Walk into any electronics store and you will see two words — high definition (HD) — emblazoned on every flat panel display. And you might also notice the much sharper picture quality on these monstrous panels. That’s because, instead of using the conventional 576 lines of picture cells (pixels) to plot a TV picture, high-definition TVs use 720 or 1,080 lines. In addition, the pixels in each of these lines are closer. This results in a hugely improved picture quality, clarity and colour definition.
But before you rush to get your own HD TV, bear in mind that the best experience will be on a large-sized panel that comes at a premium. Here are a few HD TVs that we reviewed with high-definition Blu-Ray DVDs:
Samsung (40-inch)
Price: Rs 90,000
With a simple, clean design — including a slim, rectangular pedestal joined to the TV with a conical translucent column — the 40-inch Samsung B650 makes for a stunning style statement.
A price tag of Rs 90,000 may not exactly make this a budget buy, but this LCD (liquid crystal display) panel is full-HD with 1,080 progressive lines featuring 1,920x1,080 pixels of display resolution. In simple words, great picture quality. For that price, you get four HDMI inputs, two USB ports, Ethernet slot and a common interface slot. Content such as still JPEGs, MP3s or even video files can be played through the USB ports. A pleasant surprise was B650’s impressive acoustic performance, despite having speakers that are hidden. Flat panel TVs have been notoriously average in this respect and the Samsung delivers a much stronger level of bass than most.
Sweet, for those who want the best of HD display and extreme sound effects.
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Panasonic (32-inch)
Price: Rs 32,500
The Panasonic L32S10 is an entry-level 1,080p HD TV aimed for casual viewers. Priced at Rs 32,500, this 32-inch flat panel can play home movies, like AVC-HD video files straight from a hi-def camcorder. The L32S10 seems decidedly low-brow when it comes to digital media.
Panasonic’s graphic user interface has always been simple and highly responsive. Thankfully, that hasn’t changed in L32S10. However, it is extremely basic and doesn’t offer the option to calibrate the image in detail. The decision taken by Panasonic may favour the broad consumer, but it alienates those who wish to maximise performance.
While it certainly doesn’t look as immaculately finished as some high-end TVs, the Panasonic L32S10 sports a solid-looking piano black finish that at least gives the a sense of money well spent.
Unless you are a serious audio-visual enthusiast, three HDMI inputs will probably satisfy most of your HD needs. The L32S10 also comes with a full-HD (1,920x1,080) resolution screen along with an SD card slot for displaying JPEGs.
A good buy for the budget conscious.
LG (42-inch)
Price: Rs 90,000
LG’s LH90 is full-HD, LED (light-emitting diode) -backlit LCD TV and comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 90,000. But that seems like a small deal when you experience the images it delivers.
There are hundreds of LEDs spread behind the LCD panel and the local dimming function allows variable brightness across the screen image, boosting brighter sections for more visual pop, and dimming darker sections for better display of deep blacks and dark grays.
On brightly-lit scenes, during our review with a Blu Ray DVD player, the LG does a good job of delivering the details. During one of the scenes, the subject wore a frilly white blouse and was shown in front of a bright white wall that featured a textured paint effect, and the LG delineated both extremely well.
Speakers are embedded in strategic spots behind the front cabinet and use minute vibrations to turn the entire front bezel into the speaker system. The result is a clean, polished look, and enhanced audio with a wider ‘sweet spot’, giving a richer sound field with more reach. If you are looking for mind-blowing aesthetics in an HD TV, this one’s for you.