TV Buying Guide

There is a fantastic and diverse range of new televisions available in the shops and online today. But with so many styles, designs and features, trying to find a TV that suits your needs can be time consuming and confusing. We've made the process of choosing and buying a new TV easier for you, by putting together a concise set of hints and tips, with clear and easy to understand explanations.

How to Choose a Television: Introduction

There are three main types of TV available on the market: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and plasma televisions. While many of us are used to the CRT televisions, in recent years the flat panel LCD and plasma televisions have soared in popularity.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of TV, so it's helpful to understand how they work and what they are most suited for.

CRT Televisions

This is the traditional type of TV that many of us will be familiar with. CRT televisions range from 14 inches to over 30 inches in screen size.

CRT TVs are modelled around the Cathode Ray Tube, which sends a beam of electrons into the red, green and blue phosphor dots on the screen, which then emit visible light to form the image we see.

With great picture and sound quality, CRT TVs offer excellent value for money, and the portable versions are easy to move around. The standard CRT screen was designed to a 4:3 aspect ratio, but more recent models include the wide screen format.

TVs of this type have a significantly larger depth than flat panel models, but while their bulky size and weight can be a problem for many households, CRT televisions remain popular for their comparative affordability.

Flat Panel LCD TV's

LCD TVs are often referred to as Flat Panel televisions, due to their significantly reduced depth compared to conventional CRT TVs.

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, a technology that uses two panels with a liquid crystal solution between them, with a light source behind the rear panel. The liquid crystals react to the light, creating the image on the LCD screen.

The flatness of LCD televisions often gives them a sleek, modern appearance. Early models of LCD TV often gave a poorer picture when viewed from an angle, but today's models boast excellent visual and sound quality, thanks to a range of improvements.

Savebuckets has details of thousands of LCD Televisions - compare prices of LCD TVs and find the best deal online

What is a Plasma Television?

Plasma TVs are similar in appearance to LCD TVs, but work differently, using tiny cells containing small fields of gas - in a similar way to a fluorescent light bulb. Each gas-filled cell is electronically charged to create a red, green or blue light. Together the lights form more stable, sharp and definitive images than standard CRT TVs.

Like LCD televisions, they are flat panel, though they can be more expensive. But for vivid colours and deeper, richer images, plasma televisions are an ideal choice.

Do I Need A Wide Screen Television?

Most programmes are now broadcast in a wide screen format, and most TVs are now wide screen. If you buy a traditional non-widescreen television, you can still watch wide screen programmes, but you may have to adjust your settings to fit the whole image on the screen.

What is High Definition Television?

High Definition Television is becoming increasingly popular with many households. HDTV images are broadcast with a much higher resolution than traditional formats, delivering sharper, more realistic pictures.

You can buy TVs capable of screening high definition broadcasts - many (but not all) LCD and plasma models can - and they are usually labelled as being 'HD-Ready.' It's important to note that while these TVs can carry high resolution images, at the moment you need a HD receiver to be able to watch programmes broadcast in HD.

Online stores and shop will tell you whether your chosen TV is HD-ready, and will usually advise you about the options for receiving HD programmes.

Benefits of Buying an IDTV (Integrated Digital Television)

As the analogue signal is due to be switched off in the UK between October 2007 and 2012, when all channels will be broadcast digitally via terrestrial or satellite transmissions, it might be worth buying a television with a built-in Freeview receiver. The TV will get all the Freeview channels and you won't have to pay a subscription as you would with some satellite or cable services.

Consider Size & Positioning Before You Buy A Massive TV

It's worth buying a TV that suits the part of the house where you want to put it. The size of the screen and the viewing area are important points to consider before making that important purchase. Remember that larger televisions will need to fit through the entrance! Likewise, a smaller television might not be suitable for a living room.

Wall-mounted TVs are becoming fashionable, so if you choose this option you should check the specification to make sure that the television is wall-mountable.

Do I Need To Buy an Extended TV Warranty?

A television can be a big investment, but usually new TVs will come with a free or fixed price warranty or guarantee, offering free repairs or replacements within a certain period - usually up to 3 years. It's worth reading the terms and conditions of the warranty and comparing them with those offered by other online retailers, but remember that you also have statutory legal rights when purchasing a new television.

It can be a good idea to set a limit on the amount of money that you are prepared to spend on your new TV. By shopping around online and comparing prices between different retailers, you might be able to take advantage of special offers, or even get a better model of television than your budget would usually allow.