HDTV Reviews

Shopping for an HDTV can feel like learning a new language.

A recent review on Cnet.com, for example, featured horrible phrases like black levels, native resolution, color temperatures, full calibration, red push, grayscale variation, overscan, DC restoration and defeatable-edge enhancement.

Nobody should have to learn what these words mean. Is it necessary when shopping for a high-definition television?

Two leading experts say no.

And they offer the following practical and sometimes surprising advice for when you decide it’s time to buy a high-definition television.

David Katzmaier, senior editor at San Francisco-based Cnet.com, explained it this way: “There are a lot of complex factors. But one thing to keep in mind is a lot of these TVs are very similar. The general difference in picture quality between them all are relatively subtle.”

So what affects a television’s picture quality most?

“The source,” Katzmaier said, meaning whether the television channel is broadcasting in high definition. “The fact that it’s a high-definition source is the main thing that will make the picture look good.”

What’s the best way to pick out a high-definition TV?

“Just look at the picture,” said Mike Abt said, president of Glenview, Ill.,-based Abt Electronics. “It is going to go in your house, and you’re the one who has to enjoy the TV.”

But Abt added to make sure that you’re comparing moving pictures when you’re checking out televisions.

“The news, for example, doesn’t have much action, and it’s hard to judge a TV that way. So you want to watch baseball players throwing a ball, or racecars going around. You want to see movement.”

If having a high-definition source most determines picture quality, what happens to the picture quality when displaying non-HD programming?

“If you’re watching a non-HD source on an HDTV, you’ll be disappointed,”

Katzmaier said. “Mainly because it’s a lot bigger than you’re used to. If you blow up a lower-quality source to a large size, it’ll be disappointing.”

Abt agrees wholeheartedly: “I personally have people look at all the different signals before they buy a TV.”

He added that some customers have been very disappointed with the regular-definition programming on their new high-definition TV.

“Non-HD programming could easily have looked better on your old TV than on the new HDTV,” Abt said. “And you just paid triple the price of your old TV.

“In fact, my favorite HDTV brand has an embarrassing picture on analog.”

The lesson: Before you buy an HDTV, make sure the salesperson shows you the high-definition picture and the regular-definition picture.