Simple Home Theater Help

TV Features To Look For...

There are two types of features to look for when buying a new TV. The first are features that give you the best possible picture and sound. The second are lifestyle features. Lifestyle features make it easier to view different types of content --photos, online movies and media, your own home videos and music-- others make it easier to use your TV.

TV Picture Quality Features

 

Picture quality that is as good as the reality around us is the holy grail for TVs. Clear, bright pictures with incredible detail, and colors that approach the color spectrum that the eye can see is the goal. To reach that goal, any interference, blurriness, ghosting, jagged edges, muddy dark shadows or faded colors must be eliminated.

Each TV technology has its weakness. This is why TV manufacturers continue to improve on picture quality through new technologies and innovations. You may have to pay more to get the technologies for the best quality picture.

When choosing which TV to buy, be sure that you look for these features or you may not be getting the quality you had hoped to get.

Plasma TVs:

• -Energy Star compliant (or "qualified) for better energy consumption- Plasmas can use a lot of energy

• -1080p resolution

• -24p real cinema mode to receive signals perfectly from Blu-ray players without processing for smoothest, best picture

• -XV color (or any name that refers to extended colors) you are looking for 10 bit/12 bit or above color depth

-Pixel orbiting or other feature to prevent burn in from pictures paused on the screen

-Non-refective screens.

LCD TVs:

-120 Hz or more is essential to get smooth motion on these TVs.

-Wider color gamuts and higher contrast ratios.

-LED - brighter color, darker blacks,better energy consumption and lightweight TVs under about 1.5 inches thick!

-Wider Viewing Angles: This means that you get as good a picture when you sitting to the side of the TV as you do when looking at it from straight on. Be careful. Many brands claim to have wider viewing angles. This is a case where you need to see for yourself. Be sure to walk over to the side of an LCD TV to be sure the color doesn't fade as you watch it from either side.

Lifestyle Features

 

There is a wide variety of features that make it easier to view the content you may want on your TV. Many times, the inclusion of these features eliminates the need for another component. You may not need to get a Vudu or Netflix receiver, or digital media adaptor. Those features can be built right into the TV.

Here are some cool features you may want on your TV:

 

Built-in ATSC tuner or CableCard Capable: A TV with a QAM cable tuner or with CableCard capabilities can eliminate your need to rent a cable box from your cable company (although many charge monthly fees for CableCards). With a built in tuner, you need only connect an antenna to get local available High Definition TV stations. A QAM cable tuner makes it possible to connect Cable straight to the TV and change channels (though it may not bring in premium channels). A CableCard (available from your local cable company) allows you to get all channels to which you subscribe plus premium channels. Tru-2way CableCards lets you get pay-per-view and On Demand as well. With all of these options, you simply change the channels on your TV (just like the old days!).

Most important feature: Lots of HDMI Inputs! You will want to hook up your Blu-ray Disc player, your HD cable or satellite box, and possibly an AV receiver. Right there, you already need 3 HDMI inputs. If you ever want to add a TiVo, a Vudu box, an AppleTV or a number of other components, you'll need even more. If you want to further "future proof" your purchase you might ask, "What version of HDMI is it?" Most HDMI today is version 1.3. Still, HDMI 1.4 is here and only the newest TVs this 2009 Holiday Season will have it. When connecting your home theater sound system (that also has HDMI 1.4) to your TV with an HDMI 1.4 cable, your receiver will get the sound from the TV to play flawlessly over your surround sound speakers all on the same HDMI cable (It works in both directions). You can also use an HDMI 1.4 cable in place of adding an Ethernet cable. Be sure to check with the manufacturer information to see if you need other accessories or devices to make these features work.

Stream Movies from the Internet: Blockbuster On Demand, CinemaNow, Netflix, Napster, Vudu and other movie services let you watch rented or free movies straight from the Internet.

Consolidated Menus with other components. Sony, LG, and other brands can integrate your connected components' menus with the TV menu so you can access all of your settings and content from a single menu.

HDMI CEC - Electronic control. Often each brand has its own name for this feature. Look for a feature with a name that includes "link" or "sync." When connecting components using an HDMI cable, you can set the components to turn off when you turn one component off (like it turns off the Blu-ray Disc player and home theater sound when you turn off the TV), or it will turn on and change inputs when you start playing a Blu-ray Disc.

Networked TVs- These TVs can get certain information and content from online. You can choose to see stock quotes, news, sports scores, local traffic and weather and other information. Often you will see this referred to as "widgets." Some TVs use Yahoo Connect or other partners for a variety of online content. Many of these TVs let you find YouTube videos and play them on your TV. All without a computer. You simply connect the TV with an Ethernet cable to your home network router that is connected to your modem and you can get Internet access. Some TVs have an optional wifi capability but may require an extra purchase for the accessory. Each TV brand has different online media content partners. Some have partners like CBS.com or National Geographic and other sites for movies; old TV programming; how-to channels; photo sharing sites; Ebay; Twitter and many more. Find the TV brand that has the partners that you like to watch.

Note: It is possible to get everything you want from a networked TV with a built-in ATSC tuner and an antenna. You'll get your local channels and so many movies that you won't even miss having cable or satellite!

Photos, music, & movies from your Home Network - Many of the networked TVs can also find the computers and home network servers/hard drives that you have connected to your home network. The TV can find the photos, music and movies stored on your computers and hard drives, display the files on the TV, and show slideshows or movies or play music...without ever having to transfer a single file. Look for "DLNA" for easier connectivity. (This may require software like "TwonkyVision" or other DLNA software on your Mac or PC.)

"Wireless" TVs - These TVs can be mounted on the wall without wires. An accompanying receiver connects to your components and transmits the picture and sound to your TV. Be sure to test this in the store as the technology is still new and in the past has been erratic.

USB connections and Memory Card slots- These connections can be used to put in a flash USB stick with photos or to take your memory card directly from your digital camera to view your photos on your TV.

PC input: If you want to connect your computer directly to your TV. Once connected you have ALL intenet content available or you can simply use your TV as a computer monitor. Note that many new laptops have an HDMI out connection which can be hooked up to the HDMI input on your TV using an HDMI cable.

Sleep Timers to set the TV to turn off so it doesn't stay on all night and use up lots of electricity.

So, now...do you really want the cheapest TV? Consider stepping up to a model that includes some of these features. It may cost you a bit more now, but can save you money on new components in the future.