LED TV

What is an LED TV?

Choosing a new flat screen television for your home theatre haven? Confusion about LED TV technology is making it even harder to decide, but you can find out all about LED television displays here to help keep you informed in choosing your flat screen.

• Panasonic VIERA (www.panasonic.co.nz/VIERA)

• Audio and Home Theatre
• Electronics Brands
• Major Electronics Retailers

As if deciding between plasma and LCD technologies wasn’t enough for consumers to figure out, there has been added confusion recently as LED TV screens have been introduced to the market.

Even some retailers have been left scratching their heads when trying to explain the new technology to prospective customers, so to set the record straight, let’s first clarify that LED (light emitting diode) refers to the backlight system used in some newer LCD TV screens.

LED TV displays are not an entirely new technology, but a variation on LCD displays, which otherwise feature fluorescent-type backlights. Thus, LED TV screens are, to the surprise of many, still LCD TVs. They’re just part of the evolution and improvement in existing LCD technology.

What is an LED?
Light emitting diodes are known as the unsung heroes in the electronics world, offering solutions to dozens of different jobs and found in all kinds of devices. They form the numbers on digital clocks and transmit information from remote controls, and basically are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit.

Unlike ordinary bulbs LEDs don't have a filament that will burn out, and they don't get particularly hot. Now these tiny wonder-bulbs are being used to backlight new technology LCD televisions, commonly referred to as LED TV screens.

Advantages of LED TV displays
Since LEDs are designed differently than standard fluorescent backlight systems, each LED can theoretically be turned on and off individually, although some technophiles suggest that this would prove too expensive in manufacturing to actually put into practice.

LED TV systems do offer certain advantages over their traditional LCD TV counterparts however, including there being no Mercury used, as is in other LCD backlight systems. LED TVs can also be made even thinner because they don’t reply on fluorescent-based backlighting, meaning added convenience for your home theatre system.

LED backlit LCDs offer even better black levels and more balanced colour saturation, bringing LCD TVs up to the performance levels of plasma televisions.

On the flipside, because LED backlighting is still relatively new in LCD TVs, these sets are more expensive that non-LED backlit sets.

Can they really save you power?
If you live in an energy conscious home, you’ll probably be interested to note that LED TV technology can mean lower power consumption. LED technology used to illuminate LCD TV screens is utilised by either placing LEDs across the entire back of the display, or by placing LEDs just around the perimeter, which is called an “edge lit” display. Both techniques use less power than plasma TVs and LCD TVs lit with fluorescent tubes.

Both techniques have their pros and cons. While LED edge-lit LCD TVs can be ultra-thin and less expensive, LCD TVs that use LEDs across the rear of the display can create sharply deeper blacks.

Choosing the right LED TV for your home
Just like choosing a conventional LCD TV or a Plasma TV, deciding upon a LCD screen backlit by LEDs means first working out your budget and any size constraints.

Once you have a rough idea how much you’d like to spend and the size of screen your entertainment space can comfortable accommodate, shop around and speak to electronic brands experts who will be able to make recommendations based on your requirements.

For more information about LED backlit LCD televisions, find a retailer via the NZS.com directory.

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Technology images from Flickr: LED, Microchip and Cable.