LED vs LCD TV

[MJK]

Is their a major difference between LED and LCD tv's? Is the LED tv worth the increase in price?

[Hanni]

http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/led-tv-1...-6529-101.html

In basic terms an LED TV is still an LCD with LED back lighting instead of a traditional bulb. The article gives more detail about contrast etc.

[FanIn80]

Go to any big box retail store in the city. They'll have some on display, so you can see for yourself.

Think of combining the brilliance and vibrance of a plasma, with the realism of a TrueMotion LCD.

[MickMcGeough]

In a word, no.

LED backlighting is definitely an advantage but it's not a "must-have". Plenty of LED backlit sets are put to shame by good non-LED sets.

Non LED backlit sets can be had on the cheap now, because everybody wants LED backlighting without really knowing why. It's definitely the way LCD TVs are going, but right now there are non LED backlit TVs just as good.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

It's definitely the way LCD TVs are going, but right now there are non LED backlit TVs just as good.

You must be referring to plasmas, then.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

You must be referring to plasmas, then.

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Think of combining the brilliance and vibrance of a plasma, with the realism of a TrueMotion LCD.

No, the LEDs are just the backlight instead of a CCFL Tube. It doesn't change the characteristics of the actual panel which can be good or bad for the subjective viewing experience.

Gimmicks like TruMotion are nothing but high refresh rates combined with frame multiplying to artificially increase the apparent frame rate. This can look crappy to some people.

The real advantage of plasmas are deeper black levels which no LCDs come close to because of the existence of the backlight although LEDs can improve this but only if you buy a full array backlit TV and not simply an LED edge lit TV because some degree of local dimming to increase black levels can be accomplished.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

You must be referring to plasmas, then.

Nope. Plasma PQ is better than both, but my point is not to make LED backlighting a "must-have" in TV shopping. There are two reasons for this.

1. "LED LCD TV" can mean a lot of things. Are they white or RGB LEDs? Edge lit? Local dimming?
2. LEDs can be used to backlight a crappy panel.

I just finished a round of LCD TV shopping and found at least two CCFL displays with better uniformity, better black levels, and nearly equal contrast than a similarly priced LED backlit TV of the same brand. I saw edge lit LED LCDs with noticably dark corners on bright scenes. I saw a local dimming LED set with some of the worst color saturation I've ever seen.

On the flip side, manufacturers have had plenty of time to get CCFL backlighting "right". Sony & Samsung make some excellent CCFL sets in the sub $2000 range.

Obviously there are some stunning LED backlit TVs out there as well; it's a superior technology. But a "great" CCFL TV today is better and cheaper than an "average" LED LCD TV.

[BloodFetish]

At the rate technology is changing I wouldn't feel inclined to spend the extra $$$ for LED backlighting, unless the picture is demonstrably better. Or if you're a granola chewin' tree-hugger and appreciate the lesser power consumption and "greener" materials that the LED backlighting has.

LED backlit TVs will come down in price. In fact, I suspect they are cheaper to produce than CCFL backlit screens, and the higher prices are a result of preying on people's tendancy to always want the next new thing.

Personally, I'm hoping my plasma lasts until OLED tvs are here and affordable

[Flaming Choy]

I thought the primary advantage of LED TVs are they are much thinner (well, unless you go to the OLED). At least that's what I've seen so far from my brief look at TVs in stores.

[FanIn80]

I went to one store that had an LED, LCD and Plasma next to each other. The LED stood out to me, and I hate LCD TVs. It was the first time I ever actually appreciated that crazy "TrueMotion" thing that LCDs can do. It was an LCD with Plasma quality brightness and contrast (actually, it even put the plasma to shame).

The trick is to find a place that still has a display like that set up. It's much easier to tell when they are side-by-side, than it is when the different types are on different sides of the department.

So... It certainly seems worth it to me, but I'm kinda crazy like that.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I went to one store that had an LED, LCD and Plasma next to each other. The LED stood out to me, and I hate LCD TVs. It was the first time I ever actually appreciated that crazy "TrueMotion" thing that LCDs can do. It was an LCD with Plasma quality brightness and contrast (actually, it even put the plasma to shame).

The trick is to find a place that still has a display like that set up. It's much easier to tell when they are side-by-side, than it is when the different types are on different sides of the department.

So... It certainly seems worth it to me, but I'm kinda crazy like that.

What you saw was probably a good TV but not truely indicative of what all LED LCDs are as plenty, especially edge lit ones can be crappy. The plasma next to it might not have been the best plasma either.

The thing with TruMotion is that it artificially pumps out extra frames by doubling them for the higher refresh rates and it might not look good for every source considering the original framerate of the material. I know some people who get dizzy with TruMotion.

Again, brightness and vibrance are selling features of Plasmas but what puts them ahead is black levels where local diming full array LED backlit LCD TVs can approach but usually not beat.

TV is all subjective too though so yeah, just go look at them yourself and try the various things you do most often or watch most often on them if you are able to do so before you make a choice.

[FanIn80]

For the record, I'm not suggesting anyone should rush out and buy one. I'm still using a 720p Panasonic plasma in my living room, and I haven't even felt the need to upgrade to 1080p, never mind LED or 3D or whatever.

I'm just saying that there is a very definite difference between LED, LCD and Plasma.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

For the record, I'm not suggesting anyone should rush out and buy one. I'm still using a 720p Panasonic plasma in my living room, and I haven't even felt the need to upgrade to 1080p, never mind LED or 3D or whatever.

I'm just saying that there is a very definite difference between LED, LCD and Plasma.

But there isn't as that's a broad characterization as many can look very much alike, especially low end ones. That's what MickMcGeough was saying. That a good fluorescent backlit LCD can be better than a more expensive LED backlit LCD. You cannot automatically assume that one type is better than another or that there is a definite difference based purely on type which is what the OP was asking. There are general differences but they are not immediately obvious to many TV watchers and it varies according to usage and video source.

There is a definite difference between individual TVs but you need to get model specific to have any real discussion.

My personal opinion is that I would for myself and myself only...buy a plasma and avoid LCDs, both LED or CCFL backlit simply because I know I want very deep black levels and having crappy black levels really bugs me because I watch a lot of movies with darkness in them or play games with darkness in them and if you have an LCD, it often turns a strange grey or shimmering because the pixel may be blacked out but the backlight still shines through slightly.

If you are watching things like sports primarily though, that doesn't matter as everything is always brightly lit. Sports is also an area where gimmicks like Trumotion may be nice to have.

[FanIn80]

Oh, well of course a top-of-the-line plasma will look better than a bottom-of-the-barrel LED.

I don't think I actually claimed that every single LED TV is better than any other TV. In fact, all I really said was that LED TVs combined the brightness and contrast of a plasma with the TrueMotion thing that LCDs have. Which is pretty much bang-on.

I guess I didn't mention I was only talking about the "good" LEDs.

Edit: I'm still a plasma fan, but at least now I can think about an LCD too if I want that TrueMotion thing that I'm slowly getting used to at my buddy's house.

[Vulcan]

One other thing to consider when comparing TVs in a store is that the Plasma TVs will be at a disadvantage as the lighting is too bright for plasmas. If you have a bright room maybe an LCD is better but if you can control the lighting, plasma may be the answer.

I've heard edge lit LEDs have problems with uneven lighting but every model has it's good and bad points, so look for the best TV for your viewing conditions and your wallet.

[McG]

and let's not forget the propensity of stores to leave their tv sets unadjusted, at unrealistic settings straight from the factory floor. or worse, to adjust to make the higher margin ones look better.

a well adjusted tv set looks great!

[MJK]

I shouldn't have started this thread because now I dont know what the frack to do!

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by MJK

I shouldn't have started this thread because now I dont know what the frack to do!

There's so much overlap in TVs today that you just can't limit your search based on technology (except maybe don't get a plasma in a bright room).

Read lots of reviews, see the sets in person, and make a decision.

Also - tell us your price range and size requirements and people here will make recommendations based on their experience.

[FanIn80]

Dude, forget the internet. The myriad of opinions will drive you bonkers.

Just go to a store and look for yourself. At the end of the day, it's your eyes that you have to listen to. Spend a few hours and tour around. Don't trust one store, go see them all! Just try to compare similar quality brands. Like, don't compare a Panasonic plasma and then an Insignia LED and think that LEDs suck, and vice versa.

Edit: ^^ I have a plasma in a bright room. I got the anti-glare coating though, so I don't see any reflections at all. I even have a main 100W ceiling light that shines right in front of it, and I get no glare at all when the TV is on.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by McG

and let's not forget the propensity of stores to leave their tv sets unadjusted, at unrealistic settings straight from the factory floor. or worse, to adjust to make the higher margin ones look better.

a well adjusted tv set looks great!

This. I just finished revamping my entire TV collection (2 40" LCD, and one 63" plasma), and I noticed a lot of stores had the lower priced stes, set to dimmer levels. The Samsung Plasma was the worst culprit. They had the model up set on 70% brightness and the cheaper model on 20%, and I pretty much busted the salesman in a huge lie, as he was telling me they were at the same settings before I went to the menus to adjust both of them. LOL, he didn't realize I was replacing Samsung DLP's and the menus are virtually identical. Because of this I went to a different strore (memory express) where they guys tend to be pretty honest.

As far as brand, I find Samsung is the bang for your buck in TV's right now, and they are the nicest "looking" TV's in relation to their bezels/stands. And I highly recommend Memory Express, right now they are the dirty little secret for TV deals, as a lot of people don't realize that they are becoming a pretty big player in the TV market. You should check them out, they have some pretty crazy deals on LCD's right now.