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Today's Star-Buy LCD television is...

...Samsung 40" LCD, HD ready TV down to just £549.99
	The contemporary design of this Samsung LE40A456 HD ready digital TV, combined with the large slim 40" LCD screen, promises a viewing experience you won't easily forget. You can pick it up today at this amazingly low price from Currys - with free uk delivery!
Use this code at checkout for free delivery - FRDEL249.

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Star-Buy.com LCD TV Buyers Guide

Read the helpful hints and facts below before buying your LCD TV, LCD Projector or LCD TV Accessory.

Overview
How it works
Benefits of LCD TV
What to consider when buying
1. Where to start
2. Your preferences

Overview

Standing before a glowing bank of TV screens trying to figure out which one's right for you can be daunting. Our quick buyer's guide can help take the guesswork out of choosing a TV.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) offers a compact, modern and lightweight television. LCDs are used in digital clocks, microwave ovens, calculators, stereos and much more, so it comes as no surprise that they have finally been introduced to the world of television.

How it works

A network of hundreds of thousands of tiny LCD pixels sits behind the TV screen. When light hits the pixels an electric current decides the amount of light supplied into one of the three chambers â€" green, blue, and red. These beams of light decide how much colour appears on the LCD screen and the light variations make up the actual image displayed on the screen.

Benefits of an LCD TV

Saving space LCD TVs are so compact they can be wall mounted almost anywhere in your home. A traditional 32" CRT has been replaced by a standard 40" LCD in an increasing number of households
No static electricity is generated on an LCD screen, it remains virtually dust free and clean for perfect viewing all the time.
No scanning lines on an LCD TV . This means flicker-free images for a more comfortable viewing experience with less eyestrain, even when viewing close-up.
They look sleek and stylish LCDs are slim and very stylish to look at. They can easily be wall mounted or placed on a stand.
Viewing angle: All LCD TVs are flat, therefore you can watch from a wide angle in a room.

What to consider when buying an LCD TV

Two HD Formats widely used by broadcasters are 720p and 1080i. The number - 720 or 1080 - refers to the number of vertical lines that make up each picture frame, while the letter describes how those lines are displayed on screen. 720p is preferable for sport as 1080i isn't as smooth, but it's better for material that requires a little more attention to detail, such as wildlife documentaries and arts programmes. It's down to the broadcaster to decide which format is appropriate.

HDMI is about using high capacity input for HD video and audio signals. Two HDMI sockets mean you could plug in both an HD set-top box and an HD DVD player.

Scart connects equipment like DVD players and set top boxes to your LCD. For the best picture, look for scarts that support the high-standard RGB signal.

Video or S-video inputs let you plug other AV equipment, such as camcorders and games consoles, directly into your TV.

Audio/video input sockets . Each time you wish to use a DVD player, set-top box and games console you will need a scart or AV socket for each piece of equipment. The majority of LCDs come with at least 2 scart sockets as standard.

Auto format Switching allows you to choose which aspect ratio best suits the broadcast you are receiving. For example, showing standard (4:3) broadcasts with black bands on either side so the images aren't stretched out of proportion.

Surround Sound can be an additional feature that you may wish too add by purchasing additional speakers to enhance your home system, to recreate the cinema experience. Most LCDs come with Virtual Surround Sound and mimic the effect using the two main speakers.

Future Proofing

If you want your LCD TV to last then look out for the digital tick when choosing your new LCD TV. It identifies products, which are designed to keep working once we've switched over to digital TV in the UK.

If you need to be sure you can receive Freeview in you home, please visit www.freeview.co.uk .

Not all LCD TVs are HD Ready, therefore if you wish to have the HD experience in your home, buy an LCD TV with the HD Ready logo next to it.

1. Where to start

The four most important things to assess when buying a TV are picture quality, sound quality, ease of use and size.

Picture quality

Watch the set for a while in the shop, looking at all the available channels so you see a variety of images. You may need to adjust the picture controls (colour, contrast, brightness and sharpness) if the image isn't to your liking. Make sure the image isn't blurred or distorted.

Sound quality

Turn up the volume and listen for any noticeable distortion. Also check the position of the speakers, some sets have them on the sides of the TV, which could muffle the sound if you're intending to put it in a cabinet.

Ease of use

Play with the controls, especially the remote, and make sure the more commonly used buttons (volume, channel selector, standby and mute) are prominently positioned and easy to operate. A good instruction manual is invaluable. Ask to see it, and check that it's easy to read.

2. Your preferences

Once you've determined that the TV you're interested in has the basics covered, have a think about what else is important to you.

Full stereo

Some TVs can receive broadcasts in stereo and have stereo AV inputs as well. TVs that have AV stereo input only can play a video or DVD in stereo, but can't receive TV broadcasts in stereo.

Teletext

These TVs provide on-screen text information like the weather, time and a TV guide, as well as subtitles.

Child lock

This locks some TV functions so a child can't readily operate it.

S-video

This is an input socket for connection to the S-video output of a VCR, DVD or camcorder. It's claimed this connection gives better picture quality than composite video input.

Component video

This is another set of input sockets for connection to the component video output of a DVD or camcorder. It's claimed to give better picture quality again than either the S-video or composite video inputs.