Too bad they're so expensive and will likely remain so for the near future.Īmong the technologies you can actually afford, local dimming does the most to make a mediocre display tech ( LCD) look good. Organic light-emitting diodes produce the best picture quality among flat-panel displays, hands-down. As we tell people all the time, the best way to spend your money on an HDTV is to get a bigger screen. Most people buying a main TV today can afford a 60- or even 70-inch screen, bringing massive, immersive images into more homes than ever. The difference between HD and 4K resolutions is much tougher to spot.Įver since HDTV debuted, first with rear-projection and now with flat-panel technologies such as LCD, screens have gotten bigger - and big screens have gotten cheaper. Moreover, it's easy to see the difference between standard-def and HD resolutions, especially on big screens. It took a massive amount of time and money, but those beautiful high-resolution images are now ubiquitous.

Just flip to the standard-definition channel on your cable box and experience what we old coots had to live with for most of our lives. Maybe you're too young to remember, little whippersnapper, but television didn't always look this good. Presented in no particular order, here they are. The list below comprises the display technologies and extras I consider most worthwhile, improving the viewing experience, picture quality or convenience. Last week when I listed my 10 least favorite TV technologies, I promised to follow up with the 10 I actually like.

High definition tv calibration disc