By John DeFore

If your household is one of the untold number that found a new TV under the tree this year, odds are good it’s a high-definition one. HDTV encompasses a wide array of technologies, from desktop LCD units to home-theater projectors, but some setup principles apply to practically all of them. Setting aside the nearly infinite combinations of different components you may want to connect to the display (what, you don’t have a Tivo, Blu-ray and DVD-recorder?), here are five general tips for all new HDTV owners:

Kill the Glare: Flat-panel displays (the most highly promoted HDTVs) allow much more versatility in terms of placement. But think twice before committing to a spot, especially if you’re screwing mounting brackets into a wall. Be sure that, from where viewers are likely to sit, a window or lighting fixture won’t be reflected on the TV’s screen. Ideally, you’ll be watching in the dark or near-dark most of the time, but you’d hate to have a sit-and-stare sick day and learn that the mid-morning sun casts a bright glare on Dr. Phil or Oprah.

Wire it Right: Different devices accept different cables, and some offer a variety of connections, which range dramatically in quality. If your display accepts HDMI inputs (which look a bit like a computer’s USB cable) from DVD players and the like, use it; it offers the best picture. The next step down is the still-good component video cable, which uses three plugs on each end to transmit the image data in three separate color channels. Most other connectors aren’t actually high-def, though they’re acceptible for some low-def purposes. If you want to watch high-def TV without paying for HD enhanced cable (for instance, if you mostly use your television for DVD viewing and only occasionally watch broadcasts), consider an antenna like the HDTVa ($59.95), which grabs both high-def and conventional broadcasts and doesn’t require outside wiring.

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