Full High Definition Television Explained
When buying a television, it is important to learn the difference between full High Definition, HD ready and analog sets with HD converters. Full HD is a term that refers only to sets designated as full HD LCD TV sets or full HD plasma sets.
Full HD - A full High Definition plasma set should have a pixel count that is labeled 1080p. Generally it has a contrast ratio designation as’20 by 1080p. A full HD LCD TV set should also have a pixel count label as 1080p. You may also see the contrast ratio is designated as’20 by 1080p. With this’20 by 1080p ratio, HDTV broadcasting is the best it can be. This is because full High Definition LCD TVs and full HD plasma sets can process and display high definition 1080p signals, the highest signals from HDTV.
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 - Analog televisions do work if hooked up to an High Definition TV converter. The HDTV converter works from outside of the television to tune the signal to analog. This is similar to the built-in digital tuners in LCD and plasma televisions. Without an HDTV converter, an analog television cannot receive digital broadcasting, which is fast replacing analog.
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.
