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Consumer tips - Consumer electronics

Audio and screen quality, ergonomics, electro-magnetic compatibility: these are the important criteria in our tests for TVs, DVD players, loud speakers and headphones.  If you see a product with our certificate, you can view the exact content of the tests at TÜVdotCom by using the ID number.

Consumer tips - televisions

It is not simply a question of size when you purchase a new flat screen television. Think about where the set is going to go in your home. A 32 or 27 inch TV is ideal for the average living room, in which you would sit two to three metres away from the screen.  At 42 inches, you should really be five to six metres away. Otherwise, your area of focus changes too much, giving you eye strain.

Plasma or LCD?

You should also consider your own viewing habits. If you mostly watch TV in daylight, select an LCD screen, as the light density is higher and the screen is better coated than a plasma set. Plasma sets, on the other hand, are better suited to home cinema enthusiasts due to the higher black levels they provide.

HDTV and broadband TV

The set should also be able to adequately reproduce the new broadband TV, as in the future HDTV – high resolution television – will be the standard.  For this, the screen needs a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Many sets, even those labelled as "HD ready" offer less. To be equipped for the television of the future, the set requires an HDMI or DVI interface for the HDTV receiver, a connection for the video camera and at least three Scart sockets for the "old" satellite receiver, DVD player and video recorder.