Ballymena Guardian - Features - A Simple No Nonsense Guide to 3D and LED TVs

Features

A Simple No Nonsense Guide to 3D and LED TVs

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Buying televisions nowadays is no longer a case of looking at a horribly small range, working out which fits best with your decor, handing over the money, plugging it in at home and spending the next four hours tuning it in. Nowadays televisions come in almost as many styles and specifications as there are satellite television channels.

So where to start? You would be forgiven for thinking all that television sales talk is a foreign language, so this LED and 3D TV guide is here to help you keep up with the latest developments. You will be the envy of your friends, able to sound good at dinner parties, say the right things in the shop and most importantly, you can buy the right plasma TV for your home and know you are getting what you really want and need.

All televisions are not alike. Your home is an extension of yourself and the television you choose reflects your personality as much as your decor. The latest technology enables designers to create superb televisions that are super sleek. It doesn't matter if your sofa is shabby chic or stylish suede, your friends and family will sit in awe of the screen they view when you choose an LED or 3D TV all thanks to some wonderful little things called LEDs.

What's the big deal with LED TVs?

LED TV sets are known for their brilliant colour, depth and contrast. Unlike their LCD counterparts, LED TVs are able to produce rich, dark images in addition to bright, balanced pictures. An LED TV allows you to see colours and details that have always been there but were not previously viewed in such clarity and depth by your old TV. The scientific reason for this is that an LED TV does not use cold cathode fluorescent lamps for their picture. These are chunky lights used in the back of the television and are always turned on during viewing. Without these hefty lamps you gain a picture quality that far outrivals other screens by using only the light required of the programme watched and showing bright and dark images in the correct contrast.

Wall-mounted TVs are often the envy of many. An LED TV is an innovative design and sleek styling ensures a slim, wall-mountable TV that looks worthy of the picture quality it produces. Your living space becomes your own with no need for a big storage unit or dedicated TV stand. LED TVs are practical and come in sizes to match your room. For a smaller room the wall mountable option is sensible, while for a larger room an LED TV mounted like a picture frame becomes a personal statement.

Video games come alive with an LED TV. You'll notice more detail thanks to the higher light and colour contrast ratio. You can actually feel part of the game when the clarity and colour entice you into the screen as the manufacturer intended. It is the difference between playing the game and being immersed in the game.

Got an eco conscience? An LED TV can save you up to 40 per cent of the power consumption used by an LCD television. Not having those chunky lamps inside and using LEDs instead translates into lower light requirements and less power consumption. An LED TV is kinder on your electricity bill and gets bigger scores in the energy efficiency ratings than other types of television. Just what is needed as energy prices are continue to increase.

Prices for LED TVs are very reasonable. Nowadays an LED TV will not cost you the Earth. When they first became available on the market, prices were high due to the relatively new introduction of LED technology within the television industry. That technology is now widely available to more manufacturers. An LED TV will not be your cheapest option but what it offers in energy efficiency, practicality, design and viewing experience make it a great value option for your next television purchase.

Now you understand LED TV technology, what's the fuss about 3D?

There is a rise in the popularity of 3D films. Manufacturers have the technology to create bigger television screens without compromising on viewing quality. For the first time discerning home viewers have a realistic new choice. What began in America as a 50s trend is becoming a lifestyle choice for the ultimate viewing experience in your own home. Although the need for a pair of special glasses remains, the quality of picture and technology used has evolved over the decades. 3D, the ultimate in television viewing, has arrived at a living room near you.

Putting it simply, 3D TV technology is three dimensional viewing. This is as a result of clever stereoscopic imagery. The latest digital technology uses a special adapter to separate left and right images. When the special glasses are worn, these images are filtered to the left or right eye as appropriate to create the depth we understand as 3D. No more is 3D like the old blurred films of the 50s. 3D LED TVs have unrivalled colour and contrast qualities combined with digital advances that allow your picture to leap out of your screen and into your living room.

Purchasing a 3D TV is not cheap but if you consider that in 2007 just a handful of 3D films were released at cinemas; in 2009 there were well over 30. The biggest grossing film of all time is the 3D spectacular Avatar and you can now experience that at home. It is not just films being taken to a new dimension. Video games are following in quick pursuit and you can now begin to enjoy both new games and reworked versions of old favourites in stunning 3D quality.

3D TV is not a passive choice. It is an option to be part of what you watch and play. It will not be long before televisions may offer 3D as a standard feature. One thing is certain; 3D is taking off and going global. Purchasing one now keeps you at the head of the game. Whether you choose LED or 3D LED as your next television set, make it personal to you. You don't have to just look at a television, now you can live it.