Full High Definition Television
How do you tell modern televisions apart? What does it mean to be HD ready? What does it mean to have full HD TV?
Full HD TV – The technical specifications for a full High Definition LCD TV must include a 1080p as its pixel count. The contrast ratio will be listed as 1920 by 1080p. This 1080p designation signals that a television set can fully and completely broadcast the highest level of high definition broadcasting without reducing it to a smaller pixel count. If you play a high definition DVD or blu-ray disk, a full HD LCD TV can claim the best possible LCD picture. In the same manner, if you check the technical specifications for a full High Definition plasma set, you will also find a pixel count of 1080p. The contrast ratio will be listed as 1920 by 1080p. Again, this is the only way to ensure a true high definition picture without loss of pixel count.
For blu-ray technology, which is also filmed in this 1080p high definition, these sets are perfectly compatible. These sets reproduce blu-ray disks exactly as they were filmed. Other sets cannot claim quite this high a quality.
HD Ready – Full HD LCD TV sets and full High Definition plasma sets are different from those that are simply HD ready. HD ready is indicated by a 728i or 1080i pixel rate. HD-ready sets have tuners to adjust for the difference between their pixel rates and High Definition broadcasting. These sets are reported to have good pictures for their price range and compare favorably with full HD plasma sets and full High Definition LCD TV sets.
HD Set sizes – When it comes to HD set sizes, LCDs are available in almost every size from 10 inches up to its 42 inch TV. Then it jumps up into higher numbers, competing with plasma. The 42 inch set is a good middle ground for those who want size without incredibly high prices. Plasma comes in 50 and 60 inch sizes usually. However, some sets as small as a 42 inch TV do come in plasma. Sizes do not reflect whether the set is HD ready or full High Definition.
HD sets – One obvious difference between analog and full High Definition TV broadcasting is the aspect ratio. This is the width by height of a display. Analog broadcasting had an aspect ratio of four inches of width to three inches of height. HDTV broadcasts in a 16:9 ratio. You can expect a full HD LCD TV to be as wide as it is tall. It is thinner due to its streamlined technology, and its thinness is not a way to determine if a set is HD ready or a full High Definition LCD TV. Due to aspect ratio, full HD plasma sets and HD ready plasma sets may be as wide as they are tall. They are also thinner due to their technology, and thinness cannot be used as a guide to HD capabilities.
HDTV Converters – High Definition TV converters can be used with analog televisions, also known as CRTs or crystal ray cathode sets. These HDTV converters are digital tuners that adjust for the switch-over to digital broadcasting. With an High Definition TV converter, an analog set can deliver superior pictures to its analog ones. An HDTV converter is essential to receive signals on analog sets now that almost all signals are digital.
HDTV Online – If you watch television online, you will notice that some shows are offered as HD Online. This simply means that if your computer can broadcast at the 1080p rate, the picture will be full High Definition. If your computer cannot broadcast at this rate and must convert the rate to a lower pixel setting, then the computer can be said to be HD ready.
