Chances are you’ve heard the term HD TV by now - also known as high-definition TV. But what exactly is it and do you need to upgrade?

What is HD TV?

HD TV broadcasts are the highest resolution digital broadcasts available. This means superior pictures and sound to standard-definition (SD) TV. But not all HD TVs are created equal. Within the category there are four distinct types, and the higher the number, the better the quality: 1080p (resolution is 1920×1080 pixels), 1080i (1920×1080 pixels), 720p (1280×720 pixels) and 576p (852×576 pixels).

The “p” and “i” stand for progressive and interlaced respectively, and without getting too technical, interlaced content has more pixels and lines, while progressive content is rendered in a smoother manner with less juddering.

Only 1080p can be referred to as “Full HD”.

When buying a HD TV for your home, you will see one of these numbers in the specifications, indicating what content that TV is capable of displaying. This issue is quite a complex one to understand, so if you’re interested you can read more.

CRT HD TVs

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions - the old-style TVs that most of us grew up with - are rare when it comes to high-definition, but they do exist. They tend to be much cheaper than their flatscreen and rear projector counterparts, so this is the budget option.

Many people believe that CRT TVs provide superior picture quality to most flatscreens. Unfortunately, CRT TVs are bulky and they generally only go up in size to 34 inches.

LCD HD TVs

LCD is the most popular technology when it comes to HD TV and is the logical choice for someone upgrading from an old-style CRT set. In the world of flatscreens, LCD technology is generally preferred for screens under 50 inches, although some manufacturers do make them in sizes larger than this. Plasma TVs perform better in larger sizes, and larger TVs are obviously more expensive than smaller TVs.

Samsung LCD TVs are an ever-popular choice with Australian consumers.

LED HD TVs

A new flatscreen technology to arrive in Australia is LED, which is quite similar to LCD technlogy but performs better and is more energy efficient due to a different type of light being used. You can read more about it here.

If you’re interested in LED TV technology you will probably come across a Sharp LED HD TV at some point.

Plasma HD TVs

As mentioned above, plasma TVs are better at larger sizes, so if you want a big flat HD TV (and you have the money for it), a plasma HD TV is the way to go. For anything upwards of and including 50 inches, plasma is recommended.

Panasonic Viera plasma HD TVs usually perform well.

Rear-projection HD TVs

Do you want to go really, really big with your HD TV? Say, up to a whopping 73-inches? Then rear-pro is for you. Keep in mind that a HD TV at this size could be too large for your living room, so make sure you do your sums first.

Rear-projection TVs aren’t flat (due to the projector being contained within the box itself) and often work best when recessed into the wall in a home theatre situation. There are several different types of Rear-projection HD TVs, including DLP, LCoS and the familiar LCD and CRT. Rear-projection HD TVs tend to be more affordable than plasma HD TVs of the equivalent size.

Sony Bravia rear-projection HD TVs are highly regarded in the industry.

Buy a cheap HDTV on sale

Guide originally published November 13, 2009; updated July 29, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

A plasma TV can completely turn around your lounge room viewing experience. But what should you look for when purchasing a new television? Our plasma TV buying guide can help you decide.

Plasma TV technology

A plasma TV, like an LCD TV, consists of a substance sitting between two panels of glass. However the substance used in a plasma television is made up of small chambers of gas within each sub-pixel. When an electrical current is passed through the substance a reaction is caused in the gas and UV light is emitted. Each sub-pixel also contains phosphors and when UV light is emitted the phosphors emit their specified colour of light (red, green or blue).

The gas used in plasma TVs emits its own light, unlike LCD TV, which require a back light. Plasma TVs therefore generally product deeper blacks (also known as a contrast ratio – the higher the contrast ratio quoted for a flatscreen TV, the better the quality of the whites and blacks on-screen).

Plasma TV screen size and space

Looking for a massive TV? Then you should be looking at a plasma. All those mammoth flatscreen TVs you hear about (we’re talking over 100-inches) are plasma. These days however a lot of manufacturers make these screens in smaller sizes, and a popular flavour seems to be a 42-inch plasma.

Plasma televisions are also better for viewing areas that extend a long way to each side away from the screen as they have a better viewing angle than LCD TVs.

Plasma TV response time

Just like LCD TVs, you should also be aware of something called response time when it comes to sussing out your new plasma TV. A lower response time is considered better as a higher response time will cause fast-moving images to blur slightly. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms).

Plasma TV and HDTV

Just because you see the term “HD” or “high-definition” used somewhere in connection with an plasma TV, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting full high-definition. To be sure of what you’re getting, check the native resolution of the screen, which refers to the number of pixels that can fit on the screen. True HD is defined as 1920×1080 pixels, which also appears as 1080p and Full HD. However other resolutions are also classified as being high-definition, including 1366×768 and 120×720 (also known as 720p).

To the untrained eye, these lower forms of high-definition won’t prove much different to view than Full HD screens. And don’t forget, there’s no point having a high-definition TV unless you have a high-definition source to feed it, such as a Blu-ray player or HD broadcast.

Best plasma TVs

Plasma TVs are manufactured by many, but perfected by few. Many of us love Panasonic Vieras, such as the model pictured here, and Samsung plasma televisions.

Buy a cheap plasma TV on sale

Guide originally published June 4, 2009; updated May 13, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re considering buying a new flatscreen television, chances are you’re weighing up between an LCD TV and a plasma TV. Hopefully this guide to buying an LCD TV can help.

LCD TV technology

LCD TVs consist of liquid crystal cells spread between the two thin glass panels of the television plus a lamp behind the screen. TFTs supply electricity to the cells, which allows the crystals to twist and filter white light from the lamp. This twisting action prevents burn-in or ghosting on-screen, which is often seen with plasma TVs. LCD TVs render colour by blocking certain wavelengths from the white light.

The higher the voltage of the light used in the LCD TV, the more effectively the cells are able to filter the light. Hence higher voltages are required to produce very rich blacks and brilliant whites. This is measured by something called a contrast ratio. The higher the contrast ratio, the better blacks and whites will appear on-screen.

LCD TV screen size and space considerations

LCD TVs are generally available in smaller sizes than plasma TVs, given that it’s hard to produce a quality larger screen using liquid crystals. While this is improving, a general rule of thumb is to consider LCD TVs for screens under 50-inches and plasma TVs for those over 50-inches.

You should also consider the space in which you’re going to be installing your new TV. Bigger is not always better, especially in a smaller space. A large television can overwhelm its surroundings and can be uncomfortable to watch if you don’t have to room to sit at an appropriate distance.

LCD TVs have also been hampered by narrower viewing angles in the past, so if your living room viewing area extends out to the sides, viewers sitting closer to the side may have trouble viewing.

LCD TV response time

Another figure you will see quoted in your quest for a new LCD TV is response time, measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower response time is considered better as a higher response time will cause fast-moving images to blur slightly.

LCD TV and HDTV

Just because you see the term “HD” or “high-definition” used somewhere in connection with an LCD TV, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting full high-definition. To be sure of what you’re getting, check the native resolution of the screen, which refers to the number of pixels that can fit on the screen. True HD is defined as 1920×1080 pixels, which also appears as 1080p and Full HD. However other resolutions are also classified as being high-definition, including 1366×768 and 120×720 (also known as 720p).

To the untrained eye, these lower forms of high-definition won’t prove much different to view than Full HD screens. And don’t forget, there’s no point having a high-definition TV unless you have a high-definition source to feed it, such as a Blu-ray player or HD broadcast.

Best LCD TVs

While there are many manufacturers of LCD TVs around today, several are considered to be leaders in the field. The Sony Bravia range of LCD TVs is well regarded, as are Sharp and Samsung LCD TVs. Pictured here is one of the Sony Bravia EX600 Series LCD TVS.

Buy a cheap LCD TV on sale

By Caroline Warnes

The Panasonic Viera TH-P46G10A is the 46-inch plasma TV in Panasonic’s new G series, and it is a fantastic addition to the manufacturer’s range.

Panasonic has long had a strong reputation in the Australian plasma television market, and the Pansonic Viera TH-P46G10A is no exception. The G series represents the manufacturer’s 12th generation of plasma screens, with each model sporting a new design dubbed NeoPDP.

As a Full HD plasma TV, the TH-P46G10A is ready to go: it features full 1080p resolution, three HDMI inputs, a card reader and digital tuner. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of a 600Hz sub-field drive, which basically improves the clarity of motion images. This makes it ideal for watching fast-moving action, such as sports.

The 6144 steps of gradation also improve the way colours are display on each Panasonic G series TV - up significantly on previous models. You will also find this dramatically improves the image quality, again especially with fast-paced motion.

The Panasonic Viera TH-P46G10A plasma TV is available in Australia now with a recommended retail price of $2969.

Buy a cheap Panasonic Viera plasma TV on sale

By Caroline Warnes

The Bravia KDL52X3100 is a member of the second-generation of Sony’s popular X series of LCD TVs.

The first-generation models proved to be very popular with consumers and the current range builds on this success, adding features and fine-tuning performance.

The Sony Bravia KDL52X3100 is a 52-inch full HD (high-definition) model, which means it broadcasts in 1080p, which is considered “true” HD. If you have a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or a high-definition player you need a screen that is 1080p capable to take full advantage of the high-definition capabilities.

Sony has truly packed this LCD TV with every feature you’ll ever need in your high-def home theatre setup including an HD tuner and three HDMI ports as well as 100Hz motion compensation, which is supposed to remove judder from films.

Like its predecessors, the KDL52X3100 also performs very well and is well-designed, making it an attractive addition to your lounge room.

Sony is currently offering $300 cashback when you purchase selected Bravia LCD TVs (including this model) so ask in-store for details.

Click here to find offers on Sony Bravia TVs from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Pioneer’s reputation for making excellent plasma televisions has been long-standing.

Although plasma televisions are usually best in the 50-inch and over category (and LCDs are favoured below that size), the 42-inch Pioneer PDP-428XDA plasma display panel is still an excellent performer.

The 428XDA is one of the manufacturer’s Kuro screens. It all gets very technical, but essentially, Kuro is a new processing technology that Pioneer claims produces the deepest blacks you’ll see on a screen. Sometimes manufacturers really exaggerate with these claims but with this particular screen, it seems to be true - the blacks are indeed very black. In fact, overall, the picture quality is excellent.

Another outstanding feature is automatic brightness adjustment - these levels adjust depending on the ambient light of your surrounds. We also like the inclusion of three HDMI sockets as well as a USB port, so you can plug in a USB drive and view images straight on the screen.

Last but not least, the design of the 428XDA is very attractive. It features clean lines and a simple finish, so it will look good in most home theatre setups.

Click here to find offers on Pioneer plasma TVs near you.

By Caroline Warnes

This 50-inch LG plasma TV is an impressive package: the 50PC1D is a high-quality plasma screen with built-in high-definition digital TV tuner, priced at well under $4000.

That means that you could have an impressive flatscreen TV complete with high-definition capability (resolution is 1366 x 768 pixels) in your lounge room for under $3000, when you take into account special offers from retailers and other price reductions. That’s an impressive claim, particularly when you consider the quality of the plasma TV in question here.

LG is renowned for its plasma technology and the 50PC1D is no exception. What makes LG so good when it comes to plasma TVs is the integration of the digital TV tuner, so you don’t have to waste time tuning for stations. When you turn the LG 50PC1D on for the first time it will scan for stations, both analogue and digital. Of course you can make manual adjustments later if you wish.

The 50PC1D is an outstanding performer in terms of visuals, particularly when you consider the bargain price. It supports signals of up to 1080i, so be warned that if you hook up a high-definition player you will have to view it in the lesser format.

If you want the very best your money can buy you in terms of plasma TVs, you might want to look at one of the high-end screens from Pioneer or Panasonic. However if you want a solid performer for much less money, you could do a lot worse than the LG 50PC1D.

Click here to find offers on LG TVs near you.

By Caroline Warnes