Home Theater Systems » Lcd Tvs

Home Theater TV – How To Choose The Right Home Theater TV

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:57:19 +0000

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

Home Theater Design – Hiding Your Flat Panel TV

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:54:37 +0000

For many families, the television has become the focal point for the activity in the family room or home theater room. This means it tends to take up a large portion of the room and is what much of the furniture and lighting is developed around. But that looks all together unnatural when the television is turned off.

There are a number of ways to hide a flat panel television when it is not being used by incorporating the feature into the overall home theater room design. Some use a static image to display a piece of art or favorite family picture. Others use elaborate mounting unites and screens to cover the television when it is not in use. A professionally design theater system can incorporate any idea you have to make the room beautiful both when in use as well as when not.

Below are some display options available for home owners as they consider how they want their flat panel television to be concealed when not in use.

Screensaver Displays
Since many LCD TVs are simple displays like those used by computer users, they can be set to display art and photos when they are not in use. Using a screensaver however does require the television to be on so it is not recommended for long stretches of time. It is best for use during parties.

Customized Art Covers
Custom art overlay options are becoming more common. A specialized piece of art on a canvas can be made to be placed over the screen when homeowners are not using the TV. This is an inexpensive solution that does not require any new wiring or customized mounting.

Many homeowners choose to hang their flat panel televisions above a fireplace. For a traditional flare, a wooden frame can be installed around it, thus turning your television into a mantel piece. Professional installers can also design an automated system that slides a screen cover over the flat panel.

Moving Displays
Pop-up and flip-down displays are the ultimate convenience for home theater owners. At the touch of a button, the screen can be brought up from an inconspicuous piece of furniture or down from the ceiling. This technique is especially useful with flat panel televisions that need to be installed at the foot of the bed; the television can be placed on a motorized lifting mechanism that can move the television up while watching TV before bed and down before you turn off the lights.

Other Considerations
Most home theaters are not comprised of the TV alone. Mounted televisions prove more difficult to integrate into an entertainment system because all the necessary connections need to be run through walls. Wireless technology for these applications is improving but is not yet fool-proof.

Custom home theater installers can offer advice on how to arrange DVD players and receivers to match the subtle look of a hidden flat panel television.

Choosing the right option to hide a LCD TV into a room’s design can be difficult. The size and shape of walls or the way they are built can limit the installation options. Place the television in the appropriate spot for viewing, and then start considering installation options.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

By: Ben Anton

Home Theater LCD TVs – Which Are The Best?

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:29 +0000

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

Best Home Theater Systems – Guide to Choosing the Best Home Theater

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:37:29 +0000

There’s a misconception that exists in the world of home theater which revolves around people looking for the best home theater systems.

The truth is, the best home theater systems are those which suit people’s individual needs. It’s all a matter of what you want in a system and how much you’re prepared to spend.

Sure, you could go out and get a loan and spend five figures for a state-of-the-art system but in reality, it’s probably going to be a waste of money.

Best Home Theater Systems

In this article, we want to give you a guide to setting up home theater in your home and what it might cost you. There are a few variables to take into account. For example, you need to answer these questions:

- are you going to start from scratch?
- do you just want to upgrade what you already have in place?
- or are you planning to renovate your entertainment area?

If you are starting from scratch then are several alternatives. Today, big screen TVs are all the rage but look at the smaller screens before making a decision. A 27″-30″ television plus accessories such as DVD means you will need to begin with a budget of up to $1000.

However, if you already have a television and DVD player in place and are looking to upgrade to a better sound system, then your price reduces significantly. Purchasing a home theater in a box with the other components in place means you can budget for around $500 in expense.

Plasma Or LCD TVs

If you are looking to upgrade to either a plasma or LCD television then you need to make a couple of major decisions. Plasma has long been regarded as the ideal home theater screen of choice because of it’s size but LCDs have quickly closed the gap and are now getting much bigger in size.

Either way, purchasing a large screen version in either plus accessories which may also include a vide projector set up and superior sound system, then your budget is going to balloon out to somewhere in the vicinity of $4000-$10,000.

Renovating Your Existing Home Theater Room

Many home theater enthusiasts start out by incorporating an existing area as part of their plans but when the budget allows, they tend to upgrade. This can mean renovating an existing room including taking a wall out or adding extra features.

Home renovations can be expensive and when you start altering the appearance of a room the cost can escalate. Budget for $10-$30,000 for this type of upgrade which may even include new home theater furniture.

The benefit with this is adding extra value to your home but it is a commitment financially and avoid having to borrow money to complete this type of project.

So having the best home theater systems means more than simply going out and buying the most expensive units on the market – it comes down to what you really want and what will satisfy your needs.

By: Dean Caporella