20Mar
TV Purchasing Factors for 2016
TVs have come down in price over the years and today we’re at a point where it’s hard to differentiate what the difference is between a pricey TV set and a budget brand readily available at your local big box store. Sometimes, depending on the use case, there is no difference. Discover what you should know before you buy.
Should you get one? That’s up to your budget, but if you can afford it, yes.
That’s right. With the invent of 4k (again, remember, we’re really talking Ultra HD here), the 240hz refresh rate was no longer available. Currently, all UHD TVs have either a 60hz or 120hz refresh rate. Yes, it still matters. You really don’t want the 60hz refresh rates but 120hz is just fine since the manufacturers are using different processes to help eliminate motion blur.
So the guy at the local big box store told you that your Samsung TV has a 240hz refresh rate? It’s not true. No matter what the manufacturer, the best you’ll get is 120hz or sometimes 60hz if you stick to the lower end lines from manufacturers like Vizio.
First, curved TVs cost more. Things that cost more are better, right? Well, in this case, probably not. Curved TVs distort your image to warp the image to the curved screen. That means your image is distorted when viewed from anywhere but directly in front of the TV.
Second, curved TVs do very little to enhance your viewing experiences in sizes less than 65”. The idea was that the curved TV would wrap the image around you making you feel immersed in the experience. Reality is, at sizes less than 65” you’re not even remotely going to feel wrapped in an image. The image just isn’t big enough and the TV doesn’t curve enough. Now what about 75” and 80” curved TVs? Should I get one of those? Well, that’s up to you and also up to where you plan to put the TV.
Curved TVs warp out from the wall, exposing the wiring and mounts behind them when wall mounted. If you plan to put a curved TV on the wall you’ll likely notice it looks a little odd with the mount exposed and wires dangling along the back of the TV (if you see it from the side).
So should you get curved? We feel you’ll get a much better experience and value for your money 95% of the time by getting a flat panel TV.
While we realize that the biggest factor in the TV size you choose in budget, it’s still best to be informed of what you should be getting and maybe make some adjustments to the room layout and furniture to accommodate the TV you’re getting.
Viewing distances for 4k / UHD sets are less than 1080p. Why? Because there’s so much detail in the 4k image that you need to be sitting closer to see the details.
We always suggest the largest TV you can afford that accommodates your viewing distance. Get UltraHD from a quality manufacturer with a true 120hz refresh rate and don’t worry about the 8k. Flat panels are going to give you more bang for your buck and enhance your viewing angles. Sony offers some technology that helps the TV integrate into smart home and home automation infrastructures; so if that’s a consideration, look to Sony’s C & D lines of TV.
Resolutions
It was all about 1080p before, now what am I supposed to get this time around?UltraHD (UHD) vs 4K
Most consumers don’t realize that true 4k does not currently exist on consumer television sets. What we refer to as 4k (4096 x 2160 pixels) is really Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels). The reason being that 4k has a 1.9:1 aspect ration while Ultra HD has the standard 1.78:1 otherwise noted as 16:9 aspect ratio. If we used true 4k resolution we would see those annoying black bars at the top and bottom of our TVs, hence the Ultra HD designation.8k
Yes, 8k is coming down the road. It’s not readily available yet, but it’s coming. But before you get that pit in your stomach, don’t worry, these displays aren’t intended for consumer use. They’re going to be intended for commercial use, primarily exhibit halls and convention centers, not your living room. The fact is, there simply won’t be filmed (TV and Movie) content available in 8k. 8k content will be computer engineered graphics and digital signage, not your Hollywood movie.Contrast
So I hear all about these whites and blacks, what’s that all about?High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Not all Ultra HD (UHD) sets are capable of High Dynamic Range (HDR). HDR is a newer method of utilizing technology to correct for over and underexposure in an image and present a more dramatically shaded and more vibrant picture.
This matters because online streaming services like Netflix and Vudu are starting to stream content in HDR. So you’ll want to be sure your streaming service of choice is taking advantage of this technology.
Don’t worry, your Ultra HD HDR branded TV (yes, there’s a badge to indicate this on the TV) is going to be able to handle HDR content out of the box.
OLED
Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) aren’t new to the scene but they’re becoming more widely available. Although expensive the benefits are numerous. Companies like LG and Samsung are now making consumer OLED TVs that offer brighter whites, darker black, more vibrant colors, and less light bleed.Should you get one? That’s up to your budget, but if you can afford it, yes.
Refresh Rates
Remember when 240hz refresh rates were a big deal? They don’t even exist at the moment.That’s right. With the invent of 4k (again, remember, we’re really talking Ultra HD here), the 240hz refresh rate was no longer available. Currently, all UHD TVs have either a 60hz or 120hz refresh rate. Yes, it still matters. You really don’t want the 60hz refresh rates but 120hz is just fine since the manufacturers are using different processes to help eliminate motion blur.
So the guy at the local big box store told you that your Samsung TV has a 240hz refresh rate? It’s not true. No matter what the manufacturer, the best you’ll get is 120hz or sometimes 60hz if you stick to the lower end lines from manufacturers like Vizio.
Brand | Model | Claimed | Actual |
| LG | UF7600 | TruMotion 120 | 60Hz |
| All other 4K TVs | TruMotion 240 | 120Hz | |
| Panasonic | CX600 | Image Motion 120Hz | 60Hz |
| CX650/CX800 | Image Motion 240Hz | 120Hz | |
| CX850 | 2400 BLS 4K IFC PRO | 120Hz | |
| Sharp | All models | - | As listed |
| Samsung | All models | - | Half listed motion rate |
| Sony | All 4K models | - | 120Hz |
| Vizio | Most E-series | - | 60Hz |
| E65-C3, E70-C3 | 120Hz | ||
| M-series <60in | - | 60Hz | |
| M-series >/=60in | - | 120Hz |
Curved or Flat
In 2014 Samsung brought curved TVs to the consumer market. Initially viewed as a gimmick, they started to catch on. So should you get one?First, curved TVs cost more. Things that cost more are better, right? Well, in this case, probably not. Curved TVs distort your image to warp the image to the curved screen. That means your image is distorted when viewed from anywhere but directly in front of the TV.
Second, curved TVs do very little to enhance your viewing experiences in sizes less than 65”. The idea was that the curved TV would wrap the image around you making you feel immersed in the experience. Reality is, at sizes less than 65” you’re not even remotely going to feel wrapped in an image. The image just isn’t big enough and the TV doesn’t curve enough. Now what about 75” and 80” curved TVs? Should I get one of those? Well, that’s up to you and also up to where you plan to put the TV.
Curved TVs warp out from the wall, exposing the wiring and mounts behind them when wall mounted. If you plan to put a curved TV on the wall you’ll likely notice it looks a little odd with the mount exposed and wires dangling along the back of the TV (if you see it from the side).
So should you get curved? We feel you’ll get a much better experience and value for your money 95% of the time by getting a flat panel TV.
Size and Viewing Distance
Yes, size matters. What size TV should you get based on your viewing distance?While we realize that the biggest factor in the TV size you choose in budget, it’s still best to be informed of what you should be getting and maybe make some adjustments to the room layout and furniture to accommodate the TV you’re getting.
Viewing distances for 4k / UHD sets are less than 1080p. Why? Because there’s so much detail in the 4k image that you need to be sitting closer to see the details.
UltraHD / 4k viewing distances
Screen size | Viewing distance range for 4K Ultra HD TVs |
| 40" | 3.3-5.0 feet |
| 43" | 3.6-5.4 feet |
| 50" | 4.2-6.3 feet |
| 55" | 4.6-6.9 feet |
| 60" | 5.0-7.5 feet |
| 65" | 5.4-8.1 feet |
| 70" | 5.8-8.75 feet |
| 75" | 6.3-9.4 feet |
| 80" | 6.7-10.0 feet |
| 85" | 7.1-10.6 feet |
Conclusion
Buchan Consulting LLC keeps up-to-date on the latest consumer technologies and can help you pick the right TV for your needs.We always suggest the largest TV you can afford that accommodates your viewing distance. Get UltraHD from a quality manufacturer with a true 120hz refresh rate and don’t worry about the 8k. Flat panels are going to give you more bang for your buck and enhance your viewing angles. Sony offers some technology that helps the TV integrate into smart home and home automation infrastructures; so if that’s a consideration, look to Sony’s C & D lines of TV.
