First Flat Screen TV

What Is a Flat Screen TV

In this article you will learn valuable information about what to look for when you buy your first flat screen TV. But first let’s define what a flat screen TV is. A flat screen TV is a video display that presents images to a viewer on a screen that is just a few inches thick. Additionally, the width of the screen ranges in size from 15″ to over 80″. The flat screen TV uses a technology called LCD (liquid crystal display), LED (light emitting diode) or OLED (organic light emitting diode) to display images on the screen.

LCD Flat Screen

The LCD flat screen uses crystals and filters to create an image on the screen. LCD requires a backlight in order to work. LCD TVs are generally less expensive to manufacture and is the technology used in the first generation of flat screen TVs.

LED Flat Screen

Flat screen TVs based on LED technology use diodes to produce the backlight. Surprisingly, the LED backlight uses an LCD pane to produce the image on screen. Furthermore, a positive characteristic of LED screens is that they consume less power and generally have better brightness as compared to say an OLED TV.

QLED Flat Screen

There are some variations of the LED display such as Samsung’s QLED technology. Samsung’s QLED is a proprietary method that they claim produces enhanced brightness and color reproduction.

OLED Flat Screen

The OLED (organic light emitting diode) display uses a layer of special material that contains individual pixels that illuminate themselves producing an image. Hence a backlight is not needed with this technology. Furthermore, OLED produces excellent black reproduction creating a more realistic image. Generally, OLED has a better image quality than LEDs. However, the downside to OLEDs is that it can be prone to screen burn in. Burn in is when a faint image persists if that image is displayed continuously over a period of time. OLEDs are not as bright as compared to LEDs and if you set them for maximum brightness, it may reduce the lifespan of the display.

QD-OLED Flat Screen

Yet another variation is Samsung’s QD-OLED technology. This is Samsung’s new technology which claims increased brightness thereby overcoming one of the downsides of OLED technology.

Plasma Flat Screen

Plasma screen flat TVs were at one time popular due to their ability to reproduce black colors but this type of TV is falling out of favor. These TVs suffered from a washed out picture due to screen reflections as compared to LCD and LED TVs. Consequently, manufacturers have stopped producing this type of TV. Hence, it is best to avoid plasma TVs if you encounter one.

Flat Screen TV vs Smart TV

Yet another classification of flat screen TVs is smart versus non-smart. The difference between a flat screen non-smart TV and a smart TV is that a smart TV has an operating system installed in it. The operating system gives the TV additional capabilities such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Ethernet input. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi broadcast a local wireless signal from a device located inside your house to the TV. On the other hand, an Ethernet cable send a signal from a device in your house to your TV through the cable. In some cases, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi may seem a better choice since you don’t have to run a cable to the TV. However, keep in mind that if you are planning to connect to a streaming source in 4K or 8K, an Ethernet cable connection is preferable over Wi-Fi because it is capable of a faster connection.

If you have a non-smart TV and want to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi you will need a Wi-Fi capable device such as a gaming console, streaming device (Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Roku etc.). You can use these devices can connect to your Wi-Fi and when connected to your non-smart flat screen tv, you can access the internet. Another way to access the internet is to connect your non-smart flat TV to your internet enabled computer, smart phone or laptop by using an HDMI cable. In order to do that, you will need an HDMI to USB C or HDMI to USB Micro cable to make the connection.

What Size Screen Do You Need?

The size of the TV screen is measured diagonally. Generally, for maximum viewing enjoyment, you will want to get the largest screen size available for your viewing environment. A general rule of thumb is that the viewing distance from the screen should be about 1 1/2 times the screen size. Use the following chart as a guide.

Screen Resolution

1080p

Get the highest standard resolution that you can afford. Formerly, the old HD standard for a high-quality screen was 1080p. This standard was based on 1920 x 1080 pixels. However, today there are newer, better quality video modes available that are preferable to 1080p.

4K Flat Screen

Instead of 1080p, a 4K screen would be a better choice. The 4K resolution is based on 3840 x 2160 pixels. The 4K standard is also known as 2160p. This increased resolution will give you a more detailed picture. Streaming content providers such as Amazon Video, Netflix and YouTube provide video in 4K. Therefore, a flat screen TV will need to be 4K compliant in order to take advantage of this standard. Broadcast providers such as Dish Network, DirectTV and Comcast Xfinity also offer movies in 4K.

Commercial broadcasters are implementing a standard called ATSC 3.0 which enables transmission of 4K TV signals over the air. An ATSC enabled flat screen TV will be able to receive a 4K signal by using an antenna. There is no charge for this signal so if you do not want to pay for streaming service, this is one option to keep your entertainment budget as low as possible. However, if you are planning to do this, you will need to make sure that your flat screen TV has an ATSC 3.0 tuner in it. Furthermore, you must live in an area that is within broadcast range of the 4K signal. Currently, not all areas are serviced with this standard. You may have to wait until it is rolled out in your area.

Another option is to get an external ATSC 3.0 tuner which you can connect to a non-ATSC 3.0 TV.

8K Flat Screen

The latest standard for flat screen TVs is 8K. In order to take full advantage of this standard you will want to have content that streams at 8K. If you currently don’t have it, you may want to wait until your streaming provider catches up to the standard. Both Sony Play Station and Microsoft’s Xbox have announced that their new products will support the 8K standard.

You will also want to check with your internet provider to make sure that they can support the 8K standard.

Refresh Rate

Most flat screen TVs support 60hz refresh rate. If you will be using your flat screen for gaming, you will want a refresh rate of 120hz. The refresh rate refers to the number of times a picture redraws itself per second. Consequently, a faster refresh rate will provide a better gaming experience as jumpy performance will be kept to a minimum.

What Kind of Ports do Flat Screen TVs Have?

HDMI / HDMI ARC

Flat screen TVs usually have HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) or HDMI ARC (high definition multimedia interface audio return channel) ports. The HDMI port accepts an HDMI cable that carries the video and audio signals. In contrast, the HDMI ARC port also handles video and audio signals but also is capable of sending the audio signal back to the source. In other words, HDMI ARC is capable of two way communication between the TV and the audio/video source. HDMI and HDMI ARC eliminates the need for a separate audio cables. It handles both the video and audio signal in one cable. This allows you to connect multiple devices such as a sound bar and cable box to your TV with a minimum of cables.

Composite AV

Some flat screen TVs still have the old style Composite AV ports. These are for connecting the RCA red, white and yellow cables to the TV. The yellow cables carries the video signal, the white carries the right sound channel and the red carries the left sound channel.

USB

You may also find USB ports on your flat screen TV. This port is used to connect an external hard drive to the TV. The USB ports allows you to play your music, videos or look at your files from your hard drive through your flat screen TV.

LAN

The LAN port is used to connect your computer to the internet through an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet port also can connect to your router using an Ethernet cable to access streaming content from your internet provider.

What Kind of Cables are Needed?

HDMI

Your flat screen TV most likely will use HDMI (high definition multi-media interface) cables. However, a 4k flat screen needs HDMI version 2.0. Furthermore, if your flat screen TV is 8K, you will need to make sure your cable is HDMI version 2.1. The 2.1 version is also backwards compatible with 4k at 120hz. The HDMI cable carries both picture and audio signals. Additionally, the HDMI cable is used to connect your flat screen TV to a cable box or satellite receiver box.

HDMI ARC

The HDMI ARC (high definition multi-media interface audio return channel) standard carries both video and audio signals on the same cable. This standard simplifies cabling as it eliminates the need for a separate audio cable when hooking up the TV and devices. The standard to look for is 1.4. There is also another standard called eARC (enhanced audio return channel) which supports increased bandwidth and speed. The eARC standard supports Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Master Audio, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio standards.

Ethernet

If you will be streaming from a content provider, an Ethernet cable will provide the fastest connection. It will connect with an Ethernet cable to your router where you receive your internet feed.

Bluetooth / Wi-Fi

If you use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect to a streaming service, you will not need any cables. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi send data via a wireless signal hence cables are not needed. This will make for an easier and cleaner installation although it is not optimal. Furthermore, a Wi-Fi signal is slower than an Ethernet signal.

Flat Screen Sound Quality

Although flat screen TVs have built in speakers, they generally don’t have very good speakers. This is because of the limited amount of room that a flat screen has to accommodate the speakers. To that end, you may want to consider getting a sound bar for your TV in order to improve the audio.

A sound bar is a long, rectangular box that contains various speakers and electronic circuits. The sound bar generally sits in front of the flat screen and projects the sound to the viewers. It contains several specialized speakers and electronic circuits that process the sound. Sound bars are engineered to bounce audio waves off the walls and can mimic the effect of sound coming from everywhere in the room. This can really increase the enjoyment of your flat screen. What’s more you will feel that you are emersed in sound.

Some sound bars come with a separate subwoofer that gives thunderous bass similar to what you would experience in a movie theater. Yet others come with satellite speakers that allow you to enjoy true surround sound. Coupled with a big flat screen TV, you can have an entertainment system that rivals movie theaters.

How Do I Get Movies and TV Shows to Watch on My Flat Screen TV

Content providers supply you with movies, TV shows, concerts, music, sports and just about any other kind of entertainment you can imagine. Some content providers send a signal through a high-speed cable that the provider runs to your house. You sign up with a provider and pay them a specified amount depending on how much and what type of content you sign up for.

Content can also be supplied by a provider that uses a satellite signal that is received by a special dish shaped antenna that is installed on the roof of your house. You will get a receiver from the provider that is connected to the dish antenna. The receiver is placed inside your house and then connected to your flat screen TV. Similar to cable providers, the cost for the service is dependent upon how much content and what package you sign up for.

You can also get content streamed through the internet. Firstly, you will need a smart TV in order to do this. Secondly, you will connect your smart TV to your internet router using an Ethernet cable. You can also connect a non-smart TV to the internet as discussed in a previous section.

You can also receive over-the-air TV signals for free if your flat screen TV has an ATSC tuner in it as mentioned in the 4K section above.

Compatibility with Gaming Consoles

If you will be using your flat screen TV for gaming, there are some flat screen TV standards that you will want to look for. Chiefly, you will want a TV with a latency of 30ms or less. Latency refers to how quickly a screen will respond to an input signal. This is very important as a slow latency will cause a delay in what you input on a controller versus what you see on screen. Additionally, a TV with 120hz refresh rate will give you the best gaming results. Furthermore, an OLED TV will typically give you the best looking picture and gaming experience.

Which Flat Screen TV is Right For Me?

Look for a flat screen TV that supports HDR (High Dynamic Range). HDR TVs have richer, more realistic color reproductions and better contrast. This will generally mean looking at mid-range to upper range price levels. However, the increase in price will be worth it. In order to take advantage of HDR, you will need a streaming service or gaming console that supports it.

WCG (Wide Color Gamut) is another standard that defines how closely a flat screen TV renders colors as compared to reality. A flat screen TV with WCG will produce more realistic, vibrant colors. This will be especially noticeable when viewing scenes with say flowers or customized automobiles with candy colors.

Select a OLED 4K capable flat screen TV with HDR and WCG to get the best picture quality with rich realistic colors, good contrast and deep blacks. OLED TVs are expensive so if price is a concern you can still get a quality picture and bright colors with a QLED TV.

Internet Access

If you want to use your flat screen TV to connect to the internet, by all means get a smart TV. A smart TV will allow you to access social media, run apps, play music, read files and watch streaming content. If you will be using your TV for gaming, make sure to get a flat screen with a latency of 30ms or less. Also, a refresh rate of 120hz, if your game supports it will help to reduce any choppy video that may occur during quick action play.

Flat Screen Security

One concern with smart TVs is data protection. Many smart TVs come with cameras and microphones and there is a concern with having the camera and microphone hacked and unauthorized recording being made of those in range of the camera and mic. Furthermore, some smart TVs have facial recognition software and the risks of misuse of this information is concerning. With this in mind, you will want to be aware of the security setting that each manufacturer implements and set them up for maximum safety.

Smart vs. Non-Smart

Smart TVs are more expensive than non-smart TV so if you will not be accessing the internet through your TV, you can save money by getting a non-smart TV.

Flat Screen Sound

A great part of the entertainment experience is having a high quality sound system to complement the big screen picture. Unfortunately, the built-in speakers of the flat screen TV are severely lacking. Consider getting a sound bar to maximize the enjoyment of your system as discussed above.

Finally

The best advice is to sit in a showroom and watch the flat screen TV of your choice for an extended time period to see if it meets your expectations. Try to do everything you would normally do at home to see how it performs.

The key to finding the right TV for you is to first determine what your needs are. Once that is ascertained, research the market using the information provided above. Take your time and ask a lot of questions. You will greatly increase your chance of getting a TV that you will be happy with. Shop now

References

When Will TV Stations Broadcast in 4K

https://www.tomsguide.com/reference/smart-tv-security-tips