Is It Worth The Extra Money To Get An Led-lcd Tv Vs Standard Lcd?
December 1, 2009 by Rich
Filed under Frequently Asked Questions
Our old 32″ TV died and its time to get a nice HDTV. I’ve ruled out plasma, so its down to LCD. The newer LED-LCD seem to have a more crisp picture and better contrast than the standard LED. In partcicular I like the Samsung. But a 47″ LED-LCD is almost $500 more than the standard LCD. Is it worth the extra?
I own the Samsung 46 inch LED 8000 series. I was hesitant to purchase this TV due to the price, but ultimately i decided to get it for the following reasons.
1.) Better contrast and color accuracy
2.) Better viewing angle
3.) Displays 240 Hz, auto motion plus.
4.) Uses less energy
5.) Super thin, looks fantastic
After owning this TV for 4 months now, I have to say I love it. It was well worth the extra cost. However, there are a few nit picking things I didn’t like about it.
1.) The remote is enormous. Also, hard to take out and switch the batteries in the remote.
2.) HDMI inputs ports requires cables to be connected sideways at the panel’s rear edge. So your cables stick out from the side, looks like the TV is on life support.
3.) There is a bright blue glowing light on the bottom of the set. You have the option of turning if off, but it still blinks on and off briefly if you change the channel or volume.
From a technical standpoint, yes. LED delivers stronger colors, blacks, and contrast (not Plasma quality, but much improved).
However, from a consumer standpoint, its 100% dependent on your eyes. Go to a store and let your eyes decide. Its your viewing experience, not anyone else. Your eyes are going to be watching a TV, not a tech spec sheet. So you have to just use your eyes and your gut and decide if its worth it to YOU.
I’d wait until your next TV purchase. These new flatscreens don’t seem to last all that long, so I’d recommend avoiding the premium for the new technology and buying a good LCD that will hopefully last for the next 4 or 5 years. I have a Samsung 52″ LCD and it’s got an excellent picture for an LCD – no complaints.