A Cheap TV doesn’t mean low quali
ty
Finding a Cheap Flat Screen TV can be a fun but challenging task. Aside from finding the best price, there are many other things to consider such as features, size and brand name. There are also different types of projection to consider such as LCD,LED,Plasma and 2D and 3D television. When you have decided which television to purchase, it should be a blend of finding the right features at the right price. Cheap TVs buying guide will help you understand some of the different features offered and how it will affect your viewing experience.
With technologies improving greatly over the last ten years, the days of having a bulky, heavy CRT television are over. High definition signals are all or nothing, so you no longer need to adjust rabbit-ear antennas to reduce a snowy-fuzzy screen. Televisions are lighter, thinner and can fit anywhere in your room and mount on your wall. At Cheap TVs, we define a “Cheap TV” as a television that provides the most features at a price that fits your budget. We rely on consumer reviews in providing an analysis on the different television model available.
Understanding Available Features
As you read our collection of reviews you will see us frequently discuss certain features. These features are found in many cheap flat screen TVs and will allow your television to provide the ultimate home theater experience.
Here is a breakdown of the different features we may highlight when discussing cheap TVs:
LCDs – Short for liquid crystal display and made by virtually all manufacturers, these flat screen TVs consume less power than plasma and offer a great picture in well-lit rooms and are not affected by screen burn-in. Disadvantages include decreased picture quality at certain angles, brightness distortion and ghosting effects.
Plasma – Plasma offers a quality viewing experience with a high contrast ratio, excellent color and low black levels. Plasma televisions have excellent viewing angles and generally offer softer looking pictures than LCDs. Cons include high power consumption and the risk of burn-in, however newer TVs have developed technologies to try and reduce this risk.
LEDs – Use slightly less power than LCDs, these TVs are thin and light weight. LEDs provide good views from many angles and no ghosting or smearing. These generally aren’t cheap TVs and can suffer from the burn-in affect like Plasmas.
Refresh rate refers to the number of times an image is refreshed on the screen. You will refresh rate ranges from 60 to 600 Hz (1 Hz equals one time per second). According to CNET, it is nearly impossible to perceive the blur in most material and difficult to see the difference between 60 and 600.
We also look at inputs, which allows you to connect extra devices such as blu-ray, video games and media streaming devices. The more, the better and you should look for a cheap flat panel TV with at least two HDMI inputs and two video inputs. You can also find a good deal for smart TVs, televisions that offer internet connectivity (both wirelessly and wired) and accessibility to third-party provided media content.
Ultimately, these and many other features will factor into your decision when deciding what flat panel TV fits your budget.
Decide what you want out of your new television
Do you want to pay more for a plasma screen? Do you want to spring for 3D technology? Do you have many devices to connect? You have to decide which features are most important to building the best viewing experience. If you are placing it in a bright room, you have to consider whether a gloss finish may create a glare or if a matte finish will suffice. Do you want a cheap TV with a high refresh rate and dejudder controls? Before you head to the store or shop online, research which features are important to you and how much you are willing to spend.
Research research research
Cheap TVs offers reviews on televisions from all manufacturers, based on consumer reviews found on Amazon, Google and CNET. Consumer reviews are best because they are written by actual users who are independent and therefore have no special interest in promoting certain brands or models. Consumer Reviews is also a good source of reviews because it is a non-profit organization with no special ties or interests. If you are at the store and want to do some further research, reach for your smartphone. Apps from CNET and Amazon have bar-code scanning capabilities, pulling up product information and consumer reviews. Once you’ve purchased your new television, feel free to leave your own product review on the different websites. Feel free to add your own review to the comments section if you purchased a television we review.
You don’t have to be brand loyal
It’s easy to purchase a brand name – they are considered reliable, of good quality and a low risk for being a bad product. But over the years, many relatively unknown brands have come on the scene and provided cheap TVs with a quality picture. Brands such as Haier, Vizio and Westinghouse offer decent features for the price. Insignia and Dynex, both Best Buy brands, are made to compete in terms of quality and price with well known brands such as Sony, LG and Panasonic. Find the television that is right for you, don’t pay for a brand name.
Purchasing a new television should be an exciting venture. Here at Cheap TVs, we are looking to redefine the term of a cheap flat panel television, focusing on finding the best value for your dollar.