The Skinny on TVs

Ready to upgrade to a big-screen flat-panel for the big game? We decode the dizzying array of options

Whether you're a Colts fan or you love da Bears - or even if you're just in it for the commercials and the seven-layer dip - chances are you'll be glued to the television Sunday for Super Bowl XLI.

The outcome isn't clear yet, but the broadcast certainly will be - this year, more people than ever will be watching the game in mind- bendingly sharp high definition. Around 2.5 million consumers plan to purchase a new television for Super Bowl Sunday - that's up from the 1.7 million who said they would last year, according to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association.

Local stores have said people are coming in with their minds and wallets open.

"January and February are usually as good as or better than Christmas," said Bill Roh Jr., vice president of retail for Roh's Fine Home Electronics.

Wilson Home Audio & Video also gets a surge before the big game, said marketing director Dave Browning. The rush has been larger since the Super Bowl has been broadcast in high-def and the prices for the previously almost prohibitively expensive flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs have dropped - about 40 percent in the past year.

But just because you may be able to afford an LCD or plasma TV doesn't mean choosing one is easy. There's an alphabet soup of options, and it can get pretty confusing very quickly.

"It's a gigantic technological jump," Browning said. "Everything that could be different is different. It's a real learning curve."

Many customers don't know what they want when they come in, Browning said, and others who think they do quickly learn that there's a lot more to picking a flat-panel TV than meets the eye.

"I thought I knew what I wanted. . . . Now I'm not sure," Wilson shopper Steve Araya said after browsing the store's selection and learning more about the pros and cons of both LCD and plasma TVs.

While many reviewers and experts, including Browning and Roh, agree that a great plasma TV has a slightly better picture than a great LCD TV, the best flat-panel TV for any individual is harder to determine - a lot depends on how and where you'll watch it and how much you can spend.

"If you can't afford a third-tier plasma, then go LCD," recommends Wilson installation technician Mike Babick. "You get what you pay for. You can't expect good quality from a low price point."

Check out the accompanying charts to help you decide whether LCD or plasma is for you. When it comes to the real tough decision - what size? - you're on your own. Get out your measuring tape and keep in mind that a Consumer Reports survey of HDTV owners indicated that many wish they'd bought a bigger set.

Still, no amount of research can beat the simple act of seeing these crystal-clear wide-screen flat-panels in person.

"No matter how much I talk and tell you specifications," Babick said, "ultimately you're going to take home what you like."

If you go

* Wilson Home Audio & Video, 5740 E. Broadway, 745-0441.

* Roh's Fine Home Electronics, 3525 N. Campbell Ave., 795-8573.

Both stores are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Roh's will be open noon-5 p.m. Sunday for last-minute Super Bowl needs.

Head-to-head comparision

LCD

Typical TV screen sizes

23-52 inches

Typical Tucson price range

$800 to $5,300

PRO

* Bright, crisp picture.

* Great as a dual-purpose TV/computer screen.

* Lightweight and easy to mount on a wall.

* Screens are backlit and tend to have a less-reflective finish than plasma screens so they are often easier to watch in a bright room.

* With dropping prices, smaller screens have become an affordable way to break into the world of flat-panel TVs.

CON

* Some lower-end models may have motion artifacts or video smear because the refresh rate isn't fast enough to keep up with quick action.

* They look great when you're sitting right in front, but the image can start to break up if you're viewing it from a wide angle.

* Screens larger than 40 inches can cost more than a plasma screen of a similar size.

Plasma

Typical TV screen sizes

42-65 inches

Typical Tucson price range

$2,500 to $11,000

PRO

* Great natural, lifelike colors and richer blacks.

* Wider viewing angles, which is good for entertaining many viewers and if you'll be watching from anywhere other than straight on.

* Great at displaying crisp fast action.

* Cheaper than LCDs for large screens. (If you want to go larger than 63 inches, consider a rear projection TV. It won't be as flat or mountable, but it'll get you more square inches per dollar than a flat-panel at that size.)

CON

* Plasma screens are heavier than LCDs so they're harder and sometimes impossible to mount on a wall.

* Shiny glass or plastic surfaces cause a lot of reflection in a bright room.

* Though it's much less of an issue than in the past, static images can burn into the screen, so ask about screen savers.

Breakdown

LCD may be for you if . . .

* You watch TV primarily during the day or in a well-lit room.

* The whole point of getting a flat-panel is to mount it on the wall.

Plasma may be for you if . . .

* You're a sports fan who watches every game with your 12 buddies in the rec room.

* You're a stickler for perfectly lifelike color and deep blacks.

1080i or 720p may be for you if . . .

* You're a technophobe who just wants your soap opera to look great.

1080p may be for you if . . .

* You're totally psyched about watching high-def movies at home with Blu-ray or HD DVD.

* You're a techno geek who needs to impress the neighbors.

Resolution clarified

For the most part, the quality of the picture on a flat-panel screen has more to do with what you're watching than what you're watching it on. The source is everything when it comes to resolution.

If you're watching high-definition programming, it will probably look amazing. If you're not, the picture on the screen is not going to look much better than on your standard TV.

"The TV is not a magic wand," Wilson Home Audio & Video's Dave Browning said. "What goes in is what comes out."

There are two main high-definition source resolutions that can be viewed on almost all flat-panels - 1080i has more lines and pixels but the image is interlaced (that's what the i stands for) so you see only half the pixels at a time; 720p is a progressive-scan format, so all the pixels are working all the time and the picture trends to be a bit smoother.

The newest format getting a lot of buzz is 1080p. However, the only source with that resolution is HD DVD and Blu-ray. There are no current plans to broadcast in 1080p (it takes up too much bandwidth), so if you're into watching television and don't plan to play high-def movies at home, don't bother springing for a 1080p panel and you'll save hundreds of dollars.

Things to look for in a flat-panel TV

* Lifelike color with a rich black.

* Good brightness and picture quality from any angle.

* Smooth motion during high-speed action.

* Attractive, user-friendly menu system.

* Decent picture quality even when showing non-high-definition programming.

* One or more High-Definition Multimedia Interface inputs to deliver digital audio and video via one cable.

Tip: Bring a DVD that you're familiar with to the store to see how it looks on different screens.

* Contact reporter Sarah Mauet at 573-4124 or at smauet@azstarnet.com.

(c) 2007 Arizona Daily Star. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.