Holidays: Great Time Find HDTV Deals

Compare Best Size, Resolution, Refresh Rate, and Viewing Angle

Oct 30, 2008

With the holiday season upon us, consumers are eyeing big screen HDTVs. It's important to compare features such as resolution to get the best deal.

Manufacturers of High Definition television sets didn't forsee the major economic downturn that currently threatens the holiday season. Luckily for consumers, their lack of planning has led to a glut of HDTVs just in time for gift shopping. An overabundance of product will certainly mean great deals.

HD Options: LCD or Plasma in 1080p with 120 Hz Refresh Rate

There are several varieties of HDTVs, but most consumers are focusing on the popular LCD or plasma flat panel versions. LCD tends to display motion better, while plasma reportedly displays colors more deeply and richly.

Both plasma and LCD are available in 1080p, a setting which outdoes both previous spec standards 720p and 1080i. A 120 Hz refresh rate is also outselling older 60 Hz refresh rates.

LCD and Plasma HDTV: Size and Color

Before buying a big screen TV, it's best to size up where it's going to go. Measure the distance between where the viewers sit and where the TV will be. Halve this measurement and the result is about how big the TV should be for optimum viewing. For example, a 42" TV is best viewed about 84 inches, or 7 feet, away.

Once the best size is determined, go to a store to gets a hands-on feel for the best HDTV. One of the true tests of a quality HDTV is to cup your hands around your face right up next to the screen when it is black. Is it truly pitch black? If so, it's a good quality.

HDTV: Importance of Viewing Angle and Contrast Ratio

An often over-looked feature of flat screen TVs is the viewing angle. It's important to be able to see the TV from more angles that just straight on. Simply walking to the side of the TV will tell you whether or not it has a good viewing angle span.

Contrast ratio is very important to consider before purchasing an HDTV. Simply put, the contrast ratio is the the number of white versus the number of black pixels on a TV. A high contrast ratio displays a better image. Beware. There is a major difference between static contrast ratio and dynamic contrastratio. Sometimes Dynamic contrast ratio is much bigger and highly advertised in order to woo potential customers, however, it is the statici contrast ratio that truly matters. Don't be fooled. Since it's difficult to know which number you're seeing in the ads, it's best to stick to a visual inspection of contrast ratio quality.

HD TV: Buy Online

Once you have found the perfect HDTV set, after hours of fiddling with and inspeciting in-store display models, resist the urge to buy. The next step is write down which models fit your needs and then take the list to the internet for research. Read reviews, check for recalls or known issues, and check consumer ratings and recommendations to narrow down the options.

Once you're sure that you've found the winner, check out HDTV deal sites, such as TechDealDigger and OnSale for the best deals. HDTV customers will find the best deals online, as typically desired HDTVs are available for hundreds of dollars less with a little bit of internet searching.

HD TV: Power Consumption

A little thought-of feature of many new HDTVs is a surprisingly high power usage. According to GeekAbout.com, the average 42" HDTV will cost about $75 a year to operate. Surprisingly, HDTVs use power whether they are being operated or not. Plasma HDTVs consume the most at about 350 watts, while LCD HDTVs consume around 222 watts. Check the specs if this is an important issue, but it won't affect quality.

HDTV: Most Important FeaturesAs discussed, not all HDTVs are created equal. Consumers can take advantage of lower prices spurred by an overproduction of TVs, but it's no reason to skimp on quality.

The copyright of the article Holidays: Great Time Find HDTV Deals in TV is owned by Stephanie Cox. Permission to republish Holidays: Great Time Find HDTV Deals in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.