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Cable connections Wiring Diagrams Index DVD and VCR Sound solutions for today's HDTVs • Surround Sound over HDMI • How to hookup surround sound • Surround Sound Glossary • Blu-ray audio surround sound • Guide to Diamonds - Buying Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings Top HDTVs - brands and prices Best HDTVs Highest recommended HDTVs for the budget minded. Best HDTVs for under $1,000 SAMSUNG 50-Inch Class Crystal UHD AU8000 Series - 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN50AU8000FXZA) $400Smart TV powered by Tizen, 4K 120Hz, edge-lit LED, 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, HDR, built-in Wi-Fi, LAN, Tuners: ATSC, NTSC, QAM, Bluetooth 4.2 ARC/eARC, Optical audio Out, Solar cell remote control.  SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class Crystal UHD AU8000 Series - 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN43AU8000FXZA) $350LG - 48" Class C1 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV $1,200LG OLED model includes the latest version of the HDMI standard: 2.1. So the HDMI ports can handle 4K at 120 frames per second and variable refresh rate (VRR, including Nvidia G-sync and AMD FreeSync), as well as enhanced audio return channel (eARC) and automatic low latency mode (auto game mode). In other words, they can take advantage of the latest graphics features available from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles as well as high-end graphics cards. In fact, the C1 is rare among high-end TVs in that all four of its HDMI ports support 4K/120. The selection of connections is superior though it no longer supports analog component video. There's also a dedicated headphone or analog audio output and another for IR blasters. Four HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2 Three USB 2.0 ports Optical digital audio output Analog audio 3.5mm headphone output RF (antenna) input RS-232 port (minijack, for service only) Ethernet (LAN) port SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class QLED Q60A Series - 4K UHD Dual LED Quantum HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN55Q60AAFXZA) $700A BILLION BRILLIANT COLORS: Enjoy vivid, lifelike color, regardless of brightness from 100% Color Volume with Quantum Dot DYNAMIC CONTRAST: See bold detail delivered by dedicated warm and cool Dual LED backlights that adjust in real time EXPANDED COLOR RANGE: Go beyond HDTV with Quantum HDR that delivers a vivid spectrum of color and contrast to your Smart TV AIR SLIM DESIGN: Elevate your space with a sleek TV aesthetic 4K UPSCALING: Whatever you watch, the Quantum Processor 4K transforms it to 4K through machine learning-based AI ALEXA BUILT-IN: Just ask Alexa, Google Assistant or Bixby to open your apps, change channels, control smart home devices and more SMART TV POWERED BY TIZEN: Access your favorite apps, streaming services and smart home devices right from your TV What are today's TV trends and What's ahead for HDTV. Faster Refresh Rates: LCD HDTVs problem of motion blur during fast action - Many manufacturers introduced systems that upped frame refresh rates from 60Hz to 120Hz and many manufacturers are doubling those rates again to 240Hz (at least for top-tier models). Only one line in Sony's Bravia HDTVs lacks 120Hz technology--the Bravia S5100-series. The use of higher refresh rates only helps to close the performance gap between LCD and plasma televisions, but there are diminishing returns at higher refresh rates. LED Backlit Displays: LED backlighting systems with local dimming are the hottest trend. To help give LCD sets the kind of black and deep gray performance that today’s best plasma sets already enjoy, LCD TV makers are turning to LED backlighting with local zone dimming. Yes, LED backlit displays can consume less energy. Yes, the images can look brilliant, with better dynamic contrast. But not all manufacturers are pushing LED. Samsung certainly is with its new series dedicated strictly to LED displays. This technology still carries a price premium over traditional CCFL-based LCDs. Connectivity: Vizio, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG all touted Internet-TVs. It's about accessing Internet-based services, too, such as Netflix for video streaming, or Pandora for audio streaming. Internet connectivity. More and more sets are coming with built-in wired, and wireless, Internet connectivity. The reason: almost all manufacturers offer internet content access services and plainly expect us to start using our TVs as “media access hubs.” IP TV access services and DLNA compliance are becoming the norms. Most manufacturers have announced IP TV content access services, some access to free content (e.g., YouTube, etc.), and—in many though not all cases—access to paid online movie download content partners (e.g., NetFlix, Amazon HD-On-Demand, etc.). Another element in the content delivery/access puzzle is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compliance, which enables TV to access video (or audio) content stored on PCs in the home or other DLNA-compliant servers. Wireless: Connectivity will be the critical first step in bringing content to HDTVs. Devices, such as DVRs, Blu-ray players, and media servers, will need to connect to HDTVs faster and in more convenient robust way. Numerous standards and companies are working on this, like the Wireless HD consortium (WiHD). The wireless HD standard has the backing of top TV brands. LG claims it has the first TVs in the U.S. that support wireless HDMI. LG's LHX LCD, is a 55-inch HDTV that sports a separate "media box" where you plug your cable boxes and Blu-ray player into. Right now Internet or networked TV's are very limited in the breadth of content they can display precisely because there isn't an easy way to stream bandwidth intensive content to the TV. Consumers have a lot of pent-up desire for a wire-free home entertainment center, never mind HDTV. Wireless HD connections are increasingly common. More than a few manufacturers are offering wireless HD connectivity for their sets, meaning the TVs can function (and connect to home theater systems) with no signal cables at all. Given the inherent simplicity of wired HDMI connections, some might question whether wireless HD is really necessary, but it appears the technology has struck a chord with consumers. Another reason for going to wireless HD connections, though, is that we may soon see the advent two-piece TVs, where the TV consists of a hyper-thin display panel wirelessly connected to an outboard tuner-I/O-video processor box. Style Aesthetically-minded consumers love the “ultra thin” look. The ongoing push for slender—in some cases mind-bendingly thin—TV sets, which if taken to its logical conclusion, may well lead to a scenario where two-piece TV’s become commonplace. Essentially, there would be an ultra-thin display panel (or monitor) that wirelessly connects to an outboard box that incorporates tuner functions, powerful video processing functions, A/V inputs and outputs, and network connectivity features. OLED TVs are an example of ultra-thin displays. Aesthetically-minded consumers appreciate TV bezels with a touch of color. The second styling motif is a trend toward adding touches of color and/or shading to spice up the look of TV bezels, which have traditionally been black, silver, or gray. Some sets have color shifts from black to champagne gold, or even from black to a deep metallic copper. Going Green: Everybody’s going “Green.” Every manufacturer, it seems, has a “green” story to tell, with initiatives taking three forms. • First, almost all manufacturers are working to build TVs that consume less power. • Second, some manufacturers are looking to reduce the amount of power consumed in manufacturing TV in the first place. • Third, manufacturers are focusing on recycling, both in terms of using recyclable material in new products and setting up recycling centers/systems to process older TVs (and other electronics components) that are being take out of service. The bottom line: heightened concern for the environment is on everyone’s mind. Some models also feature a zero-watt standby power switch, a light sensor with dynamic backlight control to adjust the screen's brightness down for use in dim environments, and a presence sensor that turns off the TV if it doesn't detect motion for a specified period of time. HDTV Prices: Clearly, prices will generally continue to push downward--a good thing given the current economy. Built-in USB Ports, and Blu-ray: Once an unusual find, USB ports are now near-ubiquitous on HDTVs. Model after model sport this connector allowing you to easily jack-in a USB flash drive and access images and other multimedia content. SD Card slots are also popping up more frequently than before (previously, just Panasonic had SD Card). 720p Fades: This not-quite-Full-HD high-def resolution will always hit a super-low, entry-level price for the manufacturers aiming to provide ultra-affordable 42-inch displays. But many manufacturers are dropping 720p entirely, or limiting them to specific models in the below 30-inch category. 1080p becomes standard at 32-Inches and Up: Why down-scale video. Blu-ray movies have 1080p resolution so even a bedroom HDTV should be compatible. Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 (4K): The “Next Big Thing” is upscaling to 3840 x 2160 resolution levels. 1080p, the current top dog, is 1920 x 1080 resolution. • HDTVs under $500 • Best HDTV • Samsung HDTV Fall 2009 • See over 100 hookup diagrams • Guide to DIAMOND Buying • How to tell if a diamond is real • How to find your ring size • Sony Bravia HDTV Models • See over 100 hookup diagrams • Surround Sound • Camcorder Formats • How to choose a Camcorder • HDMI Switch box • VCR Basics • HDTV • How to connect DVD player in 10 easy steps • HDTV Basic Setup How do I hookup my DVD player using component video? How do I setup my DVD player for surround sound? How do I hookup my DVD player with DVI or HDMI connections? |
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