| Is now the time to buy HDTV? |
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Types of digital TVs
There's a bewildering variety of TVs on the market today, and it
seems to require a doctoral degree in electronics to figure out
which is which.
"When a TV is referred to as being 'HD' it
means it has high enough resolution to take advantage of high-definition
signals that are broadcast over the air or through cable or satellite,"
says Mike Wood, author of "Secrets of Home Theater" and
editor of Curtco's Digital TV & Sound magazine.
"Technically, a high-definition-compatible
TV must have a vertical resolution of 720 pixels or higher,"
he says. "Flat-panel TVs can or cannot be HD, depending on
their resolution," says Wood.
Some TVs are HD-ready, but don't contain a high-definition
tuner or have less resolution and are known as digital ready or
extended definition TV, he says.
The crisper the resolution and the sharper the audio,
the more you'll pay, says Randy Baumberger, president and COO of
Ultimate
Electronics, a specialty electronics retailing chain. "Basically, enhanced definition, also known
as EDTV, is the least expensive way to go. It's better than regular
TV, but less exciting than true HDTV. Standard high definition is
in between ED and HDTV. With HDTV, you'll get great definition."
How much better?
If you've never watched TV on a HDTV, it may be hard to understand
what the big deal is. "The main two advantages of HDTV are
improved picture and sound," Wood says. "It's not a subtle
improvement, either. In terms of the sound, you can get the same
six channels, digital surround soundtrack that you get on a DVD
or in the movie theater. Add a surround sound decoding device or
amplifier -- if you don't already have one -- and watching TV turns
into a theatrical experience at home."
Baumberger agrees, saying, "If you've seen one
football game in high definition, you'll bitch and moan about having
to go back to see it on a regular TV, which seems like the lens
has Vaseline smeared on it. It's just mind-blowing, especially if
the cameras broadcasting the game are digital as well as the TV
and the signal."
Consumer
Reports describes the differences this way: "The picture
quality is almost photolike and can be stunning, especially on a
large wide-screen set. HD signals are capable of containing more
and finer detail than standard-definition TV signals. That's because
HD images have higher resolution, meaning there are more elements
making up the picture, creating finer detail."
Costs
While costs are falling, these TVs are by no means cheap compared
with more traditional kinds of TVs. Still, experts estimate that
you can get the smallest LCD TV available -- 13 inches -- for as
low as $200, while the largest units -- from 46-inch to 63-inch
TVs -- retail for anywhere from $1,500 to an eye-popping $15,000,
with prices declining steadily.
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