]In this article, we look at five mistakes not to make when buying a new TV, based on current techniques, standards and developments. For many people, the TV is the most important device in the home cinema system, but let let’s get some clarity on that. The TV may be what you watch, but know that what you don’t see is just as important. Without good sound, a good picture will not be enough and to reproduce that good sound you need a good audio system. In short, all components within your home cinema system deserve the same attention if you want an optimal home cinema experience, and it is important for each component to consider exactly what you want and what the product offers. Be sure to read our tips and advice section, with tips on purchasing and using speakers, receivers, soundbars and televisions. 
Compare TVs purely in the store
Although we are shopping more and more online nowadays, many people still choose to go to the physical store and choose a TV from there. After thorough preparation, reading expert reviews and researching your own wishes and requirements, this should not be a problem, but basing the choice solely on the advice of sellers and comparing televisions in the store is a common mistake. When you go to a store completely openly (without your own research), in many cases the sellers are directed to certain models without really making a logical and extensive comparison on paper and based on your wishes. I have been a salesperson myself, know salespeople and know how things often go. In many cases, the customer’s wishes are not extensively analyzed (especially in the larger stores) and it often goes towards what is in stock and what there is a margin on for the store. This will not apply to every seller, but it happens regularly and is therefore a reason not to compare in the store. Also, if you compare in the store, you do not know 80 percent of the possibilities of a TV and you are certainly not aware of what other users and experts think of the TV. Our advice is first of all to read yourself well in advance. . What are you looking for? What are your wishes for a new TV? What is your budget? What do other users and experts (reviews) think of the TVs on your list? Set aside a few hours for this and combine the knowledge you have gathered yourself with the knowledge of the seller and the models in the store. You can read all our tips for buying a television in the store in the article below. 
Go for the best image quality, in the store
This point is part of the story above. There are still many people who are guided in their search for a new TV by what they see on the TVs in the store. For example, we often hear that a TV from brand A looked many times better in the store than the TV from brand B. Especially when TVs with different picture techniques are compared in the store, wrong impressions can arise. For example, due to its relatively low brightness, an OLED TV may appear less dynamic and sparkling in the store than an LCD LED TV with a very high brightness. That looks good in the store, with full lighting, but do you need it at home, with purely mood lighting? These are points that are dangerous when you buy a TV purely on the image quality in a store. Firstly, shops often have full fluorescent lighting on, making it a very brightly lit environment that not only affects the image quality but also makes LCD LED TVs look nicer than OLED TVs. Although both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, OLED offers a completely different image in dark environments (without full fluorescent lighting and more like the normal living room) and the comparison with LCD is a lot fairer. LCD LED TVs generally have a higher brightness, so that they can compete with that fluorescent light and at first glance win over the OLED TVs. Another argument is that in most cases the TVs in the store are not exactly the same. way and even if this were the case, there are always the customers who play with the settings. It is therefore almost impossible to compare two TVs with each other if you do not know whether they are also set up in such a way that you can compare them honestly. Manufacturers also have a so-called demo mode on every TV that should show the optimal image quality, but this is also dangerous because it shows content that has been completely optimized by the manufacturer itself for display on the TV in question. In addition, in nine out of ten cases the vivid picture mode is used, which makes a TV stand out better in the store, but which causes an excessively exaggerated color reproduction at home with little impressive black values. All in all, the conclusion is that TVs compare in a large electronics store. is often virtually impossible. Then how do you do it? That is a difficult one and you are therefore mainly dependent on reviews from experts and experiences of other users. Fortunately, there are also smaller, specialized stores that in some cases provide a better environment to really get a good look at a TV and also take the time to demonstrate a TV in a way that you would use it at home. The main advice here is that comparing picture quality in a store is not a good starting point for buying a new TV, but if you do make sure you go to a store where it’s possible and where the time is right. you are taken.
Buying the wrong size
Televisions come in a variety of sizes, from 32-inches all the way up to 110-inches. However, once you’re in the store and have no idea what a TV would look like on your wall or cabinet in your home, chances are you’re making the wrong choice. On a large wall or a large rack with all TVs of different sizes, it is very difficult to choose the right size for your home, which means that you may come home with a TV that is too small or too large. It is therefore wise before you go to the store (or order a TV online) at home to measure the dimensions of the wall space, the distance from the TV and/or the space on the cabinet. It is recommended that you mimic the size you have in mind, say 50-inch, with a few pieces of paper and hang it on the wall. This gives you a good idea of how big the TV in your living room will be. You can read more about the optimal viewing distance and size of a TV on our page with tips and advice about televisions. 
Buy products from one specific brand
Although it is becoming less and less, many consumers are still big fans of a certain brand, and prefer to buy everything from that one brand. For example, Philips in the Netherlands is, of course, still popular and the average Dutch person owns several devices from the brand. Choosing a specific brand because you have had good experiences with it or have a good feeling about it is of course fine, but don’t let your choice depend on it. If you’re looking for the best TV or TV that best suits your needs, it pays to take off the eyecups and give other brands a try. Even TVs from the best manufacturers can sometimes be less than models from the competition, or the value for money is better with others. The quality in the field of TV also shifts every year and we have to deal with different image techniques; oled, qd-oled, miniled and lcd led. In addition, each brand has its own features, including the smart TV platform, which may perform less than the competition. In short, there are many points that you can compare on before buying a TV of a certain brand. Do not immediately limit yourself to only the models of one specific brand. See what is available, what best suits your needs, which image technique you prefer, and see what the experiences of others are with the televisions in question. Many people still think that a player of brand A is better works together with a television from brand A. Or that a receiver or soundbar from brand B causes problems more quickly when combined with a TV from brand C. Now that is 99 percent not true. There are a small number of features where this could occur. One of these features is HDMI-CEC, which allows two devices to communicate with each other. In some cases, the possibilities for communication between devices (more than just turning them on and off at the same time) are more extensive if you choose two devices of the same brand. This is because manufacturers are free in how exactly they implement HDMI-CEC. However, our advice is to mainly look at the quality and functionality of the devices you are looking for. In our view, the fact that HDMI-CEC is perhaps slightly more extensive does not outweigh the possible difference in quality between a player, receiver or television from another brand. So base your choice mainly on quality, experiences of others and the functionality you are looking for. 
Being misled by terms
One of the reasons why consumers often no longer see the trees for the woods is the maze of terms and techniques. Even for the TV connoisseurs it is sometimes difficult to determine what a specific term means. TV manufacturers are constantly inventing new terms, brand names and slogans to convince consumers to go for their models. But, do you know exactly what those terms mean? Can you compare TVs based on these terms? And are these terms important when choosing a particular TV? For example, QLED may sound more advanced than OLED to some, but does that mean QLED is better than OLED? Does the Ultra HD Premium certificate mean that a TV also shows a better picture than an Ultra HD television without this certificate? And, does a TV with Super Pro TruMotion Expert display moving images better than a TV with Natural Motion? One way to prepare for this is thorough research, provided you also want to know the details. Read about the standards and techniques currently in use, and the terms associated with them by manufacturers. A good place to start is our page with tips and advice about TVs. Here you will find almost all important terms, standards and techniques. You can read more about the motion sharpness of TVs and the different OLED techniques here. Read up on it so that you don’t let yourself be misled by all kinds of fancy terms that don’t really mean much. It’s about the specifications and techniques that are hidden behind those terms. This allows you to make the right choice and weigh up what is and isn’t important. But even those specifications do not show the full picture in all cases. For example, the ‘refresh rate’ is measured in different ways and the maximum light output is often measured at a specific amount of white image. Don’t be blinded by it and especially look for experiences from users and experts if you want to know how those specifications are reflected in the image quality. 
Conclusion
Although there are many more things that you can take into account when buying a new TV, you can in principle make a good choice by preventing these mistakes. The most important thing is that you look for experiences from others and carefully read reviews from experts. Comparing in store or buying online without a good idea is simply not wise. Like all other components, the TV is an important part of your home cinema system. So take the time to buy your ideal TV. For more information, tips and advice for the design and use of all equipment in your AV system, please visit our tips and advice section.
