STACK #191 Sep 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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With many sporting codes now playing exclusively in certain states to limited crowds, the lounge room has become a surrogate stadium for sports fanatics. Watching your team on a massive screen in crystal clear Ultra High Definition is the next best thing to being there, but when it comes to choosing a winningTV, it’s not only size that matters. Here are some key features to consider when choosing a set that will deliver the ultimate sofa sporting experience.

REFRESH RATE A TV’s response time is a crucial factor when watching high-speed sports like AFL, or tennis balls being served at 150kph. You’ll want a TV that’s a smooth operator and can keep up with the fast-moving action, so look for a model that has a high refresh rate. Most TVs refresh at 50Hz, while premium 4K sets have a native refresh rate of 100Hz, which is optimal for smooth motion resolution. That means the screen image refreshes 100 times per second, thus reducing motion blurring and ghosting that can occur when a combination of fast camera pans and player and ball

so a TV with a wide viewing angle is a must – especially when it’s time to get the gang back together for a sports feast and a few beers; you don’t want to leave your friends on the outer, especially if you’re entertaining a crowd on kitchen chairs and beanbags skirting the periphery. OLEDTVs are the winner here as they boast a wider viewing angle and will adjust to the room’s ambient light, and in this case bigger is of course better, with screens 65” and above reducing the need for standing room only. For optimal results, always remember to first assess the size of your room and the distance between the couch and the screen.

movement comes into play. The refresh rate can also be denoted as TruMotion, Clear Motion Rate or MotionFlow, depending on the manufacturer, but it all amounts to the same thing – no motion blur and a game that’s as silky smooth as Shaun Burgoyne’s footy skills. VIEWING ANGLE Just like attending a live game at a stadium, your enjoyment of a TV match is determined by where you sit. If you’re cheering solo and positioned dead centre, no problem. But the further you move to the side of the screen, the more the picture will decline in quality,

32 SEPTEMBER 2020

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