2 Minute TV Buying Overview
No time? All set to purchase your new TV? Spend the next 2 minutes ensuring you have the basics.
When looking for a TV don't get bamboozled by jargon or sales-speak. Don't fall for the added extras that only add cost and very little else. Many TV outlets make very little if any margin on TV sales but make their profit off overly expensive extras, like cables, surge protectors, delivery and super extended warranty.
Before heading for the store ensure you have the following details:
- What type of TV are you looking for based on space available, sunlight and the type of TV you watch.
- What size TV is right for the room where you are going to put it.
- Determine what you are going to plug your TV into or what you are going to plug into your TV (amplifier, set-top box, game console, etc) and determine the type of cables you are going to need or the type of connections you want your new TV to have.
- Bring a DVD with you to watch on the TV - preferably one with high picture quality like Finding Nemo or Star Wars Episode 3 (the opening space battle is a good test of picture colour & blacks, movement, and flesh tones).
- Have an idea of what you want to spend - at least go in with a price range - as once you are in the store it will be easy to get carried away.
Once you are in the store:
- Look at the type of TV's in the approximate size you have determined is the best.
- Look at the specifications of the TV - you can not rely on the picture quality you see in front of you as many TV stores skimp on the connection being used on their display models, with multiple TV's sharing one aerial connection or using composite cables, degrading the picture quality.
- Ask the Salesperson to play the DVD you brought in on the TV's that look promising. Again this will give you an idea of the picture quality but without the right cables you could potentially do better.
- Once you find a TV that looks right from a size, picture quality, specification and price - negotiate with the Salesperson on price. Very few stores will not negotiate and if they don't it is probably worth taking down the make and model of the TV you like and shopping around for the best deal.
- Other things to keep in mind are how are you going to get the TV home, what cables you are going to need (remember the Salesperson will try and sell you $100 cables - this quality of cable is usually not necessary so ask if they stock any that are cheaper), how long is the warranty for and do you require a stand or wall mount.
Get the right size TV for your room
| Diagonal Screen Size |
Viewing Distance From Screen |
|---|---|
| 36 cm (14 inches) | 72 cm |
| 51 cm (20 inches) | 102 cm |
| 68 cm (27 inches) | 136 cm |
| 80 cm (32 inches) | 160 cm |
| 93 cm (37 inches) | 186 cm |
| 106 cm (42 inches) | 318 cm |
| 119 cm (47 inches) | 357 cm |
| 140 cm (55 inches) | 420 cm |
Decide where you want to put your TV, then measure the distance between where you want to put your TV and the couch. The bigger the TV the more distance that is required between the couch and the TV. Remember, that if you are thinking about a regular CRT or rear projection TV the bigger they get, the deeper they get, so keep this in mind when estimating the distance.
Once you have an idea of the TV size you want remember to measure the existing TV stand, cabinet or wall space to ensure it is big enough to hold your new TV. Is there enough room for the TV cables to be plugged in behind the TV, and is there enough room behind the TV for ventilation?
What picture quality do you need?
When you're in the store you will generally see the TV's advertised as falling into one of three different categories:
- Standard definition
- HD Ready (High Definition Ready)
- High Definition
The type of content you watch is a good guide for the level of picture quality you really need. For instance, DVD's are recorded in standard definition, and a High Definition TV isn't going to look much better compared to a Standard Definition TV. Also, the inputs used to connect your TV to the source play a big role in the picture quality you see on the screen. Digital TV through a low quality TV can still look better than a bad antenna connection through a HDTV. So, it is important to use the best input type your TV has if you want to improve the picture quality. For more information about TV inputs and their effect on picture quality see here.
See table below for some advice on the necessary features of a TV for the type of TV you watch:
| Type of TV you watch | Necessary Features |
|---|---|
| Free To Air Standard TV |
|
| Free To Air Digital TV |
|
| DVD's |
|
| Cable - Standard TV |
|
| Cable - Digital TV |
|
| Videos |
|
| Blu-ray or HD-DVD |
High definition television (HDTV) is generally a TV with a resolution of 720p, 1080i or 1080p as well as any fixed pixel resolution in between. The majority of new TV's out on the market are HD Ready which means they can accept a high definition signal but downscale it to the resolution the TV can display. To view high definition broadcasts you will also require a high definition tuner or a high definition set-top box. To make the most of your HDTV you will need to use HD-DVDs or Blu-ray discs (rather than traditional DVD's).
Specifications
Below is a guide to the important specifications based on TV type:
| Specification | Plasma | LCD | Rear Projection | CRT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1024x768 or greater (4:3) 1280x720 or greater (widescreen) |
1024x768 or greater (4:3) 1280x720 or greater (widescreen) |
1024x768 or greater (4:3) 1280x720 or greater (widescreen) |
720 lines or greater |
| Brightness | 800cd/m2 or greater | 500cd/m2 or greater | 200cd/m2 or greater | N/A |
| Contrast Ratio | 15,000:1 or greater | 10,000:1 or greater | 800:1 or greater | N/A |
| Refresh Rate | N/A | 8ms or less | 8ms or less | N/A |
| Inputs | HDMI, DVI, or Component | HDMI, DVI, or Component | HDMI, DVI, or Component | Component |
| Progressive Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Know what you are willing to spend
Set a budget for yourself and have an idea of what that can buy you before walking into a store. We have provided a guide (see below) to the best types of TV for your budget. Remember, prices change all the time and specials or bargaining with a salesperson can make a big difference to what you may see here. The point to remember, is that you generally get what you pay for. That bargain priced TV you see may be cheaper because it's based on older or inferior technology or have a lower resolution.
| Approximate Price ($AUD) |
What you can get |
|---|---|
| Under $250 |
|
| $250 - $500 |
|
| $500 - $1000 |
|
| $1000 - $1500 |
|
| $1500 - $2000 |
|
| $2000 - $3000 |
|
| $3000 - $4000 |
|
| Over $4000 |
|