Buyers Guide: Comparing Lcd And Led Tv's

By Author: Lucy Carter
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The fact is that the title 'LED TV' is mostly just a manufacturer's term, a misnomer - LED (light emitting diode) televisions are actually LCD televisions, with the only difference being that they use LED back lighting instead of the traditional fluorescent CFL lighting used by LCD TV's.

Both of these models belong to the new generation HDTV family and are distinguished by their liquid crystal diode (LCD) technology in the front panel which contains the "twisting crystals" that make LCD's so popular in terms of viewing quality.

LED TV's come in two main forms relating to how their backlighting is arranged. Edge lighting means the backlights are placed around the edge of the screen panel which allows for an impressively thin design. Local dimming refers to the backlighting being arranged as groups of LED lights placed behind the screen panel, these can be controlled according to your tastes to allow for modification of the back lighting in both dark areas and bright areas of the display. The overall result is improved contrast in image viewing.

The following guide will outline the pros and cons in both types ...
... of TV so that you can decide what best suits your needs and budget.

Picture Quality

The main distinction up until recently has been that LCD TV's have had issues with the display of black tones - in some areas discerning viewers have noticed areas of lighter blacks which makes for slightly uneven contrasts. Local dimming LED technology has provided a remedy for this because the backlighting can be adjusted in particular areas for a more balanced view of dark shades. Also, edge lit LED TV's have brighter whites than most LCD's with fluorescent lighting, although they don't allow for adjustment of dark contrasts like their local dimming siblings. This difference is fast becoming a thing of the past however, since the newest LCD TVs have caught up by boasting excellent black level contrasts.

Colour

With both LED and LCD TV's that have white backlights, there is generally very little difference in colour quality. When comparing those models which have a colour wheel or coloured RGB technology, LED TV's are rated top in terms of accurate, realistic colour tones.

Life Span

Most televisions have a lifetime of approximately 100,000 hours. LCD televisions with traditional fluorescent CFL backlighting, while long lasting, are slightly more unstable and have been known to suffer mild degradation with regards to colour accuracy and display. The fact is that LED TV's are still unproven since they're so new, but LED lights themselves are known to have impressive longevity.

Angle of View

The rule of thumb for angle viewing quality is the higher quality and thicker the glass panel, the better the viewing angle, yet the worse the potential glare. Developing anti glare technologies to remedy this can unfortunately impair viewing angles and picture depth. Both LCD and LED TV's have been known to suffer from either glare issues or angle degradation. All in all, local dimming LED televisions are rated top in this category because you can adjust the lighting. LCD TV's would be rated second, and edge lit LED models would come third.

Video Playback Speed

Both LED and LCD TV's stand even when it comes to fast moving video viewing, they are highly popular for this. The differing backlighting in the two types has no effect on this type of performance level. That being said, it's a good idea to compare refresh rates and response times between different models and brands.

Cost

The bottom line is that LED backlighting technology is more expensive than their LCD counterparts which have traditional fluorescent CFL lighting.

Whether you opt for LED TV technology or the more budget friendly LCD models, both types as part of the HDTV family are going to have impressive viewing quality. It's a good idea to compare different models at your high street stores so that you can see for yourself whether their differences matter to you as an individual.
Barry Knightly owns a LED TV and electronics repair business.