Buyers' guide: Big screen TVs

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DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Finding the right big-screen TV for you can be tricky, so here are some handy tips.

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Choosing the television that's right for you can be as bewildering as trying to fathom the programming strategies of TV networks.

Is bigger better? Do you want YouTube on your new tube? Do you risk spending thousands of dollars now only for the same model to be hundreds of dollars cheaper in a few months?

What about plasma v LCD v LED? Is 3D a must-have?

The good news for the budget conscious is big-screen TVs have never been more affordable, thanks to the continuing high dollar, the economies of scale of mass-produced technology, and intense retail competition (you can now buy a quality 42-inch plasma TV for below $1000 and Samsung's just launched a 50-inch 3D plasma and Blu-ray player deal for $3200).

But generally the more you pay, the better value you get.

So, if you can afford it, aim higher than the bargain buy for an obscure brand that may look as flat and shiny as its rivals but chances are will be using technology that's several generations old.

It's better to pay a few hundred dollars more for entry-level models from the likes of Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, who are narrowing the gap between their pricing and that of second or third-tier brands.

Consider what you want to watch on your new TV. Will it be predominantly sport? Movies? DVDs? Video games? Blu-rays? Analogue TV received over an aerial? Digital TV from a Sky or Freeview decoder? Or high definition (HD) TV via MySky HDi, TiVo or the FreeviewHD tuners and personal video recorders (PVRs)?

Your source will have more of a bearing on the size of the display you need than the screen resolution - virtually everything is 720p (HD Ready) or 1080p (Full HD), anyway.

If you intend largely to watch DVDs and standard-definition (SD) broadcasts, stick to 42 inches or smaller: SD flaws will be less noticeable and the HD-capability of the screens still will allow you to upgrade to Blu-rays and HD broadcasts.

As with PCs, higher prices in the TV market are driven by processing power and features, with many top-end models now sporting USB connections for multimedia files and Ethernet inputs for watching internet TV, YouTube or simply to bypass having to transfer internet video from the PC to the TV.

The latest models from Panasonic and Samsung even let you record FreeviewHD broadcasts directly to a portable hard drive, although they're far less functional than a typical PVR.

Don't sweat if these extras are not on the models in your price range, as they're becoming common on Blu-ray players and home theatre systems that will plug into one of the TV's HDMI inputs should you later regret not buying this functionality built-in.

More important is ensuring your new TV has ample HDMI connections. The cheaper models will have three at the most, whereas four is the norm at the top end. And even that's barely enough if you want to simultaneously connect a Blu-ray or DVD player, a MySky HDi or TiVo, a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, a FreeviewHD PVR, and an Apple TV or similar home media device.

But arguably the most important consideration is choosing between plasma and LCD or its LED variant.

The advantage of a plasma display is it can be viewed from a wide angle without picture deterioration, a problem not even the best LCD/LED TVs can overcome.

Plasma has traditionally offered more fluid motion and, in this writer's eyes, a more immersive image, one that looks natural rather than synthetic.

However, LCD/LED technology has started to catch up, while delivering a brighter, sharper image that daylight or room lighting doesn't dim.

An LCD TV with LED lighting will cost more but delivers a superior image and enables ultra- slim displays, although plasma manufacturers have come out with slender designs, too, most notably Samsung's 2010 range.

Rule of thumb: Plasma for heavy viewers of sport and movies, LCD/LED for daily TV use.

Whether you want 3D capability will depend if you think it's a fad or the future. You'll pay premium for Panasonic's first 3D plasma TV, the $5000 TH- P50VT20Z, but it's the best on the market.

Samsung offers a wider, more affordable range of 3D plasma and LCD-LED models that's also more versatile: They will convert 2D footage to 3D, which is handy in a country where 3D broadcasting seems as far away as the days of black-and- white television.

* Philip Wakefield covers high- definition TV at screenscribe.tv

- © Fairfax NZ News