Best HDTV Reviews

Searching for the Best HDTV on the Market for the Price

February 24th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

When You Know What Decisions Are Important and Which Are Irrelevant Salesman-Speak, Then It’s Easy to Shop for the Best HDTV on the Market for the Price

When trying to find the best HDTV on the market for the price, it is important to first know exactly what you are looking for in a high-definition television, and to not limit yourself to one brand. There are certainly some makes and models that are better but it all boils down to three basic technologies: DLP, LCD, or plasma.

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

DLP HDTVs are an excellent option for anyone searching for the best HDTV on the market for the price, as they are considerably less expensive than LCD or Plasma. They are also lighter than either of the two other options, although not as thin and therefore not as well suited for wall mounting. The biggest disadvantage of DLP units is that they tend to have rainbow artifacts, that is trails of red, green, and blue, when showing a bright object moving quickly across a dark background. While recent advantages in the technology have lessened this issue, it is still worth watching out for. If price is your one and only concern when searching for the best HDTV on the market, then DLP units will be high on your list.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

LCD HDTVs strike a balance between the price of DLP and the image quality of plasma. It is also the most mature of the three technologies, having been used widely in computer monitors since the late 1990’s, and in hand-held video games and other small-form-factor devices since well before that. Early LCD screens frequently displayed “ghosting” or “tearing” which were caused when the unit couldn’t keep up with the action on the screen. The technology has progress to the point where this is generally no longer an issue, unless you buy a super-cheap no-name LCD HDTV. The LCD’s other weakness is its viewing angle, where older LCDs practically required you to be directly in front of the LCD; viewing from the side would result in washed-out images, or even the complete loss of image. Modern LCDs have all but eliminated this problem, but if the HDTV is going to be used in a large room with many people watching from different angles, it needs to be taken into account. When shopping for the best HDTV on the market for the price, LCD is the middle-of-the-road, striking a balance between price and performance.

Plasma

Plasma HDTVs are without a doubt the best-looking HDTVs available. They are also the most expensive overall. Plasma does not have the rainbow artifact issue of DLP, nor the ghosting and viewing angle problems of LCD. Plasma HDTVs are also absolutely the thinnest of all the HDTV options, making them the best suited for wall-mounting, especially in large rooms. For someone shopping for the best HDTV on the market for the price, plasma is not going to be one of their options unless they are willing to be flexible on the price.

Other Considerations

There are a few other considerations when shopping for the best HDTV on the market for the price. For example, sound quality. Make sure you listen to the HDTV you are considering purchasing before buying it. If the sound isn’t good enough for you, then don’t settle for that one just because of the price. On the other hand, if you’re never planning on listening to the unit through the built-in speakers but instead are going to hook it up to your stereo, sound quality isn’t going to affect your decision. You may even be able to save yourself some money if you can find a unit that doesn’t even have built-in speakers.

Conclusion

There are many factors that will influence your purchasing decision, but deciding whether to buy DLP, LCD, or plasma will have the biggest impact on your HDTV experience. After that, it’s as simple as figuring out exactly what extra features you want, such as picture-in-picture display or a built-in program guide, then comparing prices and features to find what you consider to be the best HDTV on the market for the price.

Want to save even more money while you’re shopping for the best HDTV on the market for the price? After you’ve done your comparisons and decided what HDTV to buy, shop for it online at Second Act, eBay, or Amazon.com.