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All About Plasma Televisions: A Buyer's Guide

Part Two: Points to Consider

What do you need to consider before you buy your plasma or flat screen TV?

Determine the right screen size based on the floor plan of your home-entertainment room. Plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen, just like any other television set. You can typically choose from the following sizes: 32", 40", 42", 46", 50", 61", or 63". Bigger is not always better, especially when you're buying a plasma display to serve as the focal point of a home entertainment center. To get the most out of your investment, remember what your mother always said about sitting too close to the TV-that it's no good for your eyes. For the optimal viewing experience, you need to maintain the right distance between your viewing area and your television screen.

The right distance depends on the size of your TV:

In determining the appropriate size TV for you, you should also consider the space required to install the unit itself. When recessing a plasma display unit, allow at least 3 inches of open space at the top of the unit and adequate ventilation space-at least 2 inches-behind it as well. Remember, too, that most plasma displays do not have built-in speakers, so you'll need to allow space enough to attach speakers (if you're not using a separate surround-sound setup) on each side of the TV. These speakers usually measure between 3 and 6 inches apiece.

Know your audio options. At this time, Philips and Sony are the only manufacturers that incorporate speakers into the frame structure of plasma televisions. Other manufacturers offer optional speakers that can be attached to the side of the display unit. Of course, you might also choose to use your own bookshelf or satellite speakers, in which case they'll need to be hooked up to an external amplifier/receiver component.

Decide if you really want an HDTV and whether it's worth paying extra to have one. What?! Plasma TVs aren't all hi-def? The answer depends on what you consider "hi-def." All plasma screens are considered HDTV compatible or HDTV ready insofar as they will display high definition signals. High-definition televisions (HDTVs) are always more expensive than enhanced-definition sets (EDTVs). Whether a high-resolution monitor actually offers a better picture than an EDTV depends-on the quality of the signal input and on the manufacturer make. It also depends on what you're using the monitor for. If you're watching regular cable or DVDs, for example, EDTVs may produce a better picture simply because they more readily display lower-end video signals. If, on the other hand, you're one of the 55+ million households sitting astride cable systems that can carry HDTV, you might opt for the slightly better (10-15%) picture you could get from a higher resolution unit displaying HDTV broadcasts.

Aside from the minor increase in quality one might expect when watching hi-def broadcasts on an HDTV, the real reason (some) people pay more for a high-definition plasma display is because higher resolution allows for markedly better displays of XGA signals from your computer. This is especially true of static images and numerals like those you would find on an Excel spreadsheet. So, if you intend for your plasma display to do double duty as a TV and as a monitor, you might spend a bit extra for a bit better resolution.

Determine how you're going to install your plasma TV. Plasma technology affords consumers new options when it comes to the physical placement of their TV displays. Gone are the days when you had to configure a room around the television set. Now, you can incorporate the TV into almost any décor, if you give a little thought to the matter beforehand. There are half a dozen ways to install your new plasma TV, which virtually ensures that you'll find the right way to fit one in your home:

Next: Where to Buy a Plasma - Comparison Shopping for Plasma TV



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