The 26" AKAI TV I am thinking of buying has a fairly low (800:1) contrast ratio. Other brands have 1000 :1 or 3000:1 plus.Should this be an important factor in my decision as to which brand to purchase?
2007-07-25 18:47:05 · 5 answers · asked by prenfree 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
It is important, but should not be the only criterion.
800:1 is rather low, these are very old panels, so you should get it at a very good price.
3,000:1 is probably dynamic contrast (and rather low).
Any panel with a true contrast of 1,000:1-1,500:1 should be OK. The response should be at least 8 ms.
Try to go to a store and see the TV you want to buy side by side with others. Not the best method, since TV setups are never ideal, but, better than nothing.
2007-07-25 19:59:47 · answer #1 · answered by TV guy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contrast ratio is the difference between your brightest whites and your deepest blacks. Contrast ratio is very important in purchasing a tv.
HOWEVER, the "number" that the manufacturers provide is completely pointless. Every manufacturer judges there contrast in different ways. There is no set standard in judging contrast. Manufacturers realize that this number is very marketable now and do everything they can to make this number seem very high. They have different ways that they can manipulate the number. The easiest way is to turn every brightness setting (brightness, contrast, backlight) number all the way down to judge darks and to turn them all they way up to determine whites. These are shades that you will never see when watching w/ normal settings turned on. In short, a manufacturer could say that there set has a 50,000:1 contrast and there is no standard that says no it isn't.
When purchasing, just look at your sets side by side with bright scenes and dark scenes. The ones w/ best whites and blacks have best contrast, that would be the one to buy.
2007-07-26 11:23:19 · answer #2 · answered by Philip C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES!! you do not want a low contrast ration or you end up with something that you can barely tell the difference in like light orange and orange (example) Contrast ratio is a very big thing to me and a great picture. Try looking around. Sanyo is a good brand as well as olevia. All i can tell ya is to shop around. But akai isnt that good of a brand anyways... dont buy it
2007-07-26 02:13:31 · answer #3 · answered by bigslama912 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In theory there should be a big difference, but I sell TVs every day, and side by side in the store, you can barely see a difference! Sony 1600:1 next to Samsung 8000:1, both look great under well lit area.
So to sum up, if you don't want to spend the big bucks, stick with the lower contrast one. Will do the trick!
All the best.
2007-07-26 05:02:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want your picture to look SMOOTH, then the higher contrast ratios provide that smoothness....
Low contrast ratios create visible STEPS of contrast in the picture...the more steps you have the smoother the brightness changes....
2007-07-26 07:40:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋