What’s your preference of HDTV? From a home theater point-of-view this is an important element but the truth is, when choosing your TV, it really is your decision.
Yes, you’ll get a ton of advice and information and that’s great but you really want a unit which you’re going to be happy with, not someone else.
Home theater is a personal thing, from the type of TV to the sound system to the seating arrangements. Everyone has their own peculiarities and the first rule of setting up your showpiece is…”Don’t build it to someone else’s satisfaction!”
As far as television is concerned, there are many issues which come into play such as size, picture and the ability to have it wall mounted. What’s your preference?
Projection TVs
If you are into size and a budget then projection televisions are great. You get plenty of “bang for your buck” with a projection unit including the best screen size for your outlay. You also have the option of DLP and LCD technology with today’s units.
The only drawback of course is if you prefer the wall mounted look.
LCD TVs
Flat screen LCDs are more expensive than their rear projection cousins and are much smaller in size. They are lauded for their brightness and contrast levels and the problem of burn in isn’t really an issue.
Another factor in their favor is their low power consumption. This is important if you are an avid television watcher and for home theater TV purposes, then this is a plus.
Plasma TVs
Plasmas are very slim these days making them ideal to be wall mounted. They are still regarded as having the best color delivery as well as high contrast ratio for greater detail.
They also provide the widest viewing angles which is great if seating placement becomes an issue. On the downside, their life expectancy is shorter but this is not really an issue in our book.
Their life expectancy is somewhere between 20-30,000 hours. This equates to 15-20 years with a set used 4-6 hours a day.
With today’s rapidly increasing technology, a set bought today is going to be pretty ancient by the time it’s due to burn out and in all likelihood, a new home theater TV will have already replaced it.
By: Dean Caporella
Posts Tagged ‘Lcd Tvs’
Home Theater TV – How To Choose The Right Home Theater TV
March 16th, 2010Home Theater LCD TVs – Which Are The Best?
November 6th, 2009
The plasma vs. LCD televison debate has raged for some time now among home theater enthusiasts and the “for and against” arguments have been well documented.
LCD televisions have come a long way in a short space of time and this article is intended only as guide to some of the better rated LCDs available, particularly if you are thinking of purchasing one.
Familiar manufacturers names head the list such as Sony, Samsung and Sharp. It’s difficult to list one television set above all the others because screen size needs to be taken into account. Let’s concentrate on some of the bigger models.
Sony
Sony has two sets well worth considering. Their 46 inch Bravia KDL-46XBR2 and the 40 inch KDL-40S2010. It depends on the size you want and with another football season upon us you may very well decide the larger screen model is for you and will be perfect for your home theater. That’s if you’re into football of course!
Sony models are hard to beat in performance and picture quality. The 46 inch KDL-46XBR2 has full 1080p HDTV resolution plus excellent video quality and to satisfy your better half, it just plain and simple looks good even when it’s not operating. With prices continuing to tumble, several years ago this set may have set you back five figures but by shopping astutely, you can satisfy your LCD needs for close to $3000.
The smaller KDL-40S2010 model is priced closer to $2000 but is packed full of feature. Performance aside, this stylish looking tv intergrated with a stand, has very acceptable wide viewing angles and for those looking for a classy set, this is hard to beat.
Sharp And Samsung
Both Sharp and Samsung have rapidly climbed towards the top of the LCD television rankings.
Sharp has an impressive array of larger screen models up to 52 inches. The LC-42D62U 42 inch is hard to go past. Large screens are great but for something a little in between this model offers powerful features including excellent high definition, super picture quality and the looks to match.
You would be very hard to please if you didn’t take a liking to this particular model. It’s normal list price varies between $2200-$2500 but astute shoppers will do much better.
Home theater devotees looking for a large screen model television should consider the Samsung LN-S5296D 52 inch. Don’t worry about picture quality because this model really delivers in that department with 1080p high definition.
It is packed with many features and can deliver an exceptionally sharp image despite it’s size. The main drawback is the price…at about $4000 it may be out of the reach of many although again, astute shoppers could pick one up for as low as $3500.
By: Dean Caporella
