Buying a new television can be overwhelming. With so many different choices on the market, how do you know which is best for you? Taking a few moments to review what is out there will ensure you choose the right TV for you. Having worked retail for many years, I have assisted countless people with their television purchases. Breaking down the choices is a lot easier than most people think.

First decision to make is the size. Televisions range from about 13 to 73 inches. Remember that bigger is not necessarily better. You do not want to feel like you are in the front row of a movie theater. Ask yourself how far back you will be watching the TV. For ideal viewing, manufactures recommend sitting back double the size of the TV. For example, watching a 46” TV is recommended to be 92” (about 8 feet) away. Of course, personal preference and budget will affect your decision. Once you decide on the size, the type of technology will fall into place. Certain types of televisions are only made in certain sizes. For instance, most plasmas are only made in 42”, 50”, 60” and up.

Okay, so you know the size of TV you want, now what type is best? LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display, is a popular choice. With a wide range of sizes, you are bound to find the perfect fit. Also, the bright displays deliver up to a 180 degree viewing angle. This ensures that the screen will not darken when viewed from the side. Another good thing about LCD is that the screen is non reflective. As opposed to plasmas, you will not be distracted by any reflections while watching TV. Many people run into this problem if they have a lot of windows in their room. Lastly, LCDs require no maintenance and use two to four times less energy than plasmas. No wonder why they are a popular choice.

Plasmas are a great choice if you have a dark room to view them because of their reflections. However, their vivid colors and true blacks provide a high quality picture. If you can limit the light in your room, I would recommend a plasma. In the past, plasmas have been cheaper than LCDs but that gap has narrowed. Both plasmas and LCDs are flat panels, meaning they are thin enough to mount on the wall. This is a great way to remove bulky furniture and provide a sleek modern look.

Another type of television is the rear-projection TV. These are the big boys. They range in size from around 56” to 73” depending on the manufacturer. They have great picture, for a great price. You can purchase a 56” screen size for about half the price of the same size LCD. Significantly heavier than flat panels, rear projections are not wall mountable. Some rear-projections require some maintenance. There is a bulb in the back of the TV that requires replacement every two to three years. This bulb can cost a couple hundred dollars, so keep that in mind when purchasing one. The LED rear-projections have LED lights inside that will last the life of the TV. These require no bulb replacements with the same picture quality.

Now that you know the size and type of television you want. There are just a few more things to know. HDTV’s come in 720p and 1080p resolutions. Go with 1080p, it will be the new standard soon enough. It will have more pixels on the screen providing a sharper picture. Next, be aware of the contrast ratio. Keep in mind that there is no standard for this measurement. Manufacturers measure each differently to boost their own numbers. It is measuring the blacks to whites, and a low contrast ratio is obvious. The blacks will look more like a gray, not a true black. Lastly, getting a 120 Hz television will provide significantly smoother motion and a better picture overall.

 Now that you are armed with the basic information, remember that with electronics you tend to get what you pay for. There is a reason for the $800 price difference within the same size TVs. But I always remind customers that why pay that much more if you can not see the difference yourself. Go with what looks good to you.