How do we find our way through the jungle of 40 inch and larger televisions? Why are there so many models?

40 inch TVs constitute the middle ground between entry level and high end.  Less expensive models, around 26 inches, often come in 40 or 42 inch versions, with the best TVs starting at 37 inches and mostly coming in the 40 to 52 inch category.  So the 40 to 49 inch class is a battleground for manufacturers and this is the largest section of their catalogues.

HD Ready and Full HD

We can make a big distinction here between HD Ready and Full HD televisions.  The first generally display 1366 x 768 pixels while the second currently offer the best of 1920 x 1080 screens!  This means getting the most out of your Blu-ray disks, certain TV channels (cable, broadband, satellite, etc.) and the latest generation of game consoles like the PS3.  They also mean you can take full advantage of HD digital cable.

While still compatible with HD sources, HD Ready definition is more adapted to DVDs and TV which are both in SD (Standard definition: 720 x 576).  HD Ready’s lower definition means you can rescale SD images with minimal alteration as a 720 x 576 pixel image is degraded less if converted to 1366 x 768 instead of 1920 x 1080.  All this is relative however.  Sometimes it’s better to have a quality Full HD TV that carries out efficient rescaling rather than a poor HD Ready model that may not necessarily do so very well.

HD digital cable

Another point to consider is the digital TV tuner.  You still find models without this component that come equipped with a standard tuner that is incompatible with HD programming.  These models therefore require an additional box for reception if you want HD programming.  Some manufacturers are still trying to sell off stocks of ''old tuners'' in certain new models.  Don't forget to check this before buying!

HD tuner or not, HD Ready or Full HD, simple or advanced algorithms for rescaling SD sources: these are the many aspects of your spec that justify the difference in price and quality between TVs.  So, is paying attention to these factors alone enough to guarantee the purchase of a high performance model? Unfortunately, no.  Your panel’s intrinsic performance and settings have a significant influence on the image displayed on screen.  We therefore strive to show in our tests the real quality you can expect from the TV in question.

Once your TV is unpacked and installed in the living room, don't forget to adjust it properly.  A movie mode is often offered which enables automatic optimization of colors for a good Home Cinema session.  So is it that it? Well no: these models still don't make popcorn!

Here are our other tests for TV categories based on diagonal size:

> Product Survey: 29'' and smaller TVs

> Product Survey: 30'' to 39'' TVs

> Product Survey: 50'' and larger TVs