How to Choose an LCD TV

LCD TVs have really given plasma TVs a run for their money in quality and TV-watching experience, and are coming with larger screens than ever before. The following steps will help guide you to find the right LCD TV for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer
• Measuring tape

1. Measure the area where you intend to put the TV. Be sure you know the maximum dimension of TV you can put in your space.
2. Consider what extras you are looking for. Some LCD TVs come equipped with a memory card slot for viewing pictures or videos from digital cameras and camcorders. If you watch a lot of DVDs (in non-progressive scan mode), you should look for a TV that has a film mode feature, commonly found on HD sets. This feature is also called 3:2 compensation, CineMotion and film mode, and makes the figures on the screen appear less jagged and movements less jerky. On a 16:9 set, a stretch and zoom feature allows you to inflate or compress the image to fill the screen the wat you want it.
3. Look at speaker location and quality if possible. Some speakers are at the bottom, some are along the sides. You will want to consider where you want the sound coming from, and how the speaker location will work if you plan on storing your TV in an entertainment center.
4. Think about what you’ll be hooking into the LCD TV. Be sure there are enough inputs and that they are easy to use if you’ll be using devices such as cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and VCRs.
5. Check the viewing angles of screens, especially if the TV will be viewed by many people at once. Step to each side of the TV and view it from many different angles. A good LCD choice is one that can be viewed from many angles and the entire picture is still seen. (This isn’t as important if you are choosing a small screen LCD TV.)
6. Consider the picture quality you want. If the TV will be your main TV, an HD set with a 1024 X 768 resolution is recommended. If you’re looking at a screen size larger than 30 inches, a resolution of 1366 X 768 may offer better quality.
7. Search options on the Internet. Check out chain store Web sites such as Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City. Access informative Web sites, like Consumer Reports, to find out how certain TVs rate and what to avoid.
8. Go shopping. View as many LCD TVs as you can to help make your decision. Find things you like about different sets and compare prices. Talk to store staff about LCD TVs and see if they have any recommendations based on their sales experience and product expertise.

Tips & Warnings

• Sony has taken their focus away from plasma TVs to focus strictly on LCD technology. This has made them one of the best manufacturers of LCD TVs. Other good brands to consider include Sharp, Magnavox, Westinghouse, Panasonic and Samsung.
• You may want to consider an LCD TV that can double as a computer monitor (and vice versa). This very cool feature allows you to hook your computer into the TV and see all everything on the TV screen as well as the monitor.
• On screens smaller than 50 inches, it may not be worth the extra expense for 1080p with 1920 x 1080 resolution. The benefits in picture quality you gain with these specs may not outweigh the extra money you will pay to get them.
• If you’ll be purchasing an LCD TV for placement on a wall, you’ll want to be sure the wall is stable enough to hold it up. Medium-sized screens only weigh about 30 pounds and large screens around 60 pounds, but you’ll need to be sure your wall has available studs to anchor the screws.
• Consider the devices you’ll be hooking into a wall-mounted TV and the cords that go along with them. Be sure you have a plan to disguise or hide any unsightly cords that run into the TV.

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