Installing HD TV in your Home
The purchase of an HDTV is a significant one and should not be taken lightly. When evaluating the overall picture of an HDTV, the contrast ratio, along with screen resolution, should both be taken into consideration. However, if a person is looking for one that offers the brightest colors and darkest blacks, then the contrast ratio should be the number one priority.
The contrast ratio is defined as a measurement of the ratio between the brightest color (white) and the darkest color (black) that a television can produce. The televisions that offer the best pictures are the ones able to produce the darkest blacks and brightest whites. In most cases, it should be noted that contrast ratio tests are performed by the manufacturer.
Unlike most product tests, there is not a standard procedure for measuring the contrast ratio. Each manufacturer determines their own method to measure the ratio which makes it almost impossible to compare different models. However, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has developed a test using a checkerboard panel to measure both the white and black simultaneously. The conditions of the room will play a role in the results of the ANSI test, but many companies now use this method to test the contrast ratio.
Another test used in measuring contrast ratio in HDTV is called the “full on full off method” which measures the ratio between a pure black and pure white screen. Furthermore, the test will produce a higher contrast ratio but is not a good representation of realistic conditions.
Most people do not associate producing a dark black with blinding color, but the two actually make a great combination. A person’s HDTV picture is made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny pixels and the individual pixels are assembled to form an overall picture. Moreover, the sharpest images are able to precisely separate the black pixels from nearby lighter pixels. In fact, companies, especially plasma TV manufacturers, are constantly striving to refine their technology to combat this “light leakage”.
Plasma TV’s generally offer the highest contrast ratios when compared to other models such as LCD’s and LED’s. In fact, some plasma TV’s feature contrast ratios as high as 1,000,000 to 1. To compete with plasma LCD and LED manufacturers now feature contrast ratios that are comparable to plasma models.
One thing to remember regarding contrast ratio is that it does not play a role in how well motion is displayed. HDTV delivers an incredibly superb picture so it is important to select a television with a good contrast ratio. After all, one should not waste the features of an HDTV by using an old television with a poor contrast.
If a person loves the experience of HDTV and HD movies then a television with a high contrast ratio is the model to buy. No matter what type of television, whether it is plasma, LCD or LED, the screen resolution should always be taken into consideration. In the end, one should factor in all of their wants and needs before purchasing a television.