Steve: Hi! I'm Steve. In this video, I'm going to talk about screen size, the differences between LCD, plasma, and rear-projection TVs, and how to make sense of TV technology terms like "1080p." When you finish watching this video, you'll have the knowledge you need to start shopping for a new HDTV.

Let's start with screen size. Generally, going with the largest screen that fits your space will give you the most impact and long-term enjoyment.

The size of your room is certainly a factor, but even more important is the relationship between the TV's screen size and the distance you'll be sitting from it.

To help people find a good screen size for their room, we use a loose formula to recommend a viewing distance range.

Here's how it works: We suggest you sit at a distance that is 1-and-a-half to 2-and-a-half times your TV's screen size for the best picture. So, if you're considering a 50" HDTV, your ideal viewing range would be between 6-1/4 feet and 10-1/2 feet.

If you watch mostly DVDs and HDTV, try sitting at the closer end of that range so you'll see more detail. If you watch more standard-def programs, sit farther back for the smoothest picture.

You can find out more about choosing screen size at crutchfield.com/screensize

Now, let's talk about the most common TV technologies.

Tube, or CRT TVs are what we all grew up watching, but tube HDTVs are hard to find, and their picture quality has been surpassed in most ways by newer TV types.

Flat-panel HDTVs offer bright, detailed picture quality. They also offer the widest range of screen sizes, from 15 to 70 inches, or even bigger.

Flat-panels come in two varieties: plasma and LCD.

Plasmas are known for their smooth motion, rich colors, and impressive contrast levels. But they're not available in smaller sizes, and their screens may reflect room lights.

LCD TVs also offer a bright, clear picture. Plus, they often have higher resolutions, at lower prices, than same-sized plasmas. LCDs also have anti-glare screens that cut way down on room reflections. However, some LCDs don't have the same richness of color and deep contrast as plasma.

To learn more about flat-panels, see crutchfield.com/flatpanel

Today's digital rear-projection TVs are much shallower and lighter than old-fashioned projection TVs. There are several types, and each is named after the imaging chip technology inside them: LCD, DLP or LCoS. Screen sizes range from 37 inches to 72 inches.

Most rear-projection TVs have a user-replaceable lamp as the light source. With typical amounts of TV watching, the bulb should last several years. Some new TVs use super-bright LEDs instead of a lamp, and these LEDs are designed to last the lifetime of the TV.

Rear-projection pictures aren't as bright as LCD or plasma flat-panels, but their picture quality and contrast levels can match the best flat-panel TVs around. And for screen sizes of 50 inches or larger, rear-projection TVs can cost much less than the same-sized flat-panel.

For more details on rear-projection TVs, see crutchfield.com/RPTV

TV makers use picture resolution numbers like 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, to describe how sharp the picture is on their TVs. All these numbers can make this topic seem pretty complicated, but the stuff you really need to know isn't hard, so here goes.

The digital TVs we've been talking about create their pictures using a grid of dots called "pixels." Generally, more pixels mean sharper pictures. So an HDTV with top-of-the-line 1080p resolution can show a more detailed picture than one with 720p resolution, and both provide a much crisper picture than the 480-line resolution we're used to from DVDs.

However, since 720p and 1080p TVs are both HDTVs, the question for many people becomes "Is there really much of a difference between a 720p TV and a 1080p TV?"

The answer is yes, and here's why. A digital TV's screen resolution is often called "native resolution." That means the TV has to convert any incoming video signal to fit its native resolution.

So when you're converting a 1080i or 1080p signal to display on a 720p TV, it's like trying to fit 10 pounds of sugar in a five pound bag. You have to throw away some detail to fit the image on the screen. But with a 1080p TV, you can see every type of high-def signal without reducing the resolution.

If you're wondering what the I and P in 1080i and 720p stand for, let me explain. I stands for interlaced-scan and P stands for progressive-scan. These terms originated when all TVs used picture tubes, and images were "scanned" — painted across the screen line by line.

But virtually all of today's digital displays are effectively "progressive-scan." As a result, interlaced and progressive are mostly relevant when describing the video signals sent into the TV. The main thing to remember is that a progressive signal has twice as much picture information as an interlaced signal, and generally looks a little more solid and stable, with on-screen motion that's a little more fluid.

Finally, here's one more tip on TV signals. Although you can find standard-definition 480p TV signals and high-definition 720p and 1080i TV signals, TV owners are often surprised to learn that there really aren't any 1080p broadcasts available. Right now, the only way to get a true 1080p signal to your TV is via a high-definition disc player.

I hope this video has answered your questions about HDTVs. To learn more, check out our articles and videos at crutchfield.com/hdtv, or call our expert Sales Advisors at 1-888-955-6000.