The consumers have come across many technical terms that are attributed to television sets. Even though the shoppers will be able to perceive the concept of such terms either from the dealers or from the catalogues, it is difficult to understand the impacts of such features on the products. For example take the term ‘contrast ratio’. Shoppers are given to understand that the television should have a high contrast ratio in order to obtain quality reproduction. But what is exactly this contrast ratio and how it affects the image quality is a matter that requires further perusal.
In simple terms contrast ratio of the plasma screen is the ratio between the density of whites and blacks on the images reproduced. If the contrast ratio is 5000:1, it should be understood that the black level is 5000 times darker than the white. The shopper can go through the users’ manual or catalogue to understand the contrast ratio of the television purchased. But there is no method by which the user can verify or counter check the authenticity of the figure.
Like many other technical data, the consumers will have to accept the figures quoted by the manufacturers as authentic. They accordingly prefer a plasma television with high contrast ratio. Invariably the product will offer excellent picture quality. Contrast ratio is the subject matter of discussions and debates among experts who review the quality and standard specifications of television products. No doubt, experts agree that there is strong relationship between the contrast ratio and the picture quality. But how it is measured is a contentious issue.
Methodologies adopted by various manufacturers are not identical. Hence their contentions cannot be taken as authentic, under a recognized standard prescribed universally. Experts point out that there are mainly two methods to measure the contrast ratio. The first one is the FULL ON/OFF and second is the ANSI CONTRAST. The full on/off is a method in which the ratio of the light output of a white image and that of a black image is measured to determine the contrast ratio.
In the ANSI Contrast method average luminescence of both black and white portions in a pattern consist of 16 rectangles are measured and ratio between the two is measured. This method is considered as more reliable by the experts who found that full on/off method magnifies the figure of contrast ratio to an extent of 25 percent of the actual figure. In the absence of any international standard that is to be strictly adhered, the measurement of contrast ratio claimed by different manufactures cannot be accepted as authentic. However such contentious issues do not affect the quality of plasma television.
If the product offer superb picture quality without blemishes in the screen it can be said that the contrast ratio is high and satisfactory. Insufficient degree of contrast ratio will result in the inferior quality of images on the screen. Dynamic contrast ratio is boosted considerably with various contrast enhancer techniques like advanced contrast enhancer, auto contrast enhancer, etc. The viewer can determine the quality by watching the television in an environment where lights from exterior sources will not interfere.
