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	TV Buying Guide
	Introduction
	1. The HDTV revolution
	2. Which TV technology is right for me
	3. Choosing the right screen size
	4. What features should I consider
	5. TV selection tools
	6. Putting it all together
	7. Your consumer rights

 

Time to buy

Having done all of the research and perhaps created a short list of TVs, you are ready to visit your local electrical retailer

At this point we would like to restate what we think is perhaps the most important point to bear in mind - picture quality. Impressively high figures for contrast ratios and resolution should be taken with a pinch of salt. Trust your intuition and make up your own mind.

When you are in the showroom, there are a number of TV performance aspects you will want to look out for.

What to look out for

Standard Definition and High Definition performance: Despite the HDTV revolution, most of us are still watching a lot of SD material. Virtually every TV will look impressive with high definition images. Get the salesperson to show you standard definition images on your chosen TV.

On screen action: Make sure that you watch a variety of on screen material. Something like a football match will quickly reveal weaknesses such as smearing or picture judder

Smearing: Smearing or blurring presents itself as a ghost-like effect where a fading image seems to remain on screen for  fraction of a second.

Picture Judder: . Picture Judder is apparent when pictures fail to move smoothly across the screen. Don't accept that an increased refresh rate (100Hz, 200Hz etc) means no judder. Look at fast action sequences and make your own conclusions.

Colour:. Look for vivid colours which blend seamlessly across the whole of the screen. Over saturation is often a problem where colours appear too 'garish' with little subtlety in terms of colour blending.

Contrast: Look for detail in all levels of picture brightness. The more accomplished flat screen TVS will pick up detail even in the darkest of scenes.

A word of caution

Some of the larger electrical retailers have not developed the best of reputations when it comes to consumer advice. Of course, there are good and bad salespeople, but make up your own mind and don't be swayed.

Take along a DVD of some fast sporting action and a dark brooding film. Any retailer worth their salt will go out of their way to accommodate you.