To buy a big-screen television that's right for your space and that will last for years, you must consider a number of factors. Choosing the wrong set for your needs will prevent you from taking advantage of all the possibilities of big screen. Worse, it could lead to the headaches of trying to straighten out difficulties. It pays to take a few steps before you buy so you know what you're getting into.
Instructions
1. Measure the spot you've chosen for your big-screen TV. You need at least 6 free inches of wall space between it and any other objects in the vicinity, such as pictures or windows. In addition, measure the distance between the intended spot for the TV and the spot where you intend to sit. You should sit two to three times the diagonal length of the screen away from the TV to get the best viewing experience.
2. Count the components you intend to hook up to the TV, including your cable box, DVR, DVD player and any other peripheral, and note the types of cables needed. Big-screen TVs usually have multiple cables that connect to a wide array of components, but you need to be sure you can fit them all. Pay special attention to HDMI connections, which are high-quality cable connections found in Blu-ray players, upconvert DVDs and high-end DVRs.
3. Consider screen resolution. The best sets offer 1080p resolution, which means 1080 lines of pixels on the screen all acting at once. Screens with lower resolution may offer 1080i, 720p or 720i as their maximum. They're cheaper than the highest resolution but their displays are not as clear. If you can afford it, get a TV with 1080p.
4. Determine how much weight your TV stand or mounting apparatus can support. Big-screen TVs are thin but heavy. Don't forget to add the weight of components such as DVD players, if necessary.
5. Decide between a plasma screen or an LCD TV. Both provide excellent image quality. LCD TVs generally use less power than plasma screen TVs, however, and are lighter. You also can use them at higher elevations (above 6,500 feet), which cause problems for plasma TVs. On the downside, LCD colors are not quite as vibrant as those of plasma TVs, and the image quality of LCDs isn't as sharp.
Tags: image quality, plasma screen