s the prices of high-definition televisions continue to drop (particularly LCD and plasma flat panels), a number of people have come to me with questions. There's a lot to learn before laying down your cash. Though some online storefronts and informational websites are great resources (a personal favorite is the database at crutchfield.com), certain information can remain a bit hazy. Here are just a few of the questions I've been asked by gamers looking to upgrade their displays.
Should I buy an LCD or a plasma television?
Although plasma televisions still tend to produce a better picture than LCD sets due to an improved black level, I'd tend to recommend LCD to someone who intends on playing a lot of video games. Like CRT before it, plasma is prone to image retention or "burn-in" – static elements like game scores or station identification watermarks may remain permanently visible on the screen if left up for too long. LCD is free from such "burn-in" issues, so you could leave Super Mario running for hours with no worries of your high score interfering with the nightly news.
Another concern is refresh rate - the speed at which a screen's pixels can switch on and off. Although plasma still tends to sport faster refresh rates, the days are gone when LCD displays could only render a hockey puck as a blurry grey line as it shot from one end of the ice to the other. Most modern LCD televisions (be they flat panel or rear projection) refresh plenty fast enough for gaming. A final advantage of LCD sets is that their maximum brightness tends to be much greater than plasma's – there's no need to close the curtains if you want to play games in the middle of the afternoon.
How large a television should I buy?
This is governed by two things: how much you have to spend and the size of your room. Of course, it only makes sense to get the largest screen size you can afford. Most experts will tell you that the optimal distance between you and the TV is between 1.5 and two times the screen's diagonal measurement. For instance, if you have a 50 inch television, it's probably best viewed from 6.5 to 9 feet away. Think of how far the set will be from your usual seating position before you buy.
What resolution do I go with?
North American HDTVs display video at one of three resolutions: 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. 1080i is disappearing from the scene just as fast as the CRT monitors which supported it, so most of the debate today is between 720p and 1080p.
My simple rule of thumb is this: if you're looking to purchase a set that measures 50 inches diagonally or more, try and get a 1080p display. For all screens smaller than 50 inches, save your money and get a 720p television. Unless you tend to play games with your nose pressed against the glass, you're not going to be able to tell the difference between the two until the screen size (and hence the size of each pixel) gets to be pretty large.
How important is HDMI?
Although you'll want to make sure any HD television you look at has at least one of these connections on its backside, this interconnect isn't nearly as important to gamers as some manufacturers would lead you to believe. All HDMI inputs have the bandwidth required to transmit 1080p video, and the format's newest revision (HDMI version 1.3) allows for the transmission of the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio codecs to a compatible decoder.
Few games are encoded in 1080p at this point, and I don't know of any software which supports the newest high resolution audio codecs. If you're using your console to play back Blu-ray or HD DVD movie discs, make sure to hook it up to your monitor or AV receiver using HDMI. If all you're using it for is gaming, however, you may find that component connections get the job done just as well.
What brands should I look at?
As is true with automobiles and puppies, there really isn't a clear cut winner in the world of HD televisions. One thing is certain – some bargain brands are producing phenomenal products, and they really are worth a look (names like Vizio, Westinghouse, and Olevia come to mind). Particularly with flat panel televisions, a handful of companies actually make the components used by all manufacturers. As such, the glass used in a well respected Japanese company's product may be identical to that used by a less respected brand.
What tends to separate an $800 television from one costing $1600 is the electronics which drive the display – the chips and wires which are responsible for upconverting standard-definition 480p content to the TV's native resolution. Just as examples, brands like Sony and Pioneer have tended to excel in the video processing departments (one reason why their sets can still demand such high prices). If you watch a lot of programming in standard definition, or if you're often compelled to plug in your SNES to relive gaming's "glory days", I'd recommend spending a bit more and going with one of these bigger name brands. If, however, you plan on primarily viewing high-definition content and your gaming habits are decidedly "next gen", you could probably forego some advanced processing features and look to a less familiar brand.
My current pick that does a great job balancing picture quality and price is the Vizio VX37L. What this 37" set lacks in processing prowess, it more than makes up for in raw picture quality. Couple it with your PS3 or Xbox 360, a decent surround receiver, and an upconverting DVD player, and you have a mini theater that's certain to turn heads. Did I mention that this set is an absolute steal at $799.99? Just five years ago, I spent $900 on a 32" standard-definition CRT. This set sports more surface area, displays at 720p, and can be hung on the wall. For those looking for more processing options, Sony's Bravia LCD panels and Sharp's Aquos Line are hard to fault (despite their elevated asking prices).
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you're a gamer who's in the market for a new television, feel free to throw your questions my way in the forums. In the meantime, happy shopping!
