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 October 1, 2005 TV -- Should You Buy Now? Hardly a week goes by that someone doesn’t complain to me that they need to upgrade their TV set, but that the technology is moving so fast that making a choice is hard, and the chances are great that whatever they choose will soon be obsolete.Certainly the options have multiplied in the past few years, making the choice more complicated. Home-theater enthusiasts may want the large screen sizes offered by rear-projection sets, or the really large sizes obtainable from front-projection systems. Fans of exotic technologies -- or those who just want to conserve space -- may be seduced by the flat-panel LCD or plasma sets, despite their high prices. But the fact is, for most buyers, the conventional direct-view cathode-ray tube (CRT) set, using technology that dates back to the 1930s, may still be the best bet. The prices of these TVs have steadily dropped over the years, and the best of them continue to produce among the highest-quality pictures available. Also, of all categories of TV monitor, the selection among CRTs is by far the widest -- just walk into any electronics store and look at that wall of screens and you’ll realize that the CRT still dominates. So despite all the alternatives, there’s little doubt that a CRT set bought today will continue to serve you well into the future. Here’s what to look for: Picture quality Obviously a prime consideration when buying a TV, the image quality is much less a variable than in the past. These days, even very modestly priced sets produce excellent pictures. Still, they do vary somewhat from set to set, in terms of sharpness and overall color character -- some sets are more pinkish or greenish than others. When shopping, you can choose between these small variances or attempt to change them. Most sets produce a sharper picture if you turn down the Brightness adjustment, for instance. Many offer a Color Temperature control, which lets you adjust the set’s overall color cast. Checking these out in the showroom will not only let you know the set’s capabilities, but will give you a feeling of how easy or difficult it is to make adjustments. Inputs Gone are the days when you just hooked your TV set up to the cable or antenna and sat back to watch. Now there are numerous optional signal sources, from VCRs to DVD players to satellite receivers, and it’s important that your set be able to handle all the ones you want to use. Most offer two or three sets each of line inputs for audio and video, and many have front-panel inputs for use with a camcorder. What a given set offers in the way of inputs will probably not be obvious in the store, and looking at the back of a set may be difficult; it’s wise to check the owner’s manual to see what’s offered. If your set will be part of a home-theater system using an A/V receiver, you may be able to use that for routing your various video sources to the TV, so the number of inputs on the set is less important. The types of inputs may have a bearing as well. Source components such as DVD players and satellite receivers typically offer S-video outputs along with the regular RCA-jack line outputs; you can maximize the image quality by choosing a set with S-video ins. An even higher degree of accuracy is obtainable from the component-video outputs on many DVD players and satellite boxes; newer TV sets -- mostly at the top of the line -- will have inputs for that. Screen size Direct-view CRT sets range in size from about 13" to almost 40", measured diagonally; the size you’ll need will depend on the type of viewing you do and the size of your room. For instance, if you watch a lot of movies in widescreen format, much of a standard 4:3 screen will be unused; a larger screen will give you a better view of the film. Better still, buy a widescreen monitor. If you mostly watch regular TV shows or movies in fullscreen pan-and-scan format, however, you can get away with a smaller screen. For most viewing, the farther away you sit, the larger the screen you’ll need. There are no firm rules, but my own experience suggests, that if the prime viewing seat is about 10’ from the set, a screen of 29" (diagonal) is a minimum. High definition The television standard most commonly used today is more than 60 years old and is in the process of being upgraded to what is known as high-definition television (HDTV). HDTV stations are now common in the US, and a complete switchover to the new standard is supposed to be accomplished by next year (but probably won’t be). In Canada, a few HD stations are on the air, most commonly available by satellite (as are some US signals). Many HD-ready televisions now on the market are able to display the various forms of HDTV; if you’re willing to pay the considerable premium such sets fetch, one of these might be a good hedge against the future. They do have the advantage that some can double as large computer monitors. Audio A TV program’s sound is easily as important as its picture, but traditionally, set manufacturers have paid little attention to audio quality. Things are better now; a number of sets have good built-in audio, but many still have poor sound. None of that may matter if you have a home-theater surround-sound speaker system, but many viewers use the set’s own speakers when watching normal television, so it’s important that these drivers be of reasonable quality. It’s not easy to tell that in the store, but do listen to a music program, if possible. Controls Most television sets now come with remote controls that typically call up screen menus to show you what you’re doing. Some of these can be annoying, especially if they obliterate the picture even when you’re making tiny adjustments. The time to find this out is before you buy the set. Awkwardly realized controls can make TV viewing a frustrating pursuit, however good the picture quality might be. Upgrading your television will take some time and dedication, but considering the amount of time you’ll probably spend in front of it, the effort will be worth it. ...Ian G. Masters
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