HDTV Buying Guide - What You Need To Know

Buying a TV involves many choices that are new to you. This guide will help you buy the best TV, just read these clear and logical steps that will help you make a smart decision.

How much money do you want to spend for a new HDTV?

Of course, your budget will affect all the decisions you take. It is possible to find the best-selling TVs for several hundred dollars, while others go up to several thousands, but there are many sets that fall between these extremes. Screen size, features and brand can affect more than price. This guide can help you achieve the best results, no matter how much or how little you want to spend.

Types of HDTVs

If you have common tastes, like most buyers, you probably decided to buy a HDTV with a flat and thin screen, but you may not know if you want to buy a LCD, Plasma or LED; not to mention the newest technology OLED. Although they seem very similar, in terms of appearance, they use different technologies, and the images have different characteristics. While LCDs and LEDs tend to outsell plasmas with a wide margin, in large part because plasmas are available in sizes from 42 inches and larger, we can automatically presume that LCDs are popular (LED technology is still considered new to some people). All types of HDTV merit consideration, especially if you are looking for a 3D set. Front Projection TVs are an excellent choice for a mini home theater, but less practical for everyday use. 3D HDTV will probably attract more attention this year. Another interesting feature: the ability to connect to the Internet. Many of the new HDTVs have the Internet enabled and you can watch movies online or access to popular websites.

Screen size

Size is one of the most important things when you want to buy a new television set. Most consumers tend to buy abig screen TV when replacing their old TVs, as it allows them to fully appreciate the fine details and clear HD content. For most of you, I recommend a screen of at least 42 inches for a HDTV that you watch every day. I think most consumers would be happier with a 40 to 42-inch TV, depending on budget and room size, but also a set of 46 inch or greater is often preferred. Screens about 26 to 32 inches are good for occasional watching in small bedroom or kitchen.

Remember that an important factor is the distance from where you watch on TV and this is a consideration when you decide how big your screen TV will be. Images tend to look better and more natural if you stay of at least 2.5 - 3 meters away from a set of 32-47 inch displaying HD quality content, and at least 4 -5 meters away from a 50 inches TV or greater. If the distance is smaller, you might notice the picture elements (pixels) that make up the images or video noise.

Screen Resolution

Resolution means the number of pixels, or picture elements that a flat screen HDTV has. A 720p set will display 1024 × 768, 1280 x 720 or 1366 x 768 pixels. A set with 1080p resolution is sometimes advertised as full HD TV, and displays 1920 x 1080 pixels. The first number in each case indicates the number of pixels on the screen from left to right, the second number is the number of pixels from the top to the bottom of the screen. This second number is often used as shortcut to describe the resolution set, such as, a 1080p screen has 1080 pixels from top to bottom. The latest 40 inch LCDs, LEDs and Plasma TVs have 1080p resolution.

A 1080p set has the potential to show better detail than a 720p set, but this thing is not the only one that determines image quality. Factors such as brightness, contrast and color also come into play. If you intend to use your TV as a computer monitor, 1080p is a plus even for smaller screens. Higher resolution will allow to see more content onscreen with greater clarity and finer detail than a 720p set. You can connect your computer to TV with a HDMI input to take full advantage of 1080p resolution and avoid cutting the outer edges of the image, known as overscan. To enjoy the full benefits of a 1080p TV, you need a high-definition content with top quality. You can get this content on a Blu-Ray which has real 1080p. A 1080p set will convert the HD signal format to match the native resolution of the screen. If software quality is good then the TV will do its job well, and you will see that the picture quality is outstanding.

Be aware to other issues

Other considerations include the features and brand. Even if you are in a store or shopping online, these tips will help you buy the TV that you need, but also save your money. What you watch on your TV is a problem that will affect your enjoyment and enthusiasm for the new set purchased, so you might think to modernize your television package or maybe to move to a new television supplier.

Now that you know how to choose your new HDTV set, you can take a look for a 60 inch TV or a 32 inch TV.