House for sale find the perfect tv 16
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Introduction

A home could never be complete without a TV to certain people, and there may come a time when the TV needs a replacement. With so many types of TV, how do we choose which is suitable for our homes? We at PropSocial are delighted to share our findings in hopes that you would be able to find a suitable TV for your home.

TVs come in many sizes, and the easiest way to determine the correct size to buy is based on the distance of the TV from your seating position. 

The Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommends the following method to find the suitable TV size for your home:

For example, if your eyes are 9 feet (108 inches) away from the TV when you are seated down, the following calculations may apply:

Therefore, the recommended TV screen size that you should be getting should be around 65 to 70 inches.

Here are more details if you would like to know more:

SMPTE - Multiply Distance in inches by 0.625. Recommends a minimum viewing angle of 30 degrees.

THX - Multiply Distance in inches by 0.84. Recommends an optimal viewing angle of 40 degrees for TVs, home theatres with projection screens, including latest 3D movie effects for the most immersive cinematic experience.

In summary, a big TV is good as long as you have the budget.

As for the maximum viewing distance, a rule of thumb is that if you are not having difficulties reading the subtitles, then it can be generally considered as a safe viewing distance.


LCD, LED and OLED?

To quickly give you an answer, LCD & LED TVs are quite similar. One notable difference is that LCD TVs use CCFL (fluorescent) as a backlight, while LED TV uses LED as a backlight.

For an easier understanding, LCD TV = LCD TV with CCFL backlight, while LED TV = LCD TV with LED backlight. In summary, all LED TVs are LCD TVs.

LCDs do not have a light source of its own, and that is why a backlight is needed to bring out all the colours and images on the LCD.


OLED TVs

OLED TVs however, is an entirely different technology. OLEDs have their own light source, and that means it can switch off its light source at its pixel level, giving a ‘blacker black’ when compared to LCD TVs, and this would produce sharper images when compared to LCD TVs.


PLASMA TV

You may be wondering about Plasma TVs as well, given that they used to be the hype, but ever since big makers stopped producing Plasma TVs, it is well on its way to becoming obsolete. Plasma TVs, produce good contrast, clear, sharp images and wider viewing angle as well. The weakness of Plasma TVs is that they are not bright enough should you have bright lights within your home.


SD, HD, Ultra HD, 4K?

These simple terms all refer to the different resolutions of a TV. Higher resolutions mean clearer picture quality, and it all depends on the amount of pixels that is available on the TV screen.

High-resolution TVs have smaller pixels, and when all these pixels are placed very closely next to each other, it forms a very good image quality. In summary, SD, HD, Ultra HD and 4k just simply means how many pixels (vertical x horizontal) it contains. Here’s what it means:

- SD: 640 x 480 pixels
- HD: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- General 4k UHD: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Cinema 4k: 4096 x 2160 pixels


Playing SD or UHD Content on a UHD & 4k TV

Not all is created equal, and if you happen to play SD or HD content on a UHD or a 4k TV, you may most likely have to deal with lower definition images. 

For 4k or UHD TVs, it works best with 4k content (Blu-ray 4k, Netflix 4k streaming, Playstation 4 Pro, etc.) to bring out all the sharp details. You can still play lower definition content on a 4k TV though, just minus all the sharp details.

If the sources of the content are of lower definition than what the TV can actually support, then the TV would have to ‘upscale’ the content to make the picture quality appear better. An upscaler is a function based on a processor chip within the 4k or UHD TV that converts low resolution into higher definition content.

However, this does not mean that it would magically convert low to high definition content to perfection. It will look significantly less impressive than the actual 4k content that the TV can support.

Most upscalers from big-name TV manufacturers do an okay job upscaling SD or HD content, but it may not be the same for ‘budget’ 4k TVs since that they could be using cheaper upscale processor chips. However, as time passes by, good processor chips may become less expensive and budget TV manufacturers may opt for it in later versions.

Tip: A simple trick to getting back some of the 4k effects (if you already have a 4k TV that doesn't have a good upscaler) is to sit further away from your TV. Adjust your seating position until it matches your personal viewing acceptance level.

Extra Tip: If you are subscribed to Astro or any other satellite paid TV, HD, PVR & IPTV service providers, please check with them to see if they are able to support the above-mentioned screen resolutions.


Internet Connectivity

While it is generally easier to conclude that Smart TVs have internet connectivity, it really depends on the how many features a Smart TV has, such as the Miracast technology. In short, Miracast means ‘HDMI over Wi-Fi’.

Some Smart TVs may have apps such as YouTube and Netflix installed, whereby you can directly stream those content from your TV, while some may also have apps such as Facebook, Twitter, a web browser, DLNA to stream content directly from your smartphone, and so on.

You may have to scrutinise on the types of features that the Smart TV has in order to know its full capabilities, including whether or not it can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi.

The other way to have internet connectivity on your TV is, of course, to connect it to your computer. That way, you can have the full functionality of what your computer has, including being able to stream music from Spotify.

If you think that your computer is too bulky and would want a more permanent solution to have internet connectivity for your TV, you can always opt for PC-Sticks, TV Dongles or any other media streaming devices.

You may source for those here, here and here.


Other TV Features to Consider

There are several other additional features that could come with a new TV, with some noteworthy technologies to highlight:

Curved TV

Manufacturers market their ‘Curved TV’ as to provide a more immersive experience, but on the other hand, independent consumers have given their opinions, and concluded that Curved TVs do not offer more advantages over flat TVs. Curved TVs may also face issues if you choose to mount it on the wall. The final verdict would always be determined by the buyer.


Sound Quality

Some TVs come with excellent sound quality, but most would probably be able to produce acceptable sounds for your sitcoms or TV series. Super-thin TVs on the other hand, may not have additional room to fit the speakers within the TV. As such, the solution to this is rather simple, which is to have an external sound system connected to your TV, be it entry-level computer speakers, or professional audiophile sound systems.


3D Feature

With advancements in technology, TVs these days may come equipped with 3D capabilities, especially the more expensive models. To watch 3D content, you would have to wear special 3D goggles that may or may not come with the TV. However, the picture quality of the 3D content differs from one manufacturer to another.


HDR Content

You may have come across this function on your smartphone’s camera, but on a TV, it doesn’t work the same way as a smartphone. The purpose of High Dynamic Range (HDR) is to bring digital content as close as what you may see in reality. HDR is also touted as the next best TV technology after 4k. It works by displaying the best contrast ratio, provided that there is already a HDR content source.


Quantum Dot

Quantum Dot (QD) is a thin film of nano-crystals placed between the backlight and the LCD of a LED TV. Companies like Sony and LG claim that it could increase the colour depth of the TVs by as much as 30% without the need for additional pixels. In summary, a Quantum Dot LED TV can produce better picture quality with an additional nano-crystal ‘filter’.


TV Buying Checklist

Now that you have gone through the many types and technologies of TVs, here are some simple tips and information that you could refer to when picking your TV.

1. Size of TV - Distance of seating position to TV x 0.625 (Distance in Inches x 0.625)
2. LCD, LED or OLED (LED is more energy efficient, OLED is the best)
3. Resolution - Recommended HD 1920 x 1080 pixels or higher
4. Refresh Rate - Equal to or above 120 hertz per second
5. How does it look like when upscaling from lower definition content?
6. Does it come with Quantum Dot or HDR?
7. Can it support internet connectivity via HDMI or USB ports with media streaming devices?
8. Does it have Miracast technology?
9. Can it support external speakers via 3.5 mm audio jack to connect to external PC speakers? If not, then what are the other choices? (Most entry-level external PC speakers like Edifier or Altec Lansing, which don’t cost too much, use 3.5 mm audio jacks).
10. How many years is the TV under warranty and what does it cover?


Other things worth considering:

Brightness - How bright can the TV get? Can you watch the TV outdoors on a sunny day?


Colour Accuracy - How accurate it is when compared to real live colours? Poor colour accuracy can give you a bad viewing experience


Black Level - How black can it get in the total absence of other light sources in the room? This is good for getting good contrast ratio.


Contrast Ratio - A good mixture between brightness and blackness to produce optimum crisp and sharp edges on a picture.


How to hunt for the best HDTV deals?

1. Go to Lazada, at the Electronics tab, select Televisions. They offer the best comparisons for all TV types that is available in Malaysia. 
2. You can choose your TV either by selections based on Screen Size, Technology, or Price.
3. Copy down the model number and search for its reviews over the internet.
4. Seeing is believing- find a showroom nearest to you and view a demo set of the TV in person.
5. You can choose to purchase it at the showroom or at possibly, unbeatable prices at Lazada. An extra note, check with the salesperson whether there are additional promotions or free gifts which can match the price online.


Now that you know all about TVs from LEDs to curved TVs and internet streaming, hopefully you’ll have a clearer picture of what you need and not be confused by all the glaringly bright TV screens and detailed explanations by the sales associate of how advanced the technology in this UHD TV and that OLED TV when shopping for one!

For more articles related to home and property topics, click here.

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Good informative article. Unfortunately, 3D LED TV are going to join Plasma in the obsolete category... hopefully in the near future, we will be able to get the full 3D experience without the need of 3D glasses... on our smartphone!


James bond craig junio2006 small

Thumbs up for compiling this! Very educational :)

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@james_bob 

Really looking forward to the next big tech to push everyone to replace their existing TV sets at home. The last time it happened, black and white TV SET upgrade to Colour TV sets. But ofcourse it depends a lot on the signal source, Digital TV signal availability. DVB-T2. 

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@admin_ps thanks for sharing