Cutting Through the HDTV Confusion
One thing is certain – HDTV’s are not going anywhere. Now days the price range can be anywhere from $200 up to tens of thousands. When you are considering spending that amount of money you want to research the product and find reviews that are not slanted. You may really like the sales staff at the local electronics store; however, you can often find very good deals on HDTV sets online, if you know what to watch for. There are several bits of information you need to know when choosing an HDTV such as the resolution, contrast ratio, input types, what are the viewing angles and what type overall you need or want. This may all sound a bit confusing or overwhelming, but take heart, that is what we are here for! By the time, you are done reading you will understand the jargon and be able to choose the perfect television.
In most areas of the country, people will have digital cable or a satellite television provider. As a general rule both of these offer HD channel lineups, and you will want to check with them about the programming. There are several major digital cable companies including Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable and Charter that carry most if not all of the HD programming channels. From the satellite side you have a choice of Dish Network or DirecTV and they offer several high definition options. Generally speaking, your cable or satellite television provider will offer you most if not all of the HD channels currently on the market; however it is a good idea to check with your company just to be certain, particularly if you are considering an HDTV purchase.
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.
You are getting close to making your final decision on your new HDTV set, now it is time to check out the small features that will make you love your set. The most important aspect at this point in the game is the television connections. Each household will vary on what they need, however you will likely find you want pc connections, HDMI, and audio video inputs and outputs. The next item on the agenda is to examine the sets viewing angles, this is a measurement of how far to the side you can sit or stand and still be able to see a clear picture on the TV. When it comes time to organize or rearrange your living room, you will be glad you paid attention to this feature. Lastly, you should look at the models listed contrast ratio, this is the comparison of the dark black and light white of your set, the larger the number the better in most cases. Be forewarned though that manufacturers all have different methods for determining this ratio and so you will want to see the set in action. Avoid the sets that have dull grey looking blacks or dingy whites.
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.
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