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 Video

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:08:30 +0000

Today, the possibilities for building a home entertainment system are nearly inexhaustible. Different variations and combinations of high-tech components allow viewers to re-create the movie theater experience in their own living rooms. Consumers have a world of equipment to choose from. With so many options available, it’s best to have a little information prior to purchase.

Next to audio capability, the most important element in home theater, is, of course, video. Large-screen direct-view televisions are an affordable way to go. However, if you’re looking to invest in a fancier model, front-projection and rear-projection sets are also available.

Direct-view sets are conventional TVs, the kind most viewers know well. They have cathode ray tubes and a phosphor coated screen. The tube restricts the size of this kind of TV. In fact, the largest direct-view TV on the market has a screen of 40 inches. Image contrast is an important factor to consider when comparing direct-view TVs. If the set has a darker screen, you’ll get a superior picture. This is because the contrast between light and dark will be more pronounced. Sets with flatter screens also provide a better picture, because distortion and glare are minimized. A direct-view set can be purchased for about $300.

Viewers interested in larger screens should consider purchasing a projection television. Because projection TVs don’t employ cathode ray tubes, there are no limitations with these models where size is concerned. These TV use projection screens, and they produce a picture through the use of three cathode ray tubes. The tubes divide the video signal into colors (red, blue, and green). The three tubes project onto a mirror in the set. The mirror then sends the color image onto the screen. Shoppers can purchase rear-projection models with 45-inch screens for about $1500.

A front-projection TV functions in a manner similar to a rear-projection set. A front-projection set is somewhat like a film projector, though. The operating system of the set is not stored in a traditional TV case. Instead, the TVs cathode ray tubes are kept in a single unit. The TV image is projected onto a fabric screen, which means that there is almost no limitation on screen size. 200-inch screens are available. Projection TVs can be hard to set up, and they work best in a darkened room. They must be installed at the proper distance from the screen, and the cathode ray tubes have to be set up properly. Viewers who are considering the purchase of a front-projection set should keep in mind that these TVs are designed to operate in a designated home theater space rather than a den or living room. Front-projection sets cost around $7,000.

By: Julia Hall

Home Theater Systems » Projection Tvs

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

Home Theater Video