Digital Televisions – Selection & Brands
Not so long ago, selecting a TV was easy. All you had to do was tell the salesperson how wide a screen you wanted and you were loading up a box into your car within minutes. Once home, you either called the cable guy or the satellite company and waited with bated breath for your appointment slot to arrive – provided it was somewhere between approximately 1-5 p.m.
For the most part, televisions have being confined to one room in the house and displayed in faux wood grain, particleboard entertainment centers. Now they are displayed as works of art on the wall in your living room, kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms, home office, garage, and even on the ceiling.
Things have gotten a little more complicated in the world of television but once we help you figure out all the technologies, home entertainment will bring you so close to the action, it will be like you were there when the movie was being filmed. Just like what CDs did to cassette tapes in the ’80s, HDTV did the same thing to cathode ray tube televisions in the late ’90s. Although the takeover was initiated in just the last decade, cathode ray tube televisions are already considered technological dinosaurs.
With the average hhgregg store carrying more than 130 models from 11 different brands, the wall of televisions on display might seem overwhelming. We offer one of the widest selections of televisions anywhere because you can’t make an informed decision from just a handful of TVs to choose from. Carefully follow our step-by-step instructions and you’ll be sure to bring home the sights and sounds of today’s home entertainment. We would like to be the first to say, “Welcome to digital television!”
STEP 1 – Set a Budget
Such an important addition to your home shouldn’t be purchased with a lackadaisical frame of mind. A little forethought and planning will match your needs to the digital television of your dreams. Set a realistic budget … and stick to it! Did we mention to set a budget?
In setting a budget, don’t just think of the television itself. Sundry other accessories might stretch the seams of your wallet and exceed what you can afford. Plan ahead for these necessary items and there won’t be any surprises.
Cables – Televisions need to communicate with the peripherals of your entertainment setup and with the HDTV service you’ve selected. Not only choosing the right cables, but quality cables will help ensure you’re viewing the brilliant picture your television is designed to display.
Mounting & Stands – Solicit the services of a construction or installation professional to look at your mounting area as renovations might be required. If you choose not to mount your television on the wall, there is a wide array of stands for your television.
STEP 2 – Talk it Out
As much as you might think it would be a cool surprise for your wife to come home to a $3,000, 72-inch HDTV, the sight of her buckling at the knees and fainting will let you know you should’ve asked first. Conferring with the other members of your household is smart fiscal responsibility and having another opinion just might help steer your grand decision in the right direction.
STEP 3 – Video Games, Movies, and Direct Sunlight
One of those discussions with the other members of your household should be deciding exactly what your new digital television will be used for. If the majority of your television viewing will be for watching movies or regular digital television service, then a plasma display will fit your needs nicely. However, if your digital television doubles as a battlefield for your children’s video games, or if the unit is located in direct sunlight, an LCD is the better choice.
STEP 4 – Display Location
Mounting your digital television on the wall brings a whole new set of decorating issues to the layout of your room. With your television out of the entertainment center and onto the wall, the arrangement of your furniture can take on a whole new life – especially if you’re looking into the home theater feel of sights and sounds.
It may be helpful to think of your new television as a painting because your television looks like a framed Picasso on the wall – but it doesn’t weigh like one. Digital televisions can tip the scales at over 140 pounds. Installing your digital television on the wall will require some structural assessment to ensure the wall can withstand the weight for extended periods of time. Nothing on the screen could take your breath away more than watching your television fall straight down and crashing onto the floor. Unless you’re well-versed in construction or installation methods, allow a professional to mount your digital television where it will stay for years to come.
Sit down. Your television will be viewed from this position, or perhaps even lower if your viewing area includes the floor. Don’t make the mistake of hanging your HDTV too high. Some wall mounts can be adjusted for viewing angles. You may want to have the television flush with the wall when turned off but tilted down when viewing. This is often the case in the bedroom. You can take advantage of available space over windows and doors if your viewing angle is adjustable.
STEP 4 (cont.) – Other Display Options & Cables
If mounting on the wall is not in your design blueprints, a more traditional method of display might work for you. HH Gregg offers audio/video-specific furniture designed to not only withstand the weight of your digital television but pose the screen higher in the air than your cathode ray tube television set. You’ve got choices when it comes to the material and configuration of these stands:
Also, don’t forget to allow for routing of your cables so they are stowed away properly, preferably out of sight. This will enhance the visual appeal of your television and your cables won’t become an obstacle for your clumsy neighbor or an electrical hazard for your children and pets.
STEP 5 – Choosing a Screen Size
As far as screen size is concerned, bigger is not better for true viewing enjoyment. A large 70″ display in a 100 square foot living room will not allow you to sit far enough from the screen to enjoy the show. It is like being stuck in the front row at the movies – not a pretty picture.
Sitting too close will allow the viewer to discern the horizontal lines and/or pixels from the image on the screen which cancels the reason to have high-definition digital television – large, smooth, and crisp pictures. Not only can viewing distance be too close, you can be seated too far away. Use the chart below to match your room’s square footage and viewing distance with the optimal screen size:
STEP 6 – LCD + Plasma + DLP = ?
We’re almost on our way to the store … you’ve set a budget, discussed it over with the family, decided what you’ll watch most, picked out the perfect display location, and have chosen a screen size. Now what? You need to select the display type that will suit your needs for today and tomorrow. Let’s describe what each display type is so you’ll understand them better.
Plasma Displays (flat-panel)
- Different than any other television technology in that each pixel on the screen produces light independently. Each pixel contains three cells; one red, one green, and one blue. Each cell in the pixel contains a mixture of neon and xenon gas.
- The natural colors of dark, rich blacks, and brilliant whites will show exceedingly well under most ambient light conditions.
- Very bright lights do not washout the picture, nor does backlighting cause reflections or glare on the screen.
- In addition to displaying HDTV, plasma televisions can display regular TV and home video along with performing duties as a personal computer monitor.
LCD Displays (flat-panel)
- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) televisions consist of a screen similar to the type you’d see on your laptop.
- Colors are vibrant and brightness is high even under direct sunlight or in other bright light environments.
- Even when you’ve got every light on in the house when guests are over, the display of a LCD television won’t washout.
- Lamps will not be mirrored in the screen of your LCD display.
- LCD displays can replace the monitor of your personal computer and can be used as the display medium for all the gaming consoles.
DLP Displays
- Digital Light Processing (DLP) leads the pack in today’s rear projection technology.
- DLP displays use more than one million mirrors to project the image onto the screen.
- Realistic and vibrant colors with spectacular clarity display lifelike images on the screen.
- DLP televisions are the least susceptible to screen burn-in from static images.
- Known for their smooth motion of movement from fast-moving images on the screen.
STEP 7 – Brand Name vs. Store Brand
When it comes to televisions, it is best to go brand name over store brand. The reason for this is warranty, parts availability, and brand-trained and certified local repair facilities. Even simple service issues like replacing a lost remote control can turn into a search for the proverbial needle in a haystack. After dozens of phone calls and e-mails, nobody has a replacement in stock and you will wish you had gone with a name you trust from a brick and mortar store you trust.
hhgregg carries digital televisions from the top 11 brands in the country. These companies have spent the time and money in research and development to offer the highest quality and cutting-edge technology. They are proud to adhere their logo onto the fascia of the television you will enjoy for years to come.
Audiovox – Broksonic – Coby – JVC – LG – Panasonic – Samsung – Sharp – Sony – Soyo – Toshibia
STEP 8 – Make your Purchase
hhgregg has more than 100 stores located throughout Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia. To find the store within 10-75 miles of home, click here. You can also choose to make your purchase online. Now you’re armed with the knowledge to buy the digital television of your dreams. Of course, you won’t be dreaming much anymore because you’ll be up late watching digital television!
Still have questions? – feel free to speak with an hhgregg associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed!
