When you buy a flat screen TV, you have many choices as to brands, prices and features.
With so many choices in the marketplace, choosing a flat screen HDTV can be a daunting task. After you set your price point you need to take into consideration the type of display and the screen size that will best suit your needs. On top of that, there is the resolution, refresh rate and a multitude of features to think about. Also, where you will view your TV is a factor, especially the size and shape of the room, as well as the degree of ambient lighting. Finally you must decide how your new flat screen is to be mounted, on a pedestal stand, on a wall or in a cabinet.
Instructions
Size, Resolution and Refresh Rate
1. Determine the best size for your TV, based on your budget and the dimensions of the room where you will position it. Screen sizes can vary anywhere from 24 to over 80 inches diagonally.
2. Choose the resolution, or the number of pixels displayed; 1080p resolution is the standard for TVs larger than 40 inches. However, you can purchase a smaller set with 720p resolution and still get an excellent picture.
3. Notice the refresh rate. Choose a relatively low rate of 60Hz, if you are budget conscious and watch programs that do not involve fast motion or Blu-ray DVDs, as the slower rate tends to blur faster motion, such as sports or action movies and games. Select a higher refresh rate if you regularly view such programming; you can select 120Hz, 240HZ or even 480Hz.
Display
4. Decide between an LCD, with or without LED or a plasma display, taking into consideration where you will place your TV.
5. Consider a plasma display if the room tends to be dark, or if you will be viewing your TV at a slant, as they provide a wider viewing angle. Plasma televisions also have accurate colors and excellent contrast, however they are less energy efficient and are not available in screens less than 40 inches.
6. Think about an LCD display if you have a bright room and want more choice in size and brand; many models use LED backlights which enhances the black scenes and alleviates some of the lighting issues.
Features
7. Examine the features available in flat screen TVs; popular ones include 3D, Internet connectivity, wireless capacity and extra input connections and applications.
8. Look at the number of connections on the TV, especially HDMI inputs which are necessary to get the best connections from a Blu-ray player, gaming console or a network device. Choose a model with at least 4 connectors if you have several of these devices.
Select a model with S-video and composite video inputs if you have older devices. Look for side- or front-panel inputs if you will be regularly hooking and unhooking a device like a video camera.
9. Consider a 3D TV if you have a 3D Blu-ray player or are buying for the future. You will need 3D glasses in order to utilize any 3D programming; active-shutter glasses, which are heavier and more expensive, provide higher quality viewing, while the less expensive, lighter passive or polarized glasses may come with your TV.
10. Choose a TV with Internet connectivity if you wish to access content such as Netflix, Hulu, Facebook or Pandora. You can usually select from dozens of sites. Choose a Wi-Fi ready television to connect wirelessly to your home computer.
Tags: flat screen, refresh rate, where will, Blu-ray player, Internet connectivity