LED v LCD

[Joeybagadonuts]

I’m comparing a 42” LG LCD 120 hz for $649 with a 40” Samsung LED 120hz for $849.

Opinions? Also any advice on the price and quality of the HDMI cable?

Thanks

 

[DrHappy]

I'd suggest that you look for online reviews for the specific models that you have in mind. A higher series LCD may be a better performer than a lower series LED.

All other things equal, an LED will use a little less power and give off less heat, if that is a concern. They also tend to be thinner. You may already know this, but the picture mechanism is identical for LCDs and LEDs. They both use an LCD screen. The "LCD" is backlit by a fluorescent light, while the LED is backlit by a LEDs. With LEDs, it's possible for a TV to implement effects like "local dimming" in order to increase apparent contrast. However, features like this tend to be only implemented on more expensive models. The Samsung LED that you looking at may or may not have a feature like this.

For HDMI cables, most any cable will be fine as long as you aren't trying to transmit 3D. In my opinion, "Monster Cables" = Monster Rip Off. There are standards that a cable must meet in order to be HDMI certified. I think that HMDI version 1.3 is the cheaper standard, and 1.4 is the standard needed to accommodate bandwidths needed for 3D. If you don't have 3D, then the 1.3 standard will work just as well as 1.4. (There is a chance that I have the versions wrong, so you may want to double check.)

 

[Joeybagadonuts]

I'd suggest that you look for online reviews for the specific models that you have in mind. A higher series LCD may be a better performer than a lower series LED.

All other things equal, an LED will use a little less power and give off less heat, if that is a concern. They also tend to be thinner. You may already know this, but the picture mechanism is identical for LCDs and LEDs. They both use an LCD screen. The "LCD" is backlit by a fluorescent light, while the LED is backlit by a LEDs. With LEDs, it's possible for a TV to implement effects like "local dimming" in order to increase apparent contrast. However, features like this tend to be only implemented on more expensive models. The Samsung LED that you looking at may or may not have a feature like this.

For HDMI cables, most any cable will be fine as long as you aren't trying to transmit 3D. In my opinion, "Monster Cables" = Monster Rip Off. There are standards that a cable must meet in order to be HDMI certified. I think that HMDI version 1.3 is the cheaper standard, and 1.4 is the standard needed to accommodate bandwidths needed for 3D. If you don't have 3D, then the 1.3 standard will work just as well as 1.4. (There is a chance that I have the versions wrong, so you may want to double check.)

Thank you for the very informative advice.

 

[dkak001]

You may already know this, but the picture mechanism is identical for LCDs and LEDs. They both use an LCD screen. The "LCD" is backlit by a fluorescent light, while the LED is backlit by a LEDs. With LEDs, it's possible for a TV to implement effects like "local dimming" in order to increase apparent contrast.

This is why LED TV ads bother me.

There actually are OLED (Organic LED) screens out there that have real LEDs for each pixel, but these are not in the 40 inch size yet, at least that I'm aware of. Last I saw was around 23".

FYI, I'd still prefer a plasma at this point, since the light is actually generated at the pixel ranther gated with the LCD. But, for the little TV I actually watch my 32" tube will last forever!