Looking for a new LCD TV?

Question

Hi ! I'm currently looking for a new TV. I would like LCD to save space in our lounge, probably something approx 24-26" screen size.

All the new jargon is baffling - HD, HD Ready, HDMI etc.

I would love some help, tips, advice or someone who can just point me in the right direction to make sure I make the right choice of TV.

Recommendations on particular makes and models are also very welcome !

Thanks !
Andrew

Answer 1

High Definition, or "HD", means the screen can display 720p resolution - that's 720 lines, progressive scanning. (Old-fashioned standard TV is 480i - 480 lines, interlaced scanning.) 720p is the minimum to be called HD. There are two higher resolutions - 1080i and 1080p. These are the highest of high def.

You need an HD tv only if you have an HD source - either an HD cable box or an HD antenna. If you will only ever have a standard source, then you don't need HD. They make LCD tv's that are just standard resolution, too, if that's the case.

"HD Ready" means that the display can show HD images, but it does not contain an HD tuner. In this sense, it is really a monitor, not a "tv set" which is a tuner and display in one device. If you have an HD cable box, then HD Ready will be fine for you. If you just have an antenna, you need a set with a tuner in it.

HDMI is a type of connector delivering sound and picture in one cable. Your cable box or AV receiver, if you have one, may support it. Component cables are really just as good, in the screen size you are looking at. I wouldn't worry too much about whether a set has HDMI or not.

Answer 2

The new jargon is all related to the new High Definition technology. If you're planning on keeping the TV for more than a couple of years, you really need to get one that's HD Ready. There aren't any 26" LCDs with full-HD resolution on the market, but at that size you don't really need it anyway.

An HD Ready TV can display standard TV and DVD media and the HD broadcasts and HD DVD media.

HDMI refers to a connection at the back of the set, where you would be able to plug in other high-definition devices. For instance: some time in the future you might want to buy an HD DVD player, an HDMI input would mean that you could watch with better picture quality than a standard DVD.

I'd be looking at the following:

http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/26ld6600-i602043.html
http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/lt26dr71bj-gt-2-black-glass-stand-i1562.html
http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/le26r74bdx-i739.html

The last two have integrated Freeview (digital tuner), which increases the price slightly. However, if you already have a set-top box, you don't really need that feature (although it is handy if you want to watch one freeview channel while recording another).