What To Consider When Buying a TV To Watch Sport On.
Looking for the best TV to watch sport on you’d think would be easy; buy the biggest, brightest TV you can afford and place it in your lounge room, right?
Unfortunately there is more to consider because manufacturers are including a lot more features in their TVs now, so here are the main features we are asked about that you should consider when comparing TVs bought primarily for watching sport.
You could also save yourself time and money by contacting the experts at Unique Home Theatre, who will happily discuss your options in the room you plan on watching it!
What size TV should you buy?
The biggest TV you can afford, that is at least 1.5 times the diagonal measurement of your TV away from your seat. The larger the screen size, the more you will feel like you are ‘live’.
It’s also worth noting the best quality pictures, tend to be on bigger TVs too.
Picture Quality
Picture quality is not determined by manufacturers jargon.
If you have looked at the technical specification sheet on a TV, and then tried to compare it to another manufacturer’s ‘equivalent’ TV you would have experienced confusion. The main purpose of a TVs specification sheet is to bombard you with confusing figures in an attempt to get you to ‘upgrade yourself’ and buy a more expensive model.
Contrast ratio is basically a lie, refresh rate (100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, etc.) is extremely complex and ultimately subjective. Figures next to terms like “Clear Motion Rate,” “TruMotion,” MotionFlow and others have no relevance and can not be compared because they are done so you can not compare different manufacturers similar models and LED does not mean a better picture.
Unfortunately, picture quality is also the most difficult thing to judge for yourself without actually buying the TV, taking it home and watching it.
It’s dependent on numerous factors, including source quality, your antenna, natural room lighting; during the day, and the TVs own picture settings, that can affect the best potential of the picture you see.
The ability to produce a deep shade of black; which translates into high contrast, is the most important ingredient in a good picture.
Color saturation, which is directly influenced by contrast/black level, is second most important, followed by color accuracy.
In a well lit room, matte screens are better at reducing reflections, while glossy screens preserve black levels better.
Should I Consider Ultra High Definition – 4K TV’s?
Broadcasted transmissions in ultra high definition (UHD) are scarce. The TV stations; including digital received in Adelaide are transmitting 720p. HD TVs let you see blu ray movies at 1080p, but unless the signal is sent at 3840p; and there is not much of that, it’s just not worth the extra $1,000 additional cost because you will not be able to see any benefit.
Curved or Flat Screen TV?
This is the biggest debate currently surrounding TVs. Samsung, LG and now Sony have released curved TV screens. Some of the benefits; from the manufacturers include creating a greater a sense of depth and ‘realism’, improved contrast performance when compared to flat screens, which may be of benefit, but only for larger TVs; 50 inch and above.
The fact is though you have to be in the ‘right’ spot to get that experience, so if you’re watching TV by yourself; you then need to ask if it’s worth all the extra money.
It’s still too early to say whether they are more than a gimmick, but from our experience installing them for people who must have the latest, it hasn’t been all that positive.
You can read more about the pros and cons of curved TVs for a more detailed analysis.
What About Sound?
Lastly, when watching sport, sound quality is important. Whether it be watching Bathurst or the Crows beating Collingwood, to truly have the best experience watching any sport you need to have your TV attached to a decent amplifier and surround sound speakers.
In Summary
As mentioned above; there is a lot to consider when it comes to getting the maximum experience while watching sport on your TV. Most of what effects the picture isn’t necessarily coming from the TV but from the conditions in your room and the TV settings. This is where Unique Home Theatre can help, by helping you select the best option for your conditions, within your budget and having everything setup correctly.