Tips on TV selection

12th October 2017
Tips on TV selection

Buying an LED TV? Jayesh Parekh, Business Head- Consumer Durables, Intex Technologies suggests 9 things  factors to explore
October 12 2017: India’s Festival season has begun and so has the desire of consumers to buy their most wanted consumer electronics, gadgets and gizmos. In this article, we will be talking about one of the favourite consumer product that sells like hot cakes - LED TV. Are you still thinking about buying a TV which is simply bigger in size or planning to buy it based on the recommendation of your relatives and peers? Being unaware of some basic facts can cost you dearly in the long-term. Do make sure that you go through these 9 tips before splurging on a new set.

1. Image quality over size
In a technological world if you are still attached to the old thinking that bigger is better you can lose out on the high-quality cinematic viewing that an LED TV brings to you. These units tend to have the best color quality and a high contrast ratio, which makes the visuals stand out. They also come with a wide viewing angle which makes them perfect for family and large gatherings.

2. All about brightness: Contrast ratio
The contrast ratio is simply the difference in the brightness between the darkest black and white colors which a television can produce. The contrast ratio of every system is different from each other. When there is a low contrast ratio, black areas of an image might appear more like a washed-out gray, or bright areas may lack vibrancy. Numbers like 2000:1 or 5000:1 indicate the contrast ratio and higher ratios generally indicate a better viewing experience.

3. Reproduction of depth and color
Most of the HD TV manufacturers keep their color depth at a level that is visually good for the viewers. Before buying, try to get a little knowledge about the “8 bits per channel”. This will help you to understand whether your system has a good color gradation and you are getting the best quality picture.

4. Aspect Ratio: width to height
Aspect ratio simply means the ratio of a television’s width to its height. There is no effect on the image quality being produced. You should always look for a wider aspect ratio, which is normally 16:9.

5. Higher refresh rates for smoother flow
Refresh rate is how often a TV changes the image (also known as a “frame”) on screen. This is measured in hertz of 60Hz, 120Hz, or even 144Hz. Higher refresh rates are considered better for gaming purposes.

6. Greater input lag
Input lag is the time gap between an input going into the TV and the system creating the image which is measured in milliseconds. This feature is important for gamers as it is the time between making an input and seeing the reaction appear on screen. This feature is best for gaming as it enhances a player’s gaming experience. This should not be confused with response time, which is the time it takes a pixel to shift from one color to another.

7. Screen resolution
Resolution means the sharpness of the picture, which is determined in terms of the horizontal line of the pixels. The newer variants, known as Full HD TVs support the 1080p HD format, which is the highest screen resolution yet.

8. Sound quality
The Sound system has constantly improved in recent years in new LCD and LED televisions. The sound quality of different systems varies immensely and this is something you should pay attention to if you aren’t planning to use an external sound system. Look at the number and configuration of the speakers in your Smart TV. A ‘2.1’ configuration indicates stereo main speakers with 1 indicating towards a dedicated bass speaker.

9. Warranty
Last but not the least comes the warranty which you can avail from the manufacturer. If you are planning to buy directly from the company’s showroom, the price of extended warranty drops by about 10-15 %. Getting extended warranty is definitely recommended as it keeps your equipment protected for longer.
We’ve covered the most important things that you should think about before buying a new television set. We hope that these tips will make your buying decision easier!