LCD TV Review

When we watch movies, over 75% of the sensory input that bombards our brains is visual. For clear picture with brilliant colors, put an LCD TV at the front and center of your entertainment system. With a liquid-crystal display leading the charge, you will get more out of movies, sports, games or your favorite TV programs. LCD televisions are an older technology, but they can equal or surpass their plasma counterparts. Both types of TV boast thin profiles, and even the largest screens fit nicely in most homes. Nevertheless, three major differences set LCD televisions apart from plasma units:

• LCD televisions more effectively reduce glare from lights and windows.
• LCD TVs do not burn-in, making them ideal for sports and video games.
• LCD televisions have a wide viewing angle, so everyone in the room gets a good seat.

For the best combination of quality and performance, we recommend LCD TVs such as the Samsung LN46D630, the LG 55LK520 and the Sony Bravia KDL-55EX500. To make an informed decision before you buy, read our articles on LCD TVs in the learning center.

LCD TVs: What to Look For

A large screen, flat panel LCD TV is a major purchase that merits careful consideration. Find a television that fits your budget, room and lifestyle. Are you looking for a family-friendly TV to entertain the kids, or are you craving a high-detailed behemoth to transform your living room into an in-home theater? Do you watch sports, or is your LCD TV destined for rapid-fire, high-octane gaming? If you can answer these questions, you will be able to narrow the field more easily and make a purchase that will leave you more satisfied.

Features
The phrase "different strokes for different folks" couldn't be more true than it is for LCD TVs. You need a television that matches your lifestyle and your needs. For example, a television with a wide viewing angle and parental controls will be more family-friendly – and a Wi-Fi connection for instant video streaming certainly won't hurt, either. Gamers and sports fanatics may not be concerned with parental locks, but they will appreciate an LCD TV with a high response rate to ensure that no critical details are missed in the heat of the action. Hard-core videophiles and movie buffs will get a closer-to-cinema experience from a television with high contrast and brightness ratings. Is it possible to get all of these features in one television? Yes – but keep your eyes peeled for the features that are most important to you. General features to consider are television thickness, internet connectivity, mounting options and viewing angle.

Display
The display is by far the most important aspect of any TV on the market. The best LCD TVs will have high contrast ratios, short response times and refresh rates around 240 hertz. All of these features allow the TV to produce a clear picture in almost any setting and for watching action movies or sporting events. Naturally, the size of the screen is another key factor to consider. TV measurements are taken diagonally, from the bottom left corner to the top right. For the sake of uniformity, we reviewed LCD TVs of 55 inches, but this size may not be ideal for all rooms. Before you make a purchase, measure the room. You need to make sure there is enough open space to allow for a comfortable viewing distance. The bigger the TV, the more space you will need. For a 55-inch television, we recommend a viewing distance between 7 and 14 feet.

Connections
Most LCD TVs these days have all the basic connections needed to hook it up to Blu-ray players, gaming consoles and just about anything else. The shooting stars among them also give you the ability to connect to the internet and make it possible to display images and video from a camcorder or camera. A good LCD TV will have at least 4 HDMI ports, a few component inputs, PC inputs and a USB port or two.

Help & Support
A company must provide enough help and support to put customers at ease if something goes wrong the day after the purchase or years down the road. A phone number, email, live chat support and FAQs are all essential to your personal satisfaction in the event of a problem.

Purchasing an LCD TV does not have to be a confusing wash of technical specifications. You know what you want from your television – all you have to do is find the television that matches your expectations. And that's something we are more than happy to help you do, because At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™