Choosing a new TV - what is the difference between LED and LCD?
 

Our 20 year old television (a old boxy TV) seems about ready to bite the dust. Once in a while the picture shrinks down to a straight line across the screen.

I think we will have to shopping for a new set very soon!

We have not bought a TV in 20 years and have no idea what the difference is between LCD and LED televisions. I have found charts on the Internet telling the difference, but they were not of much help.

Can anyone tell me in real layperson's words how to choose between a LED and a LED television?

Thanks!

I just know that in the past 20 years I think we've purchased 2 and they cost more than I ever wanted to pay for a TV. I always have a budget. I'm all for nothing bigger than ugh, I can't even tell you how big ours is. it's a Vizio (?). I know it took me a while to get used to it. Felt like the darn thing was sitting in my lap. I was watching it tonight and thinking back to when I spent the night at my grandmothers and she would try to help me embroidery or sew small pieces of fabric. I don't think I'd miss it that much. OOPS! LED VS LCD? Sorry not sure!

We went through that process a year or two ago, and I found a perfect solution........defer to husband. Found myself frequently saying, "Whatever you decide will be fine."....and surprisingly enough, meaning it. He did all the homework and made the choice for us. I know that doesn't answer your question, but it was worked for us. Good luck! :)

Had to laugh, SavedByGrace! That is just what my husband says to me! He says, "Get whatever one you want!" It is up to me to do the research! DH is VERY non-techie!

Do your research online, google "customer reviews".
I'm telling ya, it's a pain in the patootie to replace a favored "older" TV these days. I bought and returned 3 of them a year ago over a three month period of time and finally just put my "fat" TV back on the table and gave up. It still has better sound and picture than any of the 3 I tried out. :hunf:

Jan in VA

My husband also buys the TV - he is the one that cares for all the bells and whistles. I just want to be able to watch what I want, he wants to hook it up to the stereo for the sound and use the blue-ray disc player. Oh and it has to be larger than our daughter's. So our TV room is a movie theater. My Sewing room has an old style TV with a built in DVD player and a VHS machine connected to it, my husband walks in once and while and just shakes his head, to him the picture isn't clear enough. I don't care - I have it on for company, I am too busy sewing.

LED gives better picture reliability but is more expensive. LCD is fine for most people.

Here is a summary that compares LED and LCD tv's:
http://www.squidoo.com/which-is-better-lcd-or-led-tv

I should mention that we have invested in LED computer monitors at home since we are on the computers a lot. We have an older bigger screen tv, but purchased a small LCD Vizio for the computer room that works fine for our purposes. If we were going to get a large screen tv, we might look harder for an LED.

I'm no expert by far but bought a new TV several years ago and researched heavily. I discovered that I wanted an LED edge lit with 1080p and 240Hz. I really think the last two points are more important than LED vs LCD which indicate how the screen is lit. 1080p is the picture resolution (like your computer screen) and 240Hz is the rate at which the picture refreshes. You'll notice the refreshment rate when you watch something move quickly across the screen. If the Hz is lower, you'll probably notice a blurring or ghosting effect.

I'm not a TV junkie (I get less than 15 channels over the air with an antenna) but do enjoy a crisp, good picture when I do watch. I ended up with an LG and have been very happy with it. Hope this helps; good luck with your search!

You also ave to consider the size of the room that it goes in and how close you sit to it. Lots of shopping guides and tips online and in stores. Read the reviews as mentioned. Ask the staff after you have done YOUR homework. Look at the pictures in the store. Find a TV that has the picture you like.

My 32" Toshiba "fat back" TV is still running strong after 13 years but one of these days.....I want a TV with a life like picture. Not a large TV that takes up the wall. In fact...I love the slimmer sizes. I don't need 60" screens.

I shop Walmart....they have plenty of options to confuse me! LOL! Why drive 45 minutes to shop in the big box stores. I live rural.

Sandy

my husband bought a samsung smart tv for christmas this year. he can sit on the couch
and do his computer stuff also. it is a 55 inches. he watches and does more with the tv.
but it really is smart. lol

We have three LEDs. Well worth the extra money for the better quality and they hang on the wall out of the way. A real win for us.

Here is my philosophy - audio - video - hubby-e-o!

One thing I will say is that the Sony Bravia tv I purchased for my sister several years ago has a really, really nice picture.

LED versus LCD versus Plasma
 

With LED, it appears that the people onscreen are in the room with you, they look so real. My next TV will definitely be LED (and the prices are coming down). I saw a 50 or 52 inch LED at Sears for $479.99... Plasma gives a softer look. Personally I prefer LED.

When I was looking for a new tv I first went to the library(Columbus Metro Library) and read what Consumer Reports had on their analysis of the TVs. It was very helpful. If I am recalling correctly I think there was a caution about LCD but I can't remember enough to say here what. They also covered the various things to consider so you can decide which are most important and they have a chart with all the ones tested --which you could make a copy of to take with you.
The other thing is to take a measuement of how far your seating is from the screen. If your chairs/sofa are 3 feet away a 50" is probably too big, and if it is to be wall mounted rather than setting on a stand or table that distance should be accounted for too. I think there may have been recommendations in the article about size and such.

I have the same TV and mine is just now giving me hissy fits-in the course of a 30 minute program it shuts itself off 20 times. The repair will cost almost as much as a new one so I turned the replacement over to my son-he knows my budget and when the salesman start talking my eyes glaze over. Hey I feel like a techie if the can opener works after plugging it in : )

We have a plasma flat screen tv, it's 46". I bought it on sale about two years ago. Great sharp and clear images. The other tvs in the house are 32" flat screens from Walmart bought on sale. Also clear and sharp images. I wouldn't stress over which type to buy unless you are into editing videos, making videos or avid gamer, just pick the size you want.

We went in to buy a new tv and was thinking 42 inch. We came home with a 54" and love it. The 42 would have been to small for our room. We went with a Sony LED 1080p and 240Hz. We compared tv's at three different places before we settled on the one we wanted. Even if the sun shines directly on the screen you don't get a reflection back as you would on a plasma.

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Even if the sun shines directly on the screen you don't get a reflection back as you would on a plasma.

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I've never noticed reflection from our plasma tv. Once you have the flat screen either on a table or on the wall you'll love it. Lightweight and so easy to dust. I don't have the wall space for a huge one. I'd have to take down my oil paintings and I don't want to do that. DH keeps the biggest one in his tv area. To hang on the wall if not wired for it, there are ugly cords hanging down so check out the furniture stores for the nice tables for the flat screen that has the compartment for concealing wires and the cable box and DVR doesn't show. The one I bought for DH was from the Porter collection at Ashley's Furniture. It's perfect.

My very techie DS said led sets have a teeny light behind every pixel while lcd sets are lit by larger lights behind the screen. You have to pay more $$$ for all those teeny lights but, oh kid, what a picture!

We had an expensive Samsung that lasted only 4 years...Now we have a 61" Sharp Aquos and it is amazing...had it for 2 years and we love it...we have a big den...LED is the way to go...much better picture...we looked at the 3D tv but wasn't impressed but I know that's the wave of the future...

I know it doesn't answer the question, but had to share - we have an old boxy, big heavy tv in our family room. Works just fine and we figure, anyone who looks in the window to see what they can steal, will pass us by, assuming we have nothing made past the 80's!
If they look really hard, they'll see a phone with a wire that goes into the wall too!

We ended up getting a new flat screen tv last year when we were in Walmart. The prices seemed so good, my husband couldn't resist. We didn't do our homework like we should have but were lucky to get a fairly knowledgable clerk and we have had good luck with the tv. That doesn't answer your question though.