How will you sift through the nearly countless options with which you are faced as a consumer, and choose the highest quality product for your money? There are many factors to be considered. This article will summarize them briefly.
What is LCD?
Before you can make an informed choice as to which is the best LCD TV for you, you should know what "LCD" means, and why it is the best choice for you.
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. An LCD screen works on a different principle than older Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screens. A CRT screen produces an image by scanning fluorescent glass with an electron gun, firing electron beams of different colors in patterns determined by the video signal. An LCD screen produces its image using tiny liquid crystal molecules, which are aligned in particular arrangements when exposed to an electric field.
An LCD screen is constructed of multiple layers of glass and polarizing film filters, making it much lighter and more compact than a CRT could ever be. LCD screens are also capable of producing brighter, sharper, crisper, more detailed images than CRT screens.
Why LCD?
Why should you choose to purchase an LCD TV instead of a plasma screen TV? There are several excellent reasons. LCD, and new LED-backed LCD screens, are much more durable and longer-lived than plasma screens. Your LCD TV is likely to last much longer, and continue performing at a higher level of quality, than a plasma screen.
Many consumers use their TV for more than watching their favorite shows or films. If you use your TV to play the latest video games, or hook it up to your computer to use as a monitor, you will also want to go with an LCD over a plasma, as LCD is the accepted standard for computer monitors. LCD and LED LCD screens are much more resistant to screen burn than a plasma.
You should also consider cost. LCD TVs are less expensive to operate than a plasma screen. Depending on the model you decide to buy, your LCD could consume as little as half the power of an equivalent plasma model. If you have balked at going with an LCD screen in the past because of the higher price compared to a plasma, consider the long term and think again.
So, now that you've decided to go with an LCD TV, what should you look for to ensure you get the best 46 inch LCD TV you can?
Light Source Lifespan
The average lifespan of an LCD screen is around 60,000 hours. That means that if you watched TV all day, every day, it would take nearly 7 years for your screen to wear out. People with more typical viewing habits can reasonably expect their LCD screen to last around 20 years.
What won't last 20 years is your LCD screen's light source. LCD screens are back lit with fluorescent bulbs. This light source is essential for proper color and white balance. You may wind up paying less for a cheap off-brand TV, but you'll pay more in the long run when that knock-off LCD's light source burns out years before a name brand would have. Buying an LCD manufactured by Sony, Sharp, JVC or Toshiba might cost a bit more than that no-name Korean model, but you won't have to have a repairman come out to replace your light source for a good, long while.
If you're a do-it-yourself type, you should do some research before-hand and look for models in your price range that allow you to replace the light source on your own. This isn't a very common feature, but you can find LCD screens with replaceable light sources if you do a bit of looking.
Color Rendition
Not all LCD TVs are created equal. Color rendition is generally evaluated along three factors: accuracy, realism, and vibrancy. When you're browsing LCDs in the electronics section of your favorite retailer, judge the colors. Do they look accurate? Are the greens truly green? The blues truly blue? Do the scenes look realistic, or are they oddly tinted? Are the colors bright and vibrant, or drab and muted? Watching a sports game or some other live broadcast is especially useful for judging these factors, as they are presented realistically, without the artistic color choices that are often used by makers of films.
Why 46 Inches?
With all the sizes available to consumers, why should you be hunting for the best 46 inch LCD TV? The answer is simple: the above-40-inch market is the hottest segment of the HDTV market, and the home of some of the best LCD screens to be found. A screen of 46 inches is the ideal size for modern homes with rooms designed around flat screen televisions, a size neither too small nor too large.
Hopefully this article has been of some help to you. Now you will be pointed in the right direction when you set off to find yourself the best 46 inch LCD TV you can!
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