Setting up your HDTV

How to get the most out of your HDTV picture performance

You wouldn’t buy a mobile phone and settle for the ringtone that the manufacturer’s default setting has chosen, so why do you put all your trust in it when it comes to the all-important picture on your TV? There are millions of viewers around the world watching garish pictures that make people look like they are suffering from sunburn or dangerously high blood pressure or in extreme situations, like Oompaloompas. We spend hundreds, even thousands, of pounds on HDTVs in the search for a good performance, and then throw the money away by settling for the default settings. The time for change is here, we refuse to let you settle for second best any longer.

We are going to take you through three steps to ensure that you are getting the most out of your HD TV. Every TV has options to adjust the screen to your liking but we are going to show you how to enhance the picture, making it closer and more accurate.

The daylight is the most ideal lighting for watching TV. You can even get daylight bulbs to imitate the light at night time. It is tempting to dim the lights at night to help you to relax but this strains your eyes and can make you feel more tired than you really are. Try to avoid any light reflecting onto the screen too as this will really impair the view. Once you’ve got the lighting right you can start experimenting with the options on the TV.

Contrast

Contrast settings are also referred to as white level, it does exactly what it states on the tin, by controlling the intensity of the white areas and controls the light output of the picture. If the contrast is too high the detail of the display can become distorted and can eventually drive the tubes and plasma elements into the ground, as well as damaging your eyes.

Find an image where there is a block of white which involves detail, for example, a white shirt with buttons or a polar bear. Take the contrast as high as it will go and then reduce it until the details on the white look clear. Ideal contrast is usually set between 30 and 50 percent.

Or saturation, as it is sometimes called, controls the strength of the colours on your screen. If you take the colour option right down to the bottom it will appear black and white, if you turn it right up everything looks too garish and unbearable to watch.

Most new TVs feature a setting called colour temperature, this controls all the colours on offer, you should choose low or warm to get the best result. Then use an image of a women or child with light skin tones, it’s better if you can get a close-up. Turn the colour right up before slowly reducing it until the skin tone looks natural.

Brightness is also known as ‘black level‘, the reason for this is that brightness actually adjusts how dark the black areas of the picture are. The brightness improves the dimensions of the picture and detail, keeping darker colours from merging into each other.

Choose a programme with scenes involving a similar amount of dark and light objects. Turn the brightness right up as far as it will go and then watch the picture closely while you reduce the brightness. You will see the difference and you will no when you have gone to low. The difference is amazing.