| Editorial November 2006
Is it Time for Your First Big HDTV?
Have you walked through the TV sections of your local
retail stores lately? If you have, you’ve probably noticed that the selection is
overwhelming. From plasma and LCD panels to all the rear-projection sets on the market,
how do you know which one is right for you? How much do you want to spend? How big should
you go? Are you willing to spend the extra money for a cool-looking flat panel, and not
get the bulkier rear-projector with the bigger screen? What is 1080p, anyway? Just like
buying audio equipment, your choice will entirely depend on your personal preference.
These are the questions the average consumer faces today.
The ever-changing TV technology is very similar to the computer technology of the late
1990s -- keeping up is almost impossible. Nor is that part-time salesman from the local
university much help. He knows only what he’s overheard his coworker say, but his
coworker has been working there only a month longer. In short, you rarely find someone
knowledgeable enough to answer these questions -- in the end, it’s still up to you.
So what are a few things you can do to prepare yourself to
buy a new TV?
First, how much money can you spend? If the sky’s the
limit, then so are the possibilities. But most of us still can’t imagine spending
over $2000 for a TV. Planning your budget will narrow your options and bring you back down
to earth.
Second, where will the TV sit? Buying a big TV for the sake
of having a big TV is a big mistake. Before opening your checkbook and loading the monitor
into your vehicle, measure your room -- you want to at least make sure that the TV
will fit into the room, and if it does, that you won’t then have to sit too close to
it.
Third, do you really need a flat panel? Flat panels are the
coolest-looking TVs, no doubt, and hanging one on the wall like a picture, with no wires
exposed, is very attractive -- but you do pay more for it. As newer technologies hit the
market, the prices of flat panels are beginning to fall -- but for the same money you can
get a bigger and, in many cases, better picture from a rear-projector. That may conflict
with the advice above, but again, the only thing that matters is what you prefer.
Fourth, what are the technical limitations of your system?
Do you really need a 1080p HDTV, or do you just want one? In many cases, buyers get
hung up on specs and spend too much for features they’ll never use. I’ve even
seen people buy an HDTV who have no intention of connecting it to a high-definition
signal. This, to me, seems wasteful. If you can put a finger on your technical
expectations -- not only for now, but for the future as well -- then you can make sure
that your money is spent in those areas you’ll most appreciate.
Finally, do your homework. In many cases, knowing just a
little bit of technical information can make you dangerous -- dangerous to the salesman,
and sometimes dangerous to yourself. Visit the store many times, not only to study the TVs
but also to test out the salespeople. If you can find someone who’s informed and can
explain the differences among different makes, models, and display technologies, take
advantage of that expertise. Go to their store’s website and read the user reviews
for each TV. Don’t just read the good reviews, but the negative ones as well --
sometimes, they’re the most informative. Also, ask the salespeople which manufacturer
has the best service record. The answer may not affect you now, but down the line it could
turn out to be very important.
These are only suggestions to help you along your path.
Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, how do you choose the one TV you want?
Watching every model in the store and judging each on its visual merits isn’t always
fair. Although the same video signal may be on each screen, that doesn’t always make
it a comparison of apples with apples. When a TV is put on the showroom floor, rarely is
it properly set up. With multiple setup features, each TV can likely be adjusted to suit
your tastes. Grab the remote and explore the menus. The store may not like you adjusting
their floor samples, but if they won’t let you take a set home for a proper
demonstration, do what you have to do.
With a lot of patience, you’ll hopefully make the
right choice. Buyer’s remorse can be a symptom of spending $2000 on a TV, so expect
it. In the years to come, new technologies will inevitably be introduced, but you’ll
have to put all that out of your head, at least for a while. I waited many years for the
technology to stabilize, or at least reach a point where it was "safe" to jump
in. For you, is that time now? Maybe, maybe not -- but the day you get your new HDTV home
and plugged in can be very exciting. So focus on that, sit back, and enjoy.
...Randall Smith
randalls@hometheatersound.com |
