LED TV Guide
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Don't you just love the sleek looks and the modern styling? LED displays certainly look fantastic on the wall. Isn't it great that there is a brand new technology to compete with the old favourites, LCD and plasma TVs?
But wait! Hold on just one second....
Just before you dash out and buy an LED screen, there's a bit more to this technology than meets the eye.
Would you be surprised to know that LED TVs may not be quite as revolutionary as you may believe? That's not to say they're not worth considering, but understanding LED screens can be important before you buy.
Let's take a look at the details, and all will be revealed.
What Is an LED TV?
Here's a good one for you: when is an LCD TV not an LCD TV?
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 LG 42LH90 42-Inch 1080p 240Hz LED Backlit LCD HDTV |
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Answer: when it's called an LED TV.
Ok, not the funniest joke on the internet, but one that makes an important point - an LED television is an LCD TV.
An LCD TV has its name because it uses a liquid crystal display - and an 'LED' television uses a liquid crystal display!
We should really say LED TVs are part of the LCD TV family.
A traditional LCD television has a screen made with small pixels filled with liquid crystal - and it also has a backlight in the form of a fluorescent lamp (CCFL) which is used to create the picture.
LED televisions are different because they use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce the light from behind the screen - however, it still has the same liquid crystal screen as any other LCD TV.
Put simply, it is an LCD TV with an LED backlight.
The use of LEDs to create the backlight can result in a number of advantages over the CCFL backlight, such as a better contrast ratio and better colour reproduction.
There are generally two main designs that are used when building TVs with LED backlights:
- Edge-lit LED - the lights are are arranged around the edge of the screen, and the light is spread out across the back from the sides
- Backlit LED - the lights are positioned in blocks directly behind the screen
These differences in design can be important because they have different advantages and disadvantages, and it is useful for you to understand the difference before you buy one of these screens.
For more information on the differences between edge-lit and backlit LED screens, go to the article about understanding the LED HDTV.
LED or LCD TV?
This is where we come to the confusing part.
It is important to be clear that only some manufacturers currently use the term 'LED TV'.
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 Sharp AQUOS LC-46LE700UN 46 inch 1080p LED TV |
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Currently, Samsung, LG, Toshiba and Vizio (amongst others) use this term when advertising their TV models that have LCD screens with LED backlights.
However, Sony continue to use the term LCD TV for all their TV models with LCD screens - no matter which type of backlight they use - CCFL or LED.
Also, some manufacturers appear to use different terms in different parts of the world.
Therefore, the main result of this is that many people are confused by what they are buying - or don't understand exactly what LED televisions are - which is a shame as LED TVs have a lot going for them.
So just be clear when you are researching this area, an LED television is not some new technology that is completely different to the LCD TVs you are used to. It is essentially an upgrade to existing LCD technology in an attempt to improve the performance and size of the LCD screen - and this technology has actually been around for a couple of years.
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 Samsung UN40B7000 40 inch 1080P LED TV |
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You may already own an 'LED TV' if you have bought a new LCD flat screen in the last year or two, it's just that your manufacturer called it an LCD TV!
Flat Screens and Screen Sizes
The LED television has the same benefits of flat screen technology as the traditional LCD and plasma TV.
They are slim, light TVs that you can easily sit on a piece of furniture - or hang on the wall to give yourself more space in your home.
In fact, edge-lit LEDs take the flat panel television to the next stage by being even thinner than ever - and they really do look cool!
Whilst plasma and LCD TVs have generally ranged from 2 to 8 inches thick, the design of an edge-lit TV enables it to be thinner than 2 inches.
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 Sony 46 inch BRAVIA XBR8 LCD HDTV |
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For instance, the Samsung UN46B7100 46 inch 1080p LED HDTV is just 1.2 inches thick.
A thin TV not only looks great, but it could make the TV easier to install in your room.
Don't underestimate how tricky it can be to install a heavy flat screen TV on your wall - and so these thinner and lighter models can save you a problem - and possibly the cost of paying a professional installer to install the TV for you.
The screen sizes of LED TVs start at around 32 inches - like the Sharp AQUOS LC32LE700UN or the Samsung UN32B6000.
The largest screen size goes to about 55 inches - such as the Sony 55 inch BRAVIA XBR8 LCD TV or the LG 55LHX 55 inch 1080p Wireless LCD LED 240Hz HDTV.
 The Technical StuffWhen researching for your new LED TV, there is lots of boring technical information you may not understand. However this technical stuff can help you choose the right TV. Here we look at some common questions: |
 Understanding TV Resolution: Do You Need a 1080p HDTV? |
 1080i vs 1080p vs 720p: Which Is the Best For Your HDTV? |
 Understanding TV Aspect Ratio - 4:3 and Widescreen |
 What Is the Best TV Screen Size and Viewing Distance For Your Room? |
Connection Types
You should find most of the standard video and audio connections that are common on all modern TVs these days.
Therefore you can expect to find HDMI, component, S-Video, SCART (mainly Europe) or composite connections for the video (picture) - plus an antenna/aerial connection if you are using an antenna to receive analog or digital TV transmissions.
There may also be a VGA connection for your computer.
Common LED TV Connections
For audio inputs, you may have stereo analog connections (red and white RCA), or possibly digital audio connections such as optical or coaxial. If there are HDMI and SCART connections, then these are designed to transport audio signals as well as the video - so you may just use these for the audio signals from your devices.
Some TVs will offer audio outputs for connecting to home theater surround sound systems, although that is less common. However, this may be something that you need if you will be wanting to send the audio from the TVs internal digital/analog tuner to your surround sound system.
The really important thing to think about is what connections you actually need.
Buying Guide Tip!
Before you decide on the model of TV that you want to buy, think about these three things - it could save you a problem later!
1. What devices do you need to connect to your TV? - cable box, games console, DVD/Blu-ray player etc
2. What video and audio outputs does each device have?
3. Does your new TV have enough connections (of the right type) to connect everything?
If you are using an AV receiver to connect all your devices as part of a home theater system, then you generally need less connections on the TV as the receiver will take most of the inputs - and you will just send one (maybe two) cables to the TV for the picture.
Go here for more information on AV receivers.
The Cost of LED TVs
Have Your Say!
Do you have a question about HDTVs?
Do you want to share your views and tell the world your opinion?
Then join in the discussion at the HDTV FAQ and forums
You will find that LED televisions are currently more expensive than their LCD (CCFL) counterparts across all screen sizes.
Whilst standard LCDs are an established technology that has been around for many years, the cost of developing and producing the newer LED screens makes them a more expensive option - and they are also being sold as the next 'new thing', which usually puts a bit on the price.
However, there are a number of benefits to the new LED models, so you must decide if they are worth paying the extra money.
Follow the link for details of the advantages of LED television technology.
An important point is to check that a particular model has the features you need - and that you don't end up paying for things you don't want. Most manufacturers have will have several different versions of the same model of TV - but at different prices.
For example, make sure if the TV comes with a built-in TV tuner. A cheaper model may not have one of these, and if you already have a separate tuner or cable box, then you may not need one built-in.
Who Makes the Best LED TV?
As already discussed, it can be difficult to identify the companies that make LED TVs - as they don't all use the term 'LED'!
However, if you are looking to buy one of these screens, then you should be checking out the following LED manufacturers:
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Please note, Sony and Sharp (in some countries) still use the term 'LCD TV' - even if that model has an LED backlight. All of the others are now specifically advertising models as LED TVs if they have LED backlights.
Buying Guide: What To Look For
The main things to think about are:
- What screen size is right for your room?
- What is the quality of the HD picture?
- What is the quality of the SD picture? (only important if you will be using an SD source)
- Does it have the correct input connections for your external devices? (HDMI, optical etc.)
- What do the on-board speakers sound like? (assuming you are not using a surround sound system)
LED TV Guide Summary
LED TVs are the next development in LCD technology.
The use of LED lights at the back of the screen brings a number of benefits over the traditional LCD TV with a CCFL backlight - such as a better colour accuracy, better contrast and thinner screens.
However, this new technology comes at an extra cost, so you have to decide if it worth paying the extra money for the improvements.
For some, the advances in picture quality and thickness are obvious and worth the extra investment - for others, there will be little reason to spend more money while existing technologies like LCD and plasma can still create a superb television.
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