Buying Tips

This area is used as a place of reference and guidance for all our customers. You will find many helpful topics and tips which will build your awareness and answer questions on what to look for when buying a product, whether it be a LCD TV, Digital camcorder or other home appliance.

Televisions

Choosing a TV

10 reasons to buy a new TV

What is an LED TV ?

What are the benefits of a LED TV compared to a LCD TV ?

Are LED TV’s reliable ?

How to get the most out of your LED or LCD TV

10 reasons why LCD & LED TV’s are better than standard televisions

Positioning your TV and best viewing distance

Checklist before you buy a TV

What can be viewed in HD (high definition) ?

LED & LCD TV Size and Recommended Use

LCD or Plasma – Which should I buy ?

LED or LCD TV, Which Should I Buy ?

Can a LED or LCD TV be used as a computer monitor ?

Digital camcorders

Digital Camcorders – Do I need HD ?

What Digital Camcorder is Right for Me?

Microwaves

Microwave Buying Guide

 

Choosing a TV

How to choose the right TV for you

With so many different TV’s on the market it can be difficult choosing the right one for you.
Here are a few tips that should help you make the right choice when choosing your TV

1). Determine your budget first. This may sound obvious, but you need to decide just how much you are willing to pay for the best TV possible. LED TV’s offer a number of advantages over LCD TV’s such as contrast ratio, and ultra thin panels (more on this later), but these benefits come at a price.

2). With so many brands and models on the market offering different specifications the price of a TV of the same size can vary greatly. A good start is to be sure which room you are buying the TV for. The general rule from house to house across the UK is that the best TV will be placed in the living room with smaller LCD TV’s or LCD TV’s with lower specifications being used around the house.

3).Once you have determined your budget and where you will be placing your TV it is time to have a look at the specifications along with the design and style. The main features to look for in a TV are the picture quality, connectivity, and size. All modern TV’s are “digital”, which means that they have an inbuilt digital tuner, and so are compatible with the “digital changeover”. They are also all “HD Ready”, but some also come with Full HD. The difference between them is the amount of pixels that are available. So you might have heard of the term 1080p (Full HD) and 720p (HD or referred to as “HD Ready”).

Difference between Full HD and HD ready

The truth of the matter is that a 1080p TV will give you the highest picture quality there is. However in order to get the picture quality that true HD 1080p can offer, you will need to have the right equipment that can support it. Only 1080p TV’s are able to display the highest quality of video output, such as that produced from a blu-ray player.  1080p is a “progressive scan”, in which all of the pixels are displayed at any one time, providing a sharper, smoother picture.

The difference between HD and Full HD is certainly noticeable to the discerning viewer. Nevertheless the quality from both is excellent.

The decision is with you, Full HD or HD ready?

Connections & Connectivity

The connectivity that LCD’ TV’s provide is also very important. TV’s support many connections which should allow you to connect all of your equipment to your TV.  Connectivity includes HDMI sockets, scart lead sockets, component video and many more.

4).In general the majority of TV’s provide more then enough functions and the average consumer will find that the specifications satisfy all of their requirements. However if you have a lot of equipment that you want to connect to your TV,  then go for a model that provides many ways of connecting devices up. Details can be found in the technical specification section of the product details.

The LCD & LED TV’s that are available at District Electricals all offer HD ready, integrated freeview and digital ready functions with more then enough connectivity to support basic to advanced configurations.

10 Reasons to buy a new TV

If one of the decision makers in your home is still saying “why do we need a new TV?”, then this guide has been written for you.

There are so many practical and strong reasons to buy a new LCD or LED TV. Here are a few of our favourites.

• Higher Resolution Screen: LCD & LED TV screens consist of millions of tiny dots called pixels. Quality pixels are responsible for better colouring and a more crisp view of the content you are watching. Even if you don’t bother about details, one look at the LCD  & LED TV’s ability to render quality images will make you fall in love with it.
• Clearer and Brighter Picture: Thanks to the flat screen of LCD & LED TV’s rather than a curved one of a normal CRT TV’s the picture quality is greatly improved.  A clear, bright and vibrant picture can be expected. Normal CRT TV’s do not work well in a brightly lit room and the image can appear blurred through sunlight etc. With LCD & LED TVs the backlighting of the screen provides more light where it is needed for the best possible picture quality.
• Slim and Saves Space: Both LCD & LED TV’s are much slimmer than the old CRT TV’s. The average is about 10cm, with some of the LED TV’s as slim as 3cm. 
• Better Viewing Angle: The viewing angle on many of the new LCD & LED TV’s allows you to see a fantastic picture wherever you are sitting in the room. 
• Stylish, Elegant, Fashionable:  It doesn’t matter whatever room you keep it in, the look and feel of a LCD or LED TV is fantastic. It is a far cry from the huge ugly boxes that used to take up the corner of our living rooms. Many are a work of art. 
• Consumes Less Power and Saves Money: According to numerous tests, a LCD TV uses nearly 50% less energy than a CRT TV. And the good news is, LED TV’s are even MORE power efficient.
• No Eyestrain- Remember your parents used to say- Don’t watch the TV for too long, it will damaged your eyes”. Well they had a point, but here is the solution. Unlike old CRT TV’s, LCD & LED TV’s don’t flicker, thus minimising eye strain. You can now watch as many episodes of that Lost box set as you want to !
• HD Compatibility: New LCD & LED TVs are compatible with High Definition TV broadcast and gives a big edge over old CRTs. This will take your TV viewing to a whole new level.
• ECO Friendly: Now the LCD & LED manufacturing companies are producing TVs that are certified as "low emission" units. These units are substantially low in electric and magnetic field emissions.
• Value for money: The fierce competition has pulled the price of LCD & LED TV’s down and made the manufacturers install many new and exciting features. It is incredible just how much TV you can get for your money nowadays. In real terms, they are far cheaper than the TV’s of twenty years ago.   

I hope that these are more than enough reasons to buy a new LCD or LED TV. If not, give us a call and we will give you another ten reasons !!

What is an LED TV?

LED’s (light-emitting diodes) have been around for years, but their introduction to HD TV design has only happened in the last couple of years. The main difference between LED and LCD TV’s, is that the few back lights that illuminate LCD screens have been replaced by hundreds of smaller LED’s. Coupled with advanced screen and image processing technology, this results in improved picture quality, most notably, deeper blacks and richer, more vibrant colours. 

What are the benefits of a LED TV compared to a LCD TV ?

LED TV’s have been around for a couple of years now and are taking a larger slice of the market every month. The three main benefits of LED TV’s, when compared to LCD TV’s are as follows :-

• Better Picture Quality – LED Technology allows for a higher contrast ratio than can be achieved on a LCD TV. You will notice this with the deeper blacks and richer, more vibrant colours. LED TV’s have faired well in independent reviews compared with all other TV technologies.
• Ultra Slim Styling – LED TV’s are remarkably slim. In fact, when you first see one, you may well look at the rear of the TV to see where the rest of it is ! This slimness, and consequent lighter weight, makes LED TV’s ideal for wall mounting. With some of the specialised wall mounts, the TV really can look like a picture frame on the wall.
• More Energy Efficiency – Many LED TV’s are up to 40% more energy efficient than the LCD equivalent. So not only do you get the smartest TV on the street, but you can also feel good that you are doing your bit for the environment !

With these huge benefits it is inevitable that it will come at a price…..but you may be surprised. Two years ago LED TV’s where only affordable by the rich and famous. However, as mass market penetration has improved, prices have tumbled. They are still more expensive, but not within the reach of the majority of consumers.   

Are LED TV’s reliable ?

One concern for many consumers when considering investing in a new technology is, “is it going to be reliable ?” Well the good news is that LED TV’s have been around for a couple of years now and they have proven to be just as reliable as LCD TV’s. So you do not need to worry if you are thinking that you may be buying into an unproven technology. LED TV’s are well and truly proven !! 

   

How to get the most out of your LED or LCD TV

As we all move away from old CRT style TV’s towards LCD TV’s we all want to make sure that we get the most out of our new proudly owned LCD TV. Here are a few pointers to get just that done.

Place the LCD in a safe and open area where visibility is best.

One of the best things about the design of LCD’s is that they are wall mountable. So wall mounting your LCD will not only stand out more and save space but it will also provide a cinema affect with a magical experience.

Using high quality leads is also important. If you have a HDMI socket in your LCD TV and the device you are connecting (DVD player, satellite box..etc) also supports HDMI then use it instead of Scart leads. HDMI leads are for high definition viewing and they make a big difference. To get your HD (720p, 1080p) picture you will need to use HDMI leads.

Get surround sound speakers. As standard LCD TV’s come with standard speakers that have multiple affects. The speakers are good and provide what is expected of them. However, when adding extra speakers to your LCD, your LCD transforms into a home entertainment system. The whole viewing experience changes from good to WOW. Its well worth investing in speakers.

Choose the right size LCD. If you have a small room a large LCD TV will look odd and the picture will be too big. We all want big size LCD TV’s and the majority of living rooms can cater for the largest of sizes,  however many like to have additional LCD TV’s for there bedrooms and kitchens. In these cases choosing a suitable size is important. Please read our article on ‘LCD size and recommended use’

Finally get a comfortable sofa-sit back and relax while enjoying the full potential of your LCD TV

10 Reasons why LED & LCD TV’s are better then standard television sets

If you want to know why LCD & LED TV’s are better then the old fashioned standard CRT televisions, or are trying to convince your partner that you should buy a new TV, then you should find this article to be of use to you. Below we have given 10 reasons as to why LCD & LED TV’s are better then old style televisions.

LCD & LED TVs are

1.       Designed to save energy – They will save you money on energy bills and save the environment, particularly the LED TV’s which are ultra power efficient

2.       HD Ready– They can provide a better quality picture than any old style TV.

3.       Stylish (they look better) – They look great with sleek and stylish designs.

4.       Wall Mountable – Get the best experience while watching your programmes with your television mounted on the wall

5.       Save Space – Unlike the old standard CRT televisions, LCD & LED TV’s are thin and save a lot of space. LED TV’s can be as thin as just over 29mm (that’s just over an inch in old money !)

6.       Better Connectivity – Connect up to five devices and more to your television at once using various connection methods.

7.       Lightweight – Breaking your back when moving your television is a thing of the past. LCD &B LED TVs are lightweight and mobile

8.       Digital Ready – Your LCD or LED television can receive digital signals in advance of the “digital changeover”, due to be completed in all regions by 2011. This means that you will not need a separate freeview box.

9.       Up to Date Technology – When you invest in a LCD or LED TV you know you’re getting the latest equipment that will help you to keep abreast of technology.

10.   Reliable & Quality Products – This is also dependent on the manufacturer but overall LCD & LED TVs are incredibly reliable and will provide many years of viewing enjoyment.

I have only mentioned the most significant difference between the both and hope you find this information to be of much use.

 

Positioning your TV and best viewing distance

How to position your LCD TV and the distance to sit for best picture?

Dependant on what screen size you choose and the size of your room the placement of your LCD television will vary. For a kitchen, bedroom or office you will probably be close to the LCD TV so a screen size of 19” to a 32” will be more then sufficient.  For the living room the majority of households will get the largest screen size possible dependant on their budget and size of room.

If you sit too close to a LCD Tv then you may be distracted by the tiny pixels which LCD Tv screens are made up of. Pixels are the tiny picture elements which make up the TV image. On the other hand if you sit too far from your LCD television then this can affect your viewing experience and the HDTV quality will be reduced.

Below is a graph which you can use as a guide for the viewing distance of your LCD TV

 

Viewing height

When placing your LCD television you will also need to consider the viewing height. The best way to figure out the viewing height is by sitting down in your normal viewing position, your eyes should be roughly level with the middle of the screen.

Light consideration

The lighting in your room is also a factor to consider as too much light can wash your picture and cause much reflection. If you do alot of television viewing in the day time then be sure to consider the light coming into your room. Lights within your room can also have an impact on the viewing experience and you will get a better picture quality when the lights are dimmed.

Checklist before you buy a TV

Want to buy a LCD TV but don’t know what to look for in the market or even at your house before buying one? Here are some tips to help you make a better choice:

• Buy according to your room size. I know it’s good to have a huge TV in the house. The power it represents, the feel it gives is something you can’t get from a small TV. But if you have decided to keep it in a big room, then go buy a big/medium one. If the room is small, then don’t listen to your heart as it won’t look good there. Also, LCD TVs won’t give you good picture if you watch it from a very close distance. If you are not sure about the size, you can take a couple of newspapers and hang it on the wall to see if the size looks odd.
• Now that you have decided the approximate size of your LCD TV, figure out your budget. There are many companies to choose from. You can find models of various prices. Remember that this LCD TV market is a very competitive field now. Many companies are offering their quality LCD panels at a cheaper rate just to grab consumers. They may be doing this for many reasons- clearance sale, seasonal sale, may be the units are used or refurbished. Ask your dealer to be clear about these as well.
• Compare the features of the LCD TVs you have chosen to consider before buying. Consumer Reports on the internet can be a good source. For instance, check the Resolution- 1280x720 (720p) for less than 40” screen and 1920x1080 (1080p) for 40”+, Motion Response Time: 12ms or 8ms (milliseconds) where 8ms is preferred, Contrast Ratio 1,500:1 or higher for 32”+ screen, etc.
• Pixel defect is a rare phenomenon for LCD TV where a “Dead Pixel” always appears on the screen of red or green color. Just to be sure you are not one of those unlucky guys; test the unit in the showroom before buying it. If you are shopping online, then ask your seller about replacement policies.
• Many experts believe that the LCD which shows good black or shadow is a good one. That panel can give you clear and good contrasting picture quality. Look for a good contrast ratio.
• Many people complain that they hate their new remote. My sister bought a new LCD TV a few weeks ago and she regrets throwing out her old TV’s remote. See if you can be comfortable with your new one or not.
• HDTV compatibility is very important. Make sure your new LCD TV supports High Definition. High definition input is coming soon and it will give you a sharper and clearer picture.

Good luck with buying new LCD TV and hope you have a clear idea now about what to do before buying one for yourself.

What can be viewed in HD (high definition) ?

High Definition or HD, has become more prevalent over the past two years, and for many people it has become the norm.

To view HD you require input from a high definition accessory. This could be via Sky HD, Freesat to watch TV, blu-ray player, to watch movies,  or the Playstation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360 consoles for gaming and much, much more. 

Freesat was launched in 2009. To use it you need a set-top box, such as the Humax HD PVR. This operates very much like a Sky HD box, and requires installation of a satellite dish. However, once set up, there is no subscription charge and so viewing is free (except for your TV licence). Freesat currently allows you to view BBC HD, and ITV HD in high definition. BBC HD is a separate channel that has its own programme schedule, and includes most of the top shows on BBC including the nature programmes and popular dramas etc. The ITV HD facility is an option on some ITV 1 programmes, which normally includes their top dramas, nature programmes and football. Watching football on HD is quite an experience, and is probably the arguably provides the biggest improvement compared to standard definition.

Sky HD is the option that provides you with by far the most HD channels, but it comes at a price, with monthly subscriptions according to your viewing package. As the popularity of Sky HD has increased, it shows that many people believe this to be a price worth paying. You will need a Sky HD box and satellite dish, but these are often provided free or at very low prices, in exchange for entering into a subscription contract.

Blu-ray is a great way of experiencing high definition on the latest blockbuster movies. Most of the latest movies are now released on blu-ray, which is a disk which looks similar to a DVD, but contains up to ten times the amount of data. To play a blu-ray disk you need a blu-ray player, or they can be played on a Playstation 3 console.

Whatever you want to watch in HD, it is important to use HDMI connecting cables, not Scart leads.

     

LCD or Plasma, which should I buy ?

We always get asked the question "what television should i buy an lcd or plasma?" There are many things that you need to take into consideration when making your choice and we hope that this article will make it easier for you to decide.

At a first glance Lcd tv's and plasmas look the same. They are nice, slim and stylish. They both have flat screen panels and both offer wide screen technology. There are however a few points that you will need to consider and a few Key differences between the two.

Lets have a look at some of the advantages of lcd tv's and plasma tv's and why they have taken over traditional tv sets.

• Lcd tv's and plasma tv's look good-The style and design of these look great, whether turned on or off. They are easily wall mounted or fitted snug against the side of your living room.-this may not be the biggest concern however it is defiantly worth noting
• Compact design- The days of using up a whole table for a crt monitor are now over. With the introduction of lcd monitors it has cleaned up offices and desk spaces at home.
• clear viewing- One of the key differences from a lcd/plasma and crt (normal tv) is the pixels that are available. Lcd tv's and plasmas have more pixles per a square inch compared to a normal crt. With more pixles you can enjoy the magical experience of crystal clear viewing

The differences between LCD and Plasma

LCD
LCD stands for liquid crystal display. Its if formed of hundreds of thousands of small lcd pixels that sit behind the tv screen. These pixels are charged through a fluorescent white backlight that sits behind the pixels. The light charges the pixels by sending an electric current and determines what colour should be shown, and the millions of tiny light variations make up the image that you see on your TV.

Plasma
Plasma screens are different to lcd technology. Plasma screens use the technology of xenon and neon gas which fills thousands of tiny chambers. Plasma screens are actually made up of 2 screens of glass and the xenon and neon gas is placed between both of the screens. Behind the tiny chambers that are filled by the gas there are a series of red, blue and green phosphors.When electricity hits the plasma chambers, they emit invisible UV light, which then hits one of the coloured phosphors. This creates a visible image on the screen.

LCD or Plasma?
So now you know the difference in technology used. Which one is right for you?

• Plasma tv's can reach an incredible 71 inches in screen size where as lcd tv's reach about 46 inches.
• Plasma tv's are heavier then lcd tvs and lcd tvs come slightly thinner
• LCD usually has a slightly clearer picture in smaller models and a higher resolution
• lcd tv's usually have a longer lifespan then a plasma as its not operated by gas which will need refilling
• Lcd tv's use less energy then plasma tv's

The decision is yours. If you are after a larger screen then Plasma is the one for you. If you can live with a screen size of up to 46 inches then i would personally recommend the lcd. Not only will you get a clearer picture/thinner design but you will also help the environment with energy saving equipment.

Can a LED or LCD TV be used as a computer monitor?

Can a LCD TV be used as a computer monitor?

Looking at the trend during the last few years it is noticeable that CRT monitors have virtually disappeared and have been overtaken by the sheer success of LCD monitors. Not only have LCD monitors reduced in price but they are also designed to be environmentally friendly. The growth of LCD televisions over the past few years has also been extremely successful and can be linked to the success faced by LCD monitors thus sharing a great deal of characteristics with them.

Most LCD Televisions have VGA input connectors which allow computers to be connected to the LCD TV and be used as a monitor.

If your main purpose of buying a LCD television is to use it as a large monitor then some optional extras which are usually paid for may not be required. For example you will not need a LCD TV with Freeview You may not need HDMI inputs or analogue AV inputs.

If you are planning to use your LCD television for both purposes then just make sure that the LCD TV you are buying does have a VGA input or another connection method for connecting your computer to it.

All of the Lcd Tvs available at ravs appliances come with VGA inputs so they can all be used as a TV and a monitor. You can view the LCD range here. Lcd Tvs

Digital Camcorders-Do I need HD ?

Digital camcorders-with HD or without?

The benefit of buying a camcorder that supports Full HD is in the quality of the clip being recorded. Although the difference is only slight in comparison to another camcorder the picture quality is clearly visible.

As they say quality speaks for itself.

When recording in HD mode the file sizes that get saved are large and need a lot of disk space this is why the majority of HD camcorders will come with Blu-ray discs as apposed to dvd’s.

To view the quality of a HD recorded movie or clip from your camcorder there are 3 things that you will need

1.       HD Plasma or LCD

2.       Correct leads (HDMI-component video)

3.       HD Source ( being direct from your camcorder or from a blu-ray disk)

So you will need a LCD TV or Plasma TV that is HD ready or Full HD. The majority of HD camcorders will come with HDMI inputs which will allow you to connect the camcorder to the TV. You will be able to play the movie through the camcorders hard drive or the Blu-ray player which is built in the camcorder. Alternatively you could take the disk and put it in another player already connected to the TV.

The price difference between a HD camcorder and one without HD is certainly noticeable. Although prices are getting cheaper with more and more people buying them, you can still be looking in the region of £400+ for the cheaper ones. Have a look at the range available at Ravs Appliances-quality and cheap HD camcorders starting from £379.99

A camcorder without HD like the Hitachi hybrid DZ-HS500 is also a superb camera with great picture quality. As mentioned above the picture difference is very slight between the both and is barely visible to the average eye.

The decision is down to the individual to make. For the average consumer a camcorder without HD are the most popular and for the more advanced, technical and eye for detail kind of consumers a HD camera works a treat.

What digital camcorder is right for me?

What digital camcorder is right for me?  What to look for in a digital camcorder?

Camcorders come in many different models offering all sorts of capabilities and specifications. Before you buy a camcorder, you need to consider what you will need it for. I mean it’s not worth you going out and buying a top of the range camcorder if you will be using it for making youtube movies the majority of the times.

We will be looking at 3 types of users excluding commercial users such as film makers. If you fall into one of the following categories then this guide will help you choose the right camcorder for you.

Holiday and Home Film-maker

The majority of camcorder users fall into this category.  If you do, then generally speaking you will want to shoot school plays, your baby’s first steps, birthday parties, days out, and of course, holidays. Nothing extremely technical will need to be done but you will be looking for a camcorder that can add special effects and which can be easily edited. You will be looking for simple controls and easy output to your TV or PC.

You will want to look for the following specs in the camcorder

• Lens type:-10x or greater zoom
• Recording Format:- Hard drive and SD cards
• Ports and Connectors: s video or USB
• Focus control:- automatic or manual focus control

Take a look at the Jvc GZ-MG630 digital camcorder which holds a 60Gb hard drive storage capacity. It has won many awards and is great value for money.

Budget Buyer

A budget buyer would be someone not really too interested in a premium brand product like JVC. He does not want to spend too much money and does not require any advanced functions

You will want to look for the following specs

• Lens type:-10x or greater zoom
• Recording format:- SD card
• Focus control:- automatic

Take a look at the Hitachi and Sanyo camcorders.  They offer an awful lot for not very much of your money.

Experienced and frequent film-maker (trendsetter)

This would be for someone that is looking for the coolest gadget in town- someone looking for cutting edge technology and features, someone who wants the best in design and wants people to look twice. It’s for someone who is after the best and is willing to pay the price. It obviously must record in stunning high definition.

You will want to look for the following specs

• Design:-Horizontal; vertical; compact; ultracompact; combo
• Lens type:-20x or greater optical zoom, electronic or optical image stabilisation
• High Definition Sensor:-1/4-inch or 1/3-inch CCD; minimum 690,000-pixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution; greater than 2-megapixel effective still-image resolution
• Minimum Illumination Rating:-2 to 7 lux (lower is better)
• Recording Format:-+60gb hard disk plus SD card
• Ports and Connectors:-A/V; USB; S-Video; accessory shoe; microphone terminal; headphone terminal
• Exposure Controls:-Automatic; exposure shift; programmed scene modes; spot metering; low-light infrared mode; built-in video light; pop-up flash for stills
• Focus Controls:-Automatic; manual option via dial on camcorder body or ring on lens; spot focus
• Viewfinder and LCD:-Colour viewfinder and 76mm (3-inch) or larger colour LCD
• Multimedia:-Memory card slot that supports high-capacity media for photo capture; MPEG-1 or MPEG-4 video for Web and email

You should consider the JVC GZ-HD300

 

Microwave Buying guide

There are many types of microwaves available for general consumers and commercial users, each having specific features and capabilities. Dependent on your requirement s, one of the following will be the right one for you.

• Standard Microwave
• Standard Microwave with Grill
• Combination Microwave (with microwave, grill, and convection oven)

Let us have a look at these microwaves in some detail and explore the different functions.

Standard Microwave

A standard microwave can be used to cook, defrost and reheat food.

Standard Microwave with Grill

A standard microwave with Grill will do all the functions that a standard microwave can but will also have an internal Grill. The grill can be used on its own or in conjunction with microwave heating. This will provide a golden “grilled” finish or crust to your food.

Combination Microwave

A combination unit is a microwave, grill and convection oven all in one. The convection oven has all the functions of the standard with grill but can also be used as an oven (hot-air), like on an electric oven. All the functions available in this remarkable piece of technology can be used independently or simultaneously. The functions can also be used in pairs, so for example the microwave and grill or the microwave and oven. The combination is ideal for baking cakes and pizzas, grilling your cheese toasties and reheating your food along with a 101 other things you can think of. It really is a most versatile unit. 

Size

Dependant on your requirement, size is very important. Your microwave will need to accommodate the plates that will be used to heat up the food on. The dimensions are also important as sufficient space will be required to accommodate the microwave. Family size microwaves are usually 23 litres upwards.

Power

Microwave power is measured in watts. The power can range from 600 to 1100W. The higher the wattage, the quicker your food will cook.