1. Select the Correct Screen Size
To find the correct screen size for your television, you must first determine what the proper viewing distance is from the most often used seating configuration in the room. The goal is to optimize the field of vision that the television display occupies. Most people sit too far away from their television, resulting in a field of vision of only about 10%. By way of comparison, the design of a movie theatre is based on an ideal field of vision of 30%. By using this benchmark, a home theatre architect can ensure that viewers are less distracted by peripheral objects or other people.

Optimum viewing distance per screen size:

• NTSC Analog 4:3 Aspect Ratio
  27-inch: 8.0 feet
  32-inch: 10.0 feet
  36-inch: 11.0 feet
  43-inch: 13.0 feet
  50-inch: 15.0 feet
  53-inch: 16.0 feet
  61-inch: 18.0 feet
  
  
• High Definition-Compatible 4:3 Aspect Ratio
  32-inch: 5.0 feet
  36-inch: 5.5 feet
  43-inch: 6.0 feet
  50-inch: 8.0 feet
  53-inch: 8.0 feet
  61-inch: 9.0 feet
  
  
• High Definition-Compatible 16:9 Aspect Ratio
  34-inch: 4.5 feet
  42-inch: 5.0 feet
  50-inch: 6.0 feet
  57-inch: 7.0 feet
  65-inch: 8.0 feet

2. Analog or High Definition-Compatible?
The current analog system, NTSC, which was introduced in the 1930s, began broadcasting colour television pictures back in 1953. However, since 1998, broadcasters have been moving towards the use of digital broadcasting that employs a new broadcast protocol-ATSC. Your new television choice should be based on the type of programming you watch now and plan to watch in the near future.

If you exclusively watch cable television (or basic satellite service) and VHS videotapes, then an analog television is sufficient for your needs. However, if you subscribe to a digital cable service, enhanced satellite service, or if you own or plan to purchase a DVD player, it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to a high definition-compatible television.

3. Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio of a television is the relationship of its screen width to its screen height. Anyone who has ever owned a television is familiar with the standard aspect ratio of 4:3. For example, a 27-inch television measures 27 inches viewable on a diagonal: the screen width is 21.6 inches and the screen height is 16.2 inches.

A 16:9 aspect ratio television is 33% wider than a conventional television and is the aspect ratio that will be used for ATSC digital broadcasts. The advantage of having a 16:9 television is that you can take advantage of DVD movies, which are specifically formatted for wide screens and deliver more video content than a standard television.

4. Connectivity
Most people are familiar with the standard RF or cable connector. But televisions now offer a wide array of connectivity choices that maximize picture quality using a variety of video components. For instance, a VCR should be connected via video inputs, which use phono plug-type jacks, while a satellite receiver should be connected via an S-Video connection. A DVD player should always be connected to a ColorStream™ component video input to capitalize on the superb quality that DVD movies offer.

5. Convenience Features
There seems to be an endless variety of convenience features that allow you to maximize your viewing experience. The key, however, is to get good value from those extra features. The most familiar convenience feature that differentiates a standard television model from a deluxe model is Picture in Picture (PIP). This feature lets you watch two programs simultaneously, whether both are television signals, or a combination of television and video signals. For sports fans and commercial-skip artists alike, PIP is the ultimate non-stop action feature.