Screen Resolution and Definition

High definition is coming, and if you've seen it then I'm sure it's a one big reason you're considering a top end television. With a high definition program or DVD being displayed on your LCD, you have the most accurate reproduction of the image. LCD televisions display higher at a higher resolution which enables this, and supports showing high definition right down to the last pixel.

The higher definition from an LCD television provides a crisp display of the show you are watching, but keep in mind that it can only display what is sent to it. This means that you will require a high definition set-top box or an in-built high definition decoder in to the LCD television itself to be able to view TV broadcasts televised in high definition.
LCD Power Usage, Weight & Life Span

While not always considered a top priority, the power usage of components of your home cinema certainly translate into a significant long-term consideration for your purchase. It is estimated that the average LCD television runs at an average of thirty percent that of its plasma television equivalent. If power consumption is a factor then you will definitely want to look towards LCD television sets.

Another fairly minimal consideration is the weight of your set, when you are looking to mount it on a wall or move it regularly, as is often the case. An LCD TV is generally lighter and more portable. Whether bringing your set home from the store, positioning it on a wall, or just transporting it around your living room or home, you don't want to be dropping your new purchase when it's worth several thousand dollars.

LCD televisions are typically guaranteed to retain their brightness for up to 60,000 hours. Plasma TVs, on the other hand, can lose brightness in their picture quality after just 30,000 hours. Plasma TVs (even newer ones) also run the risk of screen burn-in when a single image is displayed very regularly, however this is being improved as next-generation sets come out and is less of a purchasing factor as it once was.

In summary, the advantages of LCD televisions include:

* Higher screen resolution
* Lower power usage
* Lighter weight
* Longer picture brightness