Plasma Television Buying Guide

Calculating the Correct DistanceIn setting up thewith high-definition sources. Some plasma TVs also
environment for your plasma TV, a primaryhave VGA input connections that allow them to be
consideration is to determine the screen size to matchused as monitors for a PC. At the minimum, look for
the floor plan or available space where the plasma willthe following specifications on a plasma connection:
be displayed.Plasma monitors are measured diagonallyDVI-I or DVI-D, Component, RCA or Composite, and
across the screen, just like any other television set.S-Video. Take into consideration your current
You can typically choose from the following sizes: 32",component set-up - such as your satellite system,
40", 42", 46", 50", 61", or 63". Bigger is not alwayscable box, DVD player, and external stereo
better, and a certain distance must be maintainedcomponents - and see what kind of inputs or
between the plasma TV and the viewing area forconnectors they use.Tuner: Check your plasma to see
optimal viewing experience. Sitting too far awayif it is HD-ready or HD-integrated. An HD-ready plasma
diminishes the overall impact. Sitting too close, however,TV is essentially a monitor that needs an external
could also present its own problems - as when youtuner source before it can function as a TV. An
start seeing the screen's "structure"; i.e., the dots orHD-integrated panel has a tuner built into the set and is
pixels that make up the plasma display.In determiningready for use. If you receive your HDTV programming
the appropriate TV size for you, you should alsovia cable or satellite instead of over-the-air, you may
consider the space required to install the unit itself.not need a tuner at all, as you will be using the set-top
When recessing a plasma display unit, allow at least 3boxes provided by your cable/satellite service to
inches of open space at the top of the unit andreceive HDTV programming. Check with your cable or
adequate ventilation space of at least 2 inches behindsatellite providers for more details. Some cable/satellite
it as well. Remember, too, that most plasma displayscompanies do away with set-top boxes and provide
do not have built-in speakers, so you'll need to allowtheir subscribers with cable cards instead. Check with
space enough to attach speakers.What You Canyour cable/satellite provider if they provide cable cards
Watch on Your Plasma TVYou can choose betweenand the cable-card type that they offer, and then
HDTV (High Definition TV) and EDTV (Enhancedcheck the specification on the plasma for cable card
Definition TV) for your choice of plasma display. Whichslots.Contrast Ratio: Contrast ratio is the measurement
type you prefer depends on the kind of material youthat determines the variation between the whitest and
intend to watch on the plasma.EDTV is the perfectdarkest parts of the image. This is an important
entry point into digital television, with a widescreen 16:9specification, since plasma TVs with a low contrast
aspect ratio and an image resolution that is 200%ratio will make dark images look muddy and gray while
better than today's analog televisions. On the othermaking light images look washed out. A good measure
hand, HDTV has up to four times the resolution andof contrast ratio is 1,000:1 or higher. Anything less than
colors compared to EDTV, offering the ultimate visual1,000:1 - especially on a set that is 42" or larger - may
and sound experience.At present, only a limited numbernot provide optimal viewing experience.Brightness:
of programs are broadcast in true high-definitionWithout sufficient brightness, your image will look
format (all major networks broadcast HD counterpartsmuddy and soft - even in a dark room. Viewing
to their regular analog-signal broadcasts). In fact, if youdistance, screen size, and ambient room light will also
plan to use a plasma HDTV for regular TVaffect the need for more brightness capability. A
programming, you may be surprised to find that regularbrightness rating listed at 550 cd/m2 or higher is good,
TV programming may even appear slightly worse, asbut don't get bogged down with the technical number
the big screen exaggerates the flaws in standard TVlisted. Instead, make sure that the screen is bright
programs. DVD images from most of the currentlyenough for your needs as you conduct your own
available DVD titles on the market today also do notvisual inspection.Panel Life: Look for a minimum of
fare as well on true HD plasmas. In fact, these DVD60,000 hours of panel life in your plasma specifications.
images appear better on EDTV plasma units, becauseThis is the rating on how long it would take before
the image resolution of a widescreen DVD (nominallyyour panel has half the brightness compared to when
740 x 480) more closely matches the actual resolutionit was new. A 60,000-hour spec translates to
(852 x 480) of the EDTV plasma display.Why botherapproximately 20 years of viewing at 8 hours per day.
with a High Definition TV at all, you may ask? Because(This approximation may vary, depending on the
HDTV, paired with a true High-Definition or high-qualitysource and type of content, settings, environment, and
source, can produce truly stunning images. With ause of your plasma TV.)Anti-burn-in/Pixel Shift: Burn-in
progressive-scan DVD player paired with, say, any ofrefers to the remnants burned on to the screen after
the recently released HD-DVD or forthcoming Blu-raya static image has been left on the plasma for a long
DVD titles (encoded in true HD format), your plasmaperiod of time. To minimize or prevent burn-in,
HDTV can come to spectacular life and bring outdetermine if the plasma panel utilizes burn-in protection,
unrivaled image quality. And as more TV programmingsuch as power management settings, full-time picture
becomes available in High-Definition format with theor pixel shift (both vertical and horizontal) technologies,
looming of the FCC deadline for switching to all-digitalor automatic screensaver functions.Speakers: If you
broadcasting, plasma HDTV sets will have more TVplan to use an external surround sound system, you
content to show. One thing's for sure: Your HDTVwon't need audio speakers, but most plasma TV sets
won't be obsolete anytime in the next fewinclude speakers that rated anywhere from 7-12
years.Plasma TVSpecifications When comparingWatts Pre-amp - which is much better than that of
plasma TV sets, it's important to know what to lookconventional TVs and sufficient for most viewing.
for to make sense of the specifications you'reCheck your plasma's specifications to see if it comes
presented with. Below is a quick rundown on thewith speakers and if the speakers are
necessary specs that you need to weigh beforeremovable.Universal Remote: A universal remote can
making that all-important purchase decision.Resolution:take the place of having one remote, so that it controls
Resolution is a determining factor in selecting a plasmaall the various components of your TV system, such
TV. Do you want HDTV or EDTV? HDTV, with aas the DVD player, audio, cable/satellite etc. If you plan
resolution of at least 1024 x 720, is the ultimate visualon buying a universal remote, check to see if it's
and sound experience, but what is available forsupported by the plasma set of your choice to make
viewing on HD is currently restricted to a few HDsure the plasma accepts universal remote
channels on cable, as well as the newly emerging -devices.Power Consumption: Power consumption for
and necessarily few - DVD titles from the HD-DVDplasmas range from 240 watts to over 500 watts, If
and Blu-ray DVD formats. On the other hand, most ofyou're concerned with how much energy a plasma set
the currently available DVDs actually play better whenmay use, check its specifications to determine power
viewed on EDTV, because the image resolution of aconsumption. Units tend to have higher wattage
widescreen DVD (nominally 740 x 480) more closelyrequirements as the screen increases. A good rule of
matches the actual resolution (852 x 480) of thethumb is to compare similar-sized units together; units
EDTV plasma display. Choosing the type of plasmawith higher wattages tend to use inferior components
TV that you want, therefore, is a question that shouldas a rule.Microtek Lab Inc. is a consumer electronics
be considered along with the type of content youcompany focused on scanners, plasma and lcd
frequently watch or will be watching on yourtelevisions, digital projectors, lcd monitors, digital
plasma.Inputs: A plasma television should work withcameras, home theatre equipment, and accessories.
any existing video component with standard A/V,You can view their online store at Use of this article is
S-Video, or Component Video outputs. In addition, mostpermitted provided that the article is used in its entirety.
plasma TVs have DVI or HDMI connections for use