Top 10 Things to Consider when Buying a Flat Panel TV

Choosing a new flat panel can be a daunting task with the ever increasing number of types, brands, sizes, and specs that seem to be announced every other day. A new TV is a major investment for most people and the rapid development of technology has lead to confusion and frustration for many. Many families spend countless hours in front of their TV and below are several tips to consider when deciding on a new flat panel TV.

Determine the viewing distance
Find the correct size
Choose a type of screen
Finalize your source
Fight the power
Identify components
Connect the dots
Control Everything
Protect your investment
Sit back and enjoy

1. Determine the viewing distance. Start things off with a very easy thing to do. Measure how far the TV will be away from where you are going to be viewing it from. This is simple to do, but the information you get here will help you with #2.

2. Find the correct size. After you have finished step #1, you can choose the correct size of panel for you. My recommendation is for a viewing distance of under 6 feet, use a screen smaller than 42 inches. For distances between 6 and 10 feet, a 42” panel will suffice. From 10 feet and beyond a 50” panel, and anything farther than 12 feet, a 60” panel or larger is suggested. Now these are just base recommendations and everyone is different in their likes and dislikes. Once you find out what your viewing distance will be, take a tape measure and go to the nearest store and stand the appropriate distance from a few different TVs and see what will fit your personal taste.

3. Choose a type of screen. This is probably one of the most asked questions when someone is shopping for a new flat panel TV, “which is better, Plasma or LCD?” Unfortunately there is no correct answer. It all comes down to your personal preference and what you will be using your TV for. The lifespan of both technologies is nearly identical as well. For sports, or other fast moving action sequences, a Plasma will have less artifacting, or motion blur. For gaming, most people use LCD; however gaming on Plasma is gaining in popularity. Just as the size is ultimately up to your personal preference, so is the type of screen. Choose the technology that you think fits your needs the best and gives you the best picture in your opinion.

4. Finalize your source. This is probably the most overlooked and misunderstood concept out there. Make sure you are getting a high definition broadcast from your cable or satellite provider. Even though you just purchased that brand new, state of the art HDTV, you still need to hook up a good source to it. A standard cable feed will look worse on a new HDTV than it did on your old CRT. If you are going to purchase an HDTV, make sure you get the most of it by subscribing to HD programming. If your local cable company does not have HD programming available yet, contact a satellite provider, such as DIRECTV, if you can. This is the #1 reason for returns of HDTVs; the picture didn’t look as good at home as it did in the store. The easy fix here is to make sure you are getting an HD broadcast.

5. Fight the power. Make sure that once you get your new flat panel TV, that you are protecting it from unclean power and power surges. There are many, very good surge protectors available for around $100, and this is a good, inexpensive way to protect your investment against a lighting storm or other surge.

6. Identify your components. Compose a list of everything that will be hooked up to your new TV, whether it is a satellite box, DVD player, gaming system, etc. Next, identify the hookups on the back of each component and make sure that your new TV has the appropriate inputs for all of your components.

7. Connect the dots. After you know what components you are hooking up, verify you are hooking them up to the TV in the most efficient way possible to give you the best possible picture. If available, use HDMI, DVI, or component cables to make sure you are transmitting an HD signal. Hooking your new HDTV up to your new HD satellite box with composite (yellow, red, white) cables will diminish the quality of the picture and in fact, won’t even transmit an HD signal.

8. Control Everything. After you have your HDTV and all of your components hooked up, go the extra mile and get a universal remote. There are several good universal remotes out there, such as the Harmony series from Logitech. All you need is the make and model of each component and how everything is hooked up and the remote does the rest. The initial programming is done on the internet from your computer and the remote connects directly to the computer for programming. A universal remote will make your HDTV experience much more enjoyable without having to continuously change remotes.

9. Protect your investment. Get an extended warranty. This can be done at the time of purchase or a few months down the road. Now, for most things I do not recommend getting an extended warranty, but for this purchase, I will make an exception. The cost of an extended warranty is roughly the same cost as a single service visit (if one is needed) once the manufacturer warranty is over. The other benefit of an extended warranty is the piece of mind it will give you, and that makes watching TV that more enjoyable.

10. Sit back and enjoy. This is the last and easiest thing there is to do. You now have a quality HDTV, an HD source, power protection, all of your components (hooked up correctly with the appropriate cables), a universal remote and an extended warranty. The only thing left to do is find the sporting event, reality show, or movie you have been waiting to see, turn everything on with a single click from your new remote, and sit back and enjoy!