Televison Buyer's Guide, Part 3

Choosing a Television

At last! We're ready to start talking about what television will work best for you. Let's assume that you want a high definition set that will be the main TV for the family. Now it's time to narrow our choices by answering a number of questions.

• How Big Is the Screen?
• What Resolution Do I Need?
• LCD or Plasma?

Screen Size

First, with a new HDTV you will want to sit closer to the screen than with your old set. That's because the HDTV screen has much more information on it and the closer you sit, to a point, the more you feel like you are in a movie theater. Here's a rule of thumb: you can comfortably sit as close as one and a half times the screen's diagonal measurement. For a 30 inch screen that's a little under four feet away. You can sit about twice that distance -- about eight feet away -- before losing detail and the immersive experience. For a 47 inch screen the distances are just about six feet and twelve feet, and for a 60 inch screen the numbers are seven and a half and 15 feet away. You probably want to get the largest screen that will fit in the space you have for the television (remember the measurements?) and allow comfortable viewing through most of the room. If you can get no further than six feet away from the screen, you don't want to get a 60 inch set.

What Resolution Do I Need?

Sadly this is not an easy question to answer. High definition TVs are sold with resolutions of 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, with the "p" and the "i" representing progressive scan or interlaced. The truth of the matter is that your program will be presented to you in a progressive scan if you are using and LCD or plasma screen, since they don't handle interlaced signals. That means the signal is converted in the TV. Here's another truth: high def signals are transmitted by the stations and networks in either 720p or 1080i so you won't get the benefits of 1080p with an over-the-air signal.

You will see a difference with HD DVD or Blu-ray disc players that have native 1080p output, if you've got a good eye, but for most people 720p looks just as good as 1080i. You'll really see the difference between a high def signal at any resolution and the old fashioned NTSC signal. So what should you buy? That depends on how you plan to use the TV. If you won't be watching HD DVD or Blu-ray you won't be able to take immediate advantage of 1080p sets. On the other hand, you should consider getting the most resolution you can afford, to "future-proof" your purchase.

LCD or Plasma?

In the beginning, there were major differences between plasma screens and LCD displays. Plasma did better with black and LCD was not cheap at large sizes. Those differences are much smaller now with the newest LCDs able to reproduce a good black. You may still see differences between a plasma screen and LCD when you move to one side -- LCD looks best when you are directly in front of it.

These days it comes down to personal preferences -- which picture looks best to you -- and prices.

Gallery Furniture's Home Theater Department

Buying a new high definition television comes down to what looks best to you so this is the time to visit Gallery Furniture's Home Theater department. That way you can look at our large selection of flat screen and high definition televisions, in a setting like your den or living room. We keep the lights down so you can see the picture as it is intended, without having to turn the contrast and brightness all the way up. Sit down in front of the sets you like, talk to our knowledgeable staff, and see what Gallery Furniture has to offer. Remember to bring your measurements!