It’s time for FOOTBALL. In stadiums, bars, living rooms and man caves across the country, people are wearing the team colors again and dreaming anew of undefeated seasons ending in the glory of championships won and tickertape parades. The excitement and energy everywhere is palpable.
And guys, if you’ve been eagerly anticipating the start of the season to invite your boys over for the game, you need to ask yourself one very important question – will my TV make the cut? Because no matter how ballin’ you think you man cave is, if your television doesn’t make the grade, guess what, it ain’t happening bro. No one’s coming to watch the big game on your whack little analog television.
Fortunately, it’s not to late to man-up, replace your old set with a new bigboy hi-def flat screen and get in the game. And to help you make the right call, we’ve put together a playbook to coach you up on the things you need to know to score the right flat screen TV before the season kicks off.
SIZE
Please believe us when we tell you that size absolutely matters when it comes to flat screens and football. The world’s largest advanced high definition (HD) plasma TV was introduced by Panasonic at International Consumer Electronic show in 2008. This behemoth sported an effective viewing area of 11 ft. by 6¼ ft. That’s the dream. For this season, though, it might make sense to go with something a bit more modest. But how modest?
Bigger Is Better Don’t even think about buying anything smaller than a 40-inch HDTV, unless you’re planning to have the crew pile up in bed with you to watch the game. Don’t.
Objects May Appear Larger… If you’ll be kicking back watching the game at a distance of 8 feet or more, you need to go bigger, like 50 inches or larger.
Image via Home Theater
LCD OR PLASMA (You Make The Call)
Let the stat nerds argue endlessly over the real and perceived differences between the various television technologies. We just want to help you make the right call before kickoff. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, so here’s the real quick and dirty on LCD vs. plasma.
LCD
LED vs. LCD All LED TVs are really LCD TVs. They just use different light sources. LED LCD TVs use LEDs as their light source rather than traditional CCFLs.
Brightness, Contrast and Black Levels LCDs are bright — the brightest TVs on the market. They look great in bright rooms (and brightly lit stores) because the LCD screen actually absorbs light and hold their contrast. But LCDs have trouble reproducing deep black levels, causing scenes that should be dark to appear lighter.
Viewing Angle The picture quality of LCD TVs is best if you’re sitting directly in front of the screen – when you’re seated to the side of the screen, not so much. Consider the dimensions of your room and the angles from which the television will be in making your selection.
Energy Efficiency LCDs generate far less heat than plasmas. This can make a significant difference when there’s a room full of guys screaming and yelling at the TV.
Plasma
Brightness, Contrast and Black Levels Brighter is not necessarily better. And while they may not be as bright as LCDs, plasmas will generally have a higher contrast ratio, meaning the picture will look more realistic and have more depth. Plasmas are also better at reproducing deep black levels. When you pop The Dark Knight into the Blu-ray player after the game, it may appear even darker and more twisted. Also be aware that a plasma screen may look slightly washed out in comparison to an LCD under the bright lights of the television showroom. Don’t let that turn you away because it might just look awesome on the wall of your home.
Viewing Angle Unlike LCDs, the picture on a plasma TV appears just as sharp when viewed from the side.
Energy Efficiency Plasma TVs tend to generate a considerable amount of heat. So, you may have to crank up the A/C a little when the game gets intense.
![Football on an HDTV]( "Football on an HDTV")
RESOLUTION
“Full HD” Most current LCDs and plasmas have 1080p resolution, which is generally considered full HD.
The Finer Details A 1080p set with a 40-inch screen or larger will normally display finer detail than a 720p set, but this distinction is often far less noticeable in smaller sets.
GAME ON!
So there you have it, the game plan revealed – or as much of it as we had time to squeeze into this post. And just like you would not want to run out on the football field without a jock strap and helmet on, remember to get a TV mount, HDMI cables, surge protectors, and an extra extension cord. And for the real game day in experience, a nice home theater system will really let you feel the roar of the crowd. When you’re selecting an HDTV from the top brands at a great value it’s nearly impossible to make a bad choice. It’s more like choosing between best, better and bestest. So trust your eye and go with your gut.
Read more in our Flat Panel Televisions Buying Guide. And shop for HDTVs online on our Home Entertainment page.
Man Caves is an exploration of cool spaces guys have created for themselves: everything from living rooms and bedrooms, offices and workshops, and media and game rooms, to garages, outdoor grilling areas, gardens and more. We dispense tips on décor, equipment, storage and organization, as well as share ideas, know-how and product info to help you hook up your own manspace.
