Full HD TV Explained

By Marshall Denyer

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 - High Definition broadcasts can be received directly only by a set with 1080p pixels. Sometimes this is listed with another number, as in the numbers:'20 x 1080p. If it is 1080p, then it is either a HD LCD TV set or a full HD plasma set. Unlike analog or HD ready sets, full High Definition LCD TV sets can receive actual high definition television signals at their normal 1080p rate. It can play HD DVDs and blu-ray disks as maximum quality. Like full HD LCD TV sets, full HD plasma sets are fully capable of receiving and displaying 1080p broadcasts.

Full High Definition plasma sets also play blu-ray at its highest capacity and high definition DVDs as well. Full HD LCD TV sets broadcast in widescreen as do full HD plasma sets.

HD Ready - HD ready capability exists in sets with a pixel rate of 728i or 1080i. Each set includes a built-in high definition tuner for displaying broadcasts with higher pixel ratings. LCDs and Plasmas have fixed-pixel displays that use pixels to display television images. If the number of pixels is 728, then it has 728 pixels per vertical inch. If the number is 1080, then it has 1080 pixels per vertical inch. Images increase in detail as the pixel number rises.

Set Sizes - LCDs dominate the market because they come in sets as small as 10 inches and increase in size to family home theater size. Full High Definition LCD TVs often include the 42 inch TV. Full HD LCD TV's are considered 'high end' compared to their HD ready counterparts. Plasma set manufacturers sometimes offer a 42 inch TV, which may or may not be a full High Definition plasma set. However, plasmas are most often in giant sizes, such as 50 inches and 60 inches. They are primarily for home theater use. Full HD plasma sets are "high end" compared to similarly-sized HD ready plasma sets. Already generously large, the 42 inch TV is the smallest size where both plasma and LCDs are available.

HD Sets - All High Definition televisions are wide-screen. They have a ratio of 16:9 just as the HD broadcasts have a ratio of 16:9. This differs from the analog broadcast, which was a 4:3 ratio. LCDs are always widescreen due to either because they are HD ready sets or full HD LCD TV sets. Thinness is not an aspect of HD broadcast ability. It is simply a reflection of the technology used to make LCDs. Plasma sets are also widescreen, due to HD ready or full HD technology. Again, you cannot measure HD abilities by the thin size of many plasmas. This has little to do with whether or not a set is HD ready or a full HD plasma set.

HD Converter - For analog television users, an High Definition converter is a must. Almost all analog signals have been or are being replaced by digital signals. Only an HD converter can make an HD broadcast into an analog signal. Many users report that an HD converter has improved their analog picture considerably. Still, this is not a full HD picture as defined by manufacturing standards.

HDTV Online - High Definition TV online is accomplished through the pixel rate on your computer screen. It may or may not be high enough to deliver true HDTV. To find out if HDTV online is true full high definition, you should compare your pixel count and resolution to'20 by 1080p. If it is lower, it is not full HD as compared to full HD LCD TVs and full HD plasma sets. - 32388

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