Are 240Hz HDTVs really worth it?
I am looking at buying a LCD TV, should I throw out the cash for a newer 240Hz model or is 120Hz suitable?
240Hz is overkill for ~97.64% of people that even know about the feature.
Save your money for a better 120Hz LCD TV.
8 Answers
As big of a debate as this could potentially become, it depends on the footage you're going to be watching most of the time.
My only beef with TV manufacturers AND retailers who advertise either technology (120Hz or 240Hz) is that it is constantly demoed incorrectly. DO NOT be fooled into thinking that these technologies are necessary when you're watching FILMED material. Any by filmed material I essentially mean anything that was shot and output at 24 frames per second.
With this type of footage it is extremely simple to show the "difference" between turning the feature on or off, but it doesn't solve any problem as the choice to shoot action at 24 frames per second is a creative choice from the director. By using a built-in marketing gimmick, you're essentially ruining your viewing experience with filmed material.
Now, with that said, some higher-end displays do have a secondary function built in that doesn't smooth the motion, but repeats frames to remove flicker. This is the same technology put in place when you view a movie filmed at 24fps in a theater--the print is doubled to 48Hz to reduce visible flicker. The difference here is that the frames are being doubled, tripled, etc and played at a faster rate rather than inserting interpolated frames that smooth motion and create an eerie synthetic looking fast-forward effect.
Lengthy response, yes, but keep these thoughts in mind while you shop for a new TV. Most every retailer will demo a 120Hz or 240Hz display completely incorrectly with film content.
240Hz is overkill for ~97.64% of people that even know about the feature.
Save your money for a better 120Hz LCD TV.
120Hz / 240Hz is cool, and makes for a neat picture especially when watching broadcast TV on a larger panel. When it comes to getting a TV, decide what is most important. Is size most important? Is the best picture quality most important? I tell everyone to find the right size that fits your lifestyle, then determine what kind of features you want for what you have to spend. Also, dont feel as though you have to have 120/240. A traditional Samsung LCD still rocks!
I would not pony up the extra cash for 240Hz. You'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between 120 and 240, if you even use it.
I have a 52" Samsung LCD with 120Hz, and I'll be honest; I have the 120Hz feature turned OFF. The only thing the feature enhances is LIVE broadcast television, ie sports, documentaries, news, etc. For everything else, the viewing experience is actually degraded. I rarely kick it on, except maybe for NHL games. As Tim mentioned above, a lot of material (namely film) was not intended to be viewed at that refresh rate.
It's actually a bit sad that so many people get up-sold on a feature that they don't understand or don't even need for that matter.
if you can recognize the difference, then get it. most people can't tell the difference. it'll be just a waste of money. For me, I notice a slight difference but not enough to want to buy a 240hz. I would stick with 120Hz and throw down some cash on some awesome surround sound system
My buddy just got a 240hz TV. Honestly, some shows and movies look pretty bad on them. Like they almost look like home movies. Action movies especially can look bad because you can see all the flaws and a lot of action sequences will look corny. If you're buying a TV like this, invest in a Blu-Ray player too to avoid this more.
Honestly though, some technology is just "too much technology" right now in my opinion. Like someone said earlier, save some money and invest in a really good 120Hz TV. Use the cash you saved for a sick surround sound system.
Video on the subject: http://revision3.com/hdnation/welcome