When purchasing an HDTV, the single most important thing to check first is the number of HD-quality inputs.

Most people think they just want to “watch TV”, but then there’s always the DVD player, the video game unit, and maybe even a DVD recorder. Each one of these extra items will require an additional input, and you’ll prefer they’re all in HD. I’ve sent myself back to the TV to rewire the “extra device” enough to know this is a fact.

When you play a DVD on an analog set, all you have to do is change the channel to 3 or 4. That feature doesn’t exist with an HDTV. If you have an HDTV, you’ll want to see DVDs in HD format (using a Blu-Ray or up-converted-DVD feed.)

Think For The Future

For people that have lived in an old house that didn't have enough electrical sockets, they understand this mindset. You just never know what you'll need in the future. (DVD Recorder, Cable Box With DVR, True Antennae feed, DVD Hard Drive Storage, Home Theatre Inputs, Fancy 3-D Equipment, you just simply don't know.)

One way to become confused with the number of inputs is (ironically) from the 'technical specifications'. When you read the specifications you may see “1 Component Input and 2 USB Inputs" - so you naturally think that equals three inputs, but this is not always the case. Several sets have a combined “Input 1”. This input can be either a component cable (RGB) or an HDMI, but both can’t be set up for "Input 1" at the same time.

If your set offers DVI to be an input, this is an older HDTV set and finding DVI equipment is probably not worth the hassle.

HDMI or Component Cables

Component Cable is the cable that delivers the video in three wires; red, green, and blue. Component Cable and the DVI cable also require two additional wires for audio. HDMI delivers both the video and the audio in a better quality than component or DVI. Most up-converting DVD players and game consoles deliver a HDMI feeds, so counting the number of HDMI might give you everything you want.

Check The Remote for Other Input-Changing Limitations

Ideally your remote has the ability to toggle through all the inputs at the click of a button. My first HDTV (Hitachi 50L500A) had buttons for Input 1, Input 2, Input 3, Input 4, and Input 5. This wasn’t recognized as a problem until I tried to find a universal remote that would let me switch inputs easily, and I never found one.

I know that almost every HDTV out there claims to have universal remote capabilities, but if some technology change can make your manufacturer’s remote obsolete. My downfall was the creation of the DVD Recorder, when the remote didn’t have a “record” button -or- DVD recorder univeral codes, and many still don't.

...Ready for more? Check out The Downside of buying a Blu-Ray Player.