Buying an HDTV? Read These Tips First

Shopping for a new HDTV for the Big Game? Before you make that purchase there are several things you need to know about picking the highest quality HDTV. One thing you need to confirm is that it is THX Certified. Why? Simply put, if it's THX Certified, it will be good. After all, movie theaters feature THX sound for a reason and top TV manufacturers such as Panasonic and LG include THX in their televisions.

To make your HDTV shopping a little bit easier, here are a few THX Certified HDTV's along with some tips.

THX Certified TVs:

• LG INFINIA 50PX950 Televisions 50" Class 3D Broadband THX Certified 1080p Plasma TV (50.0" diagonally)
• LG INFINIA 55LE8500 Televisions 55" Class Full HD 1080p 240Hz LED LCD TV (54.6" diagonal)
• Panasonic 42" Class Viera GT25 Series Full HD 3D 1080p Plasma

Selecting the Right Screen Size for Your Room (tips provided by THX)

There's a science to the right screen size: Choosing the appropriate TV size for your home comes down to how far you sit from the screen. If you buy a massive TV and sit three feet away, you'll stare at pixels and lines. If you buy one that's too small, you won't get an immersive visual experience.

To determine the best seat-to-screen distance in your room, THX recommends dividing the diagonal screen by .84. For example, a plasma or LCD TV with a 65-inch screen divided by .84 equals a 77-inch viewing distance (6.5 feet). This should create a 40-degree viewing angle from your main seating position – filling your line of sight with the best visuals possible.

If your TV is going in a living room with limited space, THX recommends the following guide:

• 32 inch class TV = 3.5-5 feet away
• 42 inch class TV = 4-6 feet away
• 50 inch class TV = 5-7.5 feet away
• 60 inch class TV = 6-9 feet away

5 Reasons Why THX Certified TVs Rule

THX sets the bar for picture quality for the world’s top TV manufacturers, including Panasonic and LG (see a few below). Here are five reasons why THX Certified Displays/HDTVs rule.

1. 200 Tests, 400 Data Points – The THX certification process is like boot camp for HDTVs and projectors. It covers 30 test categories, 200 bench tests and more than 400 data points. THX video engineers analyze almost every aspect of a TV's performance, from contrast and color to de-interlacing, jaggies and scaling. Testing is rigid, precise and only the best TVs make the cut.

2. Accurate Color – The very foundation of THX display certification is recreating the filmmaker's vision in your home. THX testing and certification closely reproduces the HD Color Standard (Rec.709) used by filmmakers for Blu-ray Disc mastering. The result? Rich color and detail practically puts you in the director's chair.

3. Sharp Pictures and Clean Video Processing – Jaggy lines and image blurring can occur as motion becomes too intense when watching action movies. THX improves each TV's software to minimize these types of digital artifacts—presenting clean, vibrant pictures in every frame.

4. THX Movie Mode – THX Movie Mode offers the closest thing to a pre-calibrated setting out of the box. This reproduces the Rec.709 color gamut, luminance levels and other settings used by filmmakers in the mastering studio—with the push of a button. And, if you want further fine tuning, all THX Modes can be accessed by THX Certified Professional Calibrators.

5. THX Certification = High Quality – Navigating the "wall of HD drool" at your local electronics retailer isn't easy. TVs from a variety of brands often line the walls, all showing stunning visuals. THX certification offers a straightforward value proposition to simplify your shopping experience…..if it's THX Certified, it will be good.

To find out more information on THX certification, visit www.thx.com.