IntroductionIn six short sections, we’ll help guide you towards making informed choices on buying the plasma TV you need for your home theater or living room, tradeshow application, business or retail display, or executive and corporate boardroom. The sections in this Buying Guide are arranged in an order and progression that we feel is most helpful in imparting key information towards a plasma TV purchase. First, we’ll take a look at the kind of environment in which you are setting up the plasma display. Next, we’ll see what kind of content you intend to watch on the TV and what sort of A/V devices you’ll be using to determine the plasma type for your needs. Then, we’ll check out important plasma specs you should know about and installation issues to pay attention to. Lastly, we’ll take a quick look at pricing and other cost issues that you may want to consider. Ready? Let’s begin. The Plasma TV EnvironmentCalculating the Correct Distance In setting up the environment for your plasma TV, a primary consideration is to determine the screen size to match the floor plan or available space where the plasma will be displayed. Plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen, just like any other television set. You can typically choose from the following sizes: 32″, 40″, 42″, 46″, 50″, 61″, or 63″. Bigger is not always better, and a certain distance must be maintained between the plasma TV and the viewing area for optimal viewing experience. Sitting too far away diminishes the overall impact. Sitting too close, however, could also present its own problems as when you start seeing the screen’s “structure”; i. e. , the dots or pixels that make up the plasma display. The right distance depends on the size of your TV. – For 32″ to 37″ TVs, 6 to 10 feet from the screen is needed. – For 42″ to 46″ TVs, 10 to 14 feet from the screen is needed. – For 50″ TVs, 12 to 16 feet from the screen is needed. – For 60″ and larger TVs, at least 15 feet of space from the screen is needed. In determining the appropriate TV size for you, you should also consider the space required to install the unit itself. When recessing a plasma display unit, allow at least 3 inches of open space at the top of the unit and adequate ventilation space of at least 2 inches behind it as well. Remember, too, that most plasma displays do not have built-in speakers, so you’ll need to allow space enough to attach speakers. Viewing Angles: More on TV Placement Viewing angle is another factor that affects the viewing experience. Today’s plasma TVs offer viewing angles approaching (and sometimes exceeding) 170 degrees. This is much better than viewing angles for LCD displays and rear-projection TVs, and the wide viewing angles for plasma displays translates to a bright, clear picture for anyone in the room no matter where they’re sitting. Room Lighting and the TV Picture Lighting is also important in the area where your plasma TV is set up. Plasma TVs generally do a fine job in rooms with regular indoor lighting, but optimal viewing may not be possible in areas with too much direct sunlight. Thus, windows that let in direct sunlight should have easily adjustable blinds or curtains that can eliminate reflections off the screen. Light from a window behind the TV also makes it difficult for the eyes to adjust to the very brightness of the screen, and window treatments are recommended in such cases. A little bit of controlled background lighting could also be helpful, as the background light gives the black portions of the picture a deeper, darker look. Altitude May Increase Noise Levels If you live in Denver, Santa Fe or other areas above 6,000 feet, be aware that some plasma displays may start exhibiting operational noise. This is due to increased pressure on the gases contained in the glass substrate of the plasma, a phenomenon that makes the unit work harder to cool the display element. Check to see if the manufacturer has a maximum altitude rating if you are setting up the plasma in high-elevation areas. What You Can Watch on Your Plasma TVYou can choose between HDTV (High Definition TV) and EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) for your choice of plasma display. Which type you prefer depends on the kind of material you intend to watch on the plasma. EDTV is the perfect entry point into digital television, with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio and an image resolution that is 200% better than today’s analog televisions. On the other hand, HDTV has up to four times the resolution and colors compared to EDTV, offering the ultimate visual and sound experience. At present, only a limited number of programs are broadcast in true high-definition format (all major networks broadcast HD counterparts to their regular analog-signal broadcasts). In fact, if you plan to use a plasma HDTV for regular TV programming, you may be surprised to find that regular TV programming may even appear slightly worse, as the big screen exaggerates the flaws in standard TV programs. DVD images from most of the currently available DVD titles on the market today also do not fare as well on true HD plasmas. In fact, these DVD images appear better on EDTV plasma units, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display. Why bother with a High Definition TV at all, you may ask? Because HDTV, paired with a true High-Definition or high-quality source, can produce truly stunning images. With a progressive-scan DVD player paired with, say, any of the recently released HD-DVD or forthcoming Blu-ray DVD titles (encoded in true HD format), your plasma HDTV can come to spectacular life and bring out unrivaled image quality. And as more TV programming becomes available in High-Definition format with the looming of the FCC deadline for switching to all-digital broadcasting, plasma HDTV sets will have more TV content to show. One thing’s for sure: Your HDTV won’t be obsolete anytime in the next few years. Devices for your Plasma TVWith today’s plasma TV models, almost all of them will have multiple inputs that allow connection of various devices, with 32″ or larger screens having inputs for connecting six or more different A/V components. Which video components do you have now, and which do you plan to add in the future?At the very least, you’ll probably want to connect your antenna or cable box, plus a DVD player and perhaps a VCR. Other possibilities include a satellite TV receiver, video game system, or TiVo hard disk recorder. And if you use a camcorder, you will definitely want a set of front-panel A/V inputs on your new TV. The newer plasma TVs will include digital inputs such as HDMI or DVI, which can accept HDTV signals from your cable box or satellite (and even some DVD players) in an all-digital format. Some plasma TVs also include a VGA or DVI PC input, which allows your plasma unit to pull double-duty as a PC monitor. Connection tip: If you route your video signals through your home theater receiver, you can connect even more video sources. Most home theater receivers provide Composite Video inputs and outputs to enable video switching, making it easy to choose from among your video sources. If yours does, you may be able to connect your video components to your receiver, which will then send the selected video signal to your TV. Many receivers have S-Video connections as well, and some even include Component Video switching. Plasma TV Specifications When comparing plasma TV sets, it’s important to know what to look for to make sense of the specifications you’re presented with. Below is a quick rundown on the necessary specs that you need to weigh before making that all-important purchase decision. Resolution: Resolution is a determining factor in selecting a plasma TV. Do you want HDTV or EDTV? HDTV, with a resolution of at least 1024 x 720, is the ultimate visual and sound experience, but what is available for viewing on HD is currently restricted to a few HD channels on cable, as well as the newly emerging and necessarily few DVD titles from the HD-DVD and Blu-ray DVD formats. On the other hand, most of the currently available DVDs actually play better when viewed on EDTV, because the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display. Choosing the type of plasma TV that you want, therefore, is a question that should be considered along with the type of content you frequently watch or will be watching on your plasma. Inputs: A plasma television should work with any existing video component with standard A/V, S-Video, or Component Video outputs. In addition, most plasma TVs have DVI or HDMI connections for use with high-definition sources. Some plasma TVs also have VGA input connections that allow them to be used as monitors for a PC. At the minimum, look for the following specifications on a plasma connection: DVI-I or DVI-D, Component, RCA or Composite, and S-Video. Take into consideration your current component set-up such as your satellite system, cable box, DVD player, and external stereo components and see what kind of inputs or connectors they use. Tuner: Check your plasma to see if it is HD-ready or HD-integrated. An HD-ready plasma TV is essentially a monitor that needs an external tuner source before it can function as a TV. An HD-integrated panel has a tuner built into the set and is ready for use. If you receive your HDTV programming via cable or satellite instead of over-the-air, you may not need a tuner at all, as you will be using the set-top boxes provided by your cable/satellite service to receive HDTV programming. Check with your cable or satellite providers for more details. Some cable/satellite companies do away with set-top boxes and provide their subscribers with cable cards instead. Check with your cable/satellite provider if they provide cable cards and the cable-card type that they offer, and then check the specification on the plasma for cable card slots. Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio is the measurement that determines the variation between the whitest and darkest parts of the image. This is an important specification, since plasma TVs with a low contrast ratio will make dark images look muddy and gray while making light images look washed out. A good measure of contrast ratio is 1,000:1 or higher. Anything less than 1,000:1 especially on a set that is 42″ or larger may not provide optimal viewing experience. Brightness: Without sufficient brightness, your image will look muddy and soft even in a dark room. Viewing distance, screen size, and ambient room light will also affect the need for more brightness capability. A brightness rating listed at 550 cd/m2 or higher is good, but don’t get bogged down with the technical number listed. Instead, make sure that the screen is bright enough for your needs as you conduct your own visual inspection. Panel Life: Look for a minimum of 60,000 hours of panel life in your plasma specifications. This is the rating on how long it would take before your panel has half the brightness compared to when it was new. A 60,000-hour spec translates to approximately 20 years of viewing at 8 hours per day. (This approximation may vary, depending on the source and type of content, settings, environment, and use of your plasma TV. )Anti-burn-in/Pixel Shift: Burn-in refers to the remnants burned on to the screen after a static image has been left on the plasma for a long period of time. To minimize or prevent burn-in, determine if the plasma panel utilizes burn-in protection, such as power management settings, full-time picture or pixel shift (both vertical and horizontal) technologies, or automatic screensaver functions. Speakers: If you plan to use an external surround sound system, you won’t need audio speakers, but most plasma TV sets include speakers that rated anywhere from 7-12 Watts Pre-amp which is much better than that of conventional TVs and sufficient for most viewing. Check your plasma’s specifications to see if it comes with speakers and if the speakers are removable. Universal Remote: A universal remote can take the place of having one remote, so that it controls all the various components of your TV system, such as the DVD player, audio, cable/satellite etc. If you plan on buying a universal remote, check to see if it’s supported by the plasma set of your choice to make sure the plasma accepts universal remote devices. Power Consumption: Power consumption for plasmas range from 240 watts to over 500 watts, If you’re concerned with how much energy a plasma set may use, check its specifications to determine power consumption. Units tend to have higher wattage requirements as the screen increases. A good rule of thumb is to compare similar-sized units together; units with higher wattages tend to use inferior components as a rule. Installation and Mounting OptionsThere are basically two options for installing a plasma TV: Displaying it on a table stand, cart, or similarly equivalent horizontal surface; or hanging the Plasma TV (on a wall or from a ceiling, using wall mount fixtures). One of the major benefits of plasma TV is the flexibility of mounting and installation options that are available. However, because of the sheer size of the TV, mounting presents its own sets of issues that need to be taken into account. For wall (or ceiling) mounting, you will need two people (ideally), with at least one having enough experience to determine the strength of the wall, what is behind the wall, and the proper hardware to use; e. g. , anchors, screws, etc. The last thing you need is to have your new Plasma TV fall off the wall and smash into bits because of improper wall mounting. Professional installation is highly recommended in this case. Below are various TV mounting options you might consider: Table Stands are popular for displaying plasma units. These units, however, are not one-size- fits-all appliances. Sometimes one is included with the TV itself; other times you have to purchase the stand separately. Most consumer-oriented plasma TVs come with their own matching table stand, used whenever there is enough tabletop space to support the TV. These units are custom-made to manufacturers’ specifications, as each plasma display has its own requirements on how the stand fits the plasma. The table stand allows for maximum flexibility, as nothing is permanently affixed to the wall. (Add graphic) Plasma TV Carts are typically used in business applications for trade shows and in-house presentations. Table carts are often used in a courtroom setting or to mobilize up to the edge of a boardroom table for maximum visual presentation. The table cart may include a platform for placing a DVD player, laptop computer, or VCR. (Add graphic) Flat Wall Mounts maximize the space-saving benefits of plasma technology. This is generally the least expensive option, and it adds less than two inches to the total depth of the plasma unit. It is used in home theaters, living rooms, or company boardrooms to achieve and maximally offset the sleek appearance that plasma displays are known for. (Add graphic) Tilt Wall Mounts let you place your plasma TV above eye level, keeping the unit out of the way but allowing it to be readily viewable from anywhere in the room. A tilt wall mount typically allows 15 to 20 degrees of tilt (depending on the brand of the wall mount). This option is often used to install plasma displays above fireplaces and in bedrooms, and is also used for overhead displays in retail or industry (with or without an attached ceiling bracket). The tilt wall mount adds from 4 to 6 inches to the depth of the mounted display. (Add graphic) Articulating Wall Mounts use swivel arms to render the plasma unit flush with the wall and out of the way when the unit is not in use. Pulled out, this mounting device allows you to turn the display 120 degrees to either side and as much as 10 degrees up or down. It adds between 3 or 4 inches to the depth of the plasma mount (depending on the manufacturer of the wall mount), and is used for maximum flexibility in sports bars, library studies, and commercial display operations. (Add graphic) Ceiling Mounts enable you to mount your plasma TV where you want it in case a wall isn’t available. This option is generally coupled with a tilt mount, so that the display can be adjusted downward for easier viewing. Lengths of ceiling mount poles vary according to customer needs, but standard lengths are from 24 to 43 inches. Ceiling mounts are usually used for airport displays, checkout counters, hospital rooms, and bedrooms. (Add graphic)Pricing and Other CostsPlasma TVs are expensive, but they do fall into a few distinct categories. Below is a rough guide to retail and online pricing for plasma units (current as of this writing, May 2006). – $1,000 to $1,500 buys you a plasma TV up to 42″- $1,500 to $3,000 buys you a plasma TV up to 50″- More than $3,000 buys you a plasma up to 65″Also: – Under $1,500 buys you a refurbished EDTV plasma- Under $2,000 buys you an EDTV plasma- More than $2,000 buys you an HDTV plasmaIn addition to the cost of the plasma TV itself, you may want to factor in the price of accessories, such as cables, surge protectors, additional audio equipment, furniture, and room treatments to arrive at a realistic cost outlay for your plasma TV purchase. Lastly, be aware of “standard” charges that apply to your purchase: a sales tax when the TV is bought at a brick-and-mortar establishment; shipping charges (especially if the TV is bought online); and delivery and/or set-up charges. Check and compare the manufacturer warranties for various plasma TV brands; extended warranties are always extra.

Consider This When Thinking About Buying Big:

1. Choose the Right Screen Size for your Room

Your seating distance will determine your sense of picture clarity and detail as well as the quality of the viewing experience. If all you watch are true HDTV images, then you can sit as close as twice the diagonal screen size? about 8 feet away for a 46-inch or a bit more for a 50-inch diagonal screen. But sitting that close may not be practical, because until the final conversion to all-HDTV broadcasting is completed (that?s at least 5 years away) a lot of your TV viewing may well be conventional analog TV, and those images may look fairly crummy up close. (Remember early big screen TVs?) If you watch regular non-HD TV sitting too close to a big screen, you?ll see all the flaws.

2. Flat Panel or Box

Those futuristic and very cool plasma and LCD flat panels that are only a few inches thick are appealing, but budget, screen size, and your need for optimal HDTV clarity are big factors you must consider. To get full HDTV resolution on a plasma panel means getting a 50-inch diagonal screen, and that?s expensive (about $3,000 USD and up). If you are willing to abandon the flat panel and accept a more conventional box (one that?s no more than 14 inches deep), you can get full HDTV resolution for a fraction of that amount. A 50-inch diagonal DLP rear-projection set that?s only 14 inches deep and weighs about 75 pounds would be $3,200. Also, you will still get a bright, stunningly good HD picture, minus the ultra-cool flat-panel appeal, of course. If you still like the flat panel and are willing to accept good but not true HD picture quality, you can save a lot of money on a smaller LCD or plasma display.

3. Do You Really Need HDTV Resolution?

Let?s say you won?t give up on the thin flat panel display, that you simply must have it. If you are satisfied with DVD clarity? it?s called Standard Definition (480 lines).

If you?re buying a new HDTV, price will factor into your decision at some point ? unless your address is in Beverly Hills, 90210! There is a huge range of factors that goes into pricing televisions; when it comes to the all important final number, bigger doesn?t mean you?re getting something better. Today we are looking at some of the best models in each price bracket in our HDTV price guide. All prices quoted are current at the time of printing, and in AU dollars. Under $2000PALSONIC LCD 15INCH/38CM (TFTV384HD) , $349What a bargain for an LCD television! You wouldn?t be able to buy a digital set top box and a decent cathode ray television separately at this price ? in that respect this television is great value for money. Buy an extended warranty (currently around 2 years for $119), and you don?t have to worry about brand and reliability issues, and can simply enjoy the extremely low price. Contrast ratio is not exceptional, at 400:1, but still good viewing quality in correct conditions. SONY LCD 40INCH/100CM (KDL40W5500)FREE PS2 PROMO ? $1869We couldn?t go past this deal, even though it is not a standard price. Sony is one of the most respected electronics brands, and they are giving away a free PS2 with purchase of one of their 100cm LCD televisions. There is a bonus 3 year warranty with this model also. It is heavy and will chew the power, but has a host of awesome technology, including Bravia sync, USB and Ethernet connections, as well as Motinflow, LiveCOlour and Theatre Mode. $2000-$3000SAMSUNG LED TV 40? (UA40B6000)BONUS LCD PROMO ? $2575LED televisions are a more advanced technology than LCD televisions, and won?t date as quickly. This is the most budget friendly of the LEDs ? and when you are getting two televisions for the price of one, there is nothing to complain about! This Led model comes with a bonus 22-26? LCD television, and also has an ongoing impact on your wallet ? power consumption is up to 40% less than LCDs. SAMSUNG LCD TV 55?/132CM (LA55B650)BONUS LCD PROMO ? $2860Size is one of the most important factors in television price, and this is the largest model in this price bracket in our HDTV buying guide. 132cm wide ? plus you get a bonus 22?-26? LCD, as with the model above. The 100Hz Motion Plus technology helps make for awesome high-speed viewing technology. $3000-$4000SHARP LCD TV 52/117CM (LC52D77X)FREE XBOX PROMO ? $3135Right at the bottom end of the price bracket in our HDTV buying guide is this Sharp LCD television, with a free Xbox valued at $749. It ticks all the techie boxes ? 52? wide, 50,000:1 contrast ration (dynamic), and 100Hz Fine Motion Advanced System. Can be power hungry, though, at 269W operating power. Over $4000SAMSUNG LED TV 55? (UA55B6000)BONUS LCD PROMO ? $4167At this pricing level, budget minded folks are best sticking to the bottom end of the HDTV price guide. This is a huge, well-made television, with the more advanced LED display so is less likely to become obsolete in the near future. You get the power consumption advantages of the LED television, as well as concepts like Wide Colour Enhancer Pro, removal of picture-edge blur and mega contrast ratio.

As well as looking good on or off, they’re also better for viewing digital channels (you don’t need a digital box), or terrestrial channels (which will be turned off from next year as the digital switchover commences). And then there’s the picture quality, which experts say is far superior to the old CRT telly. With high definition technology, the screen delivers an image with more depth and less ‘visual noise’. This allows you to sit closer without your eyes straining.
Add to this the fact that LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs have lower power consumption and a wider viewing angle, and you viewing experience has just gone from pre-historic to space age. Ready to slim down?
Get with the programme
There are two main categories of flat screens – plasma or LCD. On the eco-side, LCD screens use less power than plasma, but if it’s a larger, brighter ‘cinema’ style screen you’re after, opt for plasma (they range from about 42 to 100 inches).
Size matters
Flat screens are real attention-grabbers. Great if you want to make it a feature, but not if you prefer more discreet appliances, or have a snugger living space (or bedroom/kitchen). For smaller models, John Kempner from John Lewis recommends Grundig. ‘Their new range of 15″ & 19″ models each have an integrated DVD player: excellent value with prices starting from

A flat screen HDTV are the rage world. Shops online and offline are weaving their magic and movie buffs and others in the direction of high-resolution HDTV offerings. The world of electronic giants are all competing for a share of the pie HDTV. And online magazines and Web sites are encouraging, the review and evaluation by the guests HDTV with a passion. When buying a HDTV you need to be informed buyer and follow nine basic rules: 1.

When buying your HDTV you may want to decide on the optimum screen size that would benefit the room size you have available to you. Here are some recommended viewing distances (please note that ideal distances will depend on many different factors including signal quality. ) 30 inches – recommended distance of 3. 75 – 6. 25 feet. 42 inches – recommended distance of 5. 25 – 8. 75 feet.

50 inches – recommended distance of 6. 25 – 10. 5 feet. 62 inches – recommended distance of 7. 75 – 13 feet. 70 inches – recommended distance of 8. 75 – 14. 75 feet.

Another factor to look for in your HDTV comparison shopping is to be aware of the resolution the display is capable of producing. What you want to watch for is the native resolution. The minimum native resolution you should consider is 720p which is 1280×768. That is 1280 pixels horizontal and 768 pixels vertical. If you are really wanting the best picture quality you should look at resolutions of 1080p which is a native resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

How does the HDTV display standard definition? Standard definition (non high definition) sources include regular cable signals, DVDs, some satellite signals (satellite also provides high definition content). Some HDTV displays will produce a great high definition picture but will display a poor picture when connected to a standard definition signal.

The best tool you can use when conducting your HDTV comparison is use your eyes. If possible take your favorite movie, DVD, or even ask the store clerk to show you some high definition content, preferably the type of content you plan on watching on the HDTV display. Will the HDTV be used mainly for watching movies? what type of movies? action, documentary, animation, computer generated graphics sports, or standard definition?. One thing you should take note of is that HDTVs are not calibrated for the best possible picture at the most stores, they are usually displayed with their “out of the box” default settings. Other factors you may want to take note of is the lighting of the room you plan on watching the HDTV display in verses the lighting inside the store.

Many HDTVs are available online and you are not really able to see the picture quality in person. One solution is to read the user reviews, these reviews are comments from individuals who already own the HDTV in question and have seen the picture quality in person. Some of the comments can be very useful.

There are many other factors to consider such as video processor or the microchip that the HDTV uses to process incoming signals and other more complicated factors that the normal shopper can ignore unless you are a hard core enthusiast. The bottom line for most is the best band for the buck and most shoppers can decide based on the factors mentioned in this article and from their research on the internet.