HDTV buying guide: How to select the right set

[nsane.forums]

You want to buy a new big-screen HDTV for your home. But where do you start? You have so many options, features, and specifications to choose from that it can be confusing. And since you're likely to keep this set for at least the next five years, you want to make a smart choice that you can live with for a long time.

High-definition television is truly different from the standard-definition television that it replaces. The screen is wider, and many more pixels make up the image, so you get greater detail. However, watching standard-definition TV on an HDTV won’t make standard-definition footage look any better. In fact, unless you adjust your HDTV to display standard broadcasts in their intended 4:3 aspect ratio (which fills only a portion of the screen), you’ll see a stretched-out picture that doesn’t look very good at all.

To get the most out of your HDTV set, you need the right content. That means you need to subscribe to your cable provider’s high-definition television shows and sports broadcasts, watch Blu-ray Discs, and stream HD movies via a set-top box or a TV with built-in Web connectivity.

For now, let’s focus on the TV set itself. In this HDTV buying guide, we'll break the process down into some simple steps that will help you pinpoint the best HDTV for your needs and budget. For finer-grained detail on the specific sets you'll find at each price in 2012, see our price-by-price HDTV guide.

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[DKT27]

This guide is better than lot of them I've read. Must read if someone's planning to buy one. :)

[ck_kent]

If you're coming off from a CRT, any HDTV will be good enough for your eyes. ;)

Don't be too swayed by them advertising 60,000, 80,000, or 100,000 hours of panel life which, depending on usage, could last from 20 to 30+ years. Yes, the panel could last that long but there are still other components in an HDTV that might fail before the panel does (i.e. the main board, sound, etc.). Also, with all the current trends and marketing in HDTVs now, manufacturers and most likely you would probably want to replace your current HDTV with a better one in 5 or so years.

Go store hopping when you're still choosing your HDTV. Find a retailer that would let you audition different brands side-by-side. And, if you could, bring your own test video that would truly highlight the qualities of the HDTV.

Read online for reviews of a particular HDTV you like.

Don't buy an HDTV that's way over your budget! HDTVs are not an investment. Like I said, you would probably want to replace it in five years time. :)

[DKT27]

I want a Full HD, about 26 inch or 32 inch. But here there are no Full HD available in 26 inches and are very expensive in 32 inch. :(

Why Full HD you ask? My viewing distance and sharp eye.

[ck_kent]

But prices for HDTVs have gone considerably low these past year. :o Look for LG or Samsung brands. Their entry level LED HDTVs and even the FullHD ones have gone cheaper, especially last year's model. Most brands usually cut their prices off when newer models come. So, wait for that. :) Or, back here, there are called 'grey market sellers' which import these HDTVs directly and sell it a lot cheaper than retail stores but still offer 1 or 2 years warranty supported by the manufacturer itself. They are usually these audio/video specialty stores not like the big ones we see in malls.

[myidisbb]

buy last years model. i went with sammy brand. smart tv, last years, 240 at 1080p led 3d tvs.