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