How to Shop For and Install a TV on Game Day
We’re assuming this isn’t your first HDTV, so presumably you already have an HD-capable set-top box and HDMI cable from your previous set. Hook that into the back of your new big screen, and if you have a sound bar, we strongly suggest you hook that up, too.
[one_fourth]
[/one_fourth][three_fourth_last]
Sound is a big factor in football, and most sets can’t do justice to punishing tackles the way a sound bar can. (Sound bars usually connect via HDMI, optical, or coaxial cables.)
If you bought a smart TV, good for you. We appreciate the benefits that Internet connectivity brings to a television, but skip the setup for now—you can log in to wireless routers and fill in e-mail addresses later. But you should dig briefly into your new TV’s picture settings.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but skip the Sports mode and choose Movie or Cinema instead for the most natural-looking picture.
Now tune in to the game—and don’t forget to save a spot in the middle of the couch for the friend who helped you set up your TV. Many LCD and LED TVs have fairly narrow viewing angles, so viewers watching from directly in front of the screen, rather than off to the side, will see the best picture quality.
