Every HDTV on the market lists a bunch of features. Some of these features are important, others are just bells and whistles that don't make a real difference. (But if you think any certain feature is very important for you, then by all means make that a part of your buying decision! Feature importance is a very subjective area.)
Here are the features that you definitely want to pay attention to:
- Picture adjustments: All HDTVs give you some degree of control over the picture settings. Look for HDTVs that let you
• Set the picture quality differently for each input on the back of the TV - so you can adjust the picture individually for the HDTV tuner, the DVD player, and so on.
• Save multiple different picture settings in memory (like one for day time and one for night).
- Comb filter: The comb filter is an internal circuit in your TV that separates out the brightness and color information in an NTSC signal before that information gets displayed on your screen. Look for an HDTV with a 3D or (even better) a digital (also called 3D Y/C) comb filter.
- Front-panel inputs: Do you have a camcorder (a MiniDV model, not an HDTV camcorder) or a game console that the kids are always carrying around the house? You may want some front-panel inputs to connect these devices to so you don't have to climb behind the TV every time you want to plug or unplug the device in question.
- Built-in speakers: You may want to connect your HDTV system to a full-up, external surround-sound audio system - but who doesn't want a low-impact, easy-to-use system? When you want to just watch the news or turn on that TiVo recording of Sesame Street for the kids, you may want to simply use the speakers built into your HDTV. Some HDTVs (mainly plasmas and LCD flat-panels) don't come with speakers - you have to fire up the full surround-sound system for everything you watch.
- Surround-sound decoder: Although you need six or more speakers and related amplification systems to get true surround sound, you can get improved sound quality from the sound system built into your HDTV if that system includes a simulated surround-sound decoder, which can create a richer sound from your HDTV's speakers.
You may also want to think about the services you get when you buy your HDTV. Think about looking into whether the store or company you buy your HDTV from offers these two services:
- Delivery services: A lot of places (both online and local brick-and-mortar stores) offer "white glove" delivery services. Someone delivers that huge big-screen TV that you couldn't fit in the back of your Mini, and they don't just drop it off on the front stoop and boogie on out of there. Instead, they deliver the unit to the room that you want it in, get it out of the box, and even take all the packaging materials with them (no doubt, to be promptly recycled!).
- Warranty: Check out the warranty that comes with your HDTV closely - this TV is a major investment, after all. And consider an extended warranty if you don't think it's too expensive. With some types of HDTVs (such as DLP and LCD projection systems), you may pay back the warranty when your bulb needs replacement after a few years of heavy usage.
