1. Rear projection sets, where you could buy large diagonal 57" HDTV 1080 screens for a reasonable price compared to more expensive LCD sets are GONE along with Direct View sets (CRTs) and the earlier EDTVs in 2008 that had been used to playback DVDs at their best resolution at the time.
DLP HDTV sets are no longer sold by all retailers mirrors. . Also Plasma may not be sold in certain areas in 2010, environmental whackos are trying to stop the sale of them in the name of their religion global warming, complaining they use too much power.
2. Flat-screen HDTV
format television descriptions in circulars do not always mention if
they have built-in stereo amplifier or speakers. HDTV sets with
tuners will say HD-Built in, meaning an HD tuner is built into the set,
which will not require a converter box for receiving broadcasts from local television stations transmitting HDTV signals.
Please check with a salesperson if you are looking at any of the
flat-screen models mentioned on a sales floor. These sets also usually do not include a television stand or mounting bracket for
the flat-screen HDTV set.
3. All television sets have digital tuners, so you don't need to worry about buying a convertor box for all-digitial broadcast signals that took over analog in February 2009. The old workhorse NTSC that allowed us to have televisions signals beamed into the air is gone, replaced by higher resolution signals that allow 1080 resolution, developed by Zenith in the late 1990s.
4. Basic 5.1 Dolby
very low-wattage, separate, home stereo systems can start around $150
if you need to add audio to your wall-hanging HDTV set. But the less expensive ones are not built to handle those huge base signals coming from the new Blu Ray Disks.
Basic
HDTV stands can run $200 or more. Normally these don't have enough
space to hold all the components, probably requiring you to purchase
an additional vertical component stands to be placed near your
flat-screen HDTV set. If you need to mount the speakers on the
wall, you may have to also purchase a mounting bracket for each
speaker. Please check our chapter on accessories and wiring for more information
5. There are some new features for the more expensive 2008-2009 HD televisions, which explains why the price for these sets is dramatically higher than other models with the same screen size. For example, what I call the "Jack-Packs" on the rear of the more expensive sets has expanded to not only include the smaller high-definition input known as HDMI, but now manufacturers can offer up to two and three HDMI jacks for remote switching of high def video and Dolby audio source signals. Why? Because you want the best picture possible, and with more accessory products having an HDMI output, you'll need more on the set. For instance, your HD satellite and cable decoder will now have an HDMI output, as well as your Blu Ray (HD-DVD is now gone, too, in 2009.)
However, if you own an older HDTV set (like 2007), there are HDMI switch boxes out there that are remote controlled with up to four HDMI inputs. They allow you to send 1080 signals through your single HD-AVI (large) or smaller HDMI input jack from up to four HDTV sources; i.e. HD satellite channels, HD cable channels, TIVO, HD movie pay-on-demand downloadable boxes, and Blu Ray.)
Some LCD sets continue their 1080 compatibility. What? If you remember in the past, LCD technology had to be stepped down to 780 because it could not display the higher number of pixels needed for 1080. Some manufacturers have caught up with the newer LCD's for a true 1080 picture, but you may still pay more for these sets.
Some step-up features on HDTV sets include PC-capable displays, memory card slot for displaying digital-still pictures, and a picture-in-picture (PIP) feature for watching one program while monitoring the picture of another, such as in two sporting events, along with a few having three HDMI selectable inputs to allow more direct connections for multi HD sources.
Keep in mind when looking at HD televisions, if you come across "monitor," it mean that's all it is, a video monitor. There will probably be no audio amplifier, speakers, or an analog, digital, or HD tuner. Monitors are used mainly for monitoring a video signal in a studio control room or for computer displays for large images on a small footprint.
The newer Dolby 5.1 and 7.1 audio systems have come down in price. While home theater sound systems can start in the $200 - $300 range, high-end amplifiers with speakers sold separately can be expensive but will give you all the full range audio and bass your Blu Ray BD-DVDs are capable of, continuing to be updated as new firmware releases become available.
A better sound system will have a dynamic woofer that supplies its own power. That is because you can get just so much bass driven from the speaker outputs of a low-end amplifier.
Look into the system where the amplifier includes in-the-box five or seven matching speakers and a dynamic sub-woofer sold as a set, the best value for the buck. HOWEVER, be aware these are mass-merchant items and the receivers probably are not sold separately. THEREFORE, if something goes wrong with the receiver in the first 15 or 30 days of the retailer's return warranty, you cannot just return the receiver for repair. Instead, you will be required to rebox the entire system including all literature, collateral materials, and wiring. The other alternative would be to ship the amplifier to the manufacturer's service center and wait.
And unless you're going to pay around $500 or more for a Dolby receiver, don't expect excellent internal component or HDMI switching. Some of these high-end receivers will allow you to switch HDMI and component video signals along with the audio, eliminating one remote if you already own a separate HDMI remote-driven switcher. I have discovered, however, that the HDMI built-in switcher in a receiver could be designed to be extremely sensitive to HDMI coding rules. Is that important? You bet.
In my case the receiver's internal HDMI switcher would view a HDMI signal from a DirecTV HD box, while it refused to pass the signals from a Blu Ray and a discontinued HD-DVD player. Switching these three around, no matter which HDMI input port was used, only the satellite HD box would be allowed to pass the signal to the HDTV television. I was advised that the HDMI codes are strict to help prevent the recording of HD movies. Because of that these units could reject the incoming signal from lesser models, my being told the engineers were surprised a Blu Ray's HDMI signal had been block.
In my case, I simply went back to my HDMI remote-controlled external switcher. While I had almost sent the receiver back, further investigation told me that to rebox everything and ship it back to the dealer might be a waste of time with a new amp having the same results. That is because the unexpected problem was not a defective component but overzealous engineering.
Be also aware the world is changing for these receivers in other areas and you may have a high probability in the future of no longer being able to find FM / AM tuner with these models or a gasp . . . magnetic or ceramic vinyl turntable input!
Therefore, if you have an audio turntable for your vinyl record collection, you might have to invest in a magnetic cartridge amplifier for around 40 more bucks. If you have a turntable, buy one of these separate magnetic amplifier. That's because one day in the not to distant future you could find yourself no longer being able to find these little gems.
But t urntables can now be purchased with an USB output along with standard left and right stereo cables. This new breed of turntable is being sold along with software for direct connection to your computer for audio corrections that will assist in eliminating hiss and pops before they're burned to a CD in your computer. One new one is even built for 78 speeds, too, while others allow playing 78 records on 45rpm and then up-converting them to 78 speed using the software provided by the manufacturer. There is now even a laser turntable that will play broken records. Those owners can tell their wives, "Go ahead, throw it. I can still play it."
(Note: When you speak to someone about turntables today, the word now has a double meaning. Turntable is also used to describe computer laptops whose screens turn horizontally to allow others to see the screen without having to shift the position of the unit.)
I predict that the final step in the HDTV revolution will be viewing surfaces you can paste to your wall at home like old-style wallpaper, even going around corners. Place your bets on the amazing technologies that are just around the corner.
Finally, some new trends to look for in mid to late 2009:
- One inch thin footprint wireless Panasonic VIERA Z1 Plasma Series with 40,000-1 contrast ratio that streams downloaded movies (Viera Cast) from Amazon, launches in the 54" class of High-Def televisions. LG is also introducing its own LHX Wireless Series.
- Sharp's LCD LC 32-inch to 52-inch diagonal Aquos Series features a built-in High-def Blu-ray player shown on its new Superlucent ASV panel screen with ultra-smooth finish to minimize gloss while intensifying panel brightness and high contrast. The unit has a 176 degree viewing angle while a swivel allows for adjustment in any room.
- Sony's KDL-46Z5100 LCD HDTV is in the Bravia Internet Series for 2009 and features Internet Widgets based on Yahoo!'s Widget engine, offering your Sony on-screen applications for real-time information on weather, stocks, news, etc.
Note: I'm disappointed in the lack of selection of HDTV screens over 52." Owning a 57" Sony, I can't picture (pardon the pun) a smaller viewing screen in the home.
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KEY
1.) |
HDTV resolutions; 720 and 1080 |
2.) |
Screen
Size ( in inches measured diagonally) |
3.) |
Format by color:
Direct View (not advertised in selected retail brochures this year), LCD (LCD),
DLP (DLP),
and Plasma (Plasma) |
4.) |
Street
Price (This is not manufacturers suggested retail, called MSR) |
5.) |
Manufacturer (Corporate or third-party brand name) |
6.) |
Model
Number (As shown in the ad brochure.) |
(Prices for Best Buy (bb), Circuit City (cc), and Sears (sr) sets are for January 2009.. Walmart (wm) prices were taken in same time period from their Web site. These prices should hold into the fall of 2009, when new models hit the streets again,. These are usually introduced at the international CES show but usually not available for purchase until the fall. Like I said, this may be the last year this chart is needed.