Plasma TV Buying Tips
Plasma technology seems to be all the rage these days, and its popularity keeps growing as HDTV, DVD-video, DTV, and digital satellite become more common. These tips will help you choose the best plasma TV for your needs.
Plasma TVs have better resolution than regular TVs, and they can do HDTV, DTV, VGA, SVGA, and XGA. The resolution of a plasma TV will be 1366 x 768, and the colours and clarity will be much better than anything we've seen before.
Like other TVs, plasma is measured by its diagonal size. The 32-inch screen is the smallest, and the 63-inch screen is the biggest. If you are recessing your TV, you should leave 3 inches of space at the top so that it can breathe. Your speakers will also need 6 inches on each side.
You need to make sure that you can see your plasma screen well from all sides. Don't buy the biggest screen just because it's cheap. Choose a size that fits your room well.
32- to 37-inch screens are best seen from 6 to 10 feet away. The best viewing distance for 42-inch screens is 10 to 14 feet, and the best viewing distance for 50-inch screens is 12 to 16 feet. When looking at screens that are more than 50 inches, you should be at least 15 feet away.
Less light will shine in from windows, doors, and lamps if the tube on the TV is flat. The screen will also be less distorted. If you are going to spend the money on a plasma TV, go right for the flat screen. It's a good investment for sure.
Make sure the TV has at least one set of audio/video inputs and at least one set of audio outputs. If you can get more, you should. Check for S-video, RCA composite, and component video inputs as well. Check for the HD component firewire if you plan to use HDTV.
When it's time to shop, you can go to a store nearby or look online. You can often find some great deals online. As with any purchase, you should use your head. Most of the time, a price that seems too good to be true is. Always buy from a trustworthy dealer with a good reputation.
Online, you can find a number of price comparison sites, such as Nextag, Pricegrabber, and Bizrate. These sites are a quick way to find out what's on different websites. Remember that the only sites you'll find on these portals are paid advertisers, but it's still a good place to start looking.
Check the warranty on the TV you are thinking about buying. If there's an option for a longer warranty and it's not too expensive, you should definitely think about it.
If you follow these tips for buying a plasma TV, you'll be well on your way to getting a new one.
