Shopping Guide for a Flat Panel TV

If your wondering how to buy a new flat panel TV, then read on for some helpful tips. There are two choices these days, LCD or Plasma? The best time to buy a new TV is really the week after the Super Bowl. If you can actually wait until that time you will find many more sales. The 50" Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020 is one of the top picks by experts according to Robert Heron at PCmag.com.

If you want to decide the size of TV that you would benefit from the most for your current room size, then start by using the following guide. In order to decide the best size for your current room you need to figure out how far away you will be sitting from the monitor. Five feet away equals a monitor between 28" and 39". Six feet away equals a monitor between 33" and 47" . Seven feet away equals a monitor between 38" and 55". Eight feet away equals one between 44" and 62". Nine feet away equals one between 47" and 70". Ten feet away equals a monitor between 55" and 78".

LCD or Plasma?

Both of these are always improving in technology. Plasmas have come along way and no longer are a threat to get images frozen on the screen. Fast action sports and video games are blurrier on LCD's more than plasmas. When it comes down to it, plasmas offer blacker blacks and whiter whites. This is especially noticeable on larger sets.

One advantage of the LCD is that they are less reflective and brighter. Plasmas are generally for rooms that can be darkened easily, for movie watching, football and fast sports. LCD's are generally for people who have a really bright room and leave the TV on for hours at a time and watch mainly directly in front of the set.

Resolution

The resolution that is suitable if you watch HD broadcasts and regular DVD's is 720. The resolution that is suitable if you watch Blu-Rays, have an HD video camera, you are video game obsessed and watch HD broadcasts without cable is 1080.

Shop for the best deal

Check out your nearest electronics stores, but you'll probably find the best deal online using Shopzilla, Nextag or the latest shopping price comparison tool like Amazon.com.

Get cables

You should use an HDMI cable because it displays the highest quality picture and you dont need the hundred dollar one. Once again shop around and search online and you will find them half the price of your local store.

Hopefully, these tips will get you started on the right track and make your next TV purchase as stress free as possible. This way you can spend less time shopping and searching. You'll spend more time enjoying your new flat panel TV that is the right fit for your current lifestyle.

Source:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330706,00.asp

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/tvs/tv-buying-advice/tv-getting-started/tv-getting-started.htm