LED TV|

So you are thinking about purchasing a new television? Have you put any thought into what kind of TV you want? Plasma, LCD, LED? Well before you make that decision, why not take a look at a few of the reasons that LED televisions might be worth the investment over other types of available technology.

1. Lower Power Consumption

The world is in an energy crisis. So why add to the problem? Why not, instead, make a purchase that makes sense for the future? An LED TV could be that purchase (at least theoretically). Not only will you help the environment (every little bit counts), but you will also save some money on your energy bill.

The reason that LED TVs are more energy efficient is because of how the different technologies utilize light to generate a picture on the screen. LED TVs use Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) while LCD TVs use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL) to display a picture to the screen. LEDs are much more efficient than fluorescent lamps. In other words, true LED televisions have the edge over traditional LCD technology. If you are upgrading from an older plasma display, however, your savings could be substantial.

Admittedly, the energy savings will likely be under $100 per year no matter what you are upgrading from, but every little bit counts.

2. Better Color Accuracy

Imagine viewing a movie that displays an amazing palette of colors — with amazingly deep reds, blues, and greens all mixed in together — that requires a television capable of producing those colors as real to life as possible. Well, an LED television might be the better choice. LED TVs are optimized to display better color saturation and accuracy than LCD and plasma.

The primary reason that an LED television can offer better color accuracy is because of the color spectrum. LCD televisions that utilize fluorescent lighting can’t render out a pixel-perfect and true-to-life spectrum of color as they are not designed that way. The technology needs to be adapted (or, in human terms, faked) in order to display the correct color spectrum, which does work but isn’t ideal.

LED lighting does not have this problem because they are created with RGB (red, green, blue) options. Since the color spectrum is already in RGB, LED lighting has a significant advantage. This means correctly calibrating an LCD television for an absolute pixel-perfect rendering is extremely difficult (if not impossible). LED, on the other hand, is no problem — they are simply better suited for displaying vibrant colors.

3. Darks and Contrast

LCD TVs were a great stepping stone from plasma televisions: they were cheaper, thinner, and more energy efficient. However, the one thing they failed to do was provide an overall better picture — particularly when it came to darker colors and blacks. But LED televisions do not suffer from these issues. LED TVs have amazing technology within that helps to create amazing dark colors and black levels that can compete and sometimes exceed what is possible with plasma.

But why are dark colors important? Well, if you have ever looked at an LCD HDTV and seen in a movie or game where the scene becomes very dark, you’ll see what we mean — grainy, discolored, and grey bits of nastiness. It's noticeable. This becomes even more apparent if you are the type to sit in a house with complete darkness to enjoy your movie similar to a movie theater.

Traditional LCD televisions only block the light — which results in some light leaking through to the display — coming from the fluorescent lamps, but LED technology actually dims the light, resulting in a more true-to-life picture. Admittedly, some of the newer and more expensive LCD televisions are offering up better solutions to compete, but LED TVs, in general, has the edge.

When it comes to plasma vs LED, however, the clear victor is not as easily defined. LED and plasma technology are in a close race here, but plasma has always been known for amazing darks and contrast levels. But LED technology's other advantages should tip the scale in its favor.

4. Size and Depth

LED TVs also benefit from size (or lack thereof). LED TVs can be made much thinner than LCD TVs because LED lights require less physical space than traditional CCFL lighting. LED TVs can also be made larger because of this as well: just like the 65-inch Samsung UN65C8000 that is only 0.9-inches thick.

While the sizes of LCD and plasma televisions are also becoming very thin, LED televisions will tend to be thinner than the other types of televisions. But do you actually need a television as thin as a magazine? Probably not. Is it cool though? Definitely! So keep that in mind.

5. Longer Lasting?

The final reason on this list to consider LED televisions in the future is perhaps the most controversial. LED TVs are argued to last much longer than their traditional LCD TV counterparts. This is because of the fact that LED lights are much more efficient and durable than CCFLs. CCFLs tend to degrade and display differing colors over time.

If you are planning on purchasing a TV that can truly stand the test of time (and your unwillingness to upgrade), an LED television might be right up your alley. However, just be aware that these claims have not yet been put to the test. Still, manufacturers claim 100,000 hours of life for LED televisions, which is enough House, Burn Notice, and Wipeout to last a lifetime.

But, As Always, There’s a Catch

However, there are other issues that might sway you away from LED televisions: the most important being price vs. performance. LED televisions are well worth the investment, but only if you are willing to pay the price and willing to accept the fact that LED TVs are more expensive than traditional LCD TVs. If quality is your thing, then purchase an LED TV right now. If you are on a budget, however, then other options are far more affordable at this time.