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Buying a New TV

Visit any audio and television shop these days and you'll notice a huge difference. Gone are the traditional square 'box' tellies; instead there's a vast array of big flat screens to choose from.

John Lewis offers a wide range of televisions and we hope this guide will help you identify the model that most suits your needs. All our televisions include a free 5 year guarantee for peace of mind.

Size and Space

With the demand for home cinema and DVD players that produce brilliant picture and sound quality, interest in larger screens has grown and grown. Not everyone, however, has room for such bulky models, which is where slim, LCD or plasma screens have really come into their own. If space saving is your top priority then a portable or a combi (a television that combines a VCR or DVD player) would be a sensible choice.

Note: The visible screen size is the standard by which all televisions are measured. The measurement in centimetres is taken diagonally from one corner of the screen to the other. Slight differences may occur in screen measurements between different styles of television.

You'll still find standard models, but nowadays the popular format is widescreen - as seen in the cinema. Widescreen is the best choice for digital TV and DVD movies ensuring less stretching or distortion. You’ll enjoy less reflection and a much wider viewing angle (some go up to 170°) - perfect if there's a large group of you watching the game!

You'll find there's a choice of 'viewing ratios' (or 'aspect ratio') - 16:9 (widescreen), 4:3 (traditional) or zoom. This is because not all programmes or films are made the same way. The zoom feature will magnify the image if it does not completely fill the screen.

What makes a better picture?

Resolution

The screen resolution is a good general indicator of picture quality. The screen is made up of thousands of pixels, the greater the amount of pixels the better the quality of picture will be.

Contrast ratio

The higher the contrast ratio of a television the deeper and richer the picture will be. This is the measurement of the difference in light intensity between the brightest possible white and the darkest possible black. An average contrast ratio is 500:1.

Brightness

This measures the quantity of light emitted from the television screen. A higher level of brightness will produce a bolder and more vibrant picture. An average brightness is 500cd/m2.

Connections

In order to fully realise the potential of your TV, the quality of your connections is an important factor. The leads that connect the television to your peripherals can vary in quality when they are included with the product. Separate high quality cables with better connectors and greater durability are a valuable acquisition.

Digital television

The introduction of high definition television (HDTV) has been hailed as the biggest thing to happen in TV broadcasting since the change from black and white to colour. You’ll notice a huge difference with high definition TVs displaying up to 4 times the quality of current analogue and digital broadcasts. The level of detail is astonishing with clearer, sharper and more vibrant images. Why not visit one of our shops for a demonstration.

How it works

The best general indicator of TV picture quality is screen resolution. The resolution is made up of lines of pixels that display the picture. The greater the resolution the higher the picture detail will be. The resolution of a standard definition broadcasts is 576i (576 lines of 720 pixels each). HDTV will be broadcast in 2 different formats; 1080i and 720p.

• 1080i uses an ‘interlaced’ system which breaks the image into 2 fields and displays ‘odd’ and ‘even’ fields alternatively.
• 720p uses a ‘progressive’ system which displays each frame of the image as a whole.

What you need

In order to enjoy the benefits of HDTV you’ll first need an LCD, plasma or DLP television that is labeled ‘HD ready’. A TV may be labeled ‘HD ready’ if it meets the following criteria:

• It must have a minimum resolution of 720 lines in wide aspect ratio.
• It must support both 720p and 1080i formats
• It must have a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) or DVI (Digital Video Interface) input that supports HDCP (copy protection)
• It must be compatible with analogue HD sources (e.g. camcorders)

You’ll also need a HD receiver. Sky will be launching their High Definition service from mid 2006 and will offer the widest range of HD programmes in the UK. The Sky HD box will include Sky+ functionality that allows you to record 2 channels at the same time and lets you pause and rewind live TV. You can preorder Sky HD in our department stores now.

What makes a better sound?

With the advent of DVD and digital television and the resulting improvement in picture, sound has become increasingly important to complete a satisfying viewing experience. The list below details the sound systems that are most commonly included on current televisions.

NICAM stereo

A simple, clear stereo sound that comes from twin, built-in speakers. Providing you have the right connections you can always upgrade to a separate sound system.

Virtual Dolby

A clever system that distributes the sound around the room from the twin, built-in speakers. This gives an effect similar to surround sound

Dolby ProLogic

Most programmes broadcast this way. Featuring a five speaker system - left, right, centre and two mono speakers - you'll be able to enjoy the benefit.

Dolby ProLogic II

Similar to the ProLogic, but with a fuller rear channel range. It also works on two modes; 'movie' or 'music', for an enhanced sound experience.

Dolby Digital 5.1

Currently the best sound system available, it boasts 5 separate channels, plus a sixth bass (hence the 5.1). Particularly suitable if you watch a lot of DVDs, you can also enjoy great sound on your Xbox or PS2.

Home Cinema

Separate home cinema systems will allow you to recreate the cinematic experience in your living room. They often contain a powerful subwoofer positioned behind the set and further satellite speakers to be positioned around the room for a richer, more detailed sound.

The new generation: LCD, Plasma and DLP

LCD and plasma screens offer a sharper picture with less reflection from sunlight and you can also enjoy a wider viewing angle. Their slim design means they're wall mountable with an additional bracket. They may also be used as computer displays providing they have a PC input.

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