High definition televisions are the future of America. Starting February 17, 2009, any non-high definition television that are not hooked up to cable or satellite will no longer work. All public television broadcasts will switch to digital instead of the old analog system. I am going to explain the basics of high definition televisions and their accessories through this guide.
The first thing you should figure out is whether you want a LCD or Plasma high definition television. Plasma televisions boast better quality, but the screen will get damaged by sun light. This option is really only useful if you have a very dark room, preferably a home theater. But if you want to watch your high definition television in a room with windows then LCD is definitely your choice. The quality is still very nice and the screen is very durable. The price will be about the same, whether it’s a plasma or LCD.
The next thing you should decide is how much money your willing to invest in a high definition television. I’ve always heard that, “you get what you pay for”, and the old saying is still very applicable for your new television. If you have a tight budget, then a 32″ Visio would satisfy for just about $500 or so. If you want your television to last over the years then you should buy a HDTV for about $650; Sony and Phillips are good choices.
Lastly, if you want to show off your dazzling display, then a luxurious Aqua from Sharp would run at around $1,000. Once you’ve purchased your television, you’ll want to look at accessories. The most common accessory is a HDTV wall mount. These run at all sort of prices, but if you want a reliable mount then invest in one that is at least $150 or so. Now that we have entered the digital age, the cables have even changed. Instead of the old RCA red, white, and yellow cables, the latest technology runs with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface).
The new HDMI cables have single ends and they merged high quality video with high quality sound. Some people choose to buy component video cables and optical sound cables separately. The component cables are high definition, but have three ends (red, green, and blue) dedicated to picture. The optical sound comes in either a single cable with orange tips or fiber-optical ends.
With the coming of the digital age, VHS and DVD’s are now history. Blue Ray players offer unparalleled picture and crystal clear surround sound. Video game consoles, like the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, also take advantage of the new HDMI technology to deliver the best resolutions you have ever seen.
To recap, first you should decide whether you want a plasma or LCD television. Plasma’s have better displays, but can be damaged by sunlight so you should choose a LCD if you don’t have a home theater room. Next you learned that the more money you invest into your television, the longer it will last. After looking at accessories you found out that reliable wall mounts will be at least $150. We also touched on the different choices with the new cables for high definition audio and video.
Many high definition television consumers are choosing Blue Ray and the latest video game systems to compliment their HDTV’s quality. With the switch to digital on February 17, 2009, more people are looking at high definition televisions. Hopefully this guide has covered any questions you had before researching about high definition televisions.
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