How to pick the right TV

New to television

While LCD TVs are relatively new, the technology has been around for a while in the computer world as monitors. LCD displays share many of the attributes of plasma TVs: they’re thin, they hang on a wall and they have only recently become available in the home television market. However, that’s where the similarities end. LCD TVs are available in a wider variety of sizes starting as small as seven inches and ranging up to 57 inches. Also, because most LCD TVs don’t use glass on the face plate, they are less susceptible to glare and can be used in rooms with more light.

LCD (liquid crystal display) panels work through the use of polarizing crystals. These crystals are placed in front of a constant light source, usually a florescent bulb. When electricity is passed through the crystals, they block a certain amount of light from the bulb; more electricity makes the crystals block more light. By grouping sets of crystals in threes (one red, one green, one blue) a pixel is made and colors can be formed.

Bright and efficient

Because they use florescent bulbs, LCD TVs can produce a bright image. It also means that they are energy efficient. However, because the bulb is always on, they often struggle with the dark areas of a picture. Also, many LCD sets do not respond quickly to fast motion resulting in motion blur on the trailing edges of fast moving objects.

Here are some questions to ask when shopping for LCD TVs:

• What is the set’s “response time”? This is an indication of how well the panel will respond to motion. The smaller the number, the better.

• What is the contrast ratio? A higher number means that the set will do a better job showing detail in dark areas of the screen.

• What is the “native” resolution of the set and how does it deal with other resolutions? These are fixed pixel sets, so they must convert all other non-native resolutions to that one. How well is each able to do it?

• What is included with the set? Most will come with a table stand and a few with the wall bracket as well.

• Is the HD TV tuner built in? Because LCD panels are thin, they often do not have space for this tuner and, even if they do, they often are not CableCARD™ ready.

• How far “off-axis” can I view the set? Some LCD sets will change color or dim as you move off to the side.

These are the large boxes that used to be the only choice for a home theater-sized screen. Today, these sets have been eclipsed in popularity by many of the new displays, but can still represent a good value… if you have the space.

The power of three

Rear Projection TVs use three CRTs, the “tube” in tube TVs, that each project one of the primary colors through lenses, off of a mirror and on to the back of a screen, much like Micro-display sets. However, because they basically use three small tube televisions to create the image, it is difficult to build them into small cases.

Keep them in line

RPTVs share many of the same benefits as tube TVs: they are bright, have accurate color and can produce a nice, deep black. However, the three tubes can drift out of alignment creating colored edges. This can be fixed with by “converging” the set periodically. Also, they will dim as you move off of the centerline of the set, both vertically and horizontally.

Here are some questions to ask when shopping for a Rear Projection TV:

• How much space does it need? These are floor-standing sets in big cabinets. Make sure there is room for them.

• How many people will be watching this? The manufacturers of these sets spend a lot of time focusing the light from the three CRTs out the center of the screen. As a result, someone sitting directly in front of this type of display is treated to one of the most natural pictures available.

However, people sitting to the sides or below the center may not see as bright an image.

How easy is it to “converge” the set? The three tubes will get out of alignment. What menu options can correct this problem?

A movie theater in your home

Front Projection systems are the ultimate in home theater because they fit the room very much like a film projector: shining light across the room onto a screen. As a result, the screen size can be adjusted to fit a room or wall exactly. In fact, for the biggest possible image, front projectors are it: some of them are capable of creating a 300 inch image!

Different flavors

These systems use all of the same technologies as micro-display TVs as well as three-CRT systems similar to those found in RPTVs. All of the same benefits of each of those technologies also apply here. However, unlike all of those technologies, you now have to choose a screen as well. Because they come in a variety of sizes, mounting options and reflectivity characteristics, they can affect the viewing experience almost as much as the projector itself. The screen’s importance is why these are often called “two-piece” projectors.

Keep them in the dark

There are a few other things to be aware of in these systems. To get an accurate picture, the room should be dark; these systems can only produce a black that is as dark as the room. Also, the larger the screen, the dimmer the picture will be. A projector only has so much light to spread across the screen so the bigger the screen, the thinner that light is spread.

Here are some questions to ask when shopping for a front projection system:

• What size screen will I get if the projector is so far back? Most front projectors publish “throw distance” tables that determine how big an image any one projector can produce given a particular distance from the screen.

• What display technology does the projector use? This will allow you to apply all of the information and questions from the previous section.

• What is the “native” resolution of the set and how does it deal with other resolutions? Most of these are fixed pixel sets, so they must convert all other non-native resolutions to that one. How well is each able to do it? Is it even HD?

• Does it have a tuner? Most front projection systems do not include any tuner, digital or analog. For watching TV, these need a tuner box or VCR to get the signal.

• What mounting options are available for both the projector and the screen? Most projectors can be mounted on the ceiling or placed on a table. Screens can be frame mounted, rolled-up or even stand mounted.

Now that you know about DTV and the different choices there are to display it, it’s time to determine which is right for your needs. The first question to answer is budget: how much do you want to spend on the set?

While some of the newer display technologies offer incredible performance and new ways of fitting a television into a home, they also tend to cost more. Tube TVs are still the leader here being the least expensive way to get a DTV display. However, if you look at then from a price-per-inch perspective, then RPTV and Micro-display become very attractive.

Don’t answer yet…

Before you decide on a number and start shopping, there are some other things you might consider:

How often is your current television on in the house? Most Americans have their set on for more than eight hours a day, every day of the year. It is the primary source of entertainment in our homes; you will use this more often and with greater enjoyment than almost any other product you own with the exception of your bed. Make sure that you budget enough to do this right.

Is this replacing your main TV or is it a secondary set? If this is the one that is used most often, then it’s worth spending a bit more on it. If it is a secondary set, say for the bedroom or kitchen, while you may not need to spring for a larger picture, you might want to invest in different design and mounting options.

Something for every budget

Keep in mind, even if you are on a tight budget, there is a DTV that will fit. Sure, the world’s largest plasma set might be beyond your reach, but owning it would mean clearing off your entire wall anyway.

If you answer this size question next, then many of the remaining issues involved in deciding on a new TV are also answered. For instance, most of the different display technologies are only available in certain sizes. So, if you know that the best size is between 55 and 60 inches, then you also know that LCD and Tube TVs are not going to work.

How much space do you have?

Start by determining where in the room the set will go. Is the space constrained by the size of the wall or does it need to fit in or on a particular piece of furniture? If this is the case, get the measurements before going any farther.

One fifth the distance

If you aren’t constrained by the room, then the rule most experts use is to divide your distance from the front of the set by five. This will give you the screen height. In other words, if you sit ten feet from the front of where the screen will go, a TV that is two feet (24 inches) high is recommended. This size is roughly what a movie screen would look like when seen from two thirds of the way back; what is considered the “sweet spot” of a movie theater. Keep in mind that this number is only a recommendation, feel free to adjust it to taste; lots of people enjoy sitting in the front row.

Now that you know the size, your choices of display type should already be down to two or three instead of all six. To narrow it down farther, consider how it will fit in the room. For instance, if you plan on mounting it to the wall, then LCD or Plasma are your only two choices.

Bright rooms

If you still have a couple of choices, then think about how much light is in the room and how it will affect the picture. If it is bright, then you want a set that is also bright so that it can overcome all the light. Keep in mind that a bright room also means a high chance of glare. Therefore, a TV with a front surface made of glass may not be the best choice. This situation is perfect for LCD or micro-display, as long as the micro-display doesn’t have a glare-inducing plastic shield on the front.

Dark rooms

Conversely, if the room is darker or doesn’t get much glare, then something that can give you great detail in the dark areas will probably be better. Plasma, tube TV or RPTV will work well in these situations.

See it for yourself

No matter what set you think is right, it is critical that go look at the set before purchasing. Reviews and other people’s opinions are fine, but you are the one who has to live with the TV. Make sure that it is up to your standards. However, when you do go look at televisions, there are some things you can do in order to make sure that you’ll be happy with the set when you get it home.

How does it look turned off?

Cast an eye on the cosmetics as well. Brochures and online pictures rarely show the real look and quality of the construction. You have to live with the set in your room, even when it is off; make sure that it will fit the look of your home.

Give it some space

When you do look at the picture, don’t stand too close. No matter how good a TV is, if you stand three inches from the screen you will see flaws. Instead, stand as close as the closest seat will be to the set in your home. If it looks good there, then you’ll be happy with it at home.

Adjust the set

Next, if you are comparing two sets, make sure that they show the same signal and have similar color, contrast and brightness settings. Otherwise, how will you know that one really has a better image than another? Take the time to adjust these settings yourself. Also, keep in mind that the picture will look different when you get it home. It won’t be under florescent lights with a TV signal that is split to hundreds of set. But if one looks better than others in the store, it will probably look better than those others in your home as well.

Don’t count connections

Instead count your sources. You will need one connection for every component that you plan on connecting and at least one more for future growth. Also, look for connectors that prepare you for the future, particularly HDMI. We’ll discuss those in the next section.

What you choose to feed a television is as much a part of its performance as a person’s diet. No matter how good the display is and how well it processes images, if it is receiving a weak or noisy signal, the resulting picture will not be the best the set can produce.

What’s your favorite channel?

Decide what to watch first. Do you need Classic Football or hourly news? If you do, then you’re probably getting cable or satellite. Ask them if they have a trial period so that you can preview the image before you are charged.

Cable

Roughly 70% of American households are connected to a cable system. While they require monthly fees and installation, cable companies offers hundreds of stations, many of them in high definition. Most cable providers do require a set-top box. This means you’ll need to find room for one more component; something that’s especially tricky if you plan on hanging the set on the wall: sets that are Digital CableCARD™ Ready can help here. Picture quality does vary from provider to provider as they try to fit more channels down their transmission lines or through their satellites. Also, with cable, which set-top box is provided can also affect the signal quality.

Satellite

Satellite systems also offer hundreds of channels and high definition options and are connected in roughly 20% of households. While satellite does offer most of your local channels, they often won’t transmit local access channels that offer high school sports or other neighborhood programming. On the other hand, satellite is available everywhere in the lower 48 states, not just metro areas.

Antennas

Often the easiest way to get a digital TV signal is through an old fashioned antenna. They are relatively inexpensive and don’t require any monthly fees. The downside is choice: most areas only have a few stations broadcasting and not all of them are digital yet. However, all of them need to be broadcasting in DTV by January 1, 2007 and the older analog signal will be shut off no later than December 31, 2009.

A few simple rules

You've finally selected a TV. It's been delivered and cable or satellite service has been turned on. Now come the most daunting part: dealing with all of those wires. But really, it's not that bad. With a few simple rules you can be up and running in no time.

First, TV manufacturers don't know what you plan on connecting, so they put in more connections and more varieties than you will need.

The connectors on the back of a TV are inputs: they need to be connected to things that send, or output, a signal.

Most connections require at least three wires: one for the video signal and two for the audio signal (left and right). All three of these wires need to be connected to the same input number for the set to work correctly.

They're all color coded; match up the colors on the same input and you're good to go.