To the untrained eyes and ears, the sight and sound on the screens of LCD TV sets present little difference from brand to brand.
Help is now at hand as the Consumer Council released its first ever comparative test report on 15 samples of 32 inch LCD TV sets ranging in price from $8,990 to $24,990.
What are the main criteria to follow? Is a higher price a reliable indication of its performance?
According to the test, 6 of the models, priced from $8,990 to $10,980, were at the lower end of the overall rating score - 2.5 points out of a maximum of 5 points. But one model priced at $9,980 scored 3 points.
The most pricey model at $24,990 scored an overall rating of 3.5 points. The highest score of 4 points was awarded to 2 other models priced at $19,800 and $21,800 respectively.
The overall rating was based on performance on: picture quality (35%), sound quality (20%), ease of use (20%), versatility (15%), reception sensitivity (5%) and power consumption (5%).
The test found considerable variations in the performance and features of the models. Consumers will do well to compare them and choose according to their own personal needs and preference.
For instance, a key element in picture quality concerns the contrast ratio ranging at optimal settings from 113:1 to 2027:1. The test found all samples, 13 out of 15, with a contrast ratio higher than 200:1 to be able to perform well.
The maximum luminance level was almost similar for all samples, but when set at maximum brightness, the contrast ratio of some samples became rather low resulting in poor picture quality.
For about half of the models, the screen reflection was measured to be lower than 25%. The screen reflection problem could cause interference with viewing for some of the other samples.
According to the laboratory judgment, the samples' largest viewable angle for best image vary greatly - from 12 degrees to 43 degrees (deviation from the front). Colour distortion will usually appear at greater deviation angle.
It was found that the power consumption at standby mode varied significantly among the models, from 0.14 watt up to 6.22 watts. This indicates that some models consume unnecessarily more electricity than the other. Besides being wasteful in energy, they are not environmentally friendly.
Consumers are advised that the government has yet to announce on which digital terrestrial TV system Hong Kong will adopt.
Therefore, none of the TV sets in the market are able to receive the local digital terrestrial HDTV (High Definition Television) broadcast in future.
All models which make claim to be HDTV ready or compatible do not possess any tuner for receiving the terrestrial HDTV broadcast. Consumers will need to add other equipment such as set top box, HD video recorder, etc. for receiving such broadcast.
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