Contrast Ratio

[AznNintendoFan1]

Okay I was told the Contrast Ratio is when a TV's pixels can catch up with the movement of the pixels. Naturally they flicker on and off each time a different color is displayed during the movement of somethings during a movie or something watched, right? I heard the more the better. My LG has a Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 10000:1. But the Sony XBR4 which is basically a superior and newer TV to mine has only a Contrast Ratio of 2000:1. Let me know why its like that and explain to me what exactly Contrast ratio is and how well it pertains to the world and viewing potential of HD viewings. Thank you my friends.

[CaptainCanuck]

Supposedly..

Contrast Ratio is the difference between the whitest white and the darkest black colors the display can show. The greater the contrast, the better the screen and the subtlety of colors it can display.
There might be other things that make the sony a better tv but it probably isn't contrast ratio.

[Coaler]

Okay I was told the Contrast Ratio is when a TV's pixels can catch up with the movement of the pixels. Naturally they flicker on and off each time a different color is displayed during the movement of somethings during a movie or something watched, right? I heard the more the better. My LG has a Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 10000:1. But the Sony XBR4 which is basically a superior and newer TV to mine has only a Contrast Ratio of 2000:1. Let me know why its like that and explain to me what exactly Contrast ratio is and how well it pertains to the world and viewing potential of HD viewings. Thank you my friends.

Ok contrast ratio is whitest white to blackest black.(higher contrast=whiter whites and blacker blacks) The movement thing you are describing sounds like response time often show in ms(milliseconds ex.4ms response time) Your LG TV is telling you the contrast ratio PEAK kind of like a subwoofer will say it's 800 watts peak. That is saying it CAN hit those #'s but likely stays much lower. The sony TV i believe is showing the contrast ratio in static (for amplifier they would call this RMS) My guess would be they have probably about the same contrast ratios once all the math is done. The thing that is going to set apart the sony TV is probably the brightness and the colors. Also possibly a faster response time. Hope this helped.

[AV_Integrated]

You have been corrected on this, but yes, your understanding of contrast is incorrect.

At the moment, there are three typical descriptions of contrast ratio (whitest white vs. darkest dark):

1. Dynamic: This is a fake number that is achievable only through the use of an iris or contrast control system that can open/close to control light output. It decreases black scenese to appear darker, while increasing bright scenes to appear brighter - but it can't handle both at once.

2. Contrast ratio: This is typically similar to the one listed above, but it doesn't use an artificial means, like an iris, to increase whites and decrease blacks. Instead this is the full range that the set can display, but it ONLY is measured using a 100% white field or a 100% black field. It doesn't mix white and black up, so once again, the number is not a realistic representation of what you will typically see on screen.

3. Contrast Ratio (ANSI) - ANSI, or the American National Standards Institute, has a contrast ratio measuring system that more accurately reflects what you will find under normal viewing conditions. This ratio is far more accurate at determining what your display will actually deliver to you when watching TV - especially seeing as how the first two numbers are very likely ones that you will NEVER see when watching TV.

Contrast ratio itself is just one of many factors that are very important to determining what you want from a TV. You want good video processing, good shadow detail, no white/black crushing, no false contouring, accurate colors, fast response time and a resoluiton that works for your seating distance.