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Your guide to navigating the world of digital television
Purchasing a digital TV can be a daunting task. We thought it would be helpful to pass along a few tips we've discovered when considering the purchase of a new digital TV set. We will cover the actual screen or display options as well as the various shapes of screens. You will also learn what type of connections or inputs the monitor should have, the tuner type you will need for your application, and the various types of audio available. Finally, we will talk about over-the air vs. cable reception.
Display Options
Making Connections
Tuning In
Before You Go to the Store
Display Options
Glass Picture Tube Type (CRT)
The CRT represents the most familiar type of monitor with a glass CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display. The display can be as small as 13 inches (diagonal) to over 30 inches and have traditionally been rounded, or curved. The CRT usually has good, overall brightness and clarity. Quite often, they can be purchased for several hundred dollars (or less) depending on the size. Even the large ones are generally under $2,000. Remember, however, that large-screen CRT sets are costly, extremely heavy and quite bulky compared to the smaller versions.
Flat Screen Televisions
Faux-Flat Screen Televisions
Beware of cheap, flat-screen televisions! Some of these are advertised as flat-screen models, but in reality, they are merely old-fashioned picture-tube TVs with a flat piece of glass in front instead of a piece of curved glass. If the set is heavy and deep, it is probably not a true flat-screen television.
You can purchase two types of big-screen TVs in which the displays are "flat," but are neither LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or Plasma. Both use projection techniques, similar to a movie house, and both use bulbs which must be replaced.
Internal Projection Type. This type of projector television has become very popular , as it can provide a large screen at a reasonable price. You have to compare a large screen at a reasonable price with moderate quality resolution and brightness to a bulky, heavy set.
External Projection Type.
Some home theatre applications use this type. E.P.T projects the image on a wall-mounted white screen similar to a film projector. On the plus side, extremely large screens offer available, high resolution, good off-axis viewing. The set is excellent for showing movies. However, the projector not only must be mounted on a rear wall or ceiling, but you need a darkened room for ultimate viewing. In addition projection lamps are expensive and have about a 1000-hour lifespan. These represent the most expensive option.
Plasma
Plasmas work by stimulating a captive gas with an electrical charge. If you can afford it, this is a great TV and "the only game in town for really large screens"! Set sizes range from 40 inches (measured diagonally) to over 60 inches. The plasma is an attractive set that screams high tech and features high resolution and brightness. It may captivate your kids by its video-game display, but it can also cost you, anywhere from $2,800 to over $20,000.
Plasmas do have some drawbacks. The sets are fragile and grow dimmer over the years. They are heavy sets which project both heat and noise. If you are considering a Plasma T.V., be thankful you live in Ohio, because they don't work well in high altitudes.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
LCDs work by passing current through tiny liquid crystals. You can purchase a LCD with screens ranging from 10 inches to 40 inches (which is where most plasma sets begin). They are similar to the screens on laptop computers. Purchase prices for LCDs begin around $500 and go up to over $10,000. They will, however, get larger and cheaper in the next few years. At some point in the not so distant future, LCDs will overtake the Plasma as the television of choice.
LCDs use less power, are lighter and thinner than plasmas, last longer, and can function as a computer monitor. Those are the pros. The cons consist in the fact that there are no large sizes available yet, and you experience limited visibility from the sides.
Screen Shapes & Resolution
16:9 or 4:3 or 480, 720 or 1080...
Not all DTV sets have the same shaped screen. The less expensive sets have a standard screen with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Better quality sets possess widescreens with an aspect ratio of 16:9. If you can afford it, you will be much better served with a widescreen set.
Regular television programming is made for the standard 4:3 set. You'll see black bars to the side of the programming if you view it on a widescreen display. Most DVD movies and some new programming are best viewed in the widescreen, 16:9 format, and you'll see black bars to the top and bottom of this program if you view it on a standard television set.
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Making Connections
... so you want to plug it in...
Most new DTV monitors do not have built in DTV over-the-air tuners. Like high-end audio equipment often sold as components—receiver, CD and tape decks, speakers—new generation DTV equipment is also component-based. There are exceptions, however. Even if your new DTV monitor has a built-in tuner, you will want to have the capability to plug in other devices (e.g., a DVD player).
Be sure to ask for the following connections/inputs:
Antenna
The antenna is the input to the analog tuner, and its nice to have two different tuners and antenna inputs. The audio and video both flow into the set on the same cable.
Line Input
Also called a "composite" video input, line input allows you to connect a variety of analog devices. The audio uses a separate cable.
S-Video
Many new analog devices use an S-Video method of connection, which provides a superior picture over RF and Line inputs. Again, audio is handled by a separate cable.
RGB (Red Green Blue)
You will need this input to connect to most DTV tuners which allows the highest-quality picture. The audio uses a separate cable and is also called a "component" video input.
Audio
Certain high-end DTV displays do not have speakers built in and rely on a separate audio system. However, many do have audio built in, so you will want to have audio inputs paralleling the video inputs. Some very high-end systems use a fiber-optic audio connection.
You might also consider the following, if you can find a good price!
SVGA
The SVGA allows you to use the display as a large computer monitor.
Fire Wire (IEEE-1394 standard)
You will find the fire wire on many high-end devices and is a standard way of interconnecting various digital devices (audio and video) using a single wire.
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Tuning In
You have the TV, now you want to watch it!
Fortunately, most new DTV sets come with one or more analog tuners built in. Unfortunately, few will have Digital over-the-air or cable tuners built in. If you would like to be able to watch WOSU's digital programs DTV and HDTV broadcasts, you must have a Digital tuner. Your only other option is to subscribe to a cable company that offers HDTV set-top boxes.
Unfortunately, few dealers feature an over-the-air tuner on the shelf. Most high-end specialty stores should have them available to show you, but be aware; the tuner technology is still developing. Just like LCD sets, tuners are getting better every day. Verify that you can return a tuner that doesn't meet your needs.
If you choose cable, you won't need a digital over-the-air tuner. The set-top box plugs directly into the component inputs of your set. This relieves you of having to install an antenna. Often, over-the-air reception will require a rooftop or attic-mounted antenna.
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Before You Go to the Store
Before you set out to look for a new set, first sit down and think about how you watch TV.
Where do you do you watch TV?
If you have a large and roomy TV room, and you enjoy performance based, highly produced documentaries, and nature programming, you may want to consider TVs with large screens and high-end audio. On the other hand, if you primarily watch the news and public affairs programming, and you do so while working in the kitchen or workshop—areas of limited space—you may not want to invest in a DTV set right now! Remember, while the new sets are impressive, they take up quite a bit of space as you would need to purchase at least a set with a screen size of at least 32 inches.
How do you do use your TV—What Do You Watch?
If you use satellite or digital cable to watch a lot of movies or if you have an extensive DVD library and crave high-definition TV, then consider a plasma or LCD TV with a widescreen format.
When you go to buy the set, some salespeople stress how great DVDs look, for example, on a plasma set, but if you do not use DVDs, it makes little difference how good they will look on the set If you are going to watch over-the-air or on cable, ask the salesperson to show you the set which displays that programming.
Something important to keep in mind: don't be intimidated by technical jargon. In most cases the "Big Box" retail salesperson will have less knowledge than you after spending some time on this Web site. Some of the local high-end dealers, however have very knowledgeable and responsive staffs which will provide excellent service.
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