Television Choices
April 2006
Types of TVs
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Flat Panel
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Projection- front and rear
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Plasma
LCD
DLP
LCD
LCoS
Tube
Flat Panel
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create bright, crisp images without
using traditional picture tubes.
super-slim, wall-mountable TVs use
either plasma or LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) panels.
Size: Up to 46" for LCD; up to 61"
for plasma.
Plasma
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Pros: screen's
phosphor coating
creates lifelike color
that is closest to
conventional tube TVs
Cons: vulnerable to
burn-in although it's
less of an issue for
newer models
Size: 37"-61"
LCD
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Pros: panels
weigh less than
plasma and use
less energy; burnin not an issue
Cons: picture
slightly less
natural than top
plasmas
Size: 13"-46"
Projection- Rear (RPTV)
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clear, sharp pictures that look best when
viewed straight on, from a seated
position, looks dimmer if you're viewing
from the side, or standing up.
take up more space than direct-view TVs,
and their larger screens require greater
viewing distance for optimum results.
Size: 42" to 70".
Technology: DLP, LCD, or LCoS
technology TVs have cabinets that are
shallow and lightweight compared to
conventional big-screen models
RPTV
Front-projection
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two-piece system: projector and screen.
heavy, expensive CRT-based units that require
professional installation and maintenance.
compact, lightweight digital home theater
projectors.
big, bright images create more emotional impact
than any other display type.
Size: 40" to 300".
Technology: DLP, LCD, and LCoS projectors.
perform best in reduced light or darkness,
Front Projection TV
DLP
(Digital Light Processing)
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developed by Texas Instruments, based
on their Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)
microchip.
Each DMD chip has hundreds of
thousands of tiny swiveling mirrors which
are used to create the image.
DLP technology is used in both front- and
rear-projection systems.
LCoS
(Liquid Crystal on Silicon)
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sandwiches a layer of liquid crystal between a
cover glass and a highly reflective, mirror-like
surface patterned with pixels that sits on top of a
silicon chip.
layers form a microdisplay that can be used in
rear-projection and front-projection TVs.
Manufacturers use different names for their LCoSbased technologies. JVC uses D-ILA™ or HDILA™, while Sony uses SXRD™.
Tube (direct-view CRT)
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(cathode-ray tube) TVs are what most of
us watch.
sharp, bright images provide a vivid
viewing experience in virtually all rooms
and lighting conditions.
Size: Up to 36".
Technology: Built around a single large
CRT ("picture tube") — a specialized
vacuum tube in which images are created
when an electron beam scans back and
forth across the back side of a phosphorcoated screen.
Conventional TV
Screen resolution
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number of horizontal pixels times the
number of vertical pixels
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SDTV- 640 x 480 pixels
HDTV- 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 for
EDTV (Enhanced-Definition)—852 x 480
Resolution
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HDTV - film-quality picture offers detail,
dimensionality, and rich, vibrant colors
that the 60-year-old analog NTSC TV
format can't begin to match, include
upconversion circuitry to give non-HD
signals (DVD, antenna/cable, digital
satellite, etc.) a cleaner, smoother look.
SDTV digital format has better picture
quality than existing broadcast and cable
service.
Aspect ratio — 4:3 vs. 16:9
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conventional squarish 4:3 aspect-ratio - widescreen
(most HDTV) 16:9 aspect ratio.
4:3 HDTV-ready TVs are required to include a special
viewing mode that displays widescreen material like
HDTV broadcasts and anamorphic DVDs in a 16:9
"window" with black bars above and below the picture.
analog TV broadcasts are scheduled to end in 2009,
and video programs will continue to shift to widescreen
formats.
16:9 TVs can display 4:3 programs in a central 4:3
window with black or gray bars filling out the screen's
width on the sides, also usually include several viewing
modes designed to make 4:3 material fill the screen's
width by magnifying and/or stretching the image.
TV sound
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TV part of a home theater, use A/V receiver and
speakers to process and deliver video sound
built-in amplifier power output varies from 2 to 20 watts
per channel. Higher power = cleaner, more realistic
sound, and louder levels without distortion.
RPTVs have more room in their cabinets for speakers (
usually 15+ watts per channel), sound quality good, still
doesn't compare to even a budget-priced receiver and
speakers.
HDTV sets (those with some type of built-in HD tuner)
include a digital output, through which they can send a
crystal-clear Dolby Digital sound that is standard on
HDTV broadcasts via a single-cable digital connection to
your A/V receiver.
Connections
Video input
type
Connection
Commonly used for
coaxial (RF)
threaded Ftype –
carries
audio and
video
signal
antenna, cable TV, VCR
composite
video
single RCA –
carries
video
signal
VHS VCR, DBS, DVD, VHS and 8mm
camcorders, video game
S-video
4-pin DINtypecarries
video
signal
Super VHS VCR, DVD, MiniDV and Hi8
camcorders
Connections
Video input type
Connection
Commonly used for
component video
RCA x 3 – splits
DVD, HDTV tuner
(broadcast, cable or
satellite)
DVI
multi-pin
HDTV tuner,
computer, DVD
HDMI
multi-pin
HDTV tuner, DVD, HD
DVR, HD DVD/Blu-ray
Hook-ups
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TV built in A/V
inputs- usually
limited in number
and types
Hook-ups
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A/V home theater
receivers provide
multiple video
inputs and outputs
to enable video
switching, which
makes it easy to
choose from
among your
various video
sources.
Hook-ups
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External switching devices/ RF
converters
Components
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Antenna, satellite TV receiver or
cable box
DVD player and VCR
video game system(s)
DVR/TiVo hard disk recorder
camcorder-preferably front-panel
A/V inputs