LED Buying Guide – A completed Guideline Version

LED TVs are like nothing else out there. They save energy like you would not believe and they are much better than both LCD and Plasma; probably combined. They may be more expensive but they are worth every penny. Some people swear by them and refuse to purchase anything else whatsoever. I’ve had many people asking me about LED TVs, what they offer and why they are better. I figured now was the right time to write my own LED Buying Guide so all of you can have something to go off of. With today’s economy, everyone is trying to save money and it’s hard to know who to turn to and who to trust when it comes to technology. Things are changing so quickly and it can be extremely difficult to figure out who is telling the truth and who is bluffing in order to sell a few TVs. Everything that follows has been researched by me. Some of the information I found online; speaking to many individuals who have these TVs. I also talked to people in my life who have them. So, sit back, relax and know that all of this information is coming from someone who is here to help. I’m not trying to sell anything, and I’m not making a penny from writing this. It just felt like the right thing to do.

So, what exactly is an LED-backlit LCD television? Well, it’s an LCD TV that uses LED backlighting instead of the traditional CCFL that is used in older televisions. Many people simply call this an LED TV. This new technology allows for a thinner TV and uses much less power. The screen is much brighter and contrasts beautifully compared to its older counterparts. It also will not overheat like many other televisions out there.

Now that you know a little bit about the TV, what exactly are you looking for? This is an intense question for many of us who aren’t sure what LED TVs have to offer us. I will break the different variations down for you so you can get a better feel for what you need in order to get the best possible viewing experience in your home:

RGB Dynamic LEDs are placed behind the TVs panel, allowing dimming to occur very specifically around your screen. This means extremely clear whites, blacks and better contrast ratios. Things like stars on a night sky are going to be a little fuzzy with this option but there are so many color options that you are going to be completely blown away. White Edge-LEDs are placed around the rim of the screen, spreading light evenly behind your screen. This is the most common LED TV. This version is capable of being very, very thin (as small as 1 inch thick) and has a balanced distribution of light across the entire screen. Lastly, there are Full Array LED TVs. These are arranged behind your screen but aren’t able to dim or brighten individually. I’ve talked to many individuals and they swear by one or two of the three options above but all in all, it’s a user preference. It really depends on what you watch and if you can notice the difference. These LED TVs are all wonderful quality and better than their older versions and most of us can’t even notice the slight differenced. What you can guarantee is that these images are going to be beautifully contrasted on all of the sets.

Now for HD. I’m sure many of you have heard of 1080i, 1080p, 720i and 720p but do you know what they mean and how they differ. First of all the “i” stands for interlaced and the “p” stands for progressive. 1080 means there are 1,080 vertical rows across your screen, that change with each frame; 720 means there are 720 of them. The “i” means that every time the frame changes, every other line changes, which “p” means every single row changes at the same time. Progressive gives you much crisper picture because everything on the screen is changing at the same time. This means no pixilizing and blurry pictures. If you watch a lot of fast-paced things like sports, I would recommend 1080p but it’s really up to you. The best thing to do is go into a store and view them for yourself. Some people can’t tell the difference.

Let’s discuss some of the cool features LED TVs offer. Some you may need others you may be able to live without. By creating an idea of what you want, you can save yourself some money by not spending money on features that you’re not going to use. Many of these sets can be remotely controlled so you can adjust the TV when you’re sitting in various places around the room. Got to love that, right? Ask yourself a few simple questions: what are you going to use your TV for? Sports, video games, simple viewing, Internet? Once you know what you’re looking for, you will be able to talk with a rep from your favorite store and they can help you select the best option. As always, shop around and take your time. DO NOT BUY the first TV you come across. If you do this, it’s very likely you are going to find something later that is cheaper and fits your viewing style better.

As well as features, it is important to think about what settings you need. For example, do you want your TV to have a sleep timer? Do you want your TV to be able to dim and brighten as the lighting in your room changes without you having to touch a thing? Little things like this add to the overall price of your new set and if you cut back on what you don’t need, you are going to save quite a few bucks along the way. I’ve seen many people make this mistake. You’d be surprised how quickly settings can increase the price of a TV.

Are you in need of HD? If so, then this is going to cost you more but it’s worth it if you’re going to use it. I’m sure many of you already know this but it bears repeating for those who don’t. If you do not have an HD cable box, a BluRay Player or something else that uses HD, then you don’t need HD. HD may be available on a set but it will only show up in HD quality if you have a device that is capable of viewing it. Many people don’t know this and waste their hard-earned cash. This is why research is extremely important and I can’t stress it enough.

Now that you know what you’re going to be using your new LED TV for and you have thought about how many devices you would like to have hooked up to you set, it’s time to think about cables. There are many cables out there and depending on each device and what the LED TV can use, you will need to decide what and how many you need. There’s nothing worse than getting home and realizing you can’t use your TV to its full potential right away. I always recommend HDMI cables, if your TV and devices can handle them. The picture and sound are amazing and it’s much easier because you have both audio and video in one cable. This will make that mess that used to be behind your old TV disappear; which I’m sure all of us would be very happy to get rid of. As mentioned before, this is something reps would be more than happy to help you with as well.

Many people are working more towards strictly using environmental friendly items, as so many people I know are. What’s great about these sets are, they don’t leave the carbon footprint that the older sets used to. There is less to dispose of and many parts can be recycled. There is no mercury in the making of these televisions which helps out the environment quite a bit. On top of that they use 20-30% less energy than any other TVs on the market. Can you imagine how much energy you are going to save in an entire year? No wonder so many people are switching to these sets.

Warranties are another big way to save money. Some TVs are going to offer longer warranties than others and the prices can vary dramatically based on what kinds of things they cover and to what degrees. Take your time and talk to various companies before selecting a TV and warranty. You’ll be surprised how much money you can save!

Just as important as a warranty is customer service. It’s always better to buy a TV from a trusted company with a good reputation than a company that isn’t as well known or possibly doesn’t care about their reputation. It’s very simple to go to BBB.org and check out a company’s overall grade, as well as see files and suits that have been against them and much more. You may save money from buying from a lesser known company but keep in mind; this could cause you problems down the road. Some companies have been known to have terrible customer service that doesn’t fix problems and will give you grief if you’re trying to return something or wanting to have something fixed. Look up product reviews and customer service information to save you the hassle. Many sites like Amazon.com allow you to view hundreds of customer ratings and reviews so you can know exactly what’s been going on with a certain company or specific television.

Many people make the mistake of getting excited by all the features and settings a TV can offer and they are quick to purchase without thinking twice. The only thing wrong with that is, you are losing money that you have worked hard for, for something that you are most likely never going to use. I know it sounds like a long time, but I think you should research for at least a month before making any major purchase. This way, you will know if you are simply excited about a new technology or if you can actually put it to use and if it’s something absolutely necessary in your home.

I hope this LED Buying Guide gives you the insight you were looking for. I understand how difficult it can be to select any new device when technology is changing as quickly as it is. One day this is the best device, and the next day something new comes along that swears to be better than anything else out there. It can get so complicated and confusing and all you can really do is research, ask a lot of questions and try to do your best to get the best price available to you. Sites like Amazon are wonderful because they allow you to talk to customers first-hand about their experiences and get a real feel for a device before you take that leap into being an owner yourself. Keep in mind, not everyone is going to like the same thing and some people are going to absolutely hate certain features and/or settings that you love, so you really have to think about what you are told in terms of your personally viewing experience. These are the basics that are going to make sure you get what you want and for the price you deserve. Save your time, save your money and you’ll be glad you did.