Backlight type
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Edge LED — side backlight of the matrix. In this case, the LEDs are distributed around the perimeter of the screen. To evenly distribute the backlight, the background of the matrix has a special reflector. An important advantage of TVs with Edge LED backlighting is the minimum thickness of the device. Among the shortcomings, one can note the presence of glare at the edges, which appear under certain conditions. Glare may be visible in scenes where dark hues predominate.
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Direct LED — rear matrix backlight. In this case, the LEDs are evenly distributed over the entire screen area. The Direct LED backlight makes the image contrast and bright at the same time. TVs with this technology have good colour reproduction. Among the shortcomings can be noted increased power consumption and increased dimensions. Additionally, such TVs have a large delay (Input lag), which is why Direct LED backlit screens are poorly suited for dynamic games.
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FALD (Full-Array Local Dimming) is a backlight technology widely used in LG TVs. A close analogue of FALD is the Direct LED backlight. The LEDs are also evenly spaced across the entire surface of the matrix, but FALD technology provides a bright, colour-rich image with high contrast. Another distinctive feature of FALD is the ability to reproduce natural blacks. When black is displayed on the screen, the LEDs are turn
...ed off in groups, by sector, which allows to make black extremely saturated. Of course, the abundance of LEDs on the matrix makes the TV more massive, and at the same time heavy. The appetite for electricity in such models is above average.
— Mini LED. Screen backlight system on a substrate of reduced LEDs (hence the Mini prefix). On the same plane of the TV panel, the number of LEDs has increased several times, if we draw parallels with traditional LED systems. As a result, the canvas with Mini LED backlight has many times more local dimming zones of the picture (Local Dimming), which is necessary for the correct operation of the extended dynamic range image technology. For playing HDR content, Mini LED systems are much better than ordinary LCDs.
— Dual LED. Proprietary backlight system used in Samsung TVs. The technology involves illuminating the image on the screen with two types of LEDs: one emits light in a cold spectrum, the other in a warm one. The Dual LED enhances colour reproduction and enhances detail contrast by adapting the colour tone of the picture according to the content on the screen.Frame rate
The highest frame rate supported by the TV.
Note that in this case we are talking specifically about the screen’s own frame rate, without additional image processing (see “Index of dynamic scenes”). This frequency must be no lower than the frame rate in the video being played - otherwise there may be jerks, interference and other unpleasant phenomena that degrade the quality of the picture. In addition, the higher the frame rate, the smoother and smoother the movement in the frame will look, and the better the detail of moving objects will be. However, it is worth noting here that playback speed is often limited by the properties of the content, and not by the characteristics of the screen. For example, films are often recorded at a frequency of only 30 fps, or even 24 - 25 fps, while most modern TVs support frequencies of
50 or
60 Hz. This is enough even for viewing high-quality content in HD resolutions (speeds above 60 fps in such video are extremely rare), but there are also “faster” screens on the market:
100 Hz,
120 Hz and
144 Hz. Such speeds, as a rule, indicate a fairly high class of the screen; they also often imply the use of various technologies designed to improve the quality of dynamic scenes.
AMD compatible
TV compatibility with special frame synchronization technologies used in AMD graphics cards.
You should pay attention to this parameter if you plan to use the TV as a gaming monitor for a PC or laptop with an AMD graphics adapter. Special timing technologies are used to match the screen refresh rate to the frame rate of the incoming video signal. Such a need arises for the reason that the frame rate issued by the graphics card can “float” when the load on the video adapter changes (this is especially true for demanding games); and if this frequency does not match the screen refresh rate – tears and other unwanted artifacts appear on the image.
The AMD technology used to eliminate this effect is called FreeSync. Nowadays, it is presented on the market in three versions — the original
FreeSync and two extended ones:
– AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The most advanced and functional version, formerly known as AMD FreeSync 2 HDR. In addition to refresh rate sync, it also includes support for HDR (see above), output at a frame rate of at least 120 Hz at Full HD resolution, as well as low frame rate compensation (LFC). The essence of LFC is that when the frame rate of the original video signal falls below the minimum frequency supported by the screen, the same frame is displayed on the screen several times, which allows to maintain the maximum smoothness of the “picture”.
— AMD FreeSync Premium. A somewhat s
...implified version compared to FreeSync Premium Pro. It does not provide working with HDR, otherwise it is completely similar.Audio decoders
A decoder can be broadly described as a standard in which digital audio (often multi-channel) is recorded. For normal playback of such sound, it is necessary that the corresponding decoder is supported by the device. Dolby Digital and DTS were the first in multi-channel decoding, gradually improving and introducing new features. The final stage for 2020 is Dolby Atmos and DTS X decoders.
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Dolby Atmos. A decoder that uses not a rigid distribution of sound across channels, but the processing of audio objects, due to which it can be used with almost any number of channels on a reproducing system — the sound will be divided between channels so that each audio object is heard as close as possible to its proper place. When using Dolby Atmos, ceiling speakers (or speakers facing the ceiling) are highly desirable. However, in extreme cases, you can do without them.
— DTS X. An analogue of the Dolby Atmos described above, when the sound is distributed not through individual channels, but through audio objects. The digital signal contains information about where (according to the director's intention) the object audible to the user should be and how it should move, and the processor of the reproducing device processes this information and determines exactly how the sound should be distributed over the available channels in order to achieve the required localization. Thanks to this, DTS X is not tied to a specific number of audi
...o channels — there can be as many as you like, the system will automatically divide the sound into them, achieving the desired sound. Also note that this decoder allows you to separately adjust the volume of dialogues.HDMI
The number of HDMI inputs provided in the design of the TV.
HDMI is a comprehensive digital interface that allows high-definition video and multi-channel audio to be transmitted over a single cable. It is widely used in modern HD equipment — in fact, the presence of such an output is mandatory for modern media centers, DVD players, etc. Therefore, LCD TVs in the vast majority of cases are equipped with at least one HDMI port. And the presence of several such ports allows you to simultaneously connect several signal sources and switch between them; in some models, the number of HDMI can reach
4 or even more. At the same time, some manufacturers use technologies that allow you to control devices connected to the TV via HDMI from a single remote control.
Wall mount
Most TVs have a VESA wall mount which may vary in size. The basis for such mount is a rectangular plate with four holes for screws in the corners. The main characteristic of such a mount is the distance between the holes — it is measured along the sides of the rectangle and is expressed in two numbers. The original VESA format is 100x100, these mounts are used for most medium-sized LCD TVs. For small screens, 75x75 mounts are provided, for large ones — 200x200 and more (up to 800x400).
However, there are also models that are equipped with a standard (proprietary) mount from the manufacturer. Mostly these are either ultra-thin TVs or designer lines. Anyway, the mount in the kit is suitable only for the selected model.
Stand shape
— 2 separate legs.
Two legs as support are usually located on different sides of the lower face of the TV panel body. Such a design involves placing the TV on a large flat surface that extends along the entire lower side of the device. The TV is often more stable on two "legs" than on
one leg.
— 1 leg on the platform. A support for the TV with a round or rectangular platform, which is in contact with the surface of the TV panel (table, stand, etc.) with its entire plane.
— 1 leg with supports. Stands of this kind consist of a single leg and a base of various geometric shapes that holds the TV. This solution ensures reliable stability of the TV panel, and in terms of design, it is a stylish element of the design of the structure.
— Monolithic. A solid stand with two or more attachment points to the bottom of the TV and monolithic frames as a solid support for installing the TV panel on a flat surface of a table or stand.
Power consumption
The electrical power normally consumed by the TV. This parameter strongly depends on the screen size and sound power (see above), however, it can be determined by other parameters — primarily additional features and technologies implemented in the design. It is worth noting that most modern LCD TVs are quite economical, and most often this parameter does not play a significant role — in most cases, power consumption is about several tens of watts. And even large models with a diagonal of 70 – 90" consume about 200 – 300 W — this can be compared with the system unit of a low-power desktop PC.
Energy efficiency class (new)
This parameter characterizes the efficiency of electricity consumption. Classes are designated in Latin letters from A to G, in ascending order of energy consumption. Actually, this was originally conceived, until more energy-efficient models pulled up to class A, which eventually received the marking A +, A ++, A +++. Further development of technology has made it possible to go even further, and in order not to produce pluses in energy efficiency labeling, in March 2021, manufacturers returned to the previous indices from G to A, where A is the most energy efficient TV. Accordingly, the 2021 models will have modern markings, while older models will be marked in the same way. Accordingly, now
energy efficiency G,
F, E has become the most popular, and models with energy efficiency A, D, C are rare.