The Big Picture
Feeling left out of all the high-definition TV hoopla? I have great news: Prices continue to fall dramatically for all types of televisions!
When shopping for a new set the first thing to remember is that the TV needs to suit your room. All buyers should be looking at the top resolution, called 1080p, so that the set does not become obsolete anytime soon. With 1080p, most people will be happy with a screen size that is 1/3rd to 2/3rds of the viewing distance, eyeball to screen. Those who are more critical, or who plan to view still pictures, as I described in my last article, should stay to the smaller end of that range. Everyone else: go as big as your budget and room allow. Thus, for a 10 foot viewing distance (120 inches), you should look at screen sizes of 40 to 80 inches diagonally. Here are the common display technologies and the sizes widely available:
- LCD : 20 – 60 inches
- Plasma: 40 – 65 inches
- Digital Rear Projection: 50 – 75 inches
- Front Projectors & Screens: 60+ inches
Flat panel TVs, both LCD and plasma, are a lot brighter than the other two types. This makes them the best choice for bright rooms and daylight viewing, such as in the family room. Rear projection sets essentially mount a front projector in a big box with a screen on one side and an internal mirror or two. Both projection types have a fixed amount of brightness. The effective brightness is simply a result of how large a screen that light power is spread across. Big screen = low brightness.
When the choice is between plasma and LCD flat panels, the latter has most of the advantages. LCDs consume less energy, are less prone to annoying reflections in a bright room, weigh less (especially important if you want to mount it to an articulating arm), run cooler and are more reliable and less fragile on average. Plasma screens are better when watched from way off to the side and have superior contrast in dark rooms. Plasmas can be vulnerable to image burn-in, where a static image is actually burnt into the screen, permanently. If you plan to connect a computer or game box to a plasma TV, be careful, or just buy an LCD.
Rear and front projection units can be based on LCD, DLP or LCOS (same as Sony SXRD), the details of which are unimportant because they all can throw a great picture. Bulbs do burn-out on these, but most people get at least 2,000 hours out of them, so it’s not a huge concern. These are not as bright as flat panels, but are larger for a given budget. They suit basement rec-rooms and dedicated home theaters where big is mandatory and daylight is less prominent. Rear projection sets just plug in, while front projectors with matching screens (just like in a commercial theater!) require more skill & time to mount and set up. Only a few years ago, front projection systems in the home were for Hollywood moguls and other well-heeled consumers only. Today you can have a 120” commercial-quality image starting at around $3,000, screen included.
As far as which set to buy, don’t worry about all those tech specifications, especially contrast ratio. Manufacturers play marketing games with those. 1080p native resolution is the only critical one. Brands? Sharp and Samsung are leaders in LCD technology, while Panasonic and Pioneer make superior plasma displays. For rear projection, Samsung, Sony, JVC and Mitsubishi are strong. There are lots of good options with front projectors: JVC, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, 
Sony, Epson, BenQ and Panasonic. If you need any custom work done (run wires in walls, mount TV to wall, set-up projector, etc.) I strongly suggest you use a professional “custom integrator”. The good ones don’t work for the big-box store geek teams because their experience and knowledge justify their $75+ an hour typical rate. Most are also authorized resellers and since they keep no inventory, they will more often get you the best product for your needs, rather than the one in stock. You might pay a little more and wait a little longer, but the value is likely superior. The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) and The Imagine Science Foundation are two organizations that train and certify such installers.
Happy TV hunting!
–“Tech Dad” John Svoboda is a consumer electronics enthusiast, manager and business owner since the time of the 8-track, and holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications
2 comments
I saw a Vizio and the price was right. around $900 for a 42″ in Wal-Mart. How is this for Father’s Day for my husband? Will he like it or be disappointed? It’s not one of the brands you mention.
Most consumers do buy on simply the biggest for the cheapest. It really depends on how it will be located and what type of watcher your husband is: if it needs to be wall mounted and your husband is the type who will drive another 10 miles to go to the theater with stadium seats and a bigger screen, you need a top brand and a custom installer. If the set will simply be put on a table and your husband doesn’t even know what Blu-Ray is, then the Vizio will probably be fine.
When you buy a name brand, at least those that make their own sets (example: Samsung makes all theirs while Sony makes few) you are not just paying for marketing: you will get a better TV. It depends on what type of consuer you are: Do you drive a Hyundai or a Honda? And yes, the name brand set is likely to last longer, too.
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