How to buy a TV

There are many factors to consider when buying a new TV. In previous years, buying a TV was more about size and color vs. black and white. Now, size is probably one of the most important aspects customers focus on when buying a TV. Some purchase the largest TV with the best picture and highest quality they can afford. Others want the biggest screen they can afford, and do not consider the quality of the picture.

The size of a TV in relation to the room should be your first consideration when buying a new TV. If the TV will be in a large room, consider a larger screen size. TV position within the room also makes a difference. For optimal picture quality, use this simple equation to figure out the distance between your seating area and the TV. Take the size of the screen, multiply it by two, then divide by 12 (inches in a foot), and that will be the distance in feet, you should be seated from the TV. For example, with a 42” screen, it would be 84” divided by 12, and therefore the optimal seating distance would be seven feet away from the TV.  (42 X 2= 84 / 12 = 7)

TVs are measured diagonally. It makes no difference from what two angles the screen is measured; it can be from the upper right to the lower left—or the upper left to the lower right. The measurement that you get is the screen size. TV manufacturers sometimes use a measurement ½” smaller than what they call the actual TV size. So, a TV that measures 41 ½ ” might be called a 42” TV. 

Also, keep in mind, it’s better to have a high quality TV that is slightly smaller, than a larger TV with a lesser quality. A TV that is too big will just look awkward, but a high-quality TV that fits the room is impressive and does its intended job! The shape of the TV is also important. For the most part, TVs are manufactured with the understanding that widescreen format (16:9) is prevalent. Most movies (DVDs) and High Definition (HD or Hi-Def) programming are in this format.

Audio/Video Plug-ins Pay attention to what audio/video plug-ins are available in relation to how many you will need. Now more than ever, video games, sound systems, and add-ons are necessary in optimizing a great TV. Flat panel TVs come with one to four High Definition Multi-Interface (HDMI) cable jacks. Please consider that Blu-ray or up-converting DVD players, video game consoles, theater receivers, cable boxes, high definition satellite boxes, Direct TV boxes, and TiVo boxes all require a HDMI connection. Audio video jacks are also necessary if you are connecting your TV to a home theater system (See TV Sound).

*HDMI Cables are High Definition Standard Audio and Video Connections*

Picture-in-Picture/Picture and Picture This is not used for just watching two programs at once anymore—not that it can’t be, it just has some cooler uses. Depending on the TV that you purchase, you may have the option of plugging a computer into the TV with a Video Graphics Array (VGA) cable and your TV instantly can split its screen into two parts so you can use a computer/laptop and watch TV at the same time. Some TVs have picture in picture, which is a small box in a portion of the screen.

The V-Chip Now an industry standard, this feature allows certain programs to blocked. For more information on the V-Chip click here

Television Sound This has increasingly become better without add-ons, like home theater systems. Generally, the more expensive the TV, the higher the sound quality. Some of the better and larger TVs come with multiple channels of sound (multi-channel) and sometimes subwoofers too. Most TVs offer treble and bass control. They also range from having one speaker in the front to having detachable speakers that can be spread throughout the room. If you don’t have (or plan on having) a sound system like Bose or Bang and Olufsen, then make sure that you are happy with the TV’s built-in speakers.

Internet Capability Full internet access is possible by connecting your TV to a computer/laptop using a VGA cable. One downfall is that there will be no sound without using audio cables as well. Some TVs on the market have built-in wireless internet capability, but unfortunately, they are mainly used for widgets, like local weather and YouTube; they are not full internet browsers.

Screen Resolution This is the way picture quality is described. Usually, the resolution is described in numbers and letters. 1080p, 720p, and 1080i are associated with High Definition TV (HDTV). These numbers stand for the lines of pixels in the screen. That number is calculated by multiplying the horizontal and vertical lines. For instance, when a TV is 1080p, it is actually 1920 (horizontal lines of pixels) X 1080 (vertical lines of pixels) = 2,073,600 total pixels.  The letters associated with the numbers “P” and “I” stand for progressive and interlaced. Comparing screens with the same resolutions, progressive has double the picture information than interlaced, with a more fluid and stable image. Is there a noticeable difference between 1080p and 720p? Yes, especially when watching HD and Blu-ray DVDs. The 720p image will look as if it is lacking the same quality that the 1080p has.

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