Screen Tests

Viewing Tips

Come Into the Light

Dim lighting is good for watching TV, but a completely dark room is bad for the picture and terrible for your eyes. If the TV is your only source of light, shifts from very dark to very bright scenes have an effect similar to what happens when you suddenly flip on an overhead light--you won't be able to see most of the detail in a scene while your eyes are adjusting. The same thing happens when you switch from a very bright to a very dark scene. Such jumps occur frequently in TV shows and movies.

Be good to your eyes by adding a little light--at least enough so that you can make out the contours of the room. Screen glare also hurts, however, so don't let lamps or sunlight shine directly on the TV. And as the room gets darker (say, at night), you'll get better picture quality by turning down the TV's brightness level.

Plasma Problems on High

If you can see the ocean outside your window, any plasma TV should be fine for you. But if your view is of the mountains, be careful: At high altitudes (about 5000 feet or more), where atmospheric pressure gets low, the difference in pressure between the gas inside the plasma screen and the surrounding air can cause plasma displays to produce an intolerable humming or buzzing noise. Manufacturers have found a way to remedy this problem, but not all models include the fix. If you live in the mountains and are buying a plasma screen, check the model's specs and talk to the seller to make sure you get one suitable for operation over 5000 feet. Of the products we reviewed, only Panasonic and Mitsubishi gave us definitive answers on this issue: Panasonic said its TH-50PX25U/P model is suitable for use at up to 7200 feet; and Mitsubishi said the PD-5030 should be fine at up to 9000 feet.

Saving a Little May Cost a Lot

Unlike PC vendors, who update products every few weeks or months and typically offer their latest and greatest products online first, TV makers usually keep the same models for a year or more. So what you see at a reputable vendor's store is probably the newest equipment (though you should always check manufacturers' Web sites to make sure). And shopping at brick-and-mortar stores is smart: With video devices, seeing before buying is critical.

Many big retailers--such as Best Buy and Circuit City--do have extensive Web sites where you can comparison shop for the best deals. But beware of sites with bargain-basement prices. Often they are hawking older models that were unsellable in regular stores. And always make sure that the seller is an authorized dealer of the brands it carries. If not, you probably won't be eligible for the manufacturer's warranty.