Choosing A High Definition TV
HDTV sets are here to stay. With prices anywhere from a couple hundred dollars up into the tens of thousands, it's important to do your research and find an unbiased review. Even though the salesman at your local best buy store is probably a good guy, you can often find some great HDTV deals online as well if you know what to look for. You want to know things like the type of HDTV you need, which resolution you want, what inputs the TV has, the right viewing angle, and the best contrast ratio to get. If all that confuses you don't let it. I'm here to help make sense of all the tech jargon and find the right TV for you.
Most people will have either digital cable or satellite television service. Both of these often offer HD channels and you will want to check into the lineup your provider offers you. The major digital cable companies such as Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter and Comcast all offer great HD packages, they will even have special deals for new subscribers many times. DirecTV and Dish Network have you covered from the satellite angle with strong HD offerings as well. The chances are good that your current television provider, cable or satellite, will have every HD channel currently on the market. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to give them a call ahead of time, especially if you are thinking about purchasing a new HDTV. It would not be good to find out your local provider did not include high definition or the HD channels you wanted.
Now that you have ironed out the questions about which high definition television package you can get from your provider, such as Time Warner Cable, it is time to choose your television type. Currently you can choose from LCD, Plasma, LED or rear projection. The oldest HDTV's are rear projection units and generally have lower contrast ratios, resolutions, and viewing angles. Most people are not interested in a rear projection HDTV, however if you find yourself with budget woes they are a way to get started in the high definition market. If you have a bit more freedom in the money department you will find the majority of HDTVs on the market are LCD based. There are all kinds of LCD sets to choose from but if you want the best possible picture stick with 1080p and leave the 720p alone. These numbers are referring to the screen resolution and 1080p is the best, and generally considered true HD. You will likely come across sets that are 1080, but instead of the "p" they have an "i". This means the resolution is interlaced instead of progressive scan, which is not as smooth or clear a picture. The only time you may want to consider a 1080i set is if the price is right, sometimes the savings are worth the lower picture quality. You can also choose a plasma screen television, these were some of the first high intensity high def sets and when they first hit the market they were quite expensive. With time and competition, the price of plasma's has gone down. Both plasma and LCD television sets have pros and cons as well as their diehard fans; generally, it comes down to personal preference. The latest and greatest in the HDTV world is the LED television set. These sets are LCD that use LED for backlighting which gives the set awesome color, contrast and resolution while at the same time reducing your carbon footprint! At the moment these units are the most expensive in the HDTV world and are aimed toward people who enjoy having all the latest technology. Of course, they do offer you the best picture experience and thinnest profile of any television available.
After you've decided which HDTV format is right for you it's time to look at the small features and make sure the television you're thinking about purchasing has what you need. Make sure the HDTV's you're looking at has all the connections you want. These include audio and video input/outputs and PC connections. Next, read the fine print for the maximum view angle. This is how far you can stand to the side of a TV and still see a clear picture. The bigger the viewing angle the better the HDTV and the more places in your living room you can enjoy the picture besides directly in front of it. Last but not least, take a look at the HDTV's contrast ratio. This is a measure of how dark the dark colors are and how bright the light colors are. Ideally you want a high contrast ratio, but because each manufacturer may use a different method for calculating the ratio you usually have to decide for yourself by looking at the picture. Stay away from screens that produce blacks that appear gray or whites that are dull and lack "pop".
Though it may initially seem somewhat confusing, one thing is certain - HDTV is awesome. The past couple of years have seen drastic reductions in price making it possible to find a large HDTV for less than $1500. Nevertheless, if you are new to the HDTV market it is easy to be burned by low resolution and washed out colors. Hopefully the information above has helped you to know what to ask or check out when you are shopping. You can shop at a local electronics provider or an online retailer, but one thing is certain - HDTV will change the way you see TV from now on. You will be able to enjoy all your favorite shows and movies in a whole new light. - 2361
Most people will have either digital cable or satellite television service. Both of these often offer HD channels and you will want to check into the lineup your provider offers you. The major digital cable companies such as Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter and Comcast all offer great HD packages, they will even have special deals for new subscribers many times. DirecTV and Dish Network have you covered from the satellite angle with strong HD offerings as well. The chances are good that your current television provider, cable or satellite, will have every HD channel currently on the market. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to give them a call ahead of time, especially if you are thinking about purchasing a new HDTV. It would not be good to find out your local provider did not include high definition or the HD channels you wanted.
Now that you have ironed out the questions about which high definition television package you can get from your provider, such as Time Warner Cable, it is time to choose your television type. Currently you can choose from LCD, Plasma, LED or rear projection. The oldest HDTV's are rear projection units and generally have lower contrast ratios, resolutions, and viewing angles. Most people are not interested in a rear projection HDTV, however if you find yourself with budget woes they are a way to get started in the high definition market. If you have a bit more freedom in the money department you will find the majority of HDTVs on the market are LCD based. There are all kinds of LCD sets to choose from but if you want the best possible picture stick with 1080p and leave the 720p alone. These numbers are referring to the screen resolution and 1080p is the best, and generally considered true HD. You will likely come across sets that are 1080, but instead of the "p" they have an "i". This means the resolution is interlaced instead of progressive scan, which is not as smooth or clear a picture. The only time you may want to consider a 1080i set is if the price is right, sometimes the savings are worth the lower picture quality. You can also choose a plasma screen television, these were some of the first high intensity high def sets and when they first hit the market they were quite expensive. With time and competition, the price of plasma's has gone down. Both plasma and LCD television sets have pros and cons as well as their diehard fans; generally, it comes down to personal preference. The latest and greatest in the HDTV world is the LED television set. These sets are LCD that use LED for backlighting which gives the set awesome color, contrast and resolution while at the same time reducing your carbon footprint! At the moment these units are the most expensive in the HDTV world and are aimed toward people who enjoy having all the latest technology. Of course, they do offer you the best picture experience and thinnest profile of any television available.
After you've decided which HDTV format is right for you it's time to look at the small features and make sure the television you're thinking about purchasing has what you need. Make sure the HDTV's you're looking at has all the connections you want. These include audio and video input/outputs and PC connections. Next, read the fine print for the maximum view angle. This is how far you can stand to the side of a TV and still see a clear picture. The bigger the viewing angle the better the HDTV and the more places in your living room you can enjoy the picture besides directly in front of it. Last but not least, take a look at the HDTV's contrast ratio. This is a measure of how dark the dark colors are and how bright the light colors are. Ideally you want a high contrast ratio, but because each manufacturer may use a different method for calculating the ratio you usually have to decide for yourself by looking at the picture. Stay away from screens that produce blacks that appear gray or whites that are dull and lack "pop".
Though it may initially seem somewhat confusing, one thing is certain - HDTV is awesome. The past couple of years have seen drastic reductions in price making it possible to find a large HDTV for less than $1500. Nevertheless, if you are new to the HDTV market it is easy to be burned by low resolution and washed out colors. Hopefully the information above has helped you to know what to ask or check out when you are shopping. You can shop at a local electronics provider or an online retailer, but one thing is certain - HDTV will change the way you see TV from now on. You will be able to enjoy all your favorite shows and movies in a whole new light. - 2361
About the Author:
Anna Sussman delves into the complicated world of cable providers to find the offers that deliver the biggest savings for consumers. Anna looks for the lowest Time Warner digital cable rates and discounts on Time Warner bundled services.
posted by Marcondes Allen at 12:59 AM
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