LCD & Plasma TV Buying Guide

TVs have come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years thanks to a range of new technologies that deliver razor sharp pictures and fantastic sound from stunning designs. And with the digital switchover just around the corner, it’s now a great time to buy a new TV.

This buyer’s guide talks you through the new technologies, explains all the jargon and gives you plenty of expert and impartial advice.

Which TV is right for me?

Plasma or LCD TV?

The main differences between plasma and LCD TVs are the technologies used to display the picture and the screen sizes available. Plasma TVs are generally only available in larger screen sizes (e.g. 37"+) whilst our range of LCD TVs come in sizes ranging from 15" to over 50". Because of the different technologies the picture may also appear slightly different on an LCD when compared to plasma. If you're not sure then the best way to decide between LCD and plasma is to visit your local Comet store and see which picture you prefer.

  • What is LCD?

    LCD stands for liquid crystal display. The picture you see on screen is created when each individual crystal twists to either block light or allow it to pass through.

  • What is plasma?

    Plasma TVs have thousands of tiny glass compartments filled with gas. Each compartment has three sub-compartments coloured red, green and blue. Making each pixel glow on and off produces the picture you see.

Picture quality

When it comes to picture quality the most important decision you need to make is whether to choose a standard HD Ready TV (also known as 720) or a 1080p TV. The numbers (720 and 1080) represent the number of lines of vertical resolution on your TV screen. The higher the number of lines on screen, the more pixels there are and the better the picture quality will be.

A standard HD Ready TV will be fine if you just want to watch standard definition broadcasts. If you want to watch high definition TV (like Sky+ HD or Freesat HD), high definition Blu-ray movies or high definition video games on your Playstation 3 or Xbox360 you will need a 1080p TV to experience the best possible picture quality.

Find our more about High Definition TV
Find out more about 1080p TV

Screen size

Your perfect TV screen size will depend on the size of your room and how far away from the TV you will be sitting. Use our handy guide below to determine your ideal screen size.

Watch our video below on working out the best screen size or click here to view even more videos explaining TV technology:

Design

LCDs and plasma TVs now come in a variety of colours and styles designed to fit perfectly in to your home. For wall mounting why not consider a slim TV or a picture frame style, It's even possible on some models to have a work of art displayed on the screen when it’s not in use. There are a range of colours too from hints of red to ocean blue which will work with your current colour scheme and you can choose from a glossy or finish matt.

Visit your local Comet store to best see for yourself our stylish new range of LCD and plasma TVs.

View our full range of TVs

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