Which HDTV is Right for You?

If you’re in the market for a new HDTV the sheer volume of choice on the market can be a little overwhelming. Many people simply don’t take the time to learn enough about their options and end up with a TV that doesn’t suit their needs.

Instead of just wandering around your local big box store like a kid in a very expensive candy store and relying on the high-school students/sales assistants for advice, go in prepared like a pro and you’ll be sure to find the right TV. Here are the decisions you should make before heading to the store to buy:

• Screen Size – This comes down to two main concerns: money and space. It’s no fun to come home with a new TV that won’t fit in your room, so measure where you’re planning on setting up the TV to set your maximum screen size. And while everyone wants a huge screen, you may have to compromise to fit your budget—work out the minimum screen size that will make you happy. Now you have a range of screen sizes that will work for your needs.

• Resolution – Screen resolution is basically the amount of lines on your screen—the more lines, the clearer the picture will appear. HD is broken up into two resolutions: 720 and 1080. Many people can’t tell the difference between the resolutions, so it might be worth going to a store and comparing to see if the higher resolution is worth it to you. Note: if you’re looking at smaller screen sizes, you may not be able to find 1080 options.

• Scan Mode – When looking at TVs, you may notice letters after the screen resolution such as “720p” and “1080i.” The “p” stands for progressive scan (which is preferred), and the “i” stands for interlaced. You won’t really run into many interlaced TVs on the market these days, so you don’t have to worry much about this.

• LCD or Plasma – If you’re looking for something under 42”, you’re decision is pretty much made for you and you’ll be going with LCD. If you’re looking for something 42” and above, you’ll have to decide between LCD and plasma. There’s been a fair amount of debate about which is best, but most experts will tell you plasma looks a little better but costs more. If you’re looking for more depth on the differences, check out this awesome comparison on Crutchfield.

• Refresh Rate – While it might sound like a measure of how fast you can drink lemonade, refresh rate is an important consideration when buying an HDTV. The higher the refresh rate, the quicker the image on screen is generated and the less motion blur you see. I’m not even to pretend that I’m an expert on this issue, so instead I’ll direct you to this breakdown on HDTVetc.

• CCFL or LED Backlight – Skip this step if you’ve decided to go with plasma. LED backlighting is a pretty new development. If you’ve seen ads for LED TVs, these are actually LCD TVs that use LEDs to light the screen instead of CCFL bulbs. So what do you need to know? LEDs generally cost a little more, but are more energy-efficient, make for a slimmer package and are a little better at daytime performance. If you want more information about LED vs CCFL, check out this article on cnet Australia.

• Connections – Make a list of everything you plan to hook up to your TV (cable box, DVD player, videogame system, microwave, etc.) and how you plan to hook it up (HDMI, RCA, coaxial cable, gold-plated fishing line, etc.). Make sure the TVs you’re looking at can accommodate everything you need.

• The 3D Question – Fresh off the success of 3D blockbusters like Avatar, 3DTV is the hot new feature on the market. 3DTVs are just starting to make their way of the concept stage, so prices are sky high at the moment, like used family sedan high. Unless you’re an early adopter, total 3D enthusiast or eccentric millionaire with money to burn, I recommend ignoring 3DTVs for now.

Once you’ve selected your new TV, don’t forget to shop for HDTV service to match here on WhiteFence.