How do I choose one?
There are many brands and several types of televisions on the market to choose from and it is important to shop with the mindset that one high-def TV is not necessarily better than another. Instead, it is a question of which one is right for you and your budget. That can be a tough call to make when all that meets the eye are sleek screens and vibrant pictures, but are they all really that different? The answer is “yes,” and to make your purchase a well-informed one, we have summed up the features of each of the most common screen types:
• QLED: QLED is Quantum dot LED, which illuminates from behind with quantum dots (fluorescent nanocrystal semiconductors) that provide unparalleled optical characteristics to increase color and grayscale. This technology provides for whiter backlighting because of red, green and blue subpixel filters, layered with LCD, red and green (to make yellow) quantum dots and a blue LED backlight. It also uses Mini-LED backlighting that substitutes a smaller number of LED lights with a myriad of lights.
• OLED: OLED is short for Organic LED, which implements organic carbon and light emitting diodes. There is no backlighting like there is in LED, but this type of TV implements electroluminescence, which fills millions of pixels with light, when the organic electroluminescent items within the pixels are electrified. This provides an exceptional picture that when infused with more electricity, the lighting is better; and it displays flawless blacks, rich colors, and incomparable contrasts.
• LED: LED is an acronym for light emitting diodes. It is technically an LCD TV that is illuminated by backlighting, which generates enhanced black shades and fuller colors. It employs “local dimming,” meaning the LCD dims and brightens on its own, based on the picture being displayed. Depending on the exact model, a television might be a white LED or RGB (short for red, green and blue). There are several backlighting methods that provide different qualities. Direct-lit is not as close to the screen and enables light to reach more pixels. TVs that are classified as edge-lit are very thin and illuminate the screen’s back. The full array has a thicker case and LEDs on the screen’s full back side, offering a more evenly lit, deeper picture with greater contrast and shadows.
• LCD: Known longhand as liquid crystal display, LCD is the same technology used in your flat-screen computer monitor — just on a larger scale, with a wide screen and rear-projection. Light from CCFLs — or cold cathode fluorescent lamps — streams through liquid crystal-filled cells to form images with good color saturation levels, which can be easily viewed even in rooms with high levels of ambient light, making it ideal for gamers.
Screen Resolutions: What are your choices?
Even if you know what type of TV and screen size you are looking for, have you thought about resolution? Resolution describes the sharpness and clarity of a TV's picture, and while you're shopping for a high-definition television, you'll come across a few formats: 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 4K and 8K. Read on to find out — in a nutshell — what each resolution format can contribute to your viewing experience.
• 720p: Even though 720p is the lowest resolution within the HDTV standard, it still delivers impressive pictures on screens that are less than 40" in size, with approximately one million pixels. The "p" stands for progressive scan, a format that's ideal for viewing fast-action movies, sporting events and video games. This resolution is often used for budget-friendly televisions, and smaller screens overall because of the lower pixel count.
• 1080i: The “i” in this resolution means “interlaced.” It is often a news broadcast format in two fields with odd and even lines. They are displayed alternatively, which can cause visual issues during fast-paced footage. 1080i may not have as fast a frame rate but offers more lines and pixels than 720p. It’s a terrific option for people who enjoy watching slower-moving programming with lots of close-ups — think documentaries, non-action movies and prime-time dramas too.
• 1080p: Otherwise known as "Full HD," 1080p combines a rapid frame rate with about two million pixels, with 1920x1080 horizontal x vertical pixels. The “p” stands for “progressive scan,” which displays frames sequentially, with it used for fast-motion content.
• 4K: One aspect of this is the Ultra HD resolution or 4KUHD, which has 3,840x2,160 horizontal x vertical pixels. Another is 4K with a horizontal resolution of about 4,000 pixels (technically 3,840), and about 8 million pixels overall. It is often used in digital cinema with a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160 pixels.
• 8K: There are about 33 million pixels in 8K or 8K UHD televisions, with 7,680x4,320 horizontal x vertical pixels. This allows for even deeper details in picture quality versus lower resolutions.
HDMI® Cables: How much money do I really need to spend?
People will try to convince you that investing in an HDTV justifies shelling out for the best HDMI® cable that money can buy. The truth is a steep price tag is not always a reliable indicator of a high-quality HDMI® connection. HDMI® (an acronym for high-definition multimedia interface) certification is an important factor, with cables available on CableOrganizer® that are certified plus have top-of-the-line features and competitive pricing.
Wire Management: What can I do to hide my television cables?
While most people purchase state-of-the-art TVs to enhance their viewing experiences, it cannot be denied that a sleek flat screen display also has a way of improving the overall appearance of a room. To ensure your high-def screen looks as impressive as it possibly can, you can complement your television’s appearance with some well-thought-out wire management. Managing TV cables not only hides them from view but also prevents them from becoming tangled and disorganized. One of our favorite home theater cable managers is the Wiring Solution™, a channel that installs vertically below wall-mounted screens to cover equipment-to-TV cable runs, and can be easily painted to disappear into your décor. We also highly recommend cable raceway, a type of latching channel that can be used in just about any configuration to route cables short distances, or even around an entire room. Like the Wiring Solution™, cable raceway is easily paintable. And thanks to pre-installed self-adhesive backing it has the added advantage of tool and screw-free installation.
Shop at CableOrganizer® today for TV mounts and home theater racks, HDMI® Cables, cable raceway, and other products to accompany your new television.
