Shopping for a new HDTV? Better do your homework, and then check the numbers one more time.
The biggest decision consumers once had to make was the easiest – LCD or plasma? But today’s sets offer far more options to consider. And since flat-screen sets in the 40-inches and up range still cost north of $1,000, it pays to know precisely what you’re looking for when you enter that electronics chain near you.
The LCD vs. plasma debate still rages on, but today it’s as much about price points as which offers a superior picture.
One way to take the HDTV plunge is to consider plasma sets. Phillip Swann, president and publisher of TVpredictions.com, says LCD models have jumped ahead of their plasma peers in terms of sales, and by a wide margin. That provides an opportunity for savvy shoppers.
“For consumers, it should mean keeping an eye on possible plasma bargains. Some believe the plasma picture is better so if you can get it cheaper, do so,” Swann says. He adds consumers shouldn‘t expect free-falling TV prices this Christmas season as we‘ve seen in the recent past.
LCD and plasma technologies have battled it out for years, but while newer technologies like OLED and Laser TV could be coming our way soon, “the jury is still out on them,” he cautions.
Projection-style sets, which are mounted on the home movie room’s ceiling and beam the image onto a movie screen, haven’t caught on with the masses. Swann suggests vanity might partly be to blame.
“People want the sleek, status symbol style of the flat-screen, even for a home theater,” he says. Their price tag also leaves movie lovers with sticker shock. The screens alone can set you back at least a grand.
Arguably, the most confusing figure consumers will find at their HDTV shop concerns 1080p. That number refers to the number of pixels a set can display – 1,920×1,080 pixels to be precise. The “P” stands for progressive scan, a better way of displaying pixels than with the 1080i format. But no channels (cable or broadcast) offer programming in 1080p – yet.
Brad Wilson, a sales associate with Ultimate Electronics in Denver, says only Blu-ray discs, some HDTV video cameras and Xbox setups can take advantage of the 1080p extra clarity.
But that will soon be changing, Wilson says. Both DirecTV and Dish systems will have some 1080p programming by year’s end, he says. The choice might not be open much longer, though. Wilson says many manufacturers have stopped producing 720p sets.
Another important number consumers should keep in mind is 120 Hz. The figure refers to the amount of times an LCD set refreshes its image every second. (this isn’t a factor with plasma sets)
Older LCD sets refresh 60 times a second, which might sound like plenty but it often causes blurring in fast-moving objects.
Sports fanatics would be wise to find an LCD set with the 120 hz refresh rate, Wilson says.
For more information on HDTV purchases, visit these quality site:
UPDATE: Friend and frequent site visitor John adds this valuable info gleaned from his recent HDTV research and purchase:
A website tip for buying gear: www.firefold.com. Never pay retail for cables or wall mounts again. The price difference between them and Best Buy, etc, is ridiculous. And HDMI is the standard so whether you pay $9.99 for it or $100 for it, the same signal is going to pass. And the wall mount was only $50 compared the $100+ that the local stores want.
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If I can add one note, re: LCD vs. Plasma: If you have lots of natural light, go LCD; if you’re in a naturally dark area (a basement, a living room without a ton of windows) go plasma. Because of the way plasma screens are made (i.e., the giant pane of glass in front of the screen) there are some reflection issues in tons of light.
That being said, I much prefer plasma. I picked up one of these earlier in the year, and it’s amazing. And at just under $1,250 for a 42 inch, 1080p plasma (with free delivery), you can’t do better than Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Viera-TH-42PZ85U-42-Inch-Plasma/dp/B00142JKRW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219243207&sr=8-2
Thanks, Sonny. Good addition. The LCD vs. plasma also comes down to taste. The plasma sets are slicker looking, but when I saw the LCD set I eventually bought I fell in love. The picture has a more flat appearance, and somehow that just clicked with me. It’s like comparing a glossy photo print to one with a matte (sp?) finish.
Indeed, the Plasma we have in our very dark condo is perfect … We went to Consumer Reports online for a helpful guide to tested sets, then went to a big box store to actually see the set they recommended, then ordered it online …
I bought a Sony LCD a few years ago and I couldn’t be happier. It isn’t perfect, which tech is, but it has a very nice picture. Certainly light years ahead of that old Standard Def picture.
People ask my advice about this at work all the time and I tell them all the same thing, buy the largest television that your viewing room will hold and that you can afford. The biggest regret people have in their HDTV purchase isn’t image quality or price, it is that they bought a television that was too small. Us tech types get too wrapped up in contrast ratios, resolution, etc. All those differences dissappear after spending a couple of weeks with the set and you just get used to your televisions picture.
One other word about the projector, is that guy kidding, status symbol. I don’t want to say that is idiotic, but come on. Here is what keeps people from buying a projection set:
1 – Where are you going to mount it and for most folks the install is not a DIY option.
2 – Price, if the screen costs 1000 dollars, then how much do you expect to pay for the projector? He brushed that off with some very bad advice, which would make me skeptical of anything he says. What he didn’t mention is that top of the line projector has the best image quality hands down, but expect to pay 10,000 dollars for the projector.
Dimitrios
Great tips … thanks for sharing your insights on the topic. The other drawback on the projector setups is you need a very dark room for the image to pop.
As for Mr. Swann — he’s a really smart fellow. Knows his HD stuff inside and out and also is very skeptical of the latest fads. That’s something that’s rare of late. It’s his opinion that people like the status of a beautiful flat screen, and to an extent I agree. Am working on a feature story that touches on a state of the art new condo building, and each unit comes with a flat-screen TV built in. Clearly they think there’s some status afforded this technology.
Well, if you vouch for Mr. Swann than that is good enough for me as an engineer I tend to do be pretty judgmental.
I remember when I was looking for an HDTV and what a huge pain it was. I actually put off getting one for over a year, because the SED sets were going to rule the world. Don’t get me started on what a mistake that was. This one time I wish I was more skeptical of technology that is around the corner.
I also recommend that no one really care about the technology curve. Every year the panels get better, the video circuitry gets better, the features are increased and improved, and so forth. Just buy it and enjoy HDTV, because even a mediocre HDTV set is much better than that 27inch standard def set.
I didn’t know about the dark room with the projector. I choked on the price and install issues.
Do you know what the biggest hurdle I had with my new HDTV was? Figuring out what I was going to do with my center channel speaker. I spent way too much grey matter time trying to figure out that puzzle.
If you wait for the next technology to emerge, or for prices to fall a bit more, you’ll never buy that HDTV. You have to leap in at some point.
I waited for a full year before I bought my set — so I could read up more on the topic and see if prices would fall a little more. But even my TV-indifferent wife said after a while, “just buy one!”
What type of system is better also depends on what one most commonly displays. Program material created TV has a lot less contrast than that created for film. Dealers know this and often choose materials that play to the strengths of the sets and to hide their weaknesses.
If you watch mostly TV that may not matter much, but if you largely use your system for critical film watching you may be in for a big disappointment. I suggest bringing your own DVD or Blu Ray disc with you – one with which you are very familiar – and choose a scene that tests a systems ability to show shadow detail.
The best reproduction available is still to be found on one of the better – and now nearly extinct – rear projection CRT displays such as the no longer made Pioneer Elite models. But flat panels are getting better all the time and they are far more consumer friendly.
-ds