I'm looking at buying a new Sharp 40" TV, Model LC40LE700UN, (with my work I get a really good discount and they currently have an offer where you can make no payments for 6 months at 0% interest), one of the things that I am trying to decide is if it is worth the extra $300 for the LED technology. I have heard a few benefits including picture quality, enhanced expected life of the TV, only uses 75 watts (compared to 160 for the normal LCD), and it is lighter.

Are these traits worth the extra cost? What are your experiences with LED TV's.

Side Note: I was thinking of getting a 46" TV but decided the 40" unit could eventually go into my bedroom. My current house has a small living room, one day if I move I could purchase a bigger TV.

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 10:12 AM. Reason : sa]

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 10:14 AM. Reason : s]

6/30/2010 10:08:12 AM

My next tv will probably be LED. I say do it. It's just cash money

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 10:35 AM. Reason : .]

6/30/2010 10:34:30 AM

Quote :

"Side Note: I was thinking of getting a 46" TV but decided the 40" unit could eventually go into my bedroom. My current house has a small living room, one day if I move I could purchase a bigger TV. "

Always go bigger. You'll never look at the 46" and say, "Man, I should have gotten a 40"". But you will look at the 40" and say, "Man, that 46" would have been sweet."

And I've recently purchased a Sony LED (46" for that matter), but its still in the box as I'm waiting to move into my new house. I'll let you know when I get it set up...hopefully this week.

6/30/2010 11:35:41 AM

in reference to size, i have a 42" and sit farther away than any of my friends do in their houses/apartments with their larger screens

i have never once thought to myself "man, i wish my tv were bigger"...i don't even particularly care that it's only 720p, given how far away i am

my next tv will be LED (i love my plasma, but it generates too much heat and uses too much power), 1080p (i only think i'll care when doing things with my HTPC), and ideally 120hz (i mean, why not?)

larger isn't really something i care about overmuch

6/30/2010 12:09:04 PM

^you realize LED televisions use MORE power than traditional LCD's right? And that new Plasmas use almost the same power as LCD's now.

an LED television != better picture quality or longer lifespan than a traditional LCD. it also doesn't mean lower power usage.

There are two VERY different kinds of LED LCD TV's. There are side-lit LED and there are full backpanel LED televisions. All of the super thin LED LCD's you see on the market are side-lit LED televisions.

This means that the LED array is ONLY around the sides. Which means MUCH lower real contrast ratios, and much less uniformity in color accuracy, brightness and contrast ratio. You get "flashlight" effects on dark scenes with point light content (like credits at the end of a movie for instance).

The advantage of side-lit LED LCD TV's are lower power usage, lower weight and smaller form factor (although don't be fooled, just because an LED TV is thick, doesn't mean it's not side-lit). The disadvantages are in the picture quality and contrast.

The other type is a full backpanel LED array. In these LED LCD TVs, there is a full matrix of LEDs behind the LCD panel. The downside is they consume MUCH more power (more lights = more power) than their sidelit counterparts, and you give up the ultra-slim profile.

The advantage to a full backpanel LED LCD TV is in contrast and picture quality. Most* (make SURE to verify on the model you are looking at) TVs with a full LED array have local dimming, which makes a tremendous difference in contrast and color. If you get a full array LED with local dimming, this is as close to Plasma contrast as you're going to get in current gen televisions.

I've been researching this a LOT in recent weeks as I'm getting close to buying a new television, and I've been surprised how much difference in technology and quality there really is across the current generation of televisions out there.

HUR, I would recommend this Toshiba 55" LED LCD TV at Walmart. For $1498 you won't find a better deal that that one. It's full array, local dimming, and has TONS of recommendations on avsforum. If the ultra-slim profile doesn't matter to you, this is the best TV I've found, and its from a retailer that you can return it to without hassles.

6/30/2010 7:07:19 PM

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7/1/2010 8:04:39 AM