Get More From Your HDTV
Buying an HDTV does not guarantee the best experience; the TV is just one part of the entertainment chain. Quality equals the sum of the parts including devices and programming or source. But faster or bigger isn’t always better. Understand what really makes a difference you can see, and what you need to get it.
New HDTV buyers experience varying levels of satisfaction once their TV is set up and going. But it is possible to get the most out of an HDTV whether you’re viewing cable or satellite programming in HD, Blu-ray movies, DVDs, or streaming HD movies from a service like Netflix.
In each of these cases, getting the best picture depends on each element in the entertainment chain. The TV is the common variable. The best TV will have a 1080p resolution and a refresh rate of 120hz or 240hz.
The next element in our chain, and one that is often overlooked, is the type of cable connecting the TV with the program source. The best connection is an HDMI cable. Both the TV and the source must have the HDMI connection to use HDMI cables. HDMI is better because it only requires a single cable for audio and video as well as can manage the bandwidth required for high definition sources. Other cable types may convert digital signals to analog signals. Whenever a signal, audio or video, is converted from one type to another, there is some quality loss.
If you have the HDTV and the HDMI cable connecting the TV with your cable box, you will see a noticeable difference when watching HD programming whether it comes from your cable company or from an on-demand streaming movie service like Netflix. Remember, the broadcast must be in high definition to see a noticeably better picture. I can’t tell you how many times new TV owners are disappointed in their picture. It’s not because of the TV, but because the broadcast itself is not in high definition.
Today, networks broadcast some of their shows in 720p or 1080i high definition. Note the p (progressive) vs. i (interlaced). TV enthusiasts arguably prefer 720p over 1080i, but for most of us there is no perceptible difference. As mentioned earlier, the best HDTVs support 1080p resolutions but in order to get a 1080p source you must have a Blu-ray Disc player and Blu-ray Disc media or a paid subscription service. Even many cable and satellite networks only broadcast their HD content in 720p or 1080i, not 1080p.
Additionally, 1080p is only noticeable on larger screen sizes, generally above the 50” range. Therefore smaller TVs do not warrant the extra expense and only a few manufacturers offer 1080p solutions below 42” and even 37” screen sizes.
If you have the HDTV, HDMI cable and add a Blu-ray player to watch a Blu-ray movie, you may notice a difference. You will have to be familiar with the scene and focus on the details. Recently, I watched a science fiction movie with the equipment I’ve just described. The walls of the spaceship were corrugated metal. If I had been watching a DVD, the walls would have looked textured, but not clearly corrugated. Would I have known the difference had it not been pointed out? Probably not. It’s back to those side-by-side comparisons, which rarely occur in the living room.
The same goes for on-demand movies. If broadcast in HD, they’ll just look better. Netflix offers some high definition titles on their Watch Instantly service, but the complaint I’ve heard is that you don’t know whether it’s true HD or not until you start the movie. Surprise!
You are far better off watching a Blu-ray source than streaming HD content from a paid service. With the hard copy, you’ll get surround sound, which is not available through Netflix and similar services, as well as eliminate the buffering delays, i.e. waiting and waiting for the movie to start. Not all Blu-ray players are created equal. Sony’s Playstation 3 continues to be one of the highest rated Blu-ray players, not to mention the ability to play incredibly detailed video games if you’re into that sort of thing.
So our best entertainment chain looks like this:
HDTV 1080p > HDMI cables > cable box/Blu-ray player > HD programming/Blu-ray media
And of course, don’t forget the sound system. Good speakers can make a tremendous impact on viewing experience. I’d go so far as to say adding a sound system, even a simple sound bar, will make a bigger impact than a step up in screen size, and it can be significantly less costly. We’ll save that for another article, however.
Should you have additional HDTV or high definition questions, feel free to speak to an expert hhgregg sales associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed.
