# LCD TV's **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563 "2016-10-14T22:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/1 "2016-10-14T22:44:36Z")
Hi Guys, I am thinking of getting another TV and wonder how many company’s really manufacture TV sets ? I don’t mean just slap their name on it, but actually build them. Are any better than others and what names do they have on them ? If you read their ads, they all say theirs is the best. I have an “Emerson” that I got at “Walmart” about six years ago and it works fine with no problems. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/2 "2016-10-14T23:28:42Z")
Boy, that’s a big question you’re asking. What does “better” mean? Better resolution, better black levels, better with respect to motion blur, better scaling, better software, … ? The list can go on and on. Your best bet is probably to read some independent reviews or browse around on AVSForum. And keep in mind how you’re going to be using it. How big a screen are you getting, what kind of room will it be in, what do you mainly watch (for example, if you watch sports, you’ll want something that handles motion blur well), are you hooking it up to a sound system or will you use the TV speakers, will you be streaming from the internet, local files, DVD player, or cable, etc. Since I work for Roku I would recommend a Roku TV for most, but not all, uses. –Mark ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/3 "2016-10-15T00:17:13Z")
If you’re asking for opinions about the best TV your request is better suited for the IMHO forum. If you have specific stats you’re interested in then please list them. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/4 "2016-10-15T04:43:56Z")
I’m thinking that the OP is asking about the fabrication of physical screen. OP? Is that what you’re asking about? LCD OR LED? As with the CCD (still in use?) array that captures the image in a DSLR, the hardware can be the same across multiple camera manufactures - it is the software and lens which can easily produce a wide range of products. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/5 "2016-10-15T04:44:22Z")
Since this involves opinions, lets move it to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/6 "2016-10-15T06:02:17Z")
I’ll qualify this that I used to sell TV’s many many years ago so it is possible things have changed, but if you are happy with an Emerson, and especially one from Walmart which didn’t even carry their top tier you will be happy with whatever you can find for the best price. Emersons were considered the bottom of the batch. Again, this is based on experience many years ago and things may have changed. If you are happy with what you have you will probably be very happy with a newer model of the same. Not everyone has to be a TV snob. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/7 "2016-10-15T06:29:15Z")
An article about outsourcing manufacturing: > **[Who Made Your Name-Brand TV? - Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/who-made-your-name-brand-tv/index.htm)** > > Your name-brand TV might have been made by some company you never heard of, Consumer Reports says, noting that more TV brands are turning to contract manufacturers to make their less expensive sets. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/8 "2016-10-15T09:14:19Z")
Many brands use the same screens. Different back lighting and support circuits can make a difference with the same screen. LED back lighting with more individual control of the LED’s gives better range of black to bright. The big brand names have very good screens. Some have 4 colors of pixels. A 4K screen can look sharper even with a regular high def signal. My Sony was top of the line back then. It still holds up very well. But the newer models do have a slightly better picture when the content pushes the limits. Not often though. The chips that convert the digital signals can have some effect. But I suspect only the cheapest models would show that much these days. I often see a difference in quality of cable HD to playing a Blu Ray disk. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lcd-tvs/768563/9 "2016-10-15T15:21:08Z")
If you want a TV for the future (4K UHD), be aware that there are a LOT of shenanigans going on with TV’s for sale! For 4K to work, you need HDMI connections which are 4K! (Duh!) BUT they are selling TVs with ONLY ONE 4K HDMI connection! The other HDMI connections will only go up to 1080p. And they do not tell you this little fact. Nothing on the sign in front of the TV, frequently not labeled on the connections on the back, and not clearly mentioned in the instruction manual/specifications. I’ve found at least one TV which does have all three HDMI connections 4K. That is: LG UH5500 4K UHD Smart LED TV. (LG probably has other models with all 4K connections?) ALL 3 HDMI connection specifications are… 2.0 HDMI 2.2 HDCP 60Hz. Can switch on “deep color” for each connection. You need the above for 4K to work! Note salesmen do not know about this stuff yet. Some I talked with thought HDMI 2.0 was all that was needed. Not correct, you also need HDCP 2.2. They did not know what HDCP was. To learn more about this, search YouTube for HDCP 2.2