Tuesday, March 4, 2008

HDTV Explained: The fine print

Shopping for an HDTV? Expect a barrage of figures which won't make much sense at first blush. The second and third blush aren't much better. Here are a two key details and how to interpret them:

  • Contrast ratio: It's the measurement between the brightest whites and darkest blacks on the set. In theory, it can tell you the set's ability to show minor color variations. But manufacturers are famous for distorting these figures, so let your eyeballs make the final decision.

  • HDMI: HDMI cables are thick wires which transmit both audio and video signals. Prices vary on these cables, but a first-time HDTV buyer should consider a set with at least two HDMI inputs.
These HDTV posts merely scratch the surface of the HDTV scene. If you're looking for a new television set, do as much homework as you can before swiping that credit card. And consider these helpful sources - TV Predictions (a great resource for late-breaking HDTV news and programming) and CNET (Offers comprehensive reviews of a wealth of HDTV sets). And if you've found a valuable Web site for HDTV news and nuggets, please let me know. I've still got plenty to learn on the subject.

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3 Comments:

At March 5, 2008 9:00 AM , Blogger Chase Squires said...

Another hint ... after doing tons of studying, checking Consumer Reports, etc, we finally narrowed it down, then we went to Best Buy to see the sets in person, settled on the exact set, then went back home and hit the Internet for prices ... we found a dealer in NY who, even with shipping figured in, had the model at $200 less than anyone else, and with no tax ... so they shipped it, freight, right to the door. No hassles.

Beware, they are VERY HEAVY! :-)

 
At March 5, 2008 1:13 PM , Blogger Toto said...

Good tips. My LCD set is relatively light ... one benefit to choosing LCD. But I do notice that my set does a lousy job of transmitting black or very dark visuals.

Also, consider Overstock.com. We shop at this site for just about everything. They rarely charge us for shipping and have an intriguing selection of goods, from rugs to big-screen TVs.

 
At March 5, 2008 9:38 PM , Blogger Chase Squires said...

Yeah, I went with plasma, but only because we have so few windows in our living room, otherwise an LCD would've been it ...the plasma has a great pic and deep blacks, but a very reflective screen

 

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