Accessories and Warranties

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

1. Accessories

Cable requirements: In the store, you'll probably hear a salesperson tell you to get extra cables. Expensive cables will deliver an incremental boost in video performance, especially in reducing interference, but most viewers can't tell the difference. With digital HDMI connections, you will need only to consider specialized cables mainly for longer runs. For 2m and below cables, even generic models will work fine for 1080p signals.

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: Many TV makers produce matching stands for their larger TVs. If you like their style, they usually make setting up the TV a lot simpler. That's because you won't have to worry about your stand being able to support the TV or being the right height for comfortable viewing from the couch.

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.

2. Extended warranties

The final question you'll be asked when buying a TV is generally, "would you like an extended warranty with that?" Most savvy electronics shoppers will answer with a knee-jerk no. TVs are an exception, however. With the numerous newer TV technologies becoming available and the high prices of HDTVs, it often makes perfect sense to spend a few hundred dollars extending the protection on your investment. You should still read the terms of the agreement carefully--the extended warranty should at least cover everything that the manufacturer's warranty does, just for a longer period, and may offer additional benefits such as preventive maintenance and free or low-cost repairs.

Most extended warranties begin from the date of purchase and so may overlap with the manufacturer's warranty. When deciding whether or not to purchase extended coverage, the ultimate decision is whether the cost is worth the coverage that the warranty provides against whatever risk you expect the TV to be subjected to. That's a decision only you can make.

3. Manufacturer warranties

The standard warranty covers parts and labor ranging from one to three years. Some manufacturer warranties have separate time frames for accessories--such as the remote controller which is often covered for one year. There are also other vendors that offer onsite service on more expensive and larger models which are difficult to ship.