HDTV World > Understand HDTV > Ultimate TV buying guide

Updated February 13, 2009

Whether you want a new bedroom set or a massive home-theater centerpiece, our CNET editors' guide gives you the full picture on shopping for a new TV.

Accessories and warranties

With any large purchase, the urge to accessorize can be overwhelming. Here are a few add-ons to consider, as well as some words on warranty and shipping concerns.

Accessories

• Cable requirements: In the store, you'll probably hear a salesperson tell you to get extra cables. That's because overpriced cables are one of the few areas where electronics stores can turn a big profit. In reality, cable quality matters very little, especially with digital cables such as HDMI. Since many stores don't even carry lower-priced cable alternatives, we recommend shopping for cables online and buying based on price from a vendor with a good return policy. Check out our Quick Guide to HDMI for more information.
  
  

• Surge protector: We definitely recommend shielding your TV investment with some sort of surge protector. Don't believe the hype that a better protector will somehow improve video quality, but do choose a model with coaxial inputs and outputs for your cable or antenna.
  
  
• Furniture: Most people don't hang their new flat-panel TVs on the wall, and most old entertainment centers can't accommodate bigger wide-screen HDTVs, so with many new TV purchases comes the need for a stand to support the set. Our main advice here is to make sure the stand you get can easily accommodate the combined weight of the TV and any gear you plan to stash under the set inside the stand. If you anticipate tweaking your setup or adding components fairly often, it might be worthwhile to consider a stand with casters.
  
  
• Other room treatments. Watching TV in broad daylight will result in a washed-out picture. We recommend that any viewing room be equipped with curtains or other window treatments that can block out some light during the day and that the TV screen face away from the window. Try to keep room lighting from reflecting onto the screen. A low-wattage light placed behind the TV in an otherwise dark room can make an ideal viewing environment.
  
  

Extended warranties
The final question you'll be asked when buying a TV is generally, "Would you like an extended warranty with that?" Although in this section we previously advocated a few aspects of extended warranties, mainly because of the relatively untested nature of new HDTV technologies, we're changing our tune. Most buyers should skip the extended warranty. According to the March 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, the overwhelming majority HDTVs do not need repair during the warranty period. Rear-projection HDTVs do exhibit a higher rate of failure than flat-panels in general, but are still quite reliable and again not worth an extended warranty. CR goes on to mention that many credit cards and some retailers, such as Costco, will extend the manufacturers' warranty free of charge, which seems like a better deal to us than spending hundreds on an extended warranty.

Manufacturer warranties
The standard warranty covers parts for one year and labor for 90 days. Some manufacturer warranties have separate time frames for the picture element--such as the tube, which is often covered for two years--and the rest of the TV. High-end TVs, especially plasmas, often have a one-year labor warranty. Some manufacturers also offer in-home service on more expensive and larger models that are difficult to ship.

Buying online
You can often get a great deal if you buy your TV online, but you should be aware of some differences.

An increasing number of TV makers are cracking down on "unauthorized" retailers of their sets, especially online, and some will not honor warranties on products purchased from such dealers. See the Web site of your set's manufacturer before you purchase a TV online for its policy on unauthorized retailers. Not coincidentally, unauthorized merchants often have the best prices.

If you decide to buy your TV online, make sure you choose a vendor with a solid return policy. There are many cut-rate vendors out there that don't allow any returns on televisions--an exception to their standard return policies. Also, be prepared for a significant shipping fee. If there is a problem with the TV, many brick-and-mortar retailers will accept a return no questions asked, while online merchants often make you pay return shipping and/or a restocking fee, provided they accept returns on TVs at all.

Consider how to get it through the door and set it up in your room or on a stand; big TVs often require more than one strong person to lift them. Some online and many brick-and-mortar dealers will move the TV into your house and even set it up for you, but it usually costs extra.