Flat-Panel TV Specifications

There are many variables that differentiate one TV from another. When shopping around, though, the most important factor is simply how a prospective TV’s picture looks to you. When checking out models in a TV showroom, consider bringing along a favorite DVD so that you can judge differences among sets while watching something familiar.

Here are a few key specifications to keep in mind as you compare models.

Resolution refers to the amount of picture detail that a given TV can deliver. In technical terms, it refers to how many pixels the TV can display at once.

A pixel, short for “picture element,” is the smallest unit of an onscreen image. Essentially, it’s a digital dot comprised of color and light. Because pixels are so tiny, it takes hundreds of thousands or millions of them clustered together to form the image that you see on your screen. Pixel density, also referred to as native pixel resolution, screen resolution, native screen resolution, or pixels per inch (PPI), refers to the number of pixels contained in a square inch. The higher the pixel density, the sharper the image.

Pixel density is represented as the number of horizontal pixel rows by the number of vertical pixel columns. For example, a TV set with a 1280×720 resolution means that in a given pass, the set will show 1,280 pixels in a single row (i.e., the screen is 1,280 pixels wide) and 720 pixels in a single column (i.e., the screen is 720 pixels high).

Because resolution is integral to the quality of the picture, look for the highest resolution in your price range. Don’t skimp on resolution.

A TV’s brightness rating is just that—a measure of the brightness of the TV’s picture. Brightness is measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m2). This feature is especially important if the TV will be in a room that receives a lot of sunlight, where the picture must be able to stand up to glare. But a TV with inadequate brightness will produce a dim-looking image even in a dark room. Typically, LCDs look brighter than plasmas, whose screens tend to reflect light and make the picture appear a bit duller.

Look for a brightness rating of 550 cd/m2 or higher—or just look at the screen and let your eyes be the judge.

Along with resolution, a TV’s contrast ratio determines picture quality. Contrast ratio measures the contrast between the brightest white and the darkest black that a TV can produce. Models with poor contrast ratios may have pictures that look washed out and colors that appear unsaturated. The higher the contrast ratio, the better the image quality. For instance, a set with a contrast ratio of 5000:1 will typically have a more realistic picture—with whiter whites and blacker blacks—than one with a contrast ratio of 1000:1.

Look for a TV with a contrast ratio of at least 1100:1. A higher contrast ratio means that the TV can show a wider range of tones and subtleties.

Aspect ratio refers to the width of the TV screen compared to its height. Conventional CRT TV sets have aspect ratios of 4:3, meaning that their screens are 4 units wide to every 3 units high. Widescreen sets have more horizontal screens, offering a wider image that’s more in sync with the way your eyes view things (since your eyes, too, are on a horizontal scale). Widescreen TVs have aspect ratios of 16:9, meaning that their screens are 16 units wide for every 9 units high.

When you see black vertical bars on either side of a widescreen, it means that the image is being broadcast in a standard 4:3 aspect ratio—if the image were stretched to fit the wider screen, all of its proportions would be distorted. So content must be broadcast in a 16:9 aspect ratio in order for it to be viewed properly on a 16:9 widescreen TV.

HDTV-ready sets come in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, whereas HDTV sets come in only 16:9 (widescreen).

Opt for a TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio to take advantage of the immersive, theater-like experience that it can recreate.

You’ll notice that with some flat-panel TVs, the image seems to diminish in brightness or visibility when you look at it from too oblique of an angle. Ideally you’ll want your TV to showcase a clear image whether you’re looking at it head-on or from the side. A TV’s viewing angle refers to the maximum, widest angle from which the screen can be viewed.

Seek out the widest viewing angle possible. Most LCD TVs now have viewing angles of at least 150°. An angle of 170° is considered ideal.

Typically, the more audio and video connections (including both inputs and outputs) your TV has on its front or back, the better. These connections offer you various ways to hook up your TV to external speakers, DVD players, CD players, satellite and cable boxes, computers, and more. Here are some of the most common connections you’ll find.

Composite video jacks are standard audio/video (A/V) jacks that are used to hook up VCRs, DVD players, and cable boxes. For convenience, look for jacks located on the front of the TV near the bottom (sometimes hidden behind a panel); they’re handy for connecting to video gaming consoles or camcorders without having to reach around to the back of the TV.

These let you attach speakers to the TV for added sound quality and clarity. You can also use these jacks to attach rear speakers for a surround-sound experience.

These inputs allow you to connect two antennas at once—such as a master antenna and a cable box or a master antenna/cable box and a DSS decoder.

An upgrade from standard composite video jacks, component video connections let you plug in the latest DVD players and high-end cable and satellite boxes. They process brightness and color along separate paths, allowing for a very sharp image.

This jack, equipped with 15 mini pinholes, lets you use your flat-panel TV as a computer monitor.

These inputs allow transmission of the highest-resolution (1080p) digital signals (uncompressed) to a display.

This input transfers uncompressed digital video information to a display without the need for a digital-to-analog converter. (DVI is slowly being phased out in favor of the more advanced digital interface, HDMI.)

This jack receives video signals for brightness and color along separate paths, allowing for a sharper picture than composite video (but not sharper than component video).

Some models, such as Panasonic’s 50" plasma TH-50PX60U, feature an SD memory card slot, so you can insert the memory card from your digital camera or camcorder directly into the TV to display images and video. Other models feature a CableCard slot, which makes your TV digital cable ready (DCR). This allows you to slide a card provided by your cable company into the back of your set to receive standard cable and high-definition broadcasting without a separate cable box cluttering up your living room.