Sun Sentinel

Super Bowl kicks off big TV buying season

Daniel Vasquez

Sun Sentinel Columnist

5:18 PM EST, January 29, 2012


The Super Bowl shopping season is in full swing.

South and Central Florida shoppers hoping to catch the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots on a bigger, bolder TV are looking for bargains. And local retailers are lowering prices, rivaling or beating those offered on Black Friday and throughout last year's holidays.

But don't rush into a deal just for the Big Game. TVs are like spouses: They're a long-term commitment, may cost you a lot of cash and will likely rearrange your home to accommodate them.

We get it. It's a big game, big event and a bigger screen impresses your Super Bowl party guests.

If you're ready to take the plunge, because you want an upgrade, there are smart strategies for buying the latest TV technology . Get your head out of those high-definition clouds and put on your game helmet. Look beyond glitzy features and offers of free stuff. Size matters, though biggest isn't always best, as well as price.

Paul Atkins of Lake Worth walked into a Sunrise electronics store recently, ready to take home a 65-inch-plus LED HDTV. Wanted the highest definition available (1080p), the fastest screen refresh rate (240Hz) and absolutely no 3-D feature.

"I want something very specific because of our Playstation 3 gaming. It's all about FPS, frames per second," said Atkins, an air conditioning operator at Florida Atlantic University. "I don't want 3-D because I heard it might mess up my gaming."

It took more than 45 minutes, but he walked away a winner with a 60-inch Sharp Aquos Quatron, saving himself more than $500 while still taking home the latest features, including 3-D, because it turns out 3-D may enhance gaming. Besides, the feature can be easily turned off with a remote for non-3D content.

Atkins paid $1,599 plus tax. "It will be in my house in time for the game," Atkins aid. "That means we're having a Super Bowl party."

What you should know:

What is the biggest LED available? The Sharp Aquos 3D HDTV, costing about $5,000.

No one-size fits all. The best TV for you will fit your room, budget and needs now and into the future. If you don't watch a lot of movies at home or use online services like Hulu, Netflix and Pandora, skip 3DTVs and Smart TVs.

Buy a TV that fits your space. A TV that is too big will feel like you are in the front row of a movie theater, scanning side to side until you have a headache. With today's HDTVs, the general rule is you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size in inches for the best viewing. You should have at least 10 feet (120 inches) for an 80-inch TV; or at least a 40-inch TV for that space.

Plasma, LCD, LED: Plasma TVs use more power but offer great images in large sizes. LCDs are thinner, brighter; LEDs are the thinnest and brightest TVs., 954-356-4219 or 561-243-6686.