How to Buy an HDTV

Your HDTV Buying Decision

Let's start with the most important factor, the screen. The screen resolution should be 1080p, equivalent to 1920 by 1080 pixels. Virtually all HDTVs sold today that are 40 inches or larger support 1080p, while smaller screens may be limited to 720p (1366 x 768 pixels). A 720p device must rescale a 1080p image to make it fit the lower-rez screen, and that can result in sub-optimal viewing. More and more television content is being produced in 1080p, so spend the extra bucks and get it.

Contrast ratio is the second most important factor after resolution. A low contrast ratio means washed-out images and blah colors. High contrast means more details and colors that "pop." Technically, the contrast ratio refers to the difference between the darkest and lightest images that an HDTV can display. Subjectively, it means "how black are the blacks." Compare sets side by side in the store.

And size does matter when it comes to TV viewing. HDTV screen sizes vary from 19 inches to 70 inches, measured on the diagonal. Of course bigger means more expensive, and for the larger models, mounting can be an issue. You may wind up spending a couple hundred bucks for a wall mount that can support a 100+ pound TV. And if you're not 100% certain of your ability to install it safely, you'll need to pay for professional installation as well.

Internet connectivity is relatively new to HDTVs. It allows you to connect your HDTV to a router (wired or wirelessly) and retrieve content from Internet services such as Hulu.com or Netflix, or from video libraries stored on other devices in your home network. If you've ever thought about canceling your cable or satellite TV subscription, an Internet-connected HDTV might fill the void with the ability to download and watch your favorite shows and movies.

Plasma, LED, LCD or 3D?

So-called "LED TVs" are LCD TVs with an LED backlight instead of standard fluorescent backlighting. LEDs consume less power and produce better color response than traditional backlights, and enable thinner HDTV sets. Plasma HDTVs look very similar to LCD and LED models, but use a very different technology to display the image. A plasma screen will have have better viewing angles (ie: how far can you move to the left or right side of the screen before the picture quality is affected.) Some argue that newer LED models have caught up with plasma in terms of picture quality, and point out that the LED/LCD's use only half the power of plasmas.

Dynamic backlighting (or "local dimming") is a feature that reduces backlighting on dim portions of an image, significantly boosting contrast. The standard refresh rate of 60 Hz may be sped up to 120 or 240 Hz in some HDTV models. The increase in refresh rate can help eliminate motion blurring on LCD TVs.

3D TV is now an option on certain HDTV models offered by all the major manufacturers. There isn't much 3D content yet, so this is more of a future-proofing option. Check your cable or satellite TV provider's 3D offerings. If they include programming you really want to watch in 3D, you may want to shell out the extra dollars (up to $150) for this option and wear those funky 3D glasses. The more expensive active shutter 3D glasses provide better viewing quality than lighter-weight passive glasses. Yes, you can still watch 2D TV on a set that supports 3D.

HDTVs come with a bewildering array of video connectors. The most important one is HDMI, the latest version of which is 1.4. Look for at least three HDMI connectors on any set you consider; more is better. Component video, VGA, S-video, and composite video have their uses, depending on what other equipment you need to connect to the HDTV. Check out the connectors on your cable TV box, VHS/DVD player, and gaming systems to make sure your new TV will accommodate them.

Automatic brightness control adjusts the set's brightness in response to changes in room lighting. This can save a significant amount of power. Automatic volume leveling reduces the differences between volume levels in programming, so you can hear whispered dialogue without being blown away when the bomb goes off.

I could recommend one HDTV model or another, but that would only start a war in the comment section below. You really need to visit a store, check out competing models side by side, decide how much screen real estate you can afford, and which features are the most important. Even then, sometimes it boils down to what's on sale. J

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