Tech Talk

By Garth Palmer · The Mainstream
Published May 24, 2011

Palmer

Modern luxury TVs have come a long way, but they are extremely challenging to hook up. Even selecting a TV can be a daunting venture.

HDTV is the new standard; it simply stands for "high-definition television." You may have seen the numbers 720p or 1080i attached to these TVs. Put simply, the bigger the number, the better the picture. The "p" is generally a more desirable TV, but it's also more expensive.

The most common and least expensive HDTVs available now are LCD and plasma, both with pros and cons. LCDs, or liquid crystal displays, are more expensive up front but take less energy. Plasmas use more electricity but emit more heat. Plasmas also produce more vibrant colors and have better contrast ratios, meaning dark colors don't look as washed out as on a LCD. LCDs are better for daytime viewing, while plasmas really shine with the lights off. All things considered, I recommend LCDs for general purpose.

After choosing a set, you'll need to get cables to hook up your TV to your other devices. The terms coaxial, composite, component and HDMI can be confusing. Coaxial and composite are old types which aren't HD, but they can be used with an HDTV for devices that don't include an HD hook-up. Component and HDMI cables are for HD purposes. HDMI is the paramount all-in-one cable available today, able to simultaneously carry 1080p HD video as well as surround sound audio for a near-cinema experience. If the budget permits, it's what you want. Component can do the same for video but doesn't provide any audio and must be paired with a separate digital audio cable.

One of the selling points for HDTV is its ability to broadcast 3D. Personally I'd rather not have pieces of scenery flying at me, but for those interested in an HDTV with 3D technology built-in, I'll cover the bases.

Toshiba, Panasonic and others are hard at work designing full 3D sets which are glasses-free, replacing the current 3D-ready TV sets that require viewers to wear specially made 3D glasses. These should be widely available in the next couple years. However, the blu-ray player or other device you are playing from must support 3D output, as well as the movie or media you wish to view.

If 3D is an important factor in your purchase decision, realize that because it's the newest technological feature in the industry, the bugs are still being ironed out.