How to Pick an HDTV Contrast
One specification to consider when buying an HDTV is the contrast ratio. However, contrast ratio should not necessarily be a major purchasing point, as the number can vary depending on how the ratio is calculated, making it an inaccurate way of measuring television picture quality.
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Instructions
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Visit an electronics store and compare the HDTVs you would like to purchase without reading the informational label first. Look for the dark colors of the picture, such as dark blues or blacks. Try to notice a difference between the two as the HDTVs display these colors. The television with the better contrast ratio will display black and extremely dark colors very boldly compared to sets with low contrast ratios, where the blacks will appear cloudy or gray. The brighter colors stand out better, creating a more vivid picture when the blacks are deep.
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Look at the informational label, which most likely includes the contrast ratio. Did the television you thought displayed deeper blacks actually have a higher contrast ratio than the other television? If so, you were probably able to tell the difference--or you simply guessed correctly, as most people can't tell the difference between contrast ratios. The differences are usually too minor for the naked eye to recognize.
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Decide on a television set with at least a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, but don't focus too much on this number. Contrast ratio is measured by taking a light intensity reading of the brightest area of the set compared to the darkest. Then the readings are reduced to the lowest denominator possible--1. Therefore, if the brightest area of the screen reads 30,000 and the darkest reads 10, the contrast ratio is 3,000:1. This number is often unreliable because basic television adjustments of brightness, sharpness and contrast can alter the number significantly. Often these adjustments are manipulated to get higher contrast ratios; no true contrast ratio test exists across the industry. Instead, focus on refresh rates and resolution as the biggest factors when buying an HDTV.
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