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Which.co.uk survey shows consumers confused about picture quality (8/5/2007)

Flat-panel TVs are the latest must-have gadget, but people buying one are unlikely to see the great picture quality they might expect when watching standard broadcasts, warns which.co.uk today.

A which.co.uk survey found that almost four in ten (38 per cent) survey respondents who don't own a flat-panel TV wrongly think that they offer much better picture quality than conventional TVs; a further one in five (18 per cent) think there is no difference.1

Only one in three (28 per cent) correctly identified that, when not watching HDTV, only the best flat-panel TVs can match the picture quality of the best traditional sets - which is in line with the research findings of which.co.uk.2

Although they have great potential for high-definition viewing, which.co.uk has had serious reservations about picture quality for normal viewing on all but the best flat- panel sets. Washed out images, colour banding and jagged edges on images are just a few of the issues people should look out for.

Malcolm Coles, editor, which.co.uk, says:

"There seems to be real confusion about the quality of picture you're going to see on a flat-panel TV. If people are buying them expecting better all-round picture quality, they're likely to be disappointed when it turns out to be worse. There's not a huge amount of high-definition TV being broadcast. So make sure you buy a Best Buy LCD set to avoid paying lots for a worse picture.'

"We've noticed a general improvement in our latest testing, but there are still some awful sets out there so do your research before you buy - check the results of our latest tests at which.co.uk."

Notes

1 In March 2007, 2,677 Which? online panel members took part in an online survey which included questions about TVs. 1,879 of the survey participants did not own a flat-panel TV.

2 We asked those members who do not own a flat-panel TV to select the statement that best described their view on TV picture quality for standard broadcasts. The responses were:
Flat-panel TVs have much better picture quality - 38 per cent
Only the best flat-panels can match a good traditional TV - 28 per cent
No difference between flat-panel and traditional TVs - 18 per cent
Don't know - 15 per cent

www.which.co.uk