How to get the best picture and sound quality

OK, you just bought a new HDTV and surround sound system, but how do you hook them up to produce the best picture and sound? To get the best picture and sound you need to chose the right cables.

Types of cables:

Coaxial cable: is the worst type of cable available to produce video and sound. Though it will work just fine for antennas or to link a connection from a cable or satellite box to the poll or satellite.


Composite video: Is a little better than a coaxial cable but cannot produce high definition picture. It is usually bundled up with analog audio cables, these are also better than a coaxial cable but are not capable of creating true surround sound, they work well for mono or stereo sound.

S-Video cable: this cable will produce a better picture than composite or coaxial but cannot produce high definition picture.


Component cables: these cables split picture into three cables to produce a high quality picture that can support high definition video.


Digital optical cables
Digital coaxial cables: these cables offer superior quality sound and are capable of producing surround sound.


Analog Multi-Channel sound cables: these cables split the sound into channels using analog audio cables to produce the highest level of surround sound.



 
VGA cables: these are mainly used with computers and are capable of producing high definition video.
DVI cables: these are also found on computers and other devices and can produce high definition video.




HDMI: this cable is the best of the best! It is capable of doing each thing of every cable mentioned above. It produces the highest quality high definition video and the highest quality surround sound including built in multi-channel sound support. The greatest thing about it is that it is only one cable. These types of cables can also support 3d high definition video.

When hooking up your new T.V. try to use HDMI cables the most to get the highest quality picture and sound available.

What to look for when buying a new T.V.

The first thing to look for when buying a T.V. is the brand name. You will want to chose one that is well known. The best and most reliable T.V.s out right now are, Samsung, Panasonic, and Sony. They tend to be a little more expensive than the others, but they are built to last and give the best picture.

Get yourself a T.V. here!

T.V.s come in many different sizes and specifications. I will explain them.

Size: You can choose any size that you want, it is all up to you. Usually the bigger the T.V., the farther back you must sit from the screen to view the optimum picture. Make sure the T.V. is not too big for the room.

Resolution: Today's T.V.s have resolutions starting from 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, to 1080p and beyond.
If the T.V. has 480i or 480p it is not considered a high definition T.V. If the T.V. has 720p, 1080i and 1080p then it is a high definition T.V. Typically high definition T.V.s are separated into two sections at most retail stores; the 720p T.V.s that can support 1080i and the full 1080p high definition T.V.s. So witch type is better? It all depends on what you will be using the T.V. for.

If you want to use the T.V. for watching standard definition programing or high definition programing, or regular DVD movies than a 720p T.V. will be all that you need.
If you want to use the T.V. as a computer monitor, or to watch Blu-Ray movies, access high definition programing or to play video games using the new systems (PlayStation 3 or X-Box 360 ) you will want the 1080p resolution. This level of resolution will give you the best possible picture, but they are typically more expensive.

The new 4k resolution T.V.'s are the highest resolution out right now, but there is not much material that can use the full 4k abilities, but the best is the best if your willing to pay.

HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection)
If you plan on watching Blu-ray movies make sure your T.V. has HDCP or the picture will be very grainy, or not even work. If your T.V. has an HDMI port then it is more than likely that your T.V. is HDCP compliant.

Contrast Ratio: The higher the contrast ratio the better. Contrast ratios are described as 100,000:1 or 1,000,000:1 (and many more). This tells you how dark the blacks will be and how bright the whites will be. So the higher the ratio the better.

Hertz: T.V.s start from 60htz, 120htz, 240htz and up to 600htz. The more hertz a T.V. has the more vibrant and smoother the picture looks when there is a lot of movement on screen. A higher refresh rate is especially needed when watching 3D. The more hertz the better, but the price of the T.V. goes up.

24p and 60p: T.V.'s are getting more and more advanced as time goes by, the newest feature T.V.s have is 24p and 60p. When film is being recorded it is recorded at a 24p frame rate, but most T.V.s can only play at a 60p frame rate, which means the film will have to unconverted disrupting the picture a little bit. If you are looking to get the best picture possible from a T.V. try to buy one that has the ability to play at a rate of 24p. (note: you will also need a blu-ray player that can output 24p)
For more information here is a great link that explains this quite well.

The different types: LED, LCD, Plasma, DLP, are all types of high definition T.V.s.
LED T.V.s use the least amount of energy and last twice as long because they run cooler. They are also the thinnest type of T.V.
LCD are the most common on the market today. They are dependable and relatively thin.
PLASMA are not as dependable as LCD or LED, but are still good. Plasma T.V.s are especially good for watching 3D.
 

DLP T.V.s, I believe are the worst because they are not that dependable. You can not see the picture very well in a lit room, or when just standing off to the side.

LED, LCD, and DLP T.V.s will have any where from 60hrtz to 240hrtz. Plasma T.V.s will have the high hertz (600hrtz).
LED T.V.s usually have the highest contrast ratio.



Wifi: Some newer T.V.s have WiFi that allows you connect to the internet. Each T.V. will list their features.

Conclusion:
I recommend staying away from DLP T.V.s. All of the other types are your preference based on performance.
If you will be getting a 3D T.V. Plasma is the best type of T.V. because it has a high refresh rate needed to prevent "ghosting". I believe Panasonic makes the best plasma T.V.s.
Stick with name brands, Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic are among the best.
Wifi is cool to have but not needed.
Try to get the highest resolution, contrast ratio, and hertz that your price range allows.