HDMI is the connection of choice for home theater gear. This connection delivers both high quality digital video and multi-channel audio over a single cable, eliminating the spaghetti of wires previously required between home theater components.
For future connectivity, consider sets with at least 3 HDMI inputs and preferably 4 or more. Some sources will not output high definition unless connected to an HDMI input due to copy protection concerns. If your source has an HDMI output use it. If not, connect using component video which is the next best input type. Composite and S-Video connections are not high-definition.
Take the manufacturer specs you read with a grain of salt. Since there are no standardized means of rating such things as contrast ratios, brightness, etc… manufacturers tend to use methods that exaggerate what can be achieved under normal viewing circumstances.
One of the biggest frustrations in buying a TV is trying to evaluate it in a store. The typical big-box electronics store confronts the consumer with a wall full of TVs. This tend to be a poor environment to evaluate a television's picture. Not only are many of the sets not at eye level, but in most cases the picture isn't optimized for true viewing but is instead setup to stand out under the less than ideal viewing conditions of the showroom floor. Most TVs are set too bright and the color over saturated in order to stand out on the showroom floor. Some stores have even been known to change the picture adjustments on various sets to make the ones they want to move that particular week look better than others.
Another problem with in-store evaluation is the quality of signal each television is receiving may not be equal. In many cases, the store is using multiple splitters and less than ideal connections, degrading the quality of the signal each TV receives and it's ability to display the best picture possible.
The best deals on TVs are generally found with the major internet retailers such as Amazon, 6th Avenue Electronics, BuyDig, Butterfly Photo, Abe's of Maine, etc... While some of these operators, such as Amazon, were born of the internet era, many have been around for decades as mail-order operators before the internet revolutionized their business.
Many of these web retailers have very high customer satisfaction ratings, in many cases, higher than your local big-box retailer. By sticking to these larger operators, you can be assured of a smooth transaction and resolution of any problems that may crop up.
Many times these web retailers offer special deals or coupons that expire within a short time frame or sell-out quickly. By monitoring a deal site such as Audio/Video Bargains and following their tweets on Twitter or RSS feed, you can be assured of being alerted to any deals that become available and taking advantage of them before they sell out or expire.
If you're not comfortable purchasing your new HDTV from an online retailer, you may still be able to use them to your advantage. The world of selling televisions is a very competitive one in which you may be able to play a web retailer off against your local bricks and mortar dealer. If you find a cheaper price online from an authorized dealer, you may be able to persuade a local retailer or one of the big-box chains to match the price (usually including any shipping charges).
One benefit offered by most of the major chains is a price guarantee of up to 60 days on HDTVs. If you discover a cheaper price at a local competitor within this time period (which is a real possibility at the current pace TV prices drop) you will receive a refund of the difference.
Expect to be pressured into buying an extended warranty. These usually cost $200 to $400 or more depending on their length of coverage and are a valuable profit source for the retailer. Keep in mind that most of these warranties run concurrently with the manufacturers standard warranty, so a 3 year extended warranty in effect only provides two more years of coverage over and above the manufacturer's typical one year warranty.
So should you buy an extended warranty? With flat panels TVs (LCD and plasma) these extended warranties usually do not make sense. These televisions are generally quite reliable and the average repair cost is usually less than the up-front cost of an extended warranty. Typically if there is a problem with a set it will crop-up very early on and be covered by the initial manufacturer's warranty.
If you are one of those people that just has to have the comfort of an extended warranty, you may be able to save a few bucks by bargaining for a lower price. These warranties carry high profit margins and the retailer my be willing to accept a smaller profit.
Next: What About 3D TV - Should I Wait?
