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  Home Page » News » Columnists » Techno Buddy » Get The Most Out Of Your New HDTV

Get the most out of your new HDTV

Some of you will see things in a new way in 2009. You came late to the party but finally got your first high-definition television over the holidays.

Today we'll talk about ways to get the most out of that fancy new machine. Even those of you who have been enjoying HDTV for a few years might pick up a tip or two.

First, keep in mind that the cables you use to connect your set make a difference in the quality of picture and sound. HDMI cables are the way to go for connecting to a cable box, DVD player and other accessories.

I'm including a link that will help you understand HDMI and recommend vendors. They're good recommendations, and they'll help you find cables for $10 or so that work just as well as the $100-plus brand the store may pushing: http://reviews.cnet.com/hdmi-guide/.

Next, consider adding a sound system. While built-in speakers furnish usable sound, there is no way they'll give you the movie-like experience HDTV makes possible. Here's a guide - from the same Cnet site I mentioned above - that will walk you through selecting an affordable and pleasing sound system: http://tinyurl.

com/9p2a5d.

The Web page recommends systems grouped by price range so you can find something that fits your budget. Keep in mind that, if your bank account took a hit from the holidays, you can always add the sound system later. Another alternative is to hook your TV to an existing stereo. Even a simple two-speaker system will greatly enhance movies and concert shows.

My next recommendation may be my most important. Enjoy the set for a bit before you make any radical changes. Let your eyes get used to the set with the settings as they are right out of the box.

It undoubtedly is a big change from what you've had before, and what strikes you as too much or too little at first - in the way of color settings - may grow on you in time. Even if not, you'll have a visual reference when you do adjust the picture.

But let's assume you've had it a few days and are ready to tinker with the settings.

Before you start, I'd like for you to perform what is an unnatural act for most of us - well, men, anyway. I want you to read the manual. It'll save you a lot of frustration sifting through menus.

Remember, the goal here is not a technically perfect picture; it's a picture that pleases you and your family. With that in mind, a few tips for specific settings: Brightness: Despite the name, use this control to set black levels. Purists make a big deal out of getting a picture with perfect blacks. Adjust so blacks seem deep but still offer detail in the shadows.

Contrast: Similarly, contrast should be called white-level control. I can almost guarantee you that your set came out of the box with contrast set too high. Use scenes that show lots of pure white to adjust the contrast. You want a pure but-not-blinding white. When you see a white shirt, for instance, you still want enough detail to see the buttons.

Sharpness: The set provides a sharp-looking picture by electronically drawing an edge around the shapes you see. Most sets want to dazzle you with sharpness. My guess is you'll be happiest with a little less sharpness.

Color: Your set will have more than one way to adjust color. For now, I suggest sticking with the control that will offer these settings: natural, cool or warm. Cycle through to select. Later, you can tweak more exacting controls for saturation and hue.

There are various programs that offer ways to make more dramatic changes. They come on a DVD and offer reference pictures to help you. Here are links to a couple:•http://tinyurl.com/7o4hue.

•http://tinyurl.com/8zmkl7.

You can even pay $250 or more to get a professional adjustment. Most of us can get by just fine using our eyes.

A final note: Avoid what I call the "deep" menus. Your manual won't show you how to reach and use them, but some Web sites do. These settings are for technicians. If changed incorrectly you will be forced to get professional help for your TV and maybe for your marriage.

Bill Husted writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail him at tecbud@bellsouth.net