Buying an HDTV Soon? 10 Essential Things to Know
Prices for high-definition TVs keep tumbling and the technology is better than ever, but buying a set is not as easy for consumers as it should be.
Since HDTVs come in a variety of sizes and technological "flavors," it pays to do a little homework and comparison shopping. You can find a wealth of information on the Web, including reviews by professionals and users. Check magazines such as Sound & Vision, Home Theater and Perfect Vision or Web sites such as CNET or AVS Forum.
To get you started, here are 10 things to consider before buying that big screen TV during the holiday season.
1. Think big. "High-def" looks best on a large TV. Buy the biggest set you can afford, but make sure it fits the space. A 37-inch screen may work best in a bedroom, but a 60-inch screen is ideal in a large entertainment center. "The most important thing is deciding what TV is right for the room it will be in," said Phillip Swann, who runs HD Predictions, a consumer Web site dedicated to industry news.
2. Know your ABCs. HD sets come in a confusing variety of technologies -- plasma, LCD, DLP, LCOS and SXRD (Sony's version of LCOS). What the letters mean is unimportant. These technologies all show a high-quality picture. They just deliver it in different ways.
Yet there are important differences. Plasma is generally seen as best for movies, LCDs for daytime viewing and sports. DLP and LCOS sets might provide the best value and overall picture. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
3. Avoid a numbers game. The latest HDTVs tout a "1080p" signal and carry a higher price, but the advantage is small. Older models with a "resolution" of 1080i, 720p or 768p (LCD and plasma) also deliver a great picture. Unless you like to sit close to a big TV, sets based on lower resolutions are perfectly fine and less expensive while supplies last.
4. Thin is beautiful. But don't limit yourself to a pricey flat-panel plasma or LCD. Sets based on DLP, LCOS and SXRD technology are cheaper and can deliver a superior picture. Most are less than 15 inches deep or half the thickness of big tube TVs popular a decade ago.
5. Count the total cost. While sets based on DLP and LCOS technology are cheaper, they may cost more to own in the long run. Why? These sets use bulbs (average cost: $300) that need to be replaced after roughly 3,000 to 5,000 hours of viewing. To fix that problem, Samsung has introduced a line of DLP sets based on so-called LED technology that do not require extra bulbs. LCDs and plasmas generally last at least 20,000 to 30,000 hours.
6. Look outside the box. Big box stores such as Best Buy and Circuit City offer great deals and cheap financing and it's easy to make returns. Yet the biggest savings are to be found online at e-tailers such as Amazon. Shipping is often free and there's no tax. Just make sure the site is an authorized dealer or is rated highly by customers, especially on product returns.
7. A plug for HDMI. This new plug is the best way to hook up your high-def set to a set top box or DVD player that also includes an HDMI connection. HDMI carries both video and sound on one cable and eliminates the need for multiple wires. Beware of unreasonably high prices, however. Retail stores can make a big profit on surge protectors and special cables such as HDMI. The cheapest 3-foot HDMI cable at Best Buy, for instance, is $50. And longer cables cost more than most DVD players.
Yet a reputable online dealer such as Blue Jeans Cable sells 3-foot HDMI cables for $15 or less and also lets buyers customize their own length. Shipping is cheap and fast, usually just a few days. "Cable is fundamentally wire and plastic stuck together," said Blue Jeans owner Kurt Denke. "There's nothing in a $100 HDMI cable that's not in a $5 cable."
8. Get the picture. About 20% of consumers who own an HDTV think they are seeing high-def shows when they are not, the market researcher Leichtman Group found. To get an actual HD picture, customers have to order high-def service from their cable or satellite provider. It costs about $10 a month. Some over-the-air HD channels -- ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and Fox - can also be seen for free with an old-fashioned antenna.
9. Do some fine tuning. Most HDTVs are not picture-perfect out of the box even if they look good. To cite one problem, contrast is usually set too high, which could shorten the life of the set. A cheap and simple way to improve the picture is to use the THX Optimizer tests found on popular DVDs such as "Star Wars," Monsters, Inc." or "Finding Nemo." This article at EndGadget explains how.
10. Listen up. You've bought an expensive TV, but save some cash for a decent sound system. Home theaters are not the byproduct of tinny speakers that rattle at higher volumes. A nice high-def picture deserves great sound to go along with it.
Okay, there YOU have it in a nutshell pretty much. Just remember, "don't buy a tv that is TOO BIG for your viewing area". YOU don't want to watch tv like your sitting in the front row at the movie theatre. Be smart and enjoy what YOU get.
"The more YOU know, the more YOU grow,
The more YOU grow, the further YOU go"
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