If a television set is on your fall shopping list, then you'd better take a few moments to make a list and check it twice. That's because there are plenty of options when it comes to buying a new TV: digital, HDTV, plasma, LCD, LED, flat-screen, 3D, and more.
And that's just the beginning. Will your television sit on an entertainment center, stand, or the floor, or will it hang mounted on the wall? If it's digital, does that mean it can show all the high-definition programming? Are there enough inputs to handle everything that goes into your television set?
Stop. Take a breath. Shopping for a television doesn't have to be such a hard task. At Lack’s, we find there are two types of TV shoppers: those who come in prepared with all the information they need, and those who don't. And both types have survived their TV shopping experience!
If you just want a good TV, our advice is to make sure you know the size and type of room where the television will be placed, and be aware of the kind of equipment that will be plugged into the television. Then simply head to Lacks Home Furnishings for all the help you need to make your TV shopping as painless as possible.
Here are a few simple tips.
Money, money, money: Cost depends on the size and type of television you want. That's why it's a good idea to set an approximate amount to spend. You need to be a little flexible with the number, but at least have a ballpark range.
Screen envy: The natural instinct is to go for the biggest television screen you can afford. That might not be the smartest idea. You need to evaluate the space where you will be watching television. If the room is huge, then a larger screen is the way to go. If the room is small and you’ll be seated closer to the set, then a smaller screen may be all you need. When you sit too close to a large-screen television, even the digital variety, and the picture won't look as clear. A good rule of thumb for figuring the best viewing distance is screen size X2, so a 50” screen requires 8 feet (50”X2 = 100” = 8.3 feet).
Location, location: Keep in mind the style of television set you’re buying when you calculate which size fits your room. There is no problem if you buy a plasma TV. The wall-mounted varieties are only a few inches deep. The only thing to be worried about with a wall-mounted set is that there should be a couple of inches on each side of the screen to ensure proper ventilation. Even a flat-screen television takes up extra space if you opt for a floor or table mount.
Plasma TV vs. LCD vs. LED: This is a complicated topic: when choosing between LCD and plasma TVs, you’re actually selecting between two competing technologies, both of which achieve bright, crystal-clear images, super color saturated pictures and come in 3.5 to 5 inch depth flat screen casing. To complicate the decision-making process further, price and size are two previous considerations that are rapidly becoming non-issues as LCD’s are now being made in larger sizes and at competing prices with plasma TV’s.
Plasma technology has the better picture quality in normal to low room lighting conditions and is better in 4 out of 5 picture quality categories. Plasma technology will almost without exception triumph during night time viewing. Plasma displays get the nod because of their excellent performance with fast-moving images and high contrast levels. Plasma also has deeper black levels but LED is closing in here due to local dimming.
LCD televisions are great for sunroom/breakfast room type environments. LCD technology is not prone to screen “burn-in”. Because LCD’s use florescent backlighting to produce images, they require substantially less power to operate than plasma TV’s do. LCD displays consume about half the power that plasma displays consume.
LED televisions are technically a member of the LCD TV family. The display screen on a LED is a liquid crystal display the same as it is on any other LCD TV. The main difference between the two lies with different backlighting technique which may change the picture quality characteristics dramatically.
There is certainly a much larger number of LCD TV’s being produced today, with LED televisions demanding a premium for the often better picture quality.
3D TV: This is the newest technology in the television industry. 3D TV is a generic term for a display technology that lets home viewers experience TV programs, movies, games and other video content in a stereoscopic effect. It adds the illusion of a third dimension, depth, to current TV and HDTV display technology.
The new 3D TV technology seen under the right conditions can be very impressive and definitely delivers a “wow” factor that will appeal to fans of home theater, gamers, and other early adopters. Aside from screen size, the experience is very similar to what you’ll see at the theater. And of course, like any new technology, 3D is in essence intended to get you to buy more stuff. The 3D glasses as well as the blu-ray player are extra items that have to be purchased with the 3D TV. Glasses are currently proprietary for each manufacturer, so for example if you have a Samsung 3D TV, only the new Samsung 3D glasses will work with it.
3D content will be the driving force in the demand for this technology. Glasses, 3D gear, and of course, the TVs themselves will command a premium price. And like any technology, the industry expects it to improve quickly—although glasses-free 3D is still a few years away.
Resolution and Speed: 120Hz and 240Hz are the buzzwords in LCD TV technology. We are often asked exactly what this means and what effect it has on the viewer. Hertz (Hz) is a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second. If you were to think of the Hertz rate of turning a light switch on and off, 1Hz would be turning the light on and off 1 time in 1 second. Base LCD is 60Hz, step up models include 120Hz and 240Hz. Faster is better. All plasma TV’s have very strong fast action performance, typically with a 600Hz.
Get a clear picture: You are going to hear the phrase "resolution" used a lot. Resolution is simply the term used for picture quality. Television signals are delivered electronically through a series of lines that zip across the screen too fast for the eye to see. This happens repeatedly to create the moving images we see. A high-definition television set delivers its pictures using as many as 1,080 lines. It is basic mathematics: The more lines used to deliver an image, the sharper the detail. Understand that a 1080p will provide a better picture than 720p.
Getting connected: Take a look at the electronics stockpile you have around your television set. Many homes have a VCR, DVD player, Blu-ray player, surround sound, cable box, gaming consoles or other pieces of equipment connected to their television sets. When you look at new TVs, take a look behind the set. You need to make sure that it has enough places to connect all of the electronics you’ll be using.
Needed accessories: When buying your television, don't forget additional accessories you might need, such as HDMI cables, power surge protector, and any other items that you’ll need to make the installation of your television complete, especially if you are integrating your TV with an overall home theater system. Also, if you purchase a video projector, keep in mind that you’ll have to replace the light source bulb periodically, and to take that cost into consideration as a needed accessory cost down the line.
Extended service plans: Consider an extended service plan on a HDTV, plasma, LCD, LED, or 3D television or if the TV is more than $1,000. Although televisions don’t often need repair, those repairs can be costly. In addition, if you buy a Plasma, LCD or LED television and something happens to the operation of the screen, the entire set would probably have to be replaced, as these units are basically a single, integrated, piece.
Another tip, which is definitely overlooked on buying a new TV, is to make sure your vehicle is large enough transport the TV, if you plan to take it with you. Even with the latest technology of “thinner” and lighter TVs, most cars can’t fit any TV larger than 32-inch in the front seat. If you have an SUV, you should be able to accommodate a 32-inch TV without too much trouble. However, if you buy a TV from Lacks, ask about delivery on larger screen TVs. Take advantage of this, don't risk dropping your new TV trying to carry it up those stairs ... and definitely let the store deliver a Plasma, LCD, LED or 3D television. If you take the set home yourself, you’re out of luck if you damage the set. However, if you let Lacks deliver it, we’ll take all the damage risk.
Finally, remember that you can do all the research in the world, but the best way to buy a television set is to go to a store and look at the picture quality. And the best place to do that is at Lacks. We’re one of the largest suppliers of quality home furnishings, bedding, electronics and appliances in the country, with over 70 years of dependable service, and we mean it when we say “we’ll take better care of you.”