Man Caves and Television – they just go together. It hardly even matters what your passion is – sports, video games, movies, documentaries on the mating habits of the Gulf Coast Manatee – TV is part of everyday life, especially in the man cave.
Knowing you need a TV, that’s the easy part. In fact, getting a TV is just as easy, and I’m sure some guy in a blue shirt will be more than willing to tell you all the features, resolution, contrast ratio, bells and whistles that you just absolutely NEED to have.
Wading through all of the hype, tech talk, and mumbo-jumbo can be tough sometimes. That is why I want to break down for you, in plain English, the information that you need to know about the latest in TV tech.
What is New? 4k Televisions
4K, also known as Ultra High Definition Televisions, have been around for a couple of years, but they are really starting to see some growth and attention in early 2014. But what is a 4K TV anyway?
4K is all about screen resolution. While previous high definition televisions run at a resolution of 1080p, ultra high definition hits 2160p. You guessed it, more is better. At 8.3 mega pixels, the 4K TV is four times clearer than the 2.1 mega pixels of the standard HD set. So, it’s better, and that is good, right?
Ultra HD is certainly the future, but as of right now, in early 2014, it is not a recommended buy.
There are two main factors still limiting this technology from reaching the mainstream households – price and compatibility.
4k Ultra HD TV’s are still pretty pricey. Name brand and high end 4k sets are still above the mainstream price point for the average consumer. As with any new tech, prices will continue to drop as manufacturing process streamlines and competition increases. You can already find some smaller off brand 4k sets for a pretty reasonable price, like this Seiki Digital SE50UY04 50-Inch 4K UHD 120Hz LED HDTV.
But price isn’t the only bridge that 4k needs to cross.
Compatibility with 4k resolution at this point in time has not quite caught up. Television broadcasts, movies, video games – these media platforms are not widely putting out content at 2160p, at least not YET. As an in-between tech band aid, 4K TVs and some movie or streaming devices are offering to “upscale” standard HD to ultra HD, with decent results.
The verdict on 4k – Wait it out just a little longer to let the price drop and the content creators catch up. There is little doubt that 4k will become the standard in home television, it is just a matter of when. Unless you are one of those must be on the cutting edge early adopter types, it can wait. If you are one of those types you might want a scoop on 8K TV, which development is well underway on!
What is Mainstream? Thin LED Smart Television
The best part of being close to a new tech cycle is the previous tech drops further and further into the realm of affordability.
Ultra Thin LED Smart TVs are very much in that category right now, and there are some great televisions out there for a very reasonable price. For example, this Samsung UN60F6300 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz Slim Smart LED HDTV was selling for two to three times the current price just last year.
So we know that these HD televisions run at 1080p resolution, but what does everything else mean?
LED is a Light-emitting diode. LED lighting provides sharp contrasting colors while limiting power consumption, all good things when it comes to a television.
Internet connected TV, labeled as “Smart” TVs, include a small computer inside the set that can connect to the internet via a wireless connection. This internet connect allows you to do things like browse YouTube, steam Netflix, or even surf the web. The user experience with smart TVs can vary greatly, with some sets suffering from slow and non-responsive menus and application loading, but for the most part the technology is welcomed.
While some people will certainly still prefer set top boxes like the Roku 3 Streaming Media Player, the Smart TV aims to bring all of that functionality into the internal components of the television.
What is Old? Plasma and LCD Flat Screen Televisions
Oh technology, you are a fickle mistress. Just when you think your man cave is set up with the best you can get, along comes a newer shinier model and it all goes out the window.
Unfortunately, advancement in tech means old tech suffers – and there are a couple models of television where this has now become the case – plasma and LCD.
Plasma is not totally dead, there are actually still some newer models, like the Samsung PN51F5500 51-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Smart Plasma HDTV is actually very nice and affordable.
Older plasma models however, while the offered a very nice picture at the time, suffered from drawbacks including high power consumption, heat, thickness and weight, which are all major selling points of the newer slim LED models.
The LCD TV has also suffered defeat at the hands of newer tech. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) revolutionized the television world by bringing flat screens to the masses, but offered less pixel density and color clarity than the newer and even flatter LED models. If you are still using an LCD in your man cave, don’t panic, if it is working for you then by all means keep with it. When it comes time to upgrade be assured that the quality difference WILL blow your mid!
It is early 2014 right now, and in my When To Buy Guide I explained that Black Friday through Superbowl Sunday is the typically the best time of year to buy a TV – so if you are in the market it may be the best time to buy right now!
Whether you are an early adopter looking for 4K Ultra HD, or a more budget considerate deal hunter sticking with the LED models, I hope this guide has helped you to decide which set is best for you.
Happy watching, Man Cavers!
