A high-end TV used to be a simple purchase: pick the biggest screen that fits the wall and the budget. Now, it has two jobs: look great when it's on and look like it belongs when it's off. You can spend months getting the finishes and furniture right, then watch a big black rectangle take over the wall once the game ends.

The good news is that the latest home entertainment options go well beyond a single display in a plain frame. Some are built to hold their color in a sunlit room, and others disappear into the décor entirely. Picture quality still matters, but it's no longer the only thing to weigh when choosing a TV, since each type suits a different room and a different way of watching. Keep reading for a walkthrough of the main types and how to match one to your viewing preferences and design needs.

SEE ALSO: Indoor vs. Outdoor TVs: More Different Than You’d Expect

Start With The Light In Your Room 

Before you pick a screen, look at how much ambient light the room gets. A sunroom or open great room with big windows asks a lot of a TV, especially during a Red Sox day game with the shades open. Afternoon sun can rake across the room, so glare and washed-out color are the usual complaints.

For a high-end TV in a bright room, premium LED models handle the light best, and the newest go a step further. Sony's Bravia 9 II and 7 II use True RGB, where each color has its own LED light source rather than being converted from blue or white light. Sony says that keeps hues accurate at higher brightness.

A dedicated theater is a different story. With the lights down, OLED's deep blacks do their best work. In a sunny room, smart shades can also help you protect finishes from fading.

Art TVs And Mirror TVs Can Blend Into The Room

If the TV is only on for a few hours a day, it makes sense to choose one that looks good the rest of the time. Samsung's The Frame is the best-known example. It shows artwork or photography when you aren't watching, comes in sizes from 55 to 98 inches, and offers swappable bezels so the frame can match your trim. Its glare-free screen helps minimize reflections, and the Frame Pro adds a wireless connect box that expands your design options even more, so the display can be mounted up to 30 feet away from the connect box.

A mirror TV takes disappearing a step further. Séura builds mirrors that show a bright picture when the TV is on and look like an ordinary mirror when it's off. The company makes versions for living rooms and bathrooms, plus round styles that fit well in dining rooms or home bars. Each is built to order with more than 100 frame styles, so it reads as a piece of furniture rather than electronics. 

Concealed TVs Slip Behind Moving Art

For the most hidden high-end TV option, Media Décor, the art and TV-concealment line from Leon Speakers, makes motorized art that covers the TV at the push of a button. Its art lifts slide artwork or a mirror up, down, or to the sides to reveal the screen beneath it. One version can split the art at the center and part it to either side. It suits a living room where the TV takes the lead at night, and a gallery wall takes over the rest of the day.

Models handle TVs up to 120 inches, so you don't have to shrink the screen to hide it. You can choose from thousands of art and frame options, or use a framed original or your own photos. The system works with home automation and universal remotes, so it runs from the same controls as the rest of the room.

Find The Right Fit For Your Boston Home

The right high-end TV depends on your room, your lighting, and how you watch. Audio Concepts can match the display to your space and integrate it with the rest of your home. Contact our team to schedule a consultation.