Flatpanel Tvs Guide

What to look for when buying a Plasma Television

As with all big screen TVs, the choice of a plasma television is in reality a function of finding the right trade-off between screen size and supported features for your available budget.

This budget issue is even more important when it comes to plasma TVs. It is true that we are seeing more and more of the so-called cheap plasma TVs in the sub-$2000 price tag, yet as one starts stretching the screen size over and above the 42-inch entry-level mark, price increases drastically.

Before you start shopping around for your plasma display, it is important that you make a prioritized list of the features that are most important to your needs; this should include:

• Screen Size
• Display resolution
• Support for HDTV
• Connectivity
• Appearance

When evaluating your options, keep in mind that plasma’s are expensive - hence the end approach is a trade-off between the desired features and price in order to match your budget.

Ultimately, it is your budget that will drive your purchase - hence you may have to scale-back accordingly.

Always start with Screen Size

Plasma TV screens range in size from typically 37-inches to the latest 70-inch and 80-inch big screen giants.

Screen size is a big factor in plasma pricing and is the most important feature you need to decide on. You can always find smaller screens in the 37-inch to 42-inch domain, for $2,000 to $3,000. Some bare-bones models from major manufactures like Panasonic and Samsung, are even selling at slight less than $2,000.

Therefore, the best way to start choosing your plasma TV is to select the screen size you want, and then evaluate your options.

This is not an issue where if you can afford it, buy it! Here there is a very important aspect to take into consideration when deciding on your Plasma TV screen size - you need to choose one that fits your room. This does not simply mean a screen size that will fit your wall or available cabinet space only. Even more important is the need to match the chosen screen size with your available viewing distance. (More on this can be found in our detailed article on TV Viewing Distance and Screen Placement in the home theater.)

Many argue that TV viewing distance is a matter of personal preference. To a certain extent, this is true, but there are a few guidelines worth considering if you want to enjoy the best possible viewing experience. In essence, a 42″ EDTV plasma television would require 10 feet between you and your screen - you may get close to 9 feet for a HDTV plasma TV of the same screen size. However, try not to get closer than this as you may start seeing the pixel build-up structure on the screen - which can be extremely annoying.

Display Resolution and Support for HDTV

The native resolution of a plasma display is another important factor to take into consideration when choosing your plasma TV.

Although generally, picture quality from a plasma TV is very good irrespective of the set resolution, yet higher resolution plasmas will be able to display certain video content better.

This becomes an issue especially when watching an HDTV signal on your Plasma TV. A 720p HDTV signal supports a resolution of 1280 pixels by 720 lines while 1080i/p supports 1920 pixels by 1080 lines.

This means that to be considered true HD, the plasma display must have a native resolution of at least 1024×720. Normally HDTV plasma displays in this category will support a resolution of 1024 x 768 though some come with a higher resolution of at least 1280 x 768 or 1366 x 768. These higher resolutions will enable the respective sets to display a full 720p HDTV image without any re-scaling.

Plasma TV sets with a lower resolution will still be able to display a high definition video signal if they have the necessary electronics - by re-scaling the image. This re-scaling process means disposing of some of the information in order to fit the set native resolution. These plasmas tend to have a resolution of 852×480 and are referred as EDTV plasma TVs.

This resolution is actually what progressive scan DVDs and Digital Television are in and looks as good as any plasma with a higher resolution when displaying these signals. The only visible difference between plasmas with a resolution of 1024×720 (or higher) and 852×480, is when watching true HD material.

A few words about Digital Television and HDTV: While HDTV offers a clearer picture than regular television, yet not all setups allow you to take full advantage of HDTV. It all depends on the quality of your HD source. If your source is a compressed signal e.g. TiVo, then you cannot take full advantage of the quality supported by HDTV.

It is also important to remember that HD still represents a small portion of all available TV content.

Connectivity and Features

Inputs: A plasma TV should include the inputs you need to plug in the various video components. These should include composite, S-Video, component video, DVI, HDMI, and RGB. Preferably, look for a model that would also provide you with a set of front or side-panel A/V inputs for convenient camcorder or video game hookup.

RGB is a standard 15-pin computer input. Composite video is a single line video output that is typical on VCRs, cable/satellite receivers, and DVD players. The next step up in quality is S-video. This can be found on DVD players and most cable/satellite boxes. Component video, which is of a higher quality than S-Video, divides the video signal into red, green, and blue; it is mainly found on progressive scan DVDs and some newer cable/satellite boxes.

DVI and HDMI are purely digital connections; the main difference between the two is that HDMI carries also the audio on the same interconnect used for the video. Both interfaces are capable of supporting up to 1080 lines of picture resolution. In order words, they both can handle HDTV.

Additional Features: Supported connectivity and additional features all add up to the final product price. If you can afford to add a little more to your available budget, you can normally find models with additional features that support a wider range of video inputs, better control options, and support for HDTV.

Final Advice

Keep in mind that price does not equate to performance. It may mean a bigger screen size but not necessary a better picture. Hence, if you are still uncertain as to the best way to go, your primary consideration here should always be - how good the picture will look on your big screen plasma TV.

(c) 2004/2005 www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.

Andrew Ghigo - A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.

This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing under the Plasma TV Guides section of the site.

Tags: flat panel plasma TV, plasma display panels, plasma hdtv, plasma television sets, plasma TVflat panel plasma TV, plasma display panels, plasma hdtv, plasma television sets, plasma TV

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One of the great advantages of the modern TV screen is that many of the newer technologies employ display methods that allow the TV screen to be very thin by past TV standards. This makes having a large screen TV much more practical, especially in rooms where space is at a premium. Older large screen televisions that used CRT monitors were very large, bulky pieces of equipment that only the most spacious rooms could accommodate. But that has all changed now with LCD and plasma TVs.

So if you have decided on mounting your plasma TV to a wall in your home, you need to keep a few things in mind. First and foremost is the weight of your particular TV model. You can usually find that weight specification in the user manual or even on the box that it comes in. As you start to shop for a wall bracket system, make sure that any mount that you consider is able to comfortably handle the weight of your television. If for any reason, the wall mount fails you can wind up with a very expensive piece of equipment on the floor pretty much destroyed. So with wall mounts you will need to have strong, sturdy equipment that can easily handle the weight of your TV. As always, price will affect how heavy-duty the brackets will be, so don’t spend a lot of money on the TV and then try to scrimp too much on buying a plasma TV mall mount.

If you can, it’s good to get a wall mount that is specifically made for your TV model, but there are also good universal mounts available. It used to be that the only wall mounts you could get for most televisions were a set of metal brackets that mounted to the wall and the TV hung on those brackets. While very sturdy, it did not allow any movement or repositioning of the TV, so today, you can find flexible wall mount units that actually let you extend the TV from the wall and turn it to adjust the viewing angle too. Just bear in mind, that with every flexible joint in the mounting system, there is more chance that something can go wrong. So buy extra heavy-duty in this particular area.

Just getting the plasma TV wall mounts is only the first step though. Now you have to install them and we suggest that you have someone who is very familiar with this kind of task to do this job for you. You can’t simply drill holes at any spot in your wall and mount the hardware. You have to do it correctly or the weight of the TV will simply pull the wallboard down along with the brackets. So it’s a good idea to factor in the cost of having a well-qualified person install the mounting hardware for you, in your total wall mount budget.

Once installed, a wall mounted plasma TV can be a joy to behold and watch, and if done correctly, it will last for many years.

Jim Johnson is a successful author and publisher on consumer related matters. You can find out more about the best plasma tv and getting a plasma wall mount by visiting our HDTV website.

Tags: dlp, HDTV, high definition tv, lcd, plasma TVdlp, HDTV, high definition tv, lcd, plasma TV

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Pioneer has two different categories of 50″ plasma televisions, the PDP models and the Elite PRO models, with the Elite PRO models being more up market. The models that fall into the Pioneer 50″ model class are the following:

- PDP-4340HD
- PDP-5040HD
- PDP-433CMX
- PDP-503CMX
- Elite PRO-910HD
- Elite PRO-1110HD

The models with the HD (High Definition) abbreviation on the end are your consumer models that come with all the bells and whistles. The models with the CMX abbreviation are your professional broadcasting models which are made for use as just computer and display devices, they don’t come with speakers, the outboard media receiver and many other special features.

Aesthetics

The picture quality and sharpness of the plasma screen is the same in both the PDP and Elite PRO models from pioneer. The main differences in the aesthetic features, is the make up of the plasma TV around the screen. The features on the PDP models is a black 2-inch border with silver non-flush 2 way speakers, which do not align with the height of the plasma (i.e. the speaker are not the same height as the plasma). The features on the Elite PRO model are of better quality with a brushed silver border with black flush 3 way speaker which align with the height of the plasma.

Speakers

Both the PDP and Elite PRO models come with side mounting speakers, however they are not created the same. The PDP model speakers come as 2 way speakers with a tweeter and a mid/woofer driver. The Elite pro model speakers come as 3 way speakers with a tweeter, mid driver and woofer driver separate. The speakers are also of better quality and will produce a much better sound.

Other features and Comparisons

In terms of the PDP models verse the Elite Pro models, the Elite PRO models come with the following extra features:

- Pure Vision Color Management: This allows users to customize the colors of their plasma with more advanced features than the PDP models, giving better control of the quality of picture the Elite PRO models can produce.

- Pure Color Filter: The Elite PRO models come with a conditioning filter on the exterior of the plasma screen which eliminates glare and produces better sharpness than the PDP models do.

- Gold Terminals: The Elite PRO models come with gold terminals on the back of the plasma as opposed to the standard terminals on the PDP models. This means that the quality of signal going in and out of the Elite PRO models will be better than the PDP models.

- Warranty: Basically The PDP models come with the standard 1 year parts and labor warranty (however sometime come with a special 2 year warranty), where the Elite PRO models come with an extended 2 years parts and labor warranty.

These are the basic features and comparisons of the Pioneer 50″ plasma models. Both the PDP and Elite PRO models are among the highest and prestige quality of plasma TVs on the market. What ever type of 50″ Pioneer plasma you choose, you know you will be getting a high quality plasma that stands above many competitor plasmas out there.

To find out more about Pioneer plasma televisions and 50” plasma television visit our website http://www.plasmatvarena.com/ OR our articles page

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Tags: pioneer, pioneer plasma revi, pioneer plasma tv, plasma, plasma review, plasma television, plasma TVpioneer, pioneer plasma revi, pioneer plasma tv, plasma, plasma review, plasma television, plasma TV

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