The Beginner’s HDTV Buying Guide

Buying a HDTV isn't as effortless as it seems. Firstly, shoppers have to consider the various television technologies available before making a decision. Secondly, it's also hard to tell what these TVs really offer when every screen is tuned to look their best on display shelves. If you care to browse through the next few pages, allow us to take you through their inner workings so as to understand the latest TV tech better.

The Understanding HDTV Technologies

LCD with CCFL Backlight

LCD with CCFL, or Liquid Crystal Displays with Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp, are one the most affordable forms of HD televisions in the market.

For this LCD breed, an image is formed by using a combination of color filters, LCD shutters and a light source. The amount of light passing through is determined by the shutters, while the fluorescent lamps act as the light source. LCD TVs with CCFL Backlights are by tar the most wide-spread panels in use today, and they've since replaced CRTs as the standard for televisions.

LCD with LED Lighting

Primary difference between the two technologies is how the lighting effect is achieved. While CCFLs produce electrons through thermionic emissions, LEDs are semiconductor materials which emit light when a current is passed through- Due to the intrinsic qualities of LEDs, they allow manufacturers greater control over the lighting and how it is diffused across the LCD. Currently, the two most common configurations for LED lighting is either a full array or edge-mounted variant. The usage of LED backlighting also allows for an extremely thin HDTV profile.

Plasma Display Panel

Plasma, in physics, refers to a gaseous state of matter with ionized particles. Essentially, a Plasma Display Panel consists of glass plates with a mixture of noble gases and mercury. As the electrodes in the panel provide voltage, the mercury gas is converted into plasma, which eventually gives off UV photons. In turn, this excites and causes the phosphorous electrons to produce light. This feature is what sets Plasma Display Panels apart from LCD televisions. While the latter require a form of external lighting to function, Plasma panels generate their own light.