Getting a new TV soon? We’ve featured quite abit regarding the new generation of LED TVs in recent months, for example what the differences are between LED and LCD TVs, what we’ve got here today are the top ten most common misconceptions on TV technology. Got further questions? We’d be happy to try and answer.

TVs with 1080i produce the same quality picture as those with 1080p

Not true: only 1080p (‘p’ stands for progressive) produces a true Full HD experience, 1080i (‘i’ stands for interlaced) only produces half the picture at any one time

OLED TVs are the next generation of ‘LED TVs’

Not true: OLED TVs use a completely different panel; so-called ‘LED TVs’ are varieties of LCD

LCD TVs are no good for watching sports and action movies

Not true: better quality LCD TVs have much improved refresh rates, and most manufacturers have their own motion processing technology (e.g. Motionflow). Watching movies in cinema mode gives a darker, warmer picture alongside 24p native content

LCD TVs produce inferior pictures to CRT and Plasma

Not true: LCD TVs (especially the latest and most developed models) now have a number of different technologies to produce high quality images. An LCD panel is just one small part of an LCD TV

LCD screens are made with liquid crystals

Not true: there is no actual liquid in a liquid crystal. The term refers to a peculiar quality of a certain type of crystal, not its physical appearance

You have to directly face an LCD to watch it properly

Not true: on good quality LCD TVs you should be able to sit about 70° off axis and still see a perfectly displayed image (you can go as far as 89° and still see a good picture)

LCDs suffer from inadequate black levels

Not true: most better quality LCD TVs have much improved contrast ratios to produce high quality colours, with some having a contrast ratio of 1m:1. Some LCD TVs also have Dynamic Contrast for extra detail and depth

Screen burn is a problem for all types of TVs

Not true: whilst screen burn CAN affect all types of TVs, it is often confused with transient image persistence on LCD and Plasma TVs (it’s most common in Plasma models). Screen burn is more prevalent on monochromatic CRT screens

Plasma TVs have been banned under new EU regulations

Not true: new EU legislation will bring in minimum energy performance standards for TVs; Plasma TVs will simply need to be more energy efficient to conform. Some LCD TVs already offer massive energy savings: the BRAVIA WE5 uses the newest commercially available LCD backlight technology, HCFL (Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp), which provides the quality of a CCFL backlight but uses significantly less electricity

Bigger is always better when you’re choosing a new TV

Not true: consumers should always choose a TV that is the right size for the room it will be used in, otherwise some viewing benefits can be lost. However the realistic quality of BRAVIA Full HD allows you to sit closer to the television. That means it’s possible to size up to a larger screen for a more immersive HD viewing experience.

Thanks to Mark for sending this in!