LCD Flat Panel TV – Selecting the Right Model

Outstanding picture quality is becoming even more affordable, mainly due advances in technology over the last few years. If you’re like most people, your LCD TV will be the entertainment equipment that gets used most often, so it makes sense to select the right LCD flat panel TV for you and your family.

There are a few major factors that you’ll need to consider as you choose the LCD flat panel TV to meet all your viewing needs. Let’s look at each.

Determine the Screen Size
The screen size of your LCD flat panel TV is probably the most important consideration. If it’s too small, you won’t get the full effect of the programs and movies you watch – if it’s too large, it can overwhelm a small room and make viewing uncomfortable. (A good way to tell if you're sitting too close to the screen is if you find you’re distracted by the small “dots” (pixels) that make up the image – if you can easily see them, you’re sitting too close.

Here’s a handy guide for how far away you should sit from various sizes of LCD flat panel TVs:

Size of LCD TV screen Optimum Viewing Distance
30 inches 6.5 feet
35 inches 7.5 feet
40 inches 8.5 feet
45 inches 9.5 feet
50 inches 10.5 feet
55 inches 11.5 feet
60 inches 12.5 feet
65 inches 14 feet

Determine the Screen Resolution
High definition is the way to go if you want the best LCD flat panel TV viewing possible. The picture quality can be stunning, especially on a large, wide-screen TV. HD is a digital-TV format that can offer almost-lifelike clarity, because HD images contain more and finer detail than other formats. In technical terms, they have higher resolution, or more picture elements making up each image.

Standard definition, the type of TV we've watched for years, has much less detail. These are analog signals with resolution of 480i (480 lines drawn onscreen in an interlaced pattern), the format in which TV content is delivered over regular analog broadcasts and basic (non-digital) cable. On the best TVs, the picture quality can be very good or even excellent--but it doesn't compare to the best that HD can offer. Most standard-definition TVs now on the market are picture-tube sets, but some LCD flat panel TVs in standard-definition are also still available.

Enhanced definition falls in between standard and high definition. ED signals are digital, with resolution of 480p (480 lines scanned progressively). This is equivalent to DVD quality, which is a little better than standard definition but not as good as high definition.
What’s your best bet? If you can, choose an LCD flat panel TV with HDTV capability.

Determine the Connections You Need
Which video components do you have now, or plan to add in the future? At the very least you'll probably want to be able to connect your antenna or cable box, plus a DVD player and VCR. Other possibilities include a satellite TV receiver, video game system, or TiVo hard disk recorder. And if you use a camcorder, you'll definitely want a set of front-panel A/V inputs on your new TV. Here’s a guide to different types of video input and the connections your LCD flat panel TV will need to have to support them:

Video Input Connection Type Used for
Coaxial (RF) threaded F-type antenna, cable TV, VCR
Composite video single RCA VHS VCR, DBS, DVD, VHS and 8mm camcorders, video gamea

S-video 4-pin DIN-type Super VHS VCR, DVD, MiniDV, and Hi8 camcorders
Component video RCA x 3 DVD, HDTV tuner
DVI multi-pin HDTV tuner, computer, DVD
HDMI multi-pin HDTV tuner, DVD, HD DVR

Take a look at the list and see what you currently need, what you think you might need, and then shop for your LCD flat panel TV accordingly. If you’re in doubt, choose a model that has more connectivity options than you think you’ll need – that way your LCD flat panel TV won’t become partially obsolete as you add other home entertainment gear.

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