- In this report
- Overview
- Requirements for HD
- Types
- How to get a great deal
- Extended warranties
- Reliability
ELECTRONICS FORUMS  Get real-world advice from others about choosing a new TV, digital camera, computer or cell phone. |
December 2006
HD for the holidays
It’s shaping up to be a high-definition holiday season. Sales of HDTVs are expected to climb by about 30 percent over last
year. By the time the final whistle blows at Super Bowl XLI in February, about one in five U.S. households will own at least
one high-definition television set.
If an HDTV is on your gift list--for yourself or for someone near and dear--you’ll be happy to hear the good news:
This special TV section should ease your mind. Our Q&A can help resolve the issues that make buying an HDTV a sweaty-palm decision. If you're a ConsumerReports.org subscriber, you can then read how display technologies stack up (See Types) and compare specific sets in our detailed Ratings of 120 HDTVs, the most we’ve ever tested.
When you’re ready to shop, subscribers can check our tips on driving a good deal (See How to Get a Great Deal) in what’s becoming a buyer’s market, along with our exclusive information on reliability, extended warranties and how almost 20,000 buyers rate electronics retailers (See Electronics: Best places to buy).
Let’s start by answering questions that may be nagging you as you consider going HD, either for the holidays or later.
Aren’t HDTVs overpriced?
That depends on your perspective. An HDTV will undoubtedly cost you much more than the tube TV you bought 5 or 10 years ago, but it offers a lot more too. The best HD sets can deliver the finest viewing experience outside a movie theater.
Even though HDTV prices are comparatively high, they’re about half what they were two years ago. Over the past year alone, the average price of a 37-inch LCD set fell from about $2,350 to $1,360, according to DisplaySearch, an Austin, Texas-based market research firm. The average price of a 42-inch plasma TV fell from $2,610 to $1,880.
Don’t expect such steep price cuts in the months ahead, though. The biggest drops have already occurred for the best-selling TV types. Prices of 37-inch LCD TVs and 42-inch plasmas could fall a few hundred dollars more in the year ahead--a tidy sum, but modest compared with the four-figure dips of recent years.
If you decide to buy an HDTV now, accept the fact that prices may continue to inch down, but take comfort in knowing that you paid less than you would have months earlier. If you’re still unsure about HD, wait. Don’t feel pressured to keep up with earlier adopters raving about high definition. Buy an HDTV only when the price reaches a point you deem reasonable, even if that means waiting a year.
If HDTVs are still getting better, isn’t that reason to wait?
Probably not. While the technologies used in most HDTVs are still evolving, they’re already very good. Our latest tests turned up outstanding LCD and plasma TVs and rear-projection microdisplays. (See our FREE report: Rear-Projection HDTVs: More Screen, Less Green) In fact, some sets in this month’s Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) are among the highest-scoring we’ve ever seen.
That wasn’t the case for picture-tube sets, long the standard for top picture quality. Although CRT technology is mature, many picture-tube HDTVs didn’t perform well in our most recent tests, perhaps because they’re increasingly positioned as basic TVs.
We think you’ll be satisfied with the performance of the better-rated LCD, plasma, and projection HDTVs. We were less impressed with most of the picture-tube HDTVs. However, the standard-definition tube sets--which have digital tuners but don’t display HD--are a good, low-cost choice if you want a new TV now and can live without HD for a while longer.
What about 1080p? Should I hold off until that costs less?
Not necessarily. Without delving too deeply into the technology, here’s what you need to know.
A new breed of HDTVs with a resolution of 1080p can display more and finer detail than other HDTVs, which are sometimes called 720p sets. At this point, most 1080p sets are LCD flat panels or rear-projection microdisplays. They cost more than similar models with a 720p resolution.
But resolution alone doesn’t determine picture quality. Black level, brightness, and color accuracy are also important. A 720p set that does everything right can have excellent picture quality, but an equally adept 1080p set has the potential to be even better. However, from a normal viewing distance, the best 1080p set won’t look dramatically better than the best 720p TV. The difference is most obvious on screens 50 inches and larger and in close viewing.
All things considered, we believe many consumers should be satisfied with a good 720p display. But if you want state-of-the-art technology now, and potentially the best HD picture quality, consider one of the 1080p TVs we recommend. If you’re willing to wait a while, you could get a better buy on a 1080p set later--especially a plasma TV. DisplaySearch predicts that the average price of a 50-inch 1080p plasma TV will drop from about $5,400 this December to $3,100 by late next year.
Are these new TVs reliable?
We don’t yet have long-term reliability data for the newer TV technologies, but the survey information we’ve collected so far shows that LCD and plasma TVs have been as reliable as picture-tube sets during the first year or two of use. Microdisplay TVs have been more of a mixed bag. See How to get a great deal, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.
I’ve heard there isn’t enough HD content. Is that true?
Not anymore. There’s much more high-definition programming to watch now than there was in the early days. (An HD addict will say there can never be enough, though. Once you’re accustomed to HD, standard-definition just doesn’t cut it.)
Most prime-time programs on the major broadcast networks--ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox--are simulcast in HD, as are many sports events; early-morning and late-night talk shows such as “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “Late Show with David Letterman”; some local news broadcasts; and game shows such as “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Daytime broadcast fare is mostly standard-definition, but not all. “The Young and the Restless” soap opera, for example, is now available in HD.
High-def offerings on the cable and satellite channels are growing but are still relatively limited and vary by service provider. A cable or satellite HD package often includes Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, inHD, HDNet, TNT in HD, and Universal HD, among others. Most premium networks, such as Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, and Starz, have an HD channel as well.
Do you have to be an engineer to set up an HDTV?
Many HD sets are no harder to install and set up than any other TV. Your new TV probably has more inputs than your old one, and you may need new component-video or HDMI cables to carry the HD signals. A basic setup requires just a few connections for a cable or satellite box and other devices such as a DVD player or VCR. For more complicated installations, you can pay a professional to do the job.
An HDTV may involve more button presses than you’re used to. You can stretch or zoom to change the aspect ratio (or shape) of the picture when you switch from standard-def to HD or vice versa. And you may have to indicate which source or input to use, but that’s also true of a regular TV connected to both a cable box and a DVD player.
If an HDTV is on your gift list--for yourself or for someone near and dear--you’ll be happy to hear the good news:
- Prices have dropped sharply (again).
- The selection of HD sets, notably big-screen models, is growing.
- Display technologies have improved.
- Early reports on the reliability of LCD and plasma TVs are mostly encouraging.
- There’s more HD programming to watch.
This special TV section should ease your mind. Our Q&A can help resolve the issues that make buying an HDTV a sweaty-palm decision. If you're a ConsumerReports.org subscriber, you can then read how display technologies stack up (See Types) and compare specific sets in our detailed Ratings of 120 HDTVs, the most we’ve ever tested.
When you’re ready to shop, subscribers can check our tips on driving a good deal (See How to Get a Great Deal) in what’s becoming a buyer’s market, along with our exclusive information on reliability, extended warranties and how almost 20,000 buyers rate electronics retailers (See Electronics: Best places to buy).
Let’s start by answering questions that may be nagging you as you consider going HD, either for the holidays or later.
Aren’t HDTVs overpriced?
That depends on your perspective. An HDTV will undoubtedly cost you much more than the tube TV you bought 5 or 10 years ago, but it offers a lot more too. The best HD sets can deliver the finest viewing experience outside a movie theater.
Even though HDTV prices are comparatively high, they’re about half what they were two years ago. Over the past year alone, the average price of a 37-inch LCD set fell from about $2,350 to $1,360, according to DisplaySearch, an Austin, Texas-based market research firm. The average price of a 42-inch plasma TV fell from $2,610 to $1,880.
Don’t expect such steep price cuts in the months ahead, though. The biggest drops have already occurred for the best-selling TV types. Prices of 37-inch LCD TVs and 42-inch plasmas could fall a few hundred dollars more in the year ahead--a tidy sum, but modest compared with the four-figure dips of recent years.
If you decide to buy an HDTV now, accept the fact that prices may continue to inch down, but take comfort in knowing that you paid less than you would have months earlier. If you’re still unsure about HD, wait. Don’t feel pressured to keep up with earlier adopters raving about high definition. Buy an HDTV only when the price reaches a point you deem reasonable, even if that means waiting a year.
If HDTVs are still getting better, isn’t that reason to wait?
Probably not. While the technologies used in most HDTVs are still evolving, they’re already very good. Our latest tests turned up outstanding LCD and plasma TVs and rear-projection microdisplays. (See our FREE report: Rear-Projection HDTVs: More Screen, Less Green) In fact, some sets in this month’s Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) are among the highest-scoring we’ve ever seen.
That wasn’t the case for picture-tube sets, long the standard for top picture quality. Although CRT technology is mature, many picture-tube HDTVs didn’t perform well in our most recent tests, perhaps because they’re increasingly positioned as basic TVs.
We think you’ll be satisfied with the performance of the better-rated LCD, plasma, and projection HDTVs. We were less impressed with most of the picture-tube HDTVs. However, the standard-definition tube sets--which have digital tuners but don’t display HD--are a good, low-cost choice if you want a new TV now and can live without HD for a while longer.
What about 1080p? Should I hold off until that costs less?
Not necessarily. Without delving too deeply into the technology, here’s what you need to know.
A new breed of HDTVs with a resolution of 1080p can display more and finer detail than other HDTVs, which are sometimes called 720p sets. At this point, most 1080p sets are LCD flat panels or rear-projection microdisplays. They cost more than similar models with a 720p resolution.
But resolution alone doesn’t determine picture quality. Black level, brightness, and color accuracy are also important. A 720p set that does everything right can have excellent picture quality, but an equally adept 1080p set has the potential to be even better. However, from a normal viewing distance, the best 1080p set won’t look dramatically better than the best 720p TV. The difference is most obvious on screens 50 inches and larger and in close viewing.
All things considered, we believe many consumers should be satisfied with a good 720p display. But if you want state-of-the-art technology now, and potentially the best HD picture quality, consider one of the 1080p TVs we recommend. If you’re willing to wait a while, you could get a better buy on a 1080p set later--especially a plasma TV. DisplaySearch predicts that the average price of a 50-inch 1080p plasma TV will drop from about $5,400 this December to $3,100 by late next year.
Are these new TVs reliable?
We don’t yet have long-term reliability data for the newer TV technologies, but the survey information we’ve collected so far shows that LCD and plasma TVs have been as reliable as picture-tube sets during the first year or two of use. Microdisplay TVs have been more of a mixed bag. See How to get a great deal, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.
I’ve heard there isn’t enough HD content. Is that true?
Not anymore. There’s much more high-definition programming to watch now than there was in the early days. (An HD addict will say there can never be enough, though. Once you’re accustomed to HD, standard-definition just doesn’t cut it.)
Most prime-time programs on the major broadcast networks--ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox--are simulcast in HD, as are many sports events; early-morning and late-night talk shows such as “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “Late Show with David Letterman”; some local news broadcasts; and game shows such as “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Daytime broadcast fare is mostly standard-definition, but not all. “The Young and the Restless” soap opera, for example, is now available in HD.
High-def offerings on the cable and satellite channels are growing but are still relatively limited and vary by service provider. A cable or satellite HD package often includes Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, inHD, HDNet, TNT in HD, and Universal HD, among others. Most premium networks, such as Cinemax, HBO, Showtime, and Starz, have an HD channel as well.
Do you have to be an engineer to set up an HDTV?
Many HD sets are no harder to install and set up than any other TV. Your new TV probably has more inputs than your old one, and you may need new component-video or HDMI cables to carry the HD signals. A basic setup requires just a few connections for a cable or satellite box and other devices such as a DVD player or VCR. For more complicated installations, you can pay a professional to do the job.
An HDTV may involve more button presses than you’re used to. You can stretch or zoom to change the aspect ratio (or shape) of the picture when you switch from standard-def to HD or vice versa. And you may have to indicate which source or input to use, but that’s also true of a regular TV connected to both a cable box and a DVD player.
