How do you tell modern televisions apart? What does it mean to be HD ready? What does it mean to have full HD TV?
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: 1920 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.
For blu-ray technology, which is also filmed in this 1080p high definition, these sets are perfectly compatible. These sets reproduce blu-ray disks exactly as they were filmed. Other sets cannot claim quite this high a quality.
HD Ready - Unlike full HD, HD ready refers to the built-in capability of a set to broadcast higher pixel High Definition at a lower pixel count or ratio. Look for these sets to have a pixel rate designated as 1080i or 728i. An HD tuner converts higher number HD into these slightly lower pixel rates. There is no extra effort required on the user's part. The television will simply make the adjustments, and some viewers may not be able to see the contrast difference between HD ready and full HD televisions.
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 - High definition television is broadcast in widescreen, also known as the 16 inch by 9 inch ratio. Analog television was always broadcast in 4:3 ratio. Whether they are HD ready or full HD LCD TV sets, LCDs will all come with wider screens. For full HD plasma sets, these sets will be wider than analog sets, but of course HD ready plasmas are also wider. Width is not an indication of HD quality, simply of HD capability.
HDTV Converters - Analog televisions do work if hooked up to an High Definition TV converter. The HDTV converter works from outside of the television to tune the signal to analog. This is similar to the built-in digital tuners in LCD and plasma televisions. Without an HDTV converter, an analog television cannot receive digital broadcasting, which is fast replacing analog.
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 1920 by 1080p. If it is lower, it is not full HD as compared to full HD LCD TVs and 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: 1920 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.
For blu-ray technology, which is also filmed in this 1080p high definition, these sets are perfectly compatible. These sets reproduce blu-ray disks exactly as they were filmed. Other sets cannot claim quite this high a quality.
HD Ready - Unlike full HD, HD ready refers to the built-in capability of a set to broadcast higher pixel High Definition at a lower pixel count or ratio. Look for these sets to have a pixel rate designated as 1080i or 728i. An HD tuner converts higher number HD into these slightly lower pixel rates. There is no extra effort required on the user's part. The television will simply make the adjustments, and some viewers may not be able to see the contrast difference between HD ready and full HD televisions.
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 - High definition television is broadcast in widescreen, also known as the 16 inch by 9 inch ratio. Analog television was always broadcast in 4:3 ratio. Whether they are HD ready or full HD LCD TV sets, LCDs will all come with wider screens. For full HD plasma sets, these sets will be wider than analog sets, but of course HD ready plasmas are also wider. Width is not an indication of HD quality, simply of HD capability.
HDTV Converters - Analog televisions do work if hooked up to an High Definition TV converter. The HDTV converter works from outside of the television to tune the signal to analog. This is similar to the built-in digital tuners in LCD and plasma televisions. Without an HDTV converter, an analog television cannot receive digital broadcasting, which is fast replacing analog.
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 1920 by 1080p. If it is lower, it is not full HD as compared to full HD LCD TVs and full HD plasma sets.
