LED TVs - Should I Buy a Back-lit or Edge-lit LED Television?

Vs can be broadly categorised into two main types. Itpoor contrast ratio compared to that of a plasma TV,
is important that you understand these differences asand so this method of backlighting is aimed at
it can affect the performance of the television - andaddressing this problem.
so may affect the one that you buy.As ever with all of this technology, there is a downside
The differences are manly due to the way theto this idea. The problems occur when one block of
backlighting works, and we can categorize them aslights is covered by a light and a dark part of the
edge-lit and back-lit LED TVs.image. This will then have the same problems
In this article we shall discuss the advantages andassociated with an LCD TV where the block cannot
disadvantages of the back-lit LED HDTV and thinkbe switched of completely, and so it is impossible to
about how the way it is built affects its performance.get the black part completely dark.
All TVs of this type are lit by LED lights, which haveThere is a way to resolve this issue, and that would be
been shown to give some advantages over otherto have one LED light for every pixel on the TV
types of lighting. Back-lit LED televisions have the LEDscreen - but the problem with this is that it would be
lights placed directly behind the screen, which is similarfar to expensive to build a TV in this way and so they
the the way an LCD TV has it's lighting arranged.would be too expensive for most people to buy.
These LED lights are placed into blocks, and areHowever, with all things taken into account, this method
grouped together so that they can be controlled at theof building a back-lit LED HDTV does generally
same time. Therefore, each block has the ability to beproduce a TV with a better picture than that of most
switched off and on separately to the other blocksLCD TVs.
around it. The advantage of this is that in an imageUnderstanding the two different types of LED TVs
with some dark areas and some light areas, the darkthat are available can be important when you are
parts can have their blocks switched of completely tolooking to buy a new television. If you see how the
enable an completely black signal.different types can affect the performance of the TV,
This extra control isn't possible on an LCD television.then it may make a difference as to which one you
The name of this technique is local dimming, and this isbuy.
the term you should be looking for if you want to buyIt must be remembered however, that a backlit LED
an LED TV that is built in this way. The mainHDTV also has some disadvantages when we
advantage is an LED HDTV with this type ofcompare with an edge-lit model. To find out more
technology may have a better contrast ratio thanabout these issues visit the link below where it is
other types of high-definition television.discussed in greater detail.
LCDs have always traditionally had a problem with a