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Broadcast Engineer picks HD setsMar 10 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Flat Panel Televisions
The Bottom Line How do you pick a new TV set? Read this to help sort it all out.
--Bob
Well, assuming you know what HDTV is (read my opinion under "What is HDTV") you may want to buy one! There are several things to consider. Aspect ratio- All HD programming is presented in a 16:9 format. That is a ratio of screen length to screen height. 16:9 is like a movie screen. Most HDTV sets are 16:9, which is ideal for watching HD programming (football is great in the wide format) and widescreen DVD's. However, non-digital TV programming is still in the square-like 4:3 ratio. If you watch 4:3 video on your 16:9 screen, you will have bars on the sides because 16:9 is wider. Most 16:9 monitors have the ability to "zoom" (crops top and bottom) "stretch" (distorts equally to fit) and "justify" (distorted on edges, correct in center) video to fit in the screen. If you watch HD programming on a 4:3 monitor, (either downconverted on a regular TV or on a 4:3 HDTV set) you will have bars on the top and bottom, like a "letterboxed" movie. What is HD ready?- Most of today's HDTV's are actually "HD ready". That means they have the ABILITY to display a high-defination signal (720p or 1080i. read "what is HDTV" for more on that) They cannot pick up the HDTV signal themselves, they require an external tuner to receive the HD signals off air, satellite, or soon- cable. The tuner then plugs into the TV with a high-quality video interface like Component (Pr Pb Y') or RGB. You don't have to worry about your HD-ready TV having quality inputs for your DVD player. Almost all do. However, BE CAREFUL with "digital ready" TV's! They may not be HIGH DEFINITION ready! DTV comes in 18 formats, the top two are considered HIGH definition. A "Digital ready" TV may be able to display a lower resolution signal (Standard Definition Digital TV) but not able to display a high Definition signal. Make sure to ask if the set can display 1080i and/or 720p without downconverting them. The 18 formats- HDTV is considered to be 1080i or 720p. Many HDTV monitors can only display the 1080i mode. Their receivers convert 720p (ABC uses mostly 720p) and possibly the lower resolutions up to 1080i. Panasonic is the only TV I know of that can natively (without changing) display both 720p and 1080i. Flat-panel and plasma monitors like the progressive scan format in 720p and that format is ideal for them. Why HDTV?- Even if HD is not currently being broadcast in your market, buying HD now has its advantages. Your DVD movies will look much better on the higher quality screen if you take advantage of component video inputs. Also, many HDTV sets convert existing video into progressive-scanned pictures, which is easier on the eyes. (gets rid of that flicker caused by interlaced pictures) If you buy a HD set now, you dont have to get a HDTV receiver box right away. You can enjoy movies and TV on your new HDTV set and at the same time be prepared for whatever the future brings.  |
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