How to Find the Lowest Price LCD TV
With dozens of television brands and models on the market, shopping for the best LCD TV at the lowest price can be a daunting task. Just figuring out which model is appropriate for your needs, and then comparing LCD TV prices to find the best deal can be trying, especially when you're approached with hard sales pitches, manufacturer claims, and customer reviews. Where do you even start?This guide is designed to help you eliminate that frustration by understanding how LCDs stack up against other types of TVs, as well as the features you should be aware of when shopping for the right model. The guide will help you narrow your search and find the best LCD TV in your budget, as well as make LCD TV price comparisons once you find a model that interests you.
Why a LCD?
LCDs offer the crispest and most color rich picture of any type of flat panel television. Not only are LCDs easier to watch, but they are more compact (just 3 to 5 inches wide) than bulkier rear projection models. Simply put, you can put them just about anywhere. LCDs also offer excellent color quality in all types of light (even very bright light conditions), and offer a smoother picture absent of glaring. If you're looking to use your television for computer applications, LCDs won't burn-in static images like flat panel plasma models can, and they also display more colors and operate at a higher resolution than other types of televisions. In addition to being the most environmentally friendly TV, LCDs are also the lightest, quietest, and most compact television on the market. Unfortunately, all of these benefits come at a high premium, as LCDs are more expensive than plasmas and traditional rear projection models. With the prices of LCDs coming down, however, they are expected to match plasma models at roughly the same screen size. Still, we recommend that you compare LCD TV prices before making your purchase to ensure you find the lowest price LCD TV.View angle
View angle is the area in front of the screen that you can view a picture without distortion. LCDs usually have a view angle between 160 and 170 degrees. Preferably, you'll want to choose a television closest to a 170 degree view angle, which will make it possible to see a perfect image at virtually any angle around your TV.Black level
Black level is the ability for your LCD to produce the color black. This may sound trivial, but the reality is that some LCDs display the contrast better than others. The only way to test a LCD for the black level is to watch a demo unit and see which model provides the best contrast in a dark scene. Pay close attention to the black level at different view angles, as it can drastically influence how rich the color black appears on the screen. If the color black appears more "washed out" as you increase the view angle, you may want to avoid purchasing that model.Burn-in
While other flat panel TVs are prone to burn-in (particularly plasmas), LCD TVs will not. Burn-in occurs when the picture is kept paused for a long period of time. The consequence of this is an unsightly "ghost" effect, which can compromise the quality of the picture for the life of your television. Fortunately, this problem is virtually non-existent with LCD televisions.Speakers
Some LCD TVs may not come with wing speakers. Make sure you look for LCD TVs with speakers, or take into account the added expense of purchasing new ones, as it will almost certainly add to the cost.Durability
LCDs are the longest lasting flat panel televisions available and much more durable than plasmas. Check the manufacturer's claim to how many hours the television can be operated. This range is between 30,000 and 60,000 hours, which is 10-20 years. Obviously, it is desirable to choose the model with the highest rating.Glare
Glare occurs when light in a room reflects off the television screen back to you. The resulting effect is a faded picture. Although glaring is common in many rear projection TVs due to their curved screen, flat screen models like LCDs virtually eliminate this problem. Still, it's a good idea to make a note of the LCD's glare (if any), while you browse different showroom models and weigh that in your decision.Price
In general, LCDs are the most expensive television you can buy. Although the prices have been dropping and are expected to match those of less expensive plasmas, your best bet is to find the LCD model that interests you most and use the Dealio Toolbar to use the Dealio Toolbar (described below) to make LCD TV price comparisons so you find the lowest price LCD TV.LCD vs. Plasma
If you're shopping for a flat panel television, you have two basic choices: LCD or plasma. Which is better? If you're focused primarily on price, a plasma costs less. Keep in mind, however, that the price gap between plasma and LCD is closing fast, and soon the difference will be negligible.Other than price, how are the two models different? Without being technical, the way each model displays the image onto your screen differs fundamentally, and this translates into certain strengths and weaknesses for each type of model. In general, LCDs have a significantly longer life span, consume less power, weigh about 10%-15% less, and provide crisper image quality than plasmas. Of equal importance, you won't get burn-in with an LCD TV, but you can with plasmas. This is especially important if you are looking to use your television for computer applications, where still images may appear on the screen for long periods. Similarly, LCDs display more colors, operate at a higher resolution, and provide better color quality in very bright light conditions.
While LCD TVs are better in these regards, plasmas do win over LCDs in a few areas. Firstly, a plasma has a faster response time, which is the transition between pictures (for example, fast moving video games). This means plasmas are better suited to display fast moving pictures. In general, plasmas also provide better black level quality, higher view angle capability, and better color quality in low light conditions. When the time comes to purchase your TV, we recommend using the Dealio Toolbar (described below) to compare TV prices, either to find the lowest price LCD TV or the lowest price plasma TV.
