A glossary for HDTV shoppers
Some useful terms to know when shopping for a high-definition TV set:
24p, or 1080p24: A set with this feature can show 24 frames per second, exactly the way movies are shot. Cinephiles may notice smoother, more cinematic images, but the feature works only with Blu-ray players connected by HDMI cables.
120 Hz: The display will smooth out motion, making scenes with action or a moving camera look sharper. Expect to pay more for these sets.
720p: The display has low resolution, but is still high-definition. Adequate for screens smaller than 40 inches, or ones meant to be watched from more than 12 feet away.
1080p: The display has high resolution. Good for screens larger than 40 inches, or ones used for gaming, as computer displays, or for Blu-ray playback.
Aspect ratio: The size relationship between the set's height and width. This is nearly always 16:9.
ATSC: This tuner lets a set receive free TV through an antenna. It's a standard feature.
Composite: This is a low-quality video connector for older game consoles and VCRs. Can not carry a high-definition signal.
Component: A high-quality, three-lead connector for game consoles, DVD players and cable boxes. Can carry a high-definition signal, but is not quite as good as HDMI.
Contrast ratio: Essentially, how black the black parts of the picture look, compared to how bright the whites are. Don't pay too much attention to this figure. There are different ways to measure it. But in general, higher is better.
Energy Star qualified: Look for sets qualified under the most recent rules, Energy Star 3.0. These specify a maximum power consumption when the set is in use. The older rules specify the consumption when the set is on standby ? when the screen is off.
HDMI: An input for a digital connector cable that carries both audio and video. This is the latest and highest-quality way to connect a TV to a set-top box, game console, DVD player or other signal source.
NTSC: This is a tuner for analog broadcast TV. These signals are going away this year, so don't pay attention to this feature.
Plasma: Most people opt for LCD sets, which are brighter and stand out in stores. But a plasma set can be a good choice if you're looking for a flat panel that's 42 inches or bigger. They are capable of excellent image quality. But be aware that the glossy front glass can show distracting reflections.
VGA: An input for a computer video signal. Many newer computers can use the higher-quality HDMI inputs instead, so VGA is not essential even if you plan to connect your PC to your TV.
Virtual surround sound: This means the TV set's built-in speakers will attempt to produce the enveloping sound of a home theater setup. Falls far short of an actual six-speaker setup bought separately.
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Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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A good read of basic HDTV information. Here, is some more.
This is a good read on HDTVs. However, the size requirement is kind of silly. Most people want as big as they can get and people never regret having a big tv just that they might regret not having one that is big enough. This is even more true for big events like watching the Super Bowl. On the LCD side, it is hard to beat the Samsung ln52a750. It is a 52 inch powerhouse. Read a review at http://www.52a750.net .As far as plasma's go, he seems to be selling them kind of short in this article. They actually get better picture quality than LCDs and have a better viewing range of motion. In addition, some plasma avoid the previous problems of past models like glare. One really good one is the Samsung HPT5064. Read a review on it at http://www.hpt5064.com .
Best,
Jack Miller
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