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These days, video game consoles are such major players in the home theater arena that a lot of people are shopping for new home audio/video gear to get the full experience. Consoles offer crisp, detailed video and engaging sound, plus a unique mix of multimedia and networking capabilities. In this article, we're going to explore what to look for if you're a gamer shopping for new A/V gear. You may also find the information helpful in optimizing gear you already have.
First, here's a quick overview of the current systems:
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PlayStation® 3 — Sony's highly anticipated sequel to the PlayStation® 2. The PS3 features a Blu-ray Disc™ drive for high-definition games and movies with full surround sound. It can also support online game play, and create photo slideshows. A newer, smaller version of the PS3 was released on September 1, 2009. |
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Xbox 360™ — Microsoft's second video game console delivers HD games using standard DVDs. It has some cool extras too, like music streaming, online gaming, and the ability to purchase and rent high-definition TV shows and movies via the Xbox LIVE® online marketplace. |
Nintendo's motion-sensitive Wii controllers
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Wii™ — Nintendo's innovative Wii departs from the traditional controller scheme. Its motion-sensitive controller allows for more intuitive game play — you swing the remote as a racket in a tennis game, or point it at the screen to aim your weapon in a first-person shooter. The Wii also features online shopping and photo-sharing capabilities. It's the only new console that isn't HD-capable. |
For more information, check out the comparison chart at the end of this article.
Getting the whole picture
Today's TVs can deliver a gorgeous picture — but what will it take to really make Link or Master Chief pop? Below, you'll find some features to look for and other factors to consider.
Aspect ratio — shaping up the picture
TVs typically come in two different screen shapes or "aspect ratios." Traditional TVs have a squarish "4:3" aspect ratio, while new TVs feature a wider "16:9" ratio. TV shows, movies, and video games also come in different aspect ratios. When the source material and the TV's aspect ratios don't match, the people on-screen may look too tall or too wide, there may be black bars, or the image may be zoomed in to fill the screen.
Because most current-gen games are in a 16:9 aspect ratio, a lot of gamers are switching to a widescreen TV.
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Stretched or zoomed-in images can be annoying for some folks when watching TV or movies, but it can be a bigger problem for gamers. For example, if the image is stretched, you might have a hard time gauging distance and timing, and the controls may behave differently. That's why it's important to play each game in the aspect ratio it was intended for, even if it involves black bars. Since nearly all current-gen games support a 16:9 ratio, many gamers are switching to a widescreen TV to enjoy accurate, full-screen game play. See our article about aspect ratio for more info.
Viewing angle
If you'll be the only one playing games on your TV, viewing angle might not be a big deal — you can sit directly in front of it and see every shade and detail clearly. But if you're planning on having multi-player games, you should look for a TV with a wide viewing angle, both side to side and up and down. That way, folks sitting on the couch, easy chair, floor, and loveseat will all see a crisp, clear image.
Gaming modes
Just about every TV comes with a handful of picture presets to choose from, like "Movie" and "Vivid." A lot of models also feature special gaming picture modes. These sometimes make the colors richer and more saturated, and increase the contrast for deeper blacks. While this mode could make your TV shows look artificially vibrant and cartoonish, it can make your video games more playable by providing greater image detail. (Fortunately, many TVs allow you to assign different picture settings to each input.) Some game modes also minimize image processing time, so that a player's commands take less time to register on the screen.
Screen size
It might seem obvious that a big, detailed picture can make the gaming experience more immersive and engaging. But when you're deciding on a screen size, you should also consider how many people will be playing at one time. For example, 26" might be plenty if it's just you, but how will it look if the screen's split in four for a multiplayer game? Our experience has been that in most situations, you should go with the largest screen your room, viewing distance, and budget will accommodate. That's because we occasionally hear people wishing their TV's screen was bigger, but rarely hear them wishing their screen was smaller. See our article on choosing TV screen size for more info.
TV technology
Advances in TV technology mean that pretty much any kind of HDTV will make a capable gaming display. We're not going to get too in-depth with each kind of TV technology, but below, you'll find a few quick gaming-related tips.
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- It's true that plasma TVs are still more susceptible to burn-in than other models, and you don't want an outline of your health bar on the screen through every DVD and TV show you watch. But if the gamers in your household will only play games for an hour or so a day, and won't leave the game paused for long periods of time, you should be fine. Still, look for a model with burn-in combating features such as pixel shifting. For more information, check out our plasma and LCD TVs.
- LCD's immunity to burn in makes it great for gaming. Recent flat-panel models also boast fast pixel response times (8 milliseconds or less), so that when your character jumps across the screen, you won't see motion blur. For more information, check out our article on flat-panel TV article.
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- Rear-projection models — like DLP, LCD, and LCoS — offer more screen real estate for your buck. All three are immune to burn-in, and can deliver vivid, detailed images. For more information, check out our article on shopping for a big-screen TV.
- Nothing beats the cinematic scope of a front-projection TV — your on-screen character may actually be life-sized. If you decide to go this route, you'll need a dedicated room with little direct or ambient light (like a room in the basement). For more info, check out our front-projection TV article.
Resolution
All three current generation consoles will look great with an HDTV. But to take advantage of every pixel, here's what you'll need:
- PS3 — When it comes to HD video connectivity, the PS3 keeps things simple. It sports an HDMI output which can handle video up to 1080p. You'll just need to purchase a standard HDMI cable, and hook it up to a compatible HDTV.
- Xbox 360 — There are a couple of options for getting HD video from the 360 to your TV. If you have the Xbox 360 Elite, a newer Xbox 360 "Pro," or the Xbox 360 Arcade, you can connect it to an HD-capable TV via an HDMI cable, and get as high as 1080p resolution. The Elite comes with an HDMI cable; the Elite and "Pro" also support HD over component video and include a component video adapter cable. If you have the Xbox 360 Arcade or older Core system, you can connect it to an HD-capable TV via a component video adapter cable (not included).
- Wii — This console can't produce high-def images, but it can provide a smooth, progressive-scan 480p picture. To make this happen, you'll need to purchase a Wii-compatible component video adapter cable, and hook it up to a 480p-capable TV with component video inputs. (Even though this console doesn't deliver HD images, we still recommend going with an HDTV — Wii games will look great, and if you get HD programming as well, you'll be blown away.)
See our article on HDTV resolution for more info.
Movie playback
For the current-gen consoles, one of the biggest stories isn't about games — it's about movies. The PS3 in particular can play Blu-ray movies, which provide high-definition images and fuller, less compressed audio. Here's the lowdown:
- PS3 — The PS3 has a built-in Blu-ray Disc™ drive, allowing it to play high-definition movies from Blu-ray discs and send them to a compatible TV via on optional HDMI cable at up to 1080p resolution. You can purchase or rent Blu-ray discs from local and online retailers. The PS3 can also play your regular DVDs and upconvert them to a 1080p like many of today's DVD players can. For more information, see our article about Blu-ray technology.
- Xbox 360 — The Xbox 360 can play standard DVDs, and the 360 Elite, newer "Pros," and Arcade can upconvert them to a higher resolution when connected to your TV via HDMI.
- Wii — The Wii can only play video games, not DVDs or other video formats.
With the right receiver and speakers, gamers can use surround sound to gain quite an advantage.
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Immerse yourself in sound
Anyone who's been to the movies is familiar with surround sound — the way engaging, 360-degree sound can draw you into the on-screen action. Imagine hearing arrows whizzing over your head as you take cover behind a tree, being deafened by the roar of the stadium when your team scores, or identifying the source of your enemy's gunfire and locking onto them more quickly. With the right gear and connections, gamers can use surround sound to gain quite an advantage.
The heart of your sound system: the receiver
If you don't already have a receiver with Dolby® Digital and Dolby Pro Logic® II decoding, you might want to consider upgrading. Both Xbox 360 and PS3 games feature 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Wii games feature Pro Logic II encoding, so a Pro Logic II receiver can provide matrixed surround sound. (It won't be as detailed as discrete channels, but you can still enjoy some good surround effects.)
Surround yourself in sound: speakers
Lots of Crutchfield gamers have been impressed by the way surround sound pulls them into the game. A full 5.1 speaker system is a sure-fire way to achieve bigger, more engaging sound. With some systems, you can even add one or two additional speakers for more detailed surround effects. Then, the key to achieving realistic sound is placing your speakers properly — we recommend you read our article on home theater speaker placement.
If a full surround system isn't an option for your space, you should also check out our 2.1, 3.1 and single-speaker simulated surround setups. They're much more space-efficient, and can still provide impressive sound. See our article on adding great sound to your TV for more info.
An optical digital audio cable provides a discrete 5.1 surround sound signal to your receiver.
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Hook it up right
To get the best sound out of your console, and get all the sonic bang you paid for when you bought it, you'll need to make the right connections.
- PS3 and Xbox 360 — For both of these consoles, you'll need to purchase an optical digital audio cable. This cable can carry the full discrete 5.1-channel signal to your receiver.
- Wii — All you need to hook up the Wii is a standard stereo audio RCA cable — in fact, one's included in the box.
Networking and Multimedia Capabilities
In addition to being fun, powerful gaming machines, each of the current-gen consoles are also quite capable on the networking and multimedia front.
Whichever consoles you have, you should consider getting a broadband Internet connection if you don't have one already. A fast connection will allow you to take advantage of the console's cool online capabilities.
Below, we'll take a quick look at the features and abilities of each console, as well as useful add-ons and accessories.
PS3
The PS3 has some cool online features via its free Playstation Network.
- You can —
- enjoy multiplayer game play with some PS3 games.
- download paid content from the PlayStation® Store, such as PS1 games or new PS3 games, and free content like trailers and demos.
- surf the Internet using a built-in NetFront web browser.
- chat with friends. Video chat using Sony's PlayStation Eye webcam, voice chat using compatible Bluetooth® headsets, or text chat using a Bluetooth keyboard.
Xbox 360
Microsoft's Xbox LIVE® is the central hub of all of the 360's online action, and the online capabilities it offers are pretty extensive.
- You can —
- enjoy multiplayer game play with most 360 games (with an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription).
- download free content, like game demos and movie trailers.
- download paid content. You can purchase games, as well as TV shows from numerous networks (like NBC, Spike, and Cartoon Network), some of which are available in HD. You can also rent standard-def and high-def movies.
- stream movies from your Netflix® instant queue (Netflix and Xbox LIVE Gold memberships required).
- chat with friends. Video chat and send pictures with the optional add-on webcam, text chat, or just voice chat using Xbox LIVE headsets.
Wii
The Wii takes a unique tack with online interactivity.
- You can —
- buy "retro" games from the NES, SNES, TurboGrafx16, and more.
- tune into the Wii's news and weather "channels" for up-to-date info.
- surf the Internet on the Opera browser.
- share photos and message friends.
Console comparison chart
| HD cables included | Maximum resolution | Compatible disc formats | Surround sound | Online enabled | |
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| PS3 | No | 1080p | PS3 games, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, MP3/ATRAC/AAC/WAV CD, SACD | Dolby Digital |  |
| Xbox 360 | Yes (Elite includes HDMI; Elite and Pro include component video) | 1080p | Xbox 360 games, DVD, CD, MP3/WMA/JPEG CD, some Xbox games (hard drive required) | Dolby Digital | |
| Wii | N/A | 480p | Wii games, GameCube games | Dolby Pro Logic II |
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