HDTV - High Definition TeleVision
High Definition TeleVision (HDTV) is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution and better sound system than standard television systems (NTSC, SECAM, PAL). The most obvious difference is HDTV uses a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 as compared to standard TV which uses a aspect ratio of 4:3.
To enjoy HDTV programs, you need to get a HD Ready or Full HD TV set as well as a DTV-T setup box.
How to Choose your Ideal HDTV
Full HD vs HD Ready, 1080p vs 720p?
720i - 1280x720 interlaced
720p - 1280x720 progressive scan
1080i - 1920×1080 interlaced
1080p - 1920×1080 progressive scan
HDTV types
HD Ready - HDTV set capable of accepting HD signals (may not be able to display at full resolution 1920x1080)
Full HD - HDTV set capable of accepting HD signals and able to display full resolution at 1920x1080
720p HDTV - another name for HD Ready HDTV
1080p HDTV - another name for Full HD HDTV
Most of the HDTVs today are able to support 720i/720p/1080i/1080p signals. So the single most important spec that we should be looking for when choosing a HDTV is the screen resolution (pixel resolution).
For HD Ready HDTVs which have screen resolution less than 1920x1080, they are less than ideal. This is because if you feed a 1080i/1080p signal to a HD Ready HDTV, this HDTV will scale down the signal resolution to fit its smaller screen resolution. That is to say, you will lose resolution if you use a HD Ready HDTV to display a 1080i/1080p signal.
For Full HD HDTVs, they have screen resolution of 1920x1080, thus, when a 1080i or 1080p signal is feed to it, it is able to display the picture in its full glory at 1920x1080 with no resolution loss.
So it is not difficult to conclude that if money is not a problem, always go for Full HD 1080p HDTVs with 1920x1080 resolution instead of HD Ready 720p HDTVs which has lesser resolution.
How to Choose a Good HDTV at a Budget
HD Ready vs Full HD, size does matters
As a general guideline, if you are getting a HDTV set which is less than 42 inch, you won't be able to notice the resolution difference between a HD Ready set vs a Full HD set. Thus, you will be able to get almost the same visual enjoyment at a lower budget if you buy a HD Ready HDTV (720p) instead.
For screen size 42 inch or greater, going for a Full HD (1080p) will be a better choice as at such big screen size, the pixel difference will be more visible.
HDTV Guides
Professor Poor's Guide to Buying HDTV - Second Edition
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $14.95
HDTV For Dummies (For Dummies )
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $21.99
The Home Electronics Survival Guide: The Simple Guide to Understanding, Hooking Up and Buying TVs, HDTVs, DVDs, Home Theater, Remote Controls and More!
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $19.95
HDTV Antennas
Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna for Off-Air HDTV Reception
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $60.30
Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Amazon Price: $37.88 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $49.99
Antennas Direct DB4 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna
Amazon Price: $40.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $69.99
GE 24775 Quantum Indoor HDTV Antenna
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $59.99
Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF/HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $24.99
Popular HDTV Brands
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Most Wished For HDTVs at Amazon
Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,799.99
Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,199.99
Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,299.99
Sharp Aquos HDTV
Sharp Aquos LC52D64U 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,699.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,299.99
Sharp Aquos LC46D64U 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,446.46 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,799.99
Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,328.46 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,799.99
Sharp Aquos LC37D64U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,099.99
Sharp Aquos LC26D43U 26" LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $670.81 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $799.99
Samsung HDTV
Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,299.99
Samsung LN32A450 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $629.95 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $799.99
Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,199.99
Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,799.99
Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,699.99
Sony Bravia HDTV
Sony Bravia L-Series KDL-32L4000 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $699.99
Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S4100 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,199.99
Sony Bravia W-Series KDL-52W4100 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,799.99
Sony Bravia XBR-Series KDL-46XBR4 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $3,299.99
Sony Bravia V-Series KDL-40V3000 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,899.99
Panasonic Viera HDTV
Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: $2,197.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,499.99
Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,499.99
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $999.99
Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ85U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,899.99
Panasonic Viera TH-50PX80U 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,399.99
Toshiba Regza HDTV
Toshiba REGZA 42RV530U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,053.86 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,199.99
Toshiba REGZA 37HL67 37-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $779.96 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,499.99
Toshiba REGZA 40RF350U Super Narrow 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,227.33 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,399.99
Toshiba REGZA 42XV540U 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,399.99
Toshiba REGZA 37RV530U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,099.99
Philips HDTV
Philips 42PFL3403D/27 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,049.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,099.99
Philips 42PFL7403D/27 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,429.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,469.99
Philips 47PFL5603D/27 47-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,299.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,499.99
Philips 42PFL5603D/27 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,199.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,249.99
Philips 52PFL5603D 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,950.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $2,199.99
LG HDTV
LG 42LB5D - 42" LCD TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV - gloss black
Amazon Price: (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,599.00
LG 37LG50 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $899.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,099.95
LG 52LB5DF 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,699.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $3,599.99
LG 42LG50 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,399.95
LG 32LG70 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: $1,099.98 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $1,199.95
Pioneer HDTV
Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: $4,027.74 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $5,499.99
Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: $2,497.66 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $3,999.99
Pioneer PDP-6010FD 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: $3,999.99 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $3,999.99
Pioneer PDP-5010FD 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: $3,098.06 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price: $4,999.99
Pioneer KURO PDP-5010FD 50 Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV + Accessory Kit w/ 3 Year TV In-Home Extended Warranty
Amazon Price: $3,399.00 (as of 10/10/2008)
List Price:
Reader Feedback On HDTVs
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Mark56
I have a Samsung 52 inch LCD. Excellent TV. Great lens! Posted June 14, 2008 |
| anilg
You have created a great lens with lots of useful information about HDTV buying. To know about top ways to make money online visit my lens Posted June 11, 2008 |
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beachbum_gabby
I love those HDTV's from Sony and Samsung. Great review. Posted June 05, 2008 |
