Choosing the right HDTV for you can be difficult. It really depends on how much money you have and what you’re trying to do. Of course, you also need to consider what other AV gear you intend on buying. In this article I’ll help you decide what to look for when shopping for a new HDTV so you don’t get too much TV for your needs, or wish that you’d gotten more.
There are three basic types of HDTV’s. Each form has it’s own advantages and disadvantages so you’ll need to weigh all of them before deciding on a particular model.
First there are flat-panel HDTV’s. These are the super-thin models that can be hung on the wall. Flat-panel models come in two flavors:
Plasma -
Pros: thin, good picture, good color.
Cons: less-than-perfect black, screen burn-in, costly.
LCD -
Pros: same as plasma plus no burn-in.
Cons: Black is poorest, costly, angle of view.
Both types of flat-panel models feature the same sleek, sexy looks, so in some ways it’s just preference.
Next there are projection HDTV’s. These also fall into two main types:
Front Projection – This is the closest equivalent to the movie theater experience with a large screen on the wall and a projector across the room.
Pros: biggest screen, potentially best picture.
Cons: expensive, complicated, higher maintenance.
Rear Projection – The picture is projected on the back of a screen built into the HDTV.
Pros: best bargain, no burn-in, fairly thin.
Cons: size, brightness.
Finally there are CRT HDTV’s. These are based on the picture tube as in standard TV’s.
Pros: cheapest, best color, best blacks.
Cons: smallest screen, bulky, lower resolution.
Given these choices, these are the things you should consider first when buying an HDTV:
- What’s your budget? Consider your total budget for the TV and all other home theater items.
- What size do you want? Make sure the size you’re looking at will fit in your space.
- What do you plan on using it for? Sports fans might prefer a DLP system, while someone who watched Fox News all day might want to avoid plasma due to the potential of burn-in.
- What will you hook it up to? Make sure the HDTV you’re considering has the connections for all of your other hardware.
- Which cool features do you want most? This question should be asked last. No matter how much you want a specific feature, if it’s not in your budget or is only available on models that won’t work for your application, they’re unimportant.
— More than anything else, these two questions will narrow your selections the most —
Every HDTV has benefits and drawbacks. Before spending a lot on a new HDTV, make sure you first identify your specific needs then research the different models available that will eet your needs while staying within your budget.
Doug has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest website over at racingrunningshoes.com which helps people find the new balance trail running shoes they are looking for.
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