05.Sound and picture
Disappointing sound
Perhaps surprisingly, most of the 106cm TVs CHOICE tested sound worse than cheap car speakers. They're often harsh, tinny and distort badly as the volume is increased.
- The exception is the Philips, which is better, but will distort a little at very high volumes.
- The Samsung LA40A550P1F and Sony sound OK.
- For the best results we suggest you connect your TV to a separate sound system.
Pixels are just dots
Paying for lots of pixels on your screen - in other words, a higher resolution model - doesn't guarantee a sharper, more pleasant or more accurate image.
The advantage of a higher resolution screen is that you can sit closer and still get lots of detail in the image. But images aren't so simple and most of us don't sit close enough to really experience the benefit.
Both the PanasonicTH-42PX8A and Samsung PS42A410C1D have 1024 x 768 pixel screens, which is a much lower resolution than the others in this test. From two metres away the pixels are only just visible with a still image on the screen. A moving image makes it very difficult to see them at all.
The Sanyo, TCL and both Samsungs have quite a lot of "dither" in some circumstances. This effect is something akin to looking at a suspension of very fine particles moving in a liquid. The problem is not with the number of pixels on the screen; it's a result of the TV's processor, which controls each pixel's colour and intensity, failing to deal with subtle and very rapid changes. This is sometimes confused with a lack of resolution, because the moving dots are assumed to be pixels.
Digital tuning
All the TVs in this test have one high-definition digital tuner and one analogue tuner. Analogue TV tuners are what we’ve been used to using for almost 50 years, but digital tuners are relatively new and have some different characteristics.
Digital reception doesn’t degrade gradually. If you’re living in an area that has reception problems, you could find your picture is either perfect or non-existent, depending on the prevailing conditions.
We put the digital tuners in these TVs through some rigorous tests using both VHF and UHF signals. TV is broadcast in both these frequency ranges around the country, but one or the other may be more appropriate depending on your location. If you’re unsure you can get more information from your local TV station.
All the tuners except the TCL performed well in our testing. The TCL is OK, but may have more trouble than the others if your aerial or wiring isn't up to scratch.