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Customers look at wide screen televisions at a Costco store in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, June 7, 2007. AP Photo by Paul Sakuma. Original context at daylife.com.

Do your homework, first

By Roy Johnson, loudspeaker designer, Green Mountain Audio, Inc.

While large screen television technology advances almost monthly, several factors will not change what you see in the showroom.

Picture settings

Most every large-screen TV, indeed virtually any TV, is factory-set to look as appealing as possible under the bright lights and glare of a showroom or should we say, a large chain store. And we will add that the image is usually still not very good -- and impossible to compare.

There is little to be done about this until you get the unit home with the highly-recommended "Video Essentials" Test DVD and use it reset the picture controls. It is a nice surprise to notice the improved picture quality. You can also hire experts to come out and perform more precise adjustments if needed.

Resolution and picture quality

The specialist video magazines have done a good job assessing the image quality both before and after the TV is adjusted. Among other things, they examine how the image appears at different picture resolutions; how the brightness falls off when the screen is viewed from off-angle; for any motion artifacts, and problems with edge definition. What is called the 'black level' performance of a set is also important. Rear-projection TVs and LCD screens do not go completely black.

Some flat screens now include a glowing light behind them which brightens when the scene turns dark, which makes your pupils close down a little, which in turn, makes you think the picture is darker than it really is. We recommend learning what those magazines think of such a technique.

Differences

Plasma, LCD or rear projection? Each has its problems, which may or may not matter to a particular viewing situation. A plasma set uses a lot of electricity, but new models use less. A plasma set puts out a lot of heat. A plasma set is more expensive than an LCD. A plasma set burns-in a particular color when that color remains in a fixed location, such as the black borders around some pictures and the fixed graphics of video games. A plasma set is rather heavy.

An LCD set has a narrower viewing angle. It goes less 'black' than a plasma set. Can that particular model have its fluorescent light bulbs changed someday? Many manufacturers now permanently seal their light bulbs inside the LCD package, which prevents any service should the need arise later.

A rear-projection set can have a somewhat narrow viewing angle. Check for 'hot spots' in its light output as you move about the room. A rear-projection set can work with LCDs inside or via a Texas Instruments DLP chip. Both can produce great results, but look into the life, expense, and service charge for changing their light bulbs. Can you change it yourself? The specialist video magazines discuss how rapidly the light bulb fades, which will also change the set's calibration.

Digital connections

There can be connectivity problems with the newest high-resolution digital-video-signal input from your BluRay player or home-theater control center. This connection is called HDMI version 1, 2, etc. Also, will that screen even project actual high-definition images? Do not take the clerk's word when shopping at a discount store. Read specialist video magazines and purchase your set from a specialty retailer if you do not want any headaches.

Does the new set include a digital tuner, necessary to pick up local signals using a digital antenna atop the TV (think rabbit-ears). Ask your service provider about the type of a signal it sends through your converter box. Are they truly high definition images? You may have to upgrade that box.

Placement

Be mindful of the light from windows, especially because those window reflections would be seen in the television screen. Flat-screen sets are much more reflective than the curved surfaces of the older CRT-based televisions. Although it is fashionable to place the flat screen above the fireplace, you will feel the strain in your neck muscles. Try to keep any set near eye level.

Speaker placement

Proper placement of speakers always deeply changes your video experiences. We cover this in our section Basics > Making Good Sound > Home Theater. Below are three room settings which guarantee bad sound quality. In each room, the speakers create extremely loud sonic reflections off of all the nearby surfaces, even when the television is mounted flush in a wall.

Recommendations

For the best pictures and reliability, stay with the major brand names that specialize in video displays and televisions. This includes Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony (their upper-end line), and Toshiba. These will be sold at specialty stores. Be sure to scrutinize their product warranty, including the fine print. Your research also should include reading the specialty video and home theater magazines.