10 Tips for a Super Bowl-Worthy HDTV

You've got the beer, the chips, and the buffalo wings—now all you need is a jumbo HDTV for watching the Patriots and the Giants beat the tar out of each other. Here's a few tips for the TV showroom; try stitching 'em onto your wristband, just like your favorite quarterback would.

• Size matters: A 32-inch screen might be fine for the bedroom, but c'mon, folks—this is football, and the bigger the better. I'd go with at least a 42-inch set, although the gridiron looks even better once you're in the 50-inch range. The only problem is that you might be too distracted by the individual blades of grass and beads of sweat to, you know, actually follow the game.
• Go with 1080p: One of the questions I'm most frequently asked about HDTV is this: 1080p or 720p? The issue is getting to be moot when it comes to LCD sets—almost every new LCD flat-panel that's 40 inches or larger is going to be 1080p. The question gets a little thornier with plasma sets, which are generally cheaper than LCD TVs but still often come in 720p varieties. While the difference between 1080p and 720p is hard to detect in sets smaller than 40 inches, there's a good chance you'll notice a sharper picture on 1080p sets that are 42 inches and larger. Also, bear in mind that while the Super Bowl is on Fox this year, which transmits in 720p, skimping on resolution now will come back to haunt you come Super Bowl XLIII, which will be on 1080i network NBC.
• Bring your own DVD to the store: And I don't mean "North Dallas Forty"; instead, bring "Blade Runner," "Alien," or any other movie with lots of dark scenes. It's a great torture test for HD sets, especially LCD flat-panels, which are notoriously rotten at displaying deep, dark black levels. No, there won't be many dark, rainy scenes during the Super Bowl, but guess what begins on Monday? The off-season. All six months of it. 
• Check the viewing angle: Planning on having a bunch of buddies over for the game? Well, unless you plan on having them sit on each other's laps (not likely), at least some of your pals will have to sit off to the side—and that'll be a problem if your HDTV suffers from poor viewing angles. LCD TVs and (especially) rear-projection screens tend to look washed-out if you're watching at an angle greater than 45 degrees or so; plasma HDTVs, on the other hand, usually look great no matter where you sit. Anyway, before you decide on a set, try looking at the screen from different angles first.
• Check the connections: Most (if not all) 42-inch or larger HDTVs on sale now will have HDMI and component video inputs—the only mainstream HD-capable video connections (not counting DVI, which was common on older HDTVs)—but it never hurts to double-check. Also: don't be fooled by pricey video cables!
• Calibrate your set: Once you've fired up your new HDTV, you'll probably notice a series of pre-set viewing modes under the Picture menu, and they'll have names like "Standard," "Cinema", "Vivid," "Sports," and the like. Do yourself a favor and don't activate the "Sports" or "Vivid" settings for the game; you'll get a garishly-bright picture that'll turn the grass bright green and make all the players look sun-burnt. Instead, have your HDTV professionally calibrated; it'll cost about $200-$300, but considering you just spend a couple grand on your new set, it's worth going the extra mile for the best picture (visit ISF.com to find a local expert). You can also grab a calibration DVD like Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials ($25, or $35 for the HD version), which will help you tune your brightness, contrast, and color settings.
• Tune to the right station: It kills me when I see someone snap on their new HDTV and then switch to the standard-definition channel for, say, NBC or ESPN. It's a common mistake for HD newbies, and one you don't want to make on Super Bowl Sunday. For example, here in Brooklyn, I get the SD version of Fox on channel 5—but the high-def version is all the way down the dial on 705. Check your local listings and make sure you have the HD version of Fox in your favorites. (Of course, I'm assuming you already have an HD set-top box and a high-def signal; click here for more on this.)
• Crank up the surround sound: Fox HD will have the big game in 720p and in Dolby Digital—and you'll want your pals to marvel at your 5.1-channel surround soundscape, right? If you have a Dolby Digital-capable receiver, you should be all set; just make sure your HD set-top box is connected to your receiver via the coaxial or Toslink digital audio connections, and made sure your cable/satellite/over-the-air tuner is set to deliver Dolby Digital (as opposed to analog stereo) sound. (Click here for more details on making the right connections.)
• Get the best seat in the house: Got a 50-inch HDTV for the game? Great—now don't ruin your viewing experience (not to mention your eyesight) by sitting too close (and you'll lose sight of all that glorious resolution if you're too far away). According to CNET, if you have a 50-inch set, your guests should sit anywhere between 6.3 and 12.5 feet from the screen. Check out CNET's complete viewing distance chart for more details.
• Consider a universal remote: When Tom Brady throws that devastating pick in the fourth quarter (hey, it might happen), you'll want to be able to hit pause, jump back a few seconds and crank up the volume to relive the humiliation—but you don't want to be grabbing for three remotes at the same time. Instead, consider investing in a universal remote that'll take charge of your HDTV and all your A/V components. I'm partial to the Harmony 880 (expensive, but worth it), and the updated Harmony One should be available soon (although not before the game, unfortunately).