The Big Picture
High-definition TV updates
standard-définition television with a wider screen containing many more pixels
for greater detail. But watching standard-def TV on an HDTV won’t improve the
experience. In fact, unless you adjust your HDTV to display such broadcasts in
their intended 4:3 aspect ratio, images will look worse.
The two main types of HDTVs are LED and
plasma. An LED is an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel that uses LEDs (light emitting
diodes) instead of fluorescent tubes for backlighting. LED sets shine a bright
backlight through a layer of liquid crystals, which move to let the light pass
through or block the light altogether.
Plasma sets use an electrical charge to
make a gas emit ultraviolet light, which causes phosphors on the screen to
glow.
Vizio’s
21-9 Cinema Wide has a 21:9 aspect ratio for widescreen movies.
The Specs Explained
Resolution:
Most 40-inch and larger sets have 1080p (1920 by 1080-pixel) resolution, which
can handle the maximum detail available for almost all HD content, including
Blu-ray discs. Some smaller, lower-cost HDTVs have 720p (1366-by-768-pixel)
resolution; but a 720p set must scale 1080p images down to match its lower
native resolution, and that process may introduce imaging artifacts and reduce
image sharpness and depth.
Contrast:
The term contrast ratio refers to the difference between the darkest images and
the lightest images a screen can produce; in general, it is determined by how
dark the blacks are. Unfortunately, manufacturers' methods for measuring and
specifying this crucial factor using full-screen measurements, all black and
all white, in a darkened room are almost useless for helping you predict how
the screen will look under real-world conditions. So pay attention to the
contrast with your eyes, and don't worry about the reported "contrast
ratio" spec.
Internet connectivity: Most big-brand HDTVs can connect to your home network's router
(through a cable or wirelessly) so you can view content from computers on your
network, and access content from the Internet if you have broadband service.
Different sets may support Amazon, Netflix, or YouTube; if you want a
particular service, make sure it's included before you buy or find a Blu-ray
player or streaming set top box that has the service you want.
3D support:
The major TV manufacturers have a fairly wide range of 3D TVs on the market at
various price levels. But as yet, available 3D content is rather sparse (see
page 29 for more on this subject).
The
Wonder of 3D TV.
Buying Tips
Select the right size TV for your setup: Choose an HDTV that meets your viewing needs. If it's too small,
you may find yourself shopping for a bigger set all too soon. If the TV is too big
for your room, standard-définition programs will look like a mess, and you may
see lines of resolution if you sit too close. Also take into account your
living room seating: The farther your couch or armchair is from the set, the
bigger the HDTV you'll need. If you require a wide range of viewing angles, a
plasma HDTV may be best.
Even if you don’t need 3D, a 3D set has
benefits: Most HDTVs these days are 3D-ready. Even
if you don’t currently plan on watching 3D content, you may want to invest in
an LED 3D set if you like watching sports or fast action in 2D: 3D-ready sets
typically support high refresh rates of 240Hz or 120Hz, which means onscreen
motion should look very smooth.
Look at the black: Picking a set that has top-notch blacks is the key to getting good
colors and great contrast. In general, plasma sets have deeper black levels
than edge-lit LED sets. Full-array (backlit) LED sets with local-dimming
technology and OLED sets have deep blacks, too, but those types of HDTVs are
very expensive compared with a plasma, especially at large screen sizes.
Sharp’s
$11,000Aquos LC-90LE745U has a 90-inch screen.
Test the set if you can: If the store will let you, use a Blu-ray or DVD disc to test the
set you think is the best. You can buy one of several test discs that will run
the HDTV through a video obstacle course to help identify the set's strengths
and weaknesses. Alternatively, test it with a live-action movie that has plenty
of dark scenes. Computer animated movies are "too perfect" and won’t
show you the subtleties found in live-action movies. Look for problems with
scaling standard-définition content from a regular DVD. Check out the HDTV's
configuration settings to see how easy or hard the set is to fine-tune (and to
reset to its factory defaults). Consider testing the set's 'Cinema' mode, which
is usually the best preconfigured setting for watching movies.
Don’t overspend on Internet features: Built-in Internet-connected features are great, but you can always
add them later, and usually for much less money. Many of the same channels and
apps are accessible with an Internet-connected Blu-ray player or a media
streamer such as Roku. Unless you’re drawn to manufacturer-exclusive features,
a custom remote control, or the ability to stream media without visiting the
set's auxiliary menu, you can obtain the same results from a less-expensive set
and a media streamer.
Get enough connections: Four HDMI connections is enough to handle a set top box, a Blu-ray
player, a computer or gaming console, and a network device. Make sure that you
have plenty of connections for your future needs.
Don't overspend on cables: Resist buying everything at the store, to avoid spending more than
you need to. In our testing, a $12 cable off the Internet performed just as well
as a $120 cable from the store. Save your money to pay for a Blu-ray player or
to upgrade your television service to get more HD content.
Beware of long-term annoyances: You will probably spend a lot of time with your new TV, so don't be
swept away on the first date. Though you can find third-party alternatives that
will help make up for many possible shortcomings, it’s better to get what you
want from the start. For example, is the remote control easy to read and to
use? Does it have lighted buttons? Will it also control your other devices,
such as a DVD player? Will you really use price-inflating features such as
gesture control, voice control, and a built-in Web browser? Is the set's sound
quality good enough to satisfy your tastes, or will you need to add a
home-theater surround sound system to bring audio up to snuff? Will you be able
to connect cables easily if you mount the set on the wall, and how will you
hide them (or at least make them somewhat neat and tidy)? Little things can
mean a lot in the long run.
