based on the type of connection, TV tuners are divided into built-in and external. Based on signal type, TV tuners are either analog or digital.
Built-in tuner is the most common type of TV tuner. The main advantage is its invisibility and ease of use. All necessary connectors are available on the back or side of the TV.
External tuners have several advantages. First of all, you can independently choose the manufacturer and types of formats supported by the TV tuner. Secondly, it is possible to upgrade or replace the tuner with a more modern model.
An analog tuner is installed by default on all LCD TVs. It receives the signal from the antenna and decrypts it.
Digital tuners vary in the types of resolutions they support. Most common standard digital television now DVB-T.
LCD TV Interfaces
A TV today is not just a free-standing box with an antenna. This is a real multimedia center for the home, to which players, game consoles, video cameras and digital storage devices are connected. The more interfaces your LCD TV has, the more possibilities for using it open to you.
Almost everyone has analog connectors: S-Video, composite, component and SCART modern TVs. But the signal transmitted with their help is not the best quality. Therefore, if you want to use all the features of your TV, choose models with digital connectors. The DVI output allows you to receive a video signal from a DVD player or computer. And if you want maximum quality, you need an HDMI interface.
The monitor is designed to display information coming from the computer in graphical form. The comfort of working at a computer depends on the size and quality of the monitor.
The most optimal price/quality ratio for today are LG 24MP58D-P and 24MK430H.
Monitor LG 24MP58D-P
There are also similar Samsung models S24F350FHI and S24F356FHI. They are no different in quality from LG, but perhaps some will like their design better.
Monitor Samsung S24F350FHI
But DELL S2318HN and S2318H are already significantly superior to monitors from Korean brands in terms of the quality of electronics, case materials and firmware.
Monitor DELL S2318HN
If you are not pleased with the DELL design, then pay attention to the HP EliteDisplay E232 and E242 monitors, they have the same high quality.
HP EliteDisplay E232 Monitor
2. Monitor manufacturers
The best monitors are made by Dell, NEC and HP, but they are also the most expensive.
Monitors from large European brands Samsung, LG, Philips, BenQ are especially popular, but in the budget segment there are many low-quality models.
You can also consider monitors from well-known Chinese Acer brands, AOC, Viewsonic, which are of average quality across the entire price range, and the Japanese brand Iiyama, which produces both expensive professional and budget monitors.
In any case, carefully read reviews and testimonials, paying special attention to shortcomings (poor image and build quality).
3. Warranty
Modern monitors are not of high quality and often fail. The warranty for a quality monitor should be 24-36 months. The best warranty service in terms of quality and speed is offered by Dell, HP, Samsung and LG.
4. Aspect Ratio
Previously, monitors had screen width-to-height ratios of 4:3 and 5:4, which are closer to a square shape.
There are not many such monitors anymore, but they can still be found on sale. They have a small screen size of 17-19″ and this format is suitable for office or some specific tasks. But in general, such monitors are no longer relevant, and are generally not suitable for watching movies.
Modern monitors are widescreen and have aspect ratios of 16:9 and 16:10.
The most popular format is 16:9 (1920x1080) and it suits most users. The 16:10 ratio makes the screen a little taller, which is more convenient in some programs with big amount horizontal panels (for example, when editing video). But at the same time, the screen resolution should also be a little higher in height (1920x1200).
Some monitors have an ultra-wide 21:9 format.
This is a very specific format that can be used in some types professional activity, where simultaneous work with a large number of windows is necessary, for example, design, video editing or stock quotes. Now this format is also actively moving into the gaming industry and some gamers note greater convenience due to the expanded visibility in games.
5. Screen diagonal
For a widescreen monitor, a 19″ screen diagonal is too small. For office computer It is advisable to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 20″, since it will not be significantly more expensive than a 19″ one, and it will be more convenient to work with. For a home multimedia computer, it is better to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 22-23″. For gaming computer The recommended screen size is 23-27″ depending on personal preferences and financial capabilities. To work with large 3D models or drawings, it is advisable to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 27″ or more.
6. Screen resolution
Screen resolution is the number of dots (pixels) in width and height. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image and the more information that fits on the screen, but the text and other elements become smaller. In principle, problems with small fonts can easily be solved by turning on scaling or increasing fonts in operating system. Please also note that the higher the resolution, the higher the demands placed on the power of the video card in games.
In monitors with screens up to 20″, you can ignore this parameter, since they have the optimal resolution for them.
22″ monitors can have a resolution of 1680×1050 or 1920×1080 (Full HD). Monitors with a resolution of 1680x1050 are cheaper, but videos and games will look worse on them. If you often watch videos, play games or do photo editing, then it is better to take a monitor with a resolution of 1920x1080.
23″ monitors generally have a resolution of 1920×1080, which is the most optimal.
24″ monitors generally have a resolution of 1920×1080 or 1920×1200. 1920x1080 resolution is more popular, 1920x1200 has a higher screen height if you need it.
Monitors 25-27″ and larger can have a resolution of 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 3840×2160 (4K). Monitors with a resolution of 1920x1080 are optimal in terms of price/quality ratio and gaming performance. Higher resolution monitors will provide higher image quality, but will cost several times more and require a more powerful graphics card for gaming.
Ultra-wide screen monitors (21:9) have a resolution of 2560x1080 or 3440x1440 and will require a more powerful graphics card if used for gaming.
7. Matrix type
The matrix is the liquid crystal screen of a monitor. Modern monitors have following types matrices
TN (TN+film) is a cheap matrix with average color rendering quality, clarity and poor viewing angles. Monitors with such a matrix are suitable for ordinary office tasks and are not suitable for watching videos with the whole family, as they have poor viewing angles.
IPS (AH-IPS, e-IPS, P-IPS) – a matrix with high quality color reproduction, clarity and good viewing angles. Monitors with such a matrix are perfect for all tasks - watching videos, games, design work, but they are more expensive.
VA (MVA, WVA) is a compromise option between TN and IPS type matrices, it has high quality color rendering, clarity and good viewing angles, but does not differ much in price from inexpensive IPS matrices. Monitors with such matrices are no longer very relevant, but they can be in demand in design activities, as they are still cheaper than professional IPS matrices.
PLS (AD-PLS) is a more modern, cheaper version of the IPS matrix, which has high color rendering quality, clarity and good viewing angles. In theory, monitors with such matrices should cost less, but they appeared not so long ago and their cost is still higher than their analogues with an IPS matrix.
Since monitors with IPS and PLS matrices are no longer much more expensive than those with TN, I recommend purchasing them for home multimedia computers. However, IPS and TN matrices also come in different qualities. Usually those called simply IPS or TFT IPS are of lower quality.
AH-IPS and AD-PLS matrices have a lower response time (4-6 ms) and are more suitable for dynamic games, but their overall image quality is lower than that of more expensive modifications.
The e-IPS matrix already has significantly higher image quality and is better suited for design tasks. Semi-professional monitors are equipped with such matrices, the best of which are produced by NEC, DELL and HP. Such a monitor will also be an excellent choice for a home multimedia computer, but it is more expensive than analogues on cheaper IPS, AH-IPS and PLS matrices.
The P-IPS matrix is the highest quality, but is installed only in the most expensive professional monitors. Also, some e-IPS and P-IPS monitors are color calibrated at the factory, ensuring perfect color reproduction out of the box without the need for professional tuning.
There are also expensive gaming monitors with high-quality TN matrices with low response times (1-2 ms). They are specially designed for dynamic shooters (Counter-Strike, Battlefield, Overwatch). But due to worse color reproduction and poor viewing angles, they are less suitable for watching videos and working with graphics.
8. Screen covering type
Matrices can have a matte or glossy finish.
Matte screens are more versatile, suitable for all tasks and any external lighting. They look duller but have more natural color rendition. High-quality matrices usually have a matte finish.
Glossy screens look brighter and tend to have clearer, darker tones, but are only suitable for watching videos and gaming in a darkened room. On a glossy matrix you will see reflections of light sources (sun, lamps) and your own, which is quite uncomfortable. Typically, cheap matrices have such a coating in order to smooth out imperfections in image quality.
9. Matrix response time
The matrix response time is the time in milliseconds (ms) during which the crystals can rotate and the pixels change color. The first matrices had a response of 16-32 ms and when working on these monitors, terrible trails were visible behind the mouse cursor and other moving elements on the screen. Watching movies and playing games on such monitors was completely uncomfortable. Modern matrices have a response time of 2-14 ms and problems with loops on the screen practically do not exist anymore.
For an office monitor, in principle, this does not matter of great importance, but it is desirable that the response time does not exceed 8 ms. For home multimedia computers, it is believed that the response time should be about 5 ms, and for gaming computers – 2 ms. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that only low-quality matrices (TN) can have such a low response time. Monitors with IPS, VA, PLS matrices have a response time of 5-14 ms and they provide significantly higher image quality, including movies and games.
Do not buy monitors with a response time that is too low (2 ms), as they will contain low-quality matrices. For a home multimedia or gaming computer, a response time of 8 ms is sufficient. I do not recommend purchasing models with higher response times. An exception may be monitors for designers, which have a matrix response time of 14 ms, but they are less suitable for games.
10. Screen refresh rate
Most monitors have a refresh rate of 60Hz. This is, in principle, enough to ensure flicker-free and smooth images in most tasks, including games.
Monitors that support 3D technology have a frequency of 120 Hz or higher, which is necessary to support this technology.
Gaming monitors can have refresh rates of 140Hz or higher. Due to this, the picture is incredibly clear and does not blur in such dynamic games as online shooters. But this also imposes additional requirements on the computer’s performance so that it can provide the same high frequency frames.
Some gaming monitors support G-Sync frame synchronization technology, which was developed by Nvidia for its video cards and makes frame changes incredibly smooth. But such monitors are much more expensive.
AMD also has its own FreeSync frame synchronization technology for video cards of its own design, and monitors with its support are cheaper.
To support G-Sync or FreeSync, you also need a modern video card that supports the corresponding technology. But many gamers question the usefulness of these technologies in games.
11. Screen brightness
Screen brightness determines the maximum possible level of screen backlight for comfortable work in bright outdoor lighting conditions. This figure can be in the range of 200-400 cd/m2, and if the monitor is not placed under bright sun, then a low brightness will be enough. Of course, if the monitor is large and you will watch videos on it with the whole family during the day with the curtains open, then the brightness of 200-250 cd/m2 may not be enough.
12. Screen contrast
Contrast is responsible for the clarity of the image, especially fonts and small details. There is static and dynamic contrast.
The static contrast ratio of most modern monitors is 1000:1 and this is quite enough for them. Some monitors with more expensive matrices have static contrast ratios from 2000:1 to 5000:1.
Dynamic contrast is determined by different manufacturers according to various criteria and can be calculated in numbers from 10,000:1 to 100,000,000:1. These numbers have nothing to do with reality and I recommend not paying attention to them.
13. Viewing angles
The viewing angles determine whether you or several people at the same time can view the contents of the screen (for example, a movie) from different sides of the monitor without significant distortion. If the screen has small viewing angles, then deviation from it in any direction will lead to a sharp darkening or lightening of the image, which will make viewing uncomfortable. The screen with wide viewing angles looks good from any side, which, for example, allows you to watch videos in a group.
All monitors with high-quality matrices (IPS, VA, PLS) have good viewing angles; those with cheap matrices (TN) have poor viewing angles. You can ignore the values of viewing angles that are given in the monitor's specifications (160-178°), since they have a very distant relation to reality and only confuse you.
14. Screen backlight
Older monitors used fluorescent lamps (LCD) to backlight the screen. All modern monitors use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to backlight the screen. LED lighting is of higher quality, economical and durable.
Some modern monitors support Flicker-Free backlight flicker-free technology, which is designed to reduce eye fatigue and negative effects on vision. But in budget models, due to the low quality of the matrix, this technology does not have a positive effect and many users complain that their eyes still hurt. Therefore, support for this technology is more justified on monitors with the highest quality matrices.
15. Energy consumption
Modern monitors consume only 40-50 W when the screen is on, and 1-3 W when the screen is off. Therefore, when choosing a monitor, you can ignore its power consumption.
The monitor may have the following connectors (click on the picture to enlarge).
1.
Power connector 220 V.
2.
Power connector for monitors with external unit power or speaker power.
3.
VGA (D-SUB) connector for connecting to a computer with an old video card. Not necessary, as an adapter can be used for this.
4,8.
Display Port connectors for connecting to a modern video card. Support a high resolution and a refresh rate of more than 60 Hz (for gaming and 3D monitors). Not required if you have DVI and the monitor does not support frequencies greater than 60 Hz.
5.
The Mini Display Port connector is the same connector in a smaller format, but is optional.
6.
DVI connector for connecting to a computer with a modern video card. Must be if there are no others digital connectors(Display Port, HDMI).
7.
HDMI connector for connecting a computer, laptop, TV tuner and other devices, it is desirable to have such a connector.
9.
A 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting audio to monitors with built-in speakers, external speakers or headphones is not necessary, but in some cases this solution may be convenient.
10.
A USB connector for connecting the USB hub built into the monitor is not available everywhere and is not mandatory.
11.
USB connectors in monitors with USB hub for connecting flash drives, mice, keyboards and other devices are not mandatory, but in some cases it may be convenient.
17. Control buttons
Control buttons are used to adjust brightness, contrast, and other monitor settings.
Typically the monitor is set up once and these keys are rarely used. But if the external lighting conditions are not constant, then the parameters may be adjusted more often. If the control buttons are on the front panel and have symbols, then it will be more convenient to use them. If there are no labels on the side or bottom panel, then it will be difficult to guess which button is which. But in most cases you can get used to it.
Some, mostly more expensive monitors, may have a mini-joystick to navigate to menus. Many users note the convenience of this solution, even if the joystick is located on the back of the monitor.
18. Built-in speakers
Some monitors have built-in speakers. Usually they are quite weak and do not differ in sound quality. This monitor is suitable for the office. For home computer It is advisable to purchase separate speakers.
19. Built-in TV tuner
Some monitors have a built-in TV tuner. Sometimes this can be convenient, since the monitor can also be used as a TV. But keep in mind that such a monitor itself will cost more and must support the required broadcast format in your region. As an alternative and more flexible option, you can buy a monitor with an HDMI connector and a separate inexpensive TV tuner suitable for your region.
20. Built-in webcam
Some monitors have a built-in webcam. This is absolutely not necessary, since you can purchase a separate high-quality webcam for a fairly reasonable price.
21. 3D support
Some monitors are specially adapted to use 3D technology. However, they still require the use of special glasses. I would say that this is all an amateur and the level of development of this technology is still not high enough. Usually it all comes down to watching several films in this format and understanding that in games 3D only interferes and slows down the computer. In addition, this effect can be achieved by regular monitor using special 3D players and a video card driver.
22. Curved screen
Some monitors have curved screen, designed to provide a more complete immersion in the atmosphere of the game. Typically these are models with big screen(27-34″) elongated in width (21:9).
Such monitors are more suitable for those who use the computer mainly for completing various story games. The image on the sides seems to be a little blurry, which, when the monitor is placed close in a darkened room, gives the effect of immersion in the game.
But such monitors are not universal, as they have a number of disadvantages. They are poorly suited for dynamic online shooters (wide and blurry screen), watching videos in a group (worse viewing angles), and working with graphics (image distortion).
In addition, not all games support the 21:9 aspect ratio and will not run on the entire screen, and higher resolutions place very stringent demands on computer performance.
23. Body color and material
As for color, the most versatile monitors are black or black-silver, as they go well with other computer devices, modern household appliances and interiors.
24. Stand design
Most monitors have a standard non-adjustable stand, which is usually sufficient. But if you want more room to adjust the position of the screen, for example, rotating it to watch videos while sitting on the sofa, then pay attention to models with a more functional adjustable stand.
Just having a quality stand is quite nice.
25. Wall mount
Some monitors have a VESA mount, which allows you to mount it on a wall or any other surface using a special bracket that is adjustable in any direction.
Take this into account when choosing if you want to realize your design ideas.
The VESA mount can be sized 75x75 or 100x100 and in most cases allows you to mount the monitor panel to any universal bracket. But some monitors may have design flaws that prevent universal brackets from being used and only require one specific bracket size. Be sure to check these features with the seller and in the reviews.
26. Links
Dell P2717H Monitor
Monitor DELL U2412M
Monitor Dell P2217H
And don't be made a fool.
Almost any large electronics chain store offers a couple hundred TV models. My eyes are wide open, to be honest. In order not to fall for the tricks of marketers and the persuasion of sales consultants, you need to learn to identify all the disadvantages of a particular model a mile away.
The company’s experts helped us understand the theory and test it in practice. TP Vision. Thanks for the detailed and useful information, guys!
We tried to understand the main problems and formulate general recommendations regarding the process of choosing a TV.
Vulnerabilities
Cheap display panelsThe display panels of modern LCD TVs differ not only in diagonal and backlight. Different itself work technology liquid crystals. Moreover, these differences are fundamental.
*clickable
Have you ever wondered why the cost of two TVs with the same diagonal may differ? several times? The use of outdated display panels plays a significant role in this. TN matrices are becoming less common, giving way to VA and IPS technologies. But each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Response timeA little theory.
Response time is the speed at which the LCD cell is able to change the degree of transparency to form an image.
* That is, how quickly the color will change in one pixel.
Measured in milliseconds, the shorter it is, the better the display will be. dynamic scenes. Hollywood invests millions in special effects, so why watch these scenes distorted?
At the same time, each manufacturer considers it his duty measure response time in your own way. For example, GtG (gray to gray), BtW (black to white), BtB or BWB (black to white and back). Single standard no, so this parameter can be compared among TVs of the same brand. The easiest way is to ask to turn on the same action scene on several models and take a closer look. Or torture the seller with what technology the manufacturer uses to measure response time, although they simply do not have such information.
Sellers' tricksSellers must give full And exhaustive information about the product. Bullshit. They should sell it to you. Those who manage to combine these skills meet very rarely.
What is the easiest way to convince a buyer that one TV is better than another? Easily. Raise the contrast and saturation on the desired product. If the manufacturer has not already done so. Feel free to ask to set the standard display mode on the models being compared.
Dumb Smart TVFavorite function of sales consultants. The ability to watch movies online without leaving the couch tempts most Russian-speaking users. And if the applications preinstalled on the TV work more or less tolerably, then the built-in browser, as a rule, is simply disgusting.
Found the right page on the Internet? Ok, first get through the redirects and pop-up banners. Just a couple of clicks? Yes, but this may take a couple of minutes, because few browsers on TV can boast of high speed. If the store's TV is connected to the network, it would be a good idea to try out the Smart TV functions.
Terrible interfaceThe logic for operating the menu is different for each brand of TV. and not always lucky. Duplicate sections, windows within windows, inconvenient navigation - you just can't find anything.
The implementation of the keyboard also raises many questions. Typing text with a couple of buttons on the remote control is a sophisticated punishment, nothing less.
No required connectorsIt seems simple: we take all our devices used with the TV and look at what connectors are needed.
No matter how it is, TV is a purchase long-term, you need to think in advance about what will be connected to it in the future. It would be a good idea to find out the current strength in the USB connectors to know whether higher-capacity hard drives will open.
How to
- Matrix
How not to make a mistake when choosing a matrix? We need to decide for what purpose buy a TV.
Types of matrices. Old TN matrices are quite enough if you use a TV as a monitor. For work and play - just right. It shows dynamic scenes perfectly, and these TVs are among the cheapest on the market. Cons: narrow viewing angle and dull color, which is not suitable for designers and lovers of beautiful cinema.
VA matrices are good at rendering black. The result is a beautiful, contrasting picture, but viewing angles suffer. Although they are wider than in TN matrices. These TVs are suitable for those who like to sit on the couch and play Xbox or PS.
IPS matrices have excellent color reproduction and a huge viewing angle. The most important thing is to watch TV series The whole family can sit wherever is convenient. The main disadvantage is the shallow black color, the picture turns out “flat”.
Permission. It’s not worth participating in the race for permission yet, quite enough 1920x1080 pixels. 4K TVs can certainly deliver breathtaking pictures, but for now... there is practically no such content. Except YouTube. The option remains to buy one for the future, but technological progress does not stand still, and it is not a fact that today’s 4K TV will be relevant in a couple of years.
Scan. You can often see the designations 1080p and 1080i (or 720p and 720i), be careful it's not the same thing. The resolution is the same in both versions, but the scanning type is different.
- At 1080i (interlaced), the image is displayed sequentially, in even and odd lines. As a result, there is a ladder at the boundaries of the object and frame shake, they are trying to smooth it all out using software methods. The frame rate is limited.
- At 1080p (progressive scan), the image is displayed on the screen immediately, the frame rate is higher.
Feel free to choose the second option.
- Backlight type
If the LCD panel is not illuminated, it will not show anything. IN modern models Mostly LED backlighting (LED), old CCFL (on fluorescent lamps) can only be found in the cheapest and thickest TVs.
LED lighting can be edge (Edge LED) or carpet (Direct LED). In the first case The diodes are located on the sides, and the light from them is scattered through the diffuser. This allows you to produce cool and thin TVs, but makes it impossible local control illumination, it turns out uneven.
If the backlight carpet, then the diodes are distributed evenly, covering the entire area of the LCD panel. It becomes possible to locally control groups of LEDs, providing better color rendition. There are no gaps in the backlight, but the TV is a little thicker.
The size difference is not that big. Therefore, it is more logical to give preference to a TV with Direct LED.
- Response
Whatever the color rendering and screen resolution, slow response speed may nullify all the pleasure of watching. According to this criterion, TVs with TN matrices are ahead. But, as mentioned above, the picture suffers. The trade-off between response time and image quality is realized in VA matrices. IPS is left behind, unless it is modern subtypes like e-IPS and s-IPS.
For example, the response time on a 32-inch Philips TV is 2 ms, an impressive result. You can play the console and watch an action movie. Near 20 thousand rubles, at any electronics store.
- White balance
The TV must contribute as less as possible distortions in the original content. Only now, modern manufacturers are not interested in ensuring that their displays meet color standards, but in ensuring that they sell. Therefore, more “rich blues” and “living reds” appear than those of their competitors. That is, the brightness and saturation of some colors programmatically overpriced, temperature changed. In a good way, if manufacturers set up their products correctly, then the TVs displayed on the counter would show similar images.
It is a common belief that Japanese and Korean companies often oversaturate colors and push their brightness up. The image temperature is usually below the reference 6500 K. While European manufacturers (for example, Phillips) are striving for more natural colors and correct white balance. An example is a 50-inch Phillips with a VA matrix. Adequate white balance coupled with low response time and natural colors. Everything you need to watch TV in the living room. Price - almost 45 thousand rubles.
- Smart Smart TV
The main point is availability fast browser and a wide range of applications for consuming online content. Moreover, for comfortable surfing the Internet, support for Flash and HTML5 is required. The interface should be convenient and intuitive. The Wi-Fi module greatly simplifies life for those who are bothered by unnecessary wires. Which, however, is not critical.
Where can I find all this? Alternatively, try it Android TV. There is a convenient store of adapted applications, control from a smartphone is implemented, and the browser is faster. This Android is built into the 55-inch Philips 6500 series. The OS in this TV is a converted 5.1 (Lollipop). But 75 thousand rubles They are not asking for Smart TV. It's just a huge stylish TV with a cool image, Ambilight backlighting and everything you need.
- Optimal screen size
There are no clear criteria for choosing the size of a TV. It's no secret that the further the viewer sits from the screen, the larger the diagonal is needed. It all comes down to personal preference, but the overall picture looks like this:
The viewing angle is also important. This is why TN TVs are not suitable for the living room. If you look from the side, the picture will change color.
- Suitable 3D technology
If the choice fell on 3D TVs, you need to decide on the technology for transmitting stereoscopic images. Two main ones: active and passive. You need glasses everywhere.
With 3D active, the image is fed alternately to each eye at a very high frequency, which is synchronized with the frequency of the TV. This gives many people headaches and eyes. But the picture is displayed in the same resolution, albeit slightly darkened. The glasses have a built-in shutter mechanism that alternately closes the right and left lenses. This requires a power source, which means the glasses will have to be charged from time to time. The TV set usually includes one or two pairs of such glasses, the rest will have to be purchased, and they cost a lot.
In passive 3D, the image is perceived as a whole, the TV simply sends the picture at different angles for the left and right eyes. The glasses are simpler and work without batteries. Their lenses are special filters that only accept images from the right angles. The main thing is not to run into glasses with linear polarization, otherwise you will have to keep your head strictly vertical when viewing. It is better to take a kit that supports circular polarization. It would seem that these are all advantages, but the image quality suffers: the resolution is lower, dynamic scenes are distorted, and the “depth” of the 3D effect is less. A whole bunch of these glasses will be placed in the box with the TV, enough for the whole family. Yes they are for sale cheap, buying more is not a problem.
Many manufacturers produce TVs with one of the above technologies. There are exceptions. For example,
Response time- this is the time it takes for a pixel to change the brightness of the glow up or down. Measured in milliseconds (ms).
For CRT or plasma TVs, the response time is determined by the afterglow time of the phosphor, usually it is about 1 ms.
The response time is most important for LCD TVs due to the principle of their operation. The first generations of LCD matrices had a response time of tens of ms, which (even without taking into account the huge price at that time) made their use in televisions almost impossible. With the improvement of matrix manufacturing technologies and control electronics, the response time has been reduced to a few milliseconds.
Unfortunately, based on the “passport” response time, nothing definite can be said about image quality it is forbidden. There are several reasons for this.
1) there are several methods for measuring response time, and it is not always indicated which one was used;
2) none of these methods gives a complete picture of the real performance of the matrix, because shows either the best or average response time, while the “spikes” in response time that occur in some modes have a negative impact. In particular, switching from white to black or black to white is very fast. At the same time, switching between similar shades gray may take many times longer.
However, overall, everything is more good than bad. Firstly, even for the still few TVs capable of operating at a scanning frequency of 120 Hz (to support shutter 3D glasses), it is enough that the response time does not exceed 1000/120 = 8.33 ms, and this is achieved quite easily today; secondly, reducing the response time below the existing values is simply pointless, because often neurological effects come into play: for example, the “memorization” of an image by the retina for a time of about 10 ms, which is useful for perceiving images on CRT and plasma TVs, but can cause the effect of apparent “slowness” of an LCD TV.
At the same time, “fast” CRT and plasma TVs can flicker very noticeably - periodically changing brightness with the scan frequency. Moreover, if the shortcomings inherent in LCD TVs are noticeable only in dynamic scenes, then flickering (if noticeable) is always visible.
There is only one conclusion that can be drawn - forget about the beautiful numbers on the price tags and carefully look at the screen of the potential purchase. Moreover, if it is a CRT or plasma TV- it’s better to look not directly, but with peripheral vision, because it is better equipped to notice changes, incl. and flickering.