Step1
First Things First
Before going to the store or shopping online be sure to figure out what size tv. will fit best in the room you want it to be in. A good rule of thumb is to take the size of your tv. and times it by two and that's how many inches you should be sitting from the tv. ex) 40 inch = 80 inches between you and the tv. (about 7 feet)
Step2
Major tv types
Once you decided on the size of tv. you want you now need to figure out which of the three major tv. types will work best for you.
- LCD
- PLASMA
- DLP
LCD uses liquid crystal technology and is generally the lightest of the three. It works well in all different types of lighting configurations.
LCD also have around 175 degree viewing angle, which means every seat is a good seat.
Plasma uses noble gases in-between two pieces of glass. The gases are then turned into plasma that eventually becomes light. Plasma's are the heaviest of the three and can break the easiest. Most plasma screens are made of glass. The screens can also shine or reflect too much light. Because the screens are made of glass they can crack or shatter with a slight bump or pressure on the screen. ex) If you bought a plasma and laid it down in your vehicle it would shatter or break before you got home.
DLP tv's use millions of tiny mirrors to create the images on the screen. They are not as skinny as LCD's or Plasma's but can still provide a good picture. The other problem with DLP is that you can't see very well from the sides. DLP's will normally be the least expensive which allows you to get a bigger tv. for less.
In our opinion LCD is the best all around tv.
Step3
1080p & 720p
There is one huge difference between HD tv's today. Some tv's maximum capability is 720p and some are 1080p. This means that tv's with 1080p have more lines of resolution then 720p. 1080p is considered "true HD." 1080p is what Blu-Ray and HD DVD's display when watching them. You are going to pay more for a 1080p tv. but it is well worth the money. 720p tv's will soon be phased out at stores.
A higher contrast ratio or dinamic ratio is better. ex) 32 inch tv should have a 5,000 contrast ratio. A 50 inch tv should have a contrast ratio of at least 10,000. These would be good tv's.
Step4
Tv Name Brands
There are many brand names out there but you want to stick with one of these five brands that won't let you down. In our opinion the top five in order are Sony, Samsung, Sharp, LG, Mitsubishi. Sony is the best but you are going to pay more for the name on the tv. then it may be worth. There are a few average brands that will give you a good bang for your buck, brands like toshiba and Vizio are ok choices.
Step5
Before Your Purchase
Now that you have made your decision on size, model, and brand your ready to go shopping. Before you buy anything check the stores online website because most stores will match their online price at the store.
Step6
Accessories & Cords
Tv's should come with there own power cord. we recomend a Monster brand surge protector. To be able to watch Blu-Ray or HD DVD's in true HD you will need an HD DVD player or Blu-Ray DVD player and an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable. some tv's come with HD or digital tuners that can pick up local HD channels and digital programming without the need or use of other cables. If your tv does not have a built in tuner you will need additional cables and cable company connections. If you have a home theater system you will need an additional HDMI cord to get the best sound. Another option for good sound quality that is cheaper then an HDMI cable is an Optical cable which most DVD players and surround sound recievers have. Optical cables are sound only, HDMI cables are picture and sound.
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