What is it?
High-definition TVs are the first step to building a high-def home theater system. They have a higher resolution that can display up to six times the image detail of a standard television screen. In order to watch movies and television programs in high def, you need a high-def video source and an
HDTV to display that source. If you view a high-definition program or disc on your old standard definition TV, you won't see the dramatic increase in picture quality and clarity.
Location
Where in the room does your HDTV belong? Attributes of the room in which you are watching your HDTV can make or break your high-definition experience. Some considerations include lighting, distance to the viewer, and viewing angle.
See More
Size
Bigger is not always better. The key question is, "how far from the TV will you be sitting?" (We've provided a handy sizing chart to help you out.) For a given distance, getting too large a TV makes the image pixels annoyingly visible; getting too small a TV prevents you from appreciating the enhanced detail of high definition.
See More
Type
There are three main types of HDTVs: LCD, plasma, and DLP. Learn more about the differences with this comparison chart. If your budget is a little tight, don't trade down in size too quickly. Instead, consider a rear projection HDTV. These HDTVs generally cost less than, but can match the picture quality of its flat panel cousins.
See More
Picture Quality
1080i (a similar picture quality to 720p) is suitable for HD programming (via broadcast, cable, or satellite signals) and up-converting DVD players. 1080p, meanwhile, is the highest quality available. You will want 1080p to enjoy the full potential of high-definition.
See More
Cables
You are going to need cables to connect your HDTV to your Blu-ray player, high-def gaming system, and/or receiver if you have one. To do this you are going to need HDMI cables. HDMI carries both video and audio signals to your HDTV. Using HDMI specification 1.3 will help make your home theater future-proof.
See More
Join Related Discussions
HDTV Discussions
Location
Before putting an HDTV in your home, select the right spot for it. Ambient light can wash out or reflect off the screen, so you want to take all room light sources, windows and otherwise into account. For example, it's better to put the set next to a window than across from one. Ideally, the screen should be placed at the wide end of the room, preferably centered horizontally on the wall. This allows more viewers to be close to the central "viewing axis" (the imaginary line extending from the center of the TV screen into the room). Where should the TV be placed vertically on the wall? A good rule of thumb is that the center of the screen should be about the same height as your eyes when seated (that means mounting the flat panel above the fireplace is a no-no).
Go to the top of the page.
Size
The "bigger is better" argument doesn't necessarily pan out when shopping for an HDTV. The reason? Even the best big-screen sets will have visible pixilation (blocky diagonal lines, etc.) when viewed too closely. On the other hand, placing a set at too great a distance wastes its potential. Use our sizing chart to choose the perfect size for your space.
Keep your earlier size choice in mind, as that will play a factor in your set choice. 42-inch sets and smaller are generally only available in flat-panel formats, while 60 inches and up is the territory of rear-projection sets (unless price is not an issue). And if you want a 60-inch-plus set in a flat-screen format (LCD, plasma) simply to save space, be careful. Mounting a 60-inch plasma or LCD on the wall is possible but requires a heavy-duty mount and may require additional framing support in your wall to hang safely. And if you choose to place that 60-inch set on a stand, the depth of a suitable stand's footprint will match the depth of a rear-projection HDTV.
Go to the top of the page.
Picture Quality
Superior picture quality is probably the main reason you're shopping for an HDTV, so when comparing the options, make the picture your top priority. Performance still varies greatly between brands and even different models of the same brand.
1080/720/480
The numbers you see attached to HDTVs (720p, 1080i, or 1080p) measure how many vertical lines of resolution are shown in an image. But the number is only half of the story. The "i" stands for interlaced, meaning the TV image is broken into halves and displayed in an alternating fashion. Your eye typically cannot notice this visual trick, but high-action scenes (particularly in movies and video games) will sometimes have a blurry or "ghosting" effect when interlaced. Progressive-scan images ("p") show the full image at all times and, therefore, do not suffer from this ghosting.
With that in mind, 1080i and 720p images actually look just about the same--though your personal preference may vary--and just about all current HDTVs support both of these standards. Meanwhile, you will want a 1080p set to enjoy the full image resolution of Blu-ray discs as well as most new video game systems.
1080p
Newer HDTV models support 1080p, but they may be more expensive than 720p or 1080i models. The advantages of the extra resolution you get with 1080p are most noticeable on screens 42 inches or larger. It allows you to sit closer than you could with a 720p set before you begin to see the individual pixels. Still, if you are anticipate using a Blu-ray movie player or a high-def video games system, you may want to invest in a 1080p TV to have maximum flexibility with your system.
Go to the top of the page.
Calibration
Levels
Resolution, contrast, black level, brightness, and color accuracy also contribute to picture quality. A TV with excellent high-def picture quality should display a natural-looking image with deep blacks, accurate colors, and clear detail. You'll be living with your picture for years to come, so study it closely before you commit.
Compare
Once you've narrowed it down to a few choices, try to compare them side by side with calibrated displays. Take care not to trust HDTV default settings at an electronics store, as these sets are tuned to stand out in a busy store, not the comfort of your living room. Calibrate and adjust as necessary.
Options
Once you get your HDTV there are a number of options you can use to optimize your viewing experience through proper calibration. One way is to use a Blu-ray calibration disc which requires a Blu-ray player. You can also hire a technician or manually calibrate. There are many HDTV calibration tutorials online that can help if you are a do-it-yourselfer.
Go to the top of the page.
Cables
HDMI
HDMI cables are both a brand and a type of cable and there are other manufacturers of HDMI type cables. Make the most of your high-definition TV investment by using the highest-quality connection: HDMI. It's a slim cord that supports all high-definition resolutions (720p, 1080i, 1080p, etc.) and can carry multichannel audio as well. HDMI is all you need to connect your Blu-ray player or digital television receiver to your HDMI equipped HDTV.
Keep It Simple
By maintaining a digital signal throughout your home-theater system, HDMI avoids the digital-to-analog conversion that can degrade your image quality. Uncertified cables might be cheaper, but they could be more susceptible to electrical interference and unreliable connections or have other problems.
Specifications
There are multiple specifications of HDMI cables. HDMI1.3 is the newest and most up-to-date with support for all high-def video and audio formats. There are older specifications such as HDMI1.1 and 1.2. If you already own these earlier cables you may want to upgrade to 1.3 to have the most compatibility across high-def systems.
Go to the top of the page.
