| With all the changes in technology and program | | | | quality, but ultimately, it's better to have one than |
| content, buying a tv set is not as simple as it once | | | | not.Digital and High Definition TV means that the ability |
| was. While it is easy to be tempted to buy the one | | | | for a tv to display a progressive scan image is also |
| that looks prettiest in the advertisement or on the | | | | factor that affects picture quality. A progressive scan |
| showroom floor, it's not always the best fit for your | | | | image is a feature of digital tv broadcasting and DVD |
| circumstances. The following will help you make a | | | | imaging with a more film-like look to it than normal |
| better informed decision, and using au you can make | | | | video.For optimum television watching, you need to |
| detailed comparisons between set sizes, different | | | | consider the quality of the sound too. It is now quite |
| technology, brands and vendors.Measure where you | | | | common for people to integrate tv and hi-fi equipment |
| will be watching.It's important that the set you buy will | | | | into a more complete home entertainment system, |
| fit in the space where you want to put it, and that it's | | | | giving a more dynamic home theatre experience. |
| visible from where you want to sit. Therefore, it makes | | | | Digital and High Definition tv and DVD, sound quality is |
| good sense to measure the space where the set will | | | | similar to that of CDs, so it makes sense that audio |
| go. You need to measure the width, the height and the | | | | connectivity allows you to connect into surround sound |
| depth of the space, so that you can choose a set that | | | | or other hi quality sound systems. It's worthwhile to |
| will sit comfortably in that space, with sufficient | | | | check to see that the tv has a least one set of stereo |
| ventilation and edge space for installation and cleaning. | | | | audio inputs and one set of stereo audio outputs, as |
| You should also measure the distance to your cable | | | | well as video input and output connectors. On the input |
| socket if you have an external aerial, and be sure to | | | | side, check for RCA-composite, S-Video, and |
| allow sufficient space for rear panel audio and video | | | | component video inputs. You can frequently find an |
| cable connections so that they can be easily | | | | additional set of audio and video inputs and/or outputs |
| connected and disconnected.Getting the right sized | | | | on the front or at the side of the tv, a very convenient |
| screen is a balance between the dimensions of the | | | | location for more temporary connections, such as |
| room and your viewing habits, and your choice of | | | | game consoles, web tv or video camera equipment. It |
| technology. A regular tv has a screen aspect ration of | | | | can be terribly inconvenient if you are limited to only |
| 4:3, (that is, the dimensions are four units wide by three | | | | connections at the rear of the set, or only one set of |
| units high) and its size is given as a diagonal measure | | | | inputs and outputs, which can often mean unplugging |
| across the screen. The most comfortable viewing | | | | and reconnecting permanently installed equipment.If you |
| range for a regular tv is to be a distance away from | | | | are intending to use a set-top digital receiver, make |
| the screen that is three to six times its given size. For | | | | sure the tv has the correct connections, and that they |
| example, a 48cm regular tv is best viewed further | | | | are compatible with the receiver equipment. Using au |
| away than 116 cm and closer than 232 cm.Watching | | | | you can search through a great number of brands for |
| high-resolution DVD and digital TV on a wide screen | | | | the correct specifications. Ideally such connections |
| set however, provides much sharper images than | | | | should be made with Fire Wire, DVI-D with HDCP or |
| regular sets, and this means you can sit closer and | | | | HDMI connectors.Plasma or LCDWhile there are still |
| experience a more immersive, theatre-like picture. With | | | | quality CRT televisions (tube style) being |
| a wide-screen tv, you can sit as close as 1.5 times the | | | | manufactured, the current television technology being |
| screen's diagonal measurement and not notice any | | | | pursued by manufacturers is Plasma High Definition or |
| loss in quality. Sitting farther away than three times the | | | | LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The main advantages |
| screen however, means you're likely to miss out on | | | | these two technologies offer includes the smaller |
| the immersive 'theatre' feel, even though image-wise, | | | | space taken up (mostly in depth) for a bigger picture, |
| the sharper pictures will be clearer from a greater | | | | less heat (and therefore less electricity consumed) |
| distance. Conversely, what this means, is that for the | | | | generated for a bigger picture and the appearance of |
| same given room space, you can install a significantly | | | | compactness through digital technology. But what are |
| larger tv if it's wide screen. So in today's market, you | | | | the differences?In the Plasma tv over a million tiny |
| are faced with one major deciding factor:Regular TV | | | | glass cells are charged with a mixture of neon and |
| or Wide ScreenWhile the regular tv dimensions are 4:3 | | | | xenon, behind which are coloured phosphors that emit |
| (see above), a wide-screen set has an aspect ratio of | | | | light when energized. Each cell has a red, blue and |
| 16:9 (16 units wide, 9 units high) and this is the same | | | | green phosphor. When Plasma cells are charged, they |
| shape as many cinema screens and movies. | | | | emit invisible UV light. that strikes the red, green and |
| Wide-screen sets are more expensive per square cm | | | | blue phosphors on the back of the display, creating the |
| of screen than a regular tv, and more regular TV is | | | | pixels that form the image you see on the screen. |
| watched than DVDs and movies, so 4:3 sets continue | | | | LCD however, is a suspended liquid between two |
| to be a popular choice. However standards a re | | | | transparent panels that, when activated by voltage, |
| changing rapidly and almost all digital, flat-panel and | | | | re-position themselves so that they either allow the |
| rear-projection tvs are wide screen. While television | | | | light to pass through the panel and or block the light, a |
| stations frequently broadcast many movies in digital | | | | similar process to turning on and off millions of light |
| wide screen format, a large amount of | | | | bulbs. The light source is provided by fluorescent tubes |
| station-produced content is in regular format, but this | | | | behind the panels. Both the lit and unlit crystals create |
| too is changing. So it makes some sense to seriously | | | | visible pixels composing the image on the screen.Many |
| consider wide screen.Either way, there is some | | | | independent reviewers believe that manufacture's |
| compromise to consider because one rectangle | | | | specifications of Plasma tv is not accurately portrayed. |
| doesn't fit exactly into another. Wide-screen program | | | | LCD appears to be both brighter and offer more |
| shown on a standard tv has black bars, known as | | | | contrast, whereas Plasma appears to have higher |
| letterbox bars, above and below the wide-screen | | | | definition colour, superior viewing angles and faster |
| image. The alternative to this is to sacrifice some of | | | | response time providing crisper screen movement. |
| the picture at each edge of the screen, and get the full | | | | Plasma uses more power than LCD, but may provide |
| depth of the picture. When you watch a program | | | | a more theatre-like viewing experience. Use au to |
| formatted for regular tv on a wide screen, black bars, | | | | compare the latest brands of Plasma and LCD |
| known as windowbox bars, appear on either side of | | | | televisions.Remote Controllers and AccessoriesAll tv |
| the picture. One alternative to this is to lose some | | | | sets come with remote controls. Some come with |
| picture at the top and bottom of the screen.But one of | | | | what's known as the Universal remote control, a |
| the features of a wide-screen tv, is the ability to | | | | remote control that can control all of your media |
| stretch, crop, or zoom the regular 4:3 image so that it | | | | hardware. The remote control should be easy to use |
| fills the screen, ultimately distorting the image or losing | | | | and it should address all of the tv set's functions. Many |
| some of its content.Picture Quality, Audio Quality, | | | | sets do not have function controls on the tv itself, |
| ConnectivityUsing an online shopping comparison such | | | | which could cause problems if the remote controller is |
| as au doesn't give you the personal feel of looking at | | | | lost. Also, not every universal remote can control |
| the tv set on the showroom floor. However, once | | | | everything. Most are pre-programmed with a set list of |
| you've narrowed down your choices according to size | | | | codes, and if the codes don't match your older or |
| and manufacturer specification, it may pay to look at | | | | off-brand gear, then you're out of luck. A few are |
| some sets so you can judge picture quality for | | | | learning models that can accept the IR codes from |
| yourself.So what makes a good picture? One of the | | | | your other remotes and, thus, control any kind of |
| first considerations is contrast: in order to have clear | | | | gear.A number of other features can be taken into |
| sharp and bright pictures, the screen itself must be | | | | account when considering your tv purchase. These |
| dark. Screens that are two 'green' or 'grey' will not | | | | might include picture-in-picture (PIP), or |
| produce high definition images. Do this with any | | | | picture-outside-picture (POP), commercial skip timers, |
| surrounding televisions turned off and an even light in | | | | channel blocking (called the V-Chip), and tuner extras |
| the room.A second consideration is the flatness of the | | | | to make channel selection and switching easier. |
| picture tube. If you are looking at an LCD or Plasma | | | | Additional accessories that you might need include |
| screen, this is already flat, but with picture tube | | | | additional cables, a good power surge protector and a |
| technology, flatter tubes result in less glare from | | | | stand. Service may also be a consideration and in |
| windows and lamps, and less shape distortion. A flat | | | | some circumstances, an extended warranty or |
| tube screen will give you a better viewing experience.If | | | | service package may be a good investment.Search |
| a tv doesn't have a comb filter, its resolution will be | | | | au for the different specifications and price ranges of |
| limited to about half the full potential of a DVD. While | | | | the latest tv technology, where you not only compare |
| comb filters affect only composite-video or RF | | | | the world's leading brands, but also the service and |
| connections, sets with a comb filter can usually provide | | | | support of the people who sell them.Andrew Gates |
| all of the resolution of DVD and will not have | | | | for comparison online shopping service au. au helps |
| distracting 'rainbow' images where highly contrasting | | | | you compare the different television from different |
| colours coincide. Comb filters include glass, digital, and | | | | brands in terms of specifications and accessories. |
| 3DY, and different types provide different levels of | | | | |