Things You Should Know About Mounting Your Plasma or Lcd Tv

So you've decided to jump on board the technology revolution and bought yourself a flat panel television. That's great and I'm sure you are very excited to see what it can do. But there are a few things that you need to consider after buying one of these televisions that you might not know about. I am here to explain what these are so that you are a more educated consumer.

The first thing you should realize is that while these televisions produce a beautiful picture, it is never as good as it looks in the stores. Why is this you ask??? Well, when the manufacturers make these tvs, they turn the contrast and brightness of the tvs way up so that when they are on display in a store, the picture looks the best that it can possibly be. The problem with this is that displaying the tvs like this will eventually damage your screen and force you to buy a replacement. For this reason I suggest never buying a floor model and checking the brightness and contrast of your tv when you get home.

Second, after buying you lcd tv, you are going to need all the proper cables to hook up all of your components to the tv. If you want HD(High Definition) you will need to buy component cables to hook them up. Component cables provide the best picture quality outside of an HDMI cable. But 9 times out of 10 the salesman will try and get you to buy the most expensive component cables they carry(for more commission) claiming that they will provide the best picture quality. This is simply not true. A component cable is a component cable. No need to break the bank on that one.

Third, you will need to buy a mounting bracket if you plan on hanging the tv on your wall. There are essentially 3 different types of brackets to choose from.

The first is called a Flush Mount Bracket. These simply hang your tv flat against the wall. Stationary. The next is a tilting Flush Mount Bracket. These are the same as the first except they allow your tv to tilt up or down for better viewing. The last is what is called a Cantilever Bracket. These allow your tv to hang stationary, tilt up or down, or move left or right. If you use this bracket, many times your tv will need an adaptor plate in order to properly screw the bracket to the back of your tv. Make sure to ask your salesman to check that out for you. If you need one, be aware that these adaptor plates cost almost as much as the bracket itself, so be prepared to shell out some dough. Between buying the bracket of your choice, cables and an adaptor plate(if you need one) be prepared to spend another $200-$400.

Finally, once you do all of this, you will need to have your Lcd or Plasma Tv mounted to your wall. There are two options for you here.

One, you hire an experienced A/V installer to come and hang it for you. If you choose this option, make sure you find a reputable installer. There are many fly-by-night installers that will make this experience a nightmare for you. Check some references of theirs and maybe prepare a couple of questions for them to make sure they know what they are doing. Using a professional, experienced installer is the easiest way to go, but be prepared to pay up to $600 for their services.

Two, you can mount it yourself. If you choose this option you will save yourself a nice chunk of money, but you can be trading the money for lots of headaches if you are not properly prepared. Make sure you have all of the tools you will need including a cordless drill, at least 14v, fishtape(to snake your wires through the wall),a nutdriver,drill bits,a level,tape measure, stud finder, and in most cases a friend to help you lift the tv.

www.LcdTvInstallationGuide.googlepages.com

Mike Ferrara began A/V installations about 3 years ago. He is passionate about his work and has learned a lot about the A/V business. He currently works as a lead technician for one of the biggest A/V companies in the country.

Consumer Reports - Plasma-TVS

Plasma TVs make a blockbuster first impression. A scant 6 inches thick or less, these sleek flat panels display bright images on screens measuring about 3 to 5 feet diagonally.

A plasma screen is made up of thousands of pixels containing gas that's converted into "plasma" by an electrical charge. The plasma causes phosphors to glow red, green, or blue, as dictated by a video signal. The result: a colorful display with high brightness and a wider viewing angle than most rear-projection sets and LCD (liquid-crystal display) TVs. Thanks to steady improvements in plasma technology, the best of these sets have excellent or very good picture quality. Some picture-tube TVs still do slightly better with fine detail, color accuracy, and subtle gradations of black and gray, but plasma TVs are coming closer.

However, the picture isn't all rosy. Like projection TVs using CRT (cathode-ray tube) technology, plasma sets are vulnerable to screen burn-in. Also, plasma sets run hotter and consume more power than any other type of TV. Because plasma sets are relatively new, their long-term reliability is still a question.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

When buying a plasma TV, you'll face a choice between HD (high definition) and ED (enhanced definition) sets, which cost less. The two types differ in native resolution, meaning the fixed number of pixels on the screen. In a spec like 852x480, note the second number. If it's 480, the set is ED; 720 or higher, it's HD. Both types of sets should be capable of up- or down-converting signals to match their native resolution. ED sets can display the full detail of 480p signals such as those output by a progressive-scan DVD player. When connected to an HD tuner, many can down-convert HD signals (which are 720p or 1080i) to suit their lower-resolution screens. While you won't see true HD, the picture quality can be very good. If you sit too close to an ED set, though, images may appear coarser than on an HDTV, as if you were looking through a screen door.

There's another major choice. Within the HD category, there are three types of TV sets: HD-ready sets. Also called HDTV monitors, these sets can display standard-definition analog programs (which still account for most non-prime-time TV broadcasts) on their own. To display digital programs, they require a digital tuner to decode those broadcasts. If you're getting your HD programming from cable or satellite, your digital cable box or satellite receiver has the appropriate digital decoder built in. All you have to do is connect your HD-ready TV to the box and you're all set. Cable companies charge a small rental fee for digital or HD-capable boxes. To receive HD via satellite, you need an HD receiver and special dish antenna(e). Together, these cost about $300, but you may be able to get them from the satellite company at little or no charge as part of a promotion.

You can also get digital broadcasts, including HD, over the air, via an antenna. To do so, you'll have to buy a digital tuner called an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner--the external box costs a few hundred dollars. However, there's no charge for service as there is with cable or satellite. Some satellite receivers also offer a built-in ATSC digital tuner. To receive digital programming via antenna, you must be fairly close to a transmitter, with an unobstructed view. With digital signals, you'll either have a clear, strong signal or none at all.

Integrated HDTV sets. These have the ATSC digital tuner built in, which enables them to decode any digital signals, including HD with no additional equipment when used with a roof antenna. You may be able to receive the major networks' HD offerings transmitted over the air in your area, but not the premium channels available on satellite and cable. To get HD via cable or satellite, integrated sets require an HD-capable cable box, CableCard, or satellite receiver--the built-in digital tuner only works for off-air digital broadcasts. As of July 2005, all new TVs 36 inches and larger--a category covering most plasma TVs--were required to have a built-in digital tuner to comply with a government ruling. Although integrated HDTVs have a digital tuner for off-air programs, most of these sets still require an HD-capable cable box or satellite receiver to get cable or satellite.

Digital-Cable-Ready (DCR) sets. Some new integrated models, called digital-cable-ready (DCR) or plug-and-play sets, can receive digital-cable programming without using a set-top box. For HD and premium cable programming--and possibly for any digital programming--you must insert a CableCard into a slot on the set. You usually have to pay a few dollars a month to rent the card from the cable company. Current DCR TVs are not interactive, so even with a CableCard in the slot they can't provide features such as an interactive program guide, video on demand, or pay-per-view ordering via remote. Second-generation DCR TVs and CableCards should be here soon, and they're expected to have two-way capability, allowing for interactive features. Integrated sets typically cost more than HD-ready sets, with digital-cable-ready models costing the most.

Among the brands in the plasma TV category are Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. Prices have dropped sharply over the past year or two. At publication time, HD-ready models with 40- to 44-inch screens, the best-selling size, were going for $3,000 to $5,000 or more. TVs with 50-inch or larger screens were selling for $4,500 and up. Look for prices to fall further, now that companies such as Dell and ViewSonic have expanded from the computer arena into TVs with aggressive pricing.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Plasma TVs have most of the features that are now standard on direct-view, CRT-based TVs, plus some features that are less common. These include picture-in-picture (PIP), which lets you watch two channels at once, one in a small picture alongside the full-screen image. A single-tuner TV requires another device with a tuner, such as a VCR or cable box, to display two programs at once; dual-tuner models can display two programs simultaneously on their own.

Most TVs have several types of inputs that handle varying levels of quality. A cable/antenna, or radio frequency (RF), input is the most basic connection, and it can be used with almost any video source. A composite-video input will give you slightly better picture quality and is often used with a VCR or regular cable box. An S-video input lets you take advantage of the still-better picture quality from a digital-cable box, a satellite-dish system, a DVD player, or a digital camcorder. A component-video input offers superior quality, making this a good choice for progressive-scan DVD players, high-definition satellite receivers, and HD digital-cable boxes that have the corresponding output. HDTVs have DVI or HDMI inputs, which provide a high-quality digital connection to devices such as DVD players, digital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers. These connections allow the content providers to control your ability to record certain programming. Many sets have more than one of a given type of input. Having two or three S-video or component-video inputs is a plus. For a camcorder or video game, front-panel A/V inputs are helpful.

Audio outputs let you direct a stereo TV's audio signal to a receiver or to self-powered speakers. An automatic volume leveler compensates for the jarring volume jumps that often accompany commercials or changes in channel. Some plasma sets have a separate control unit--a video receiver, in effect, that accepts connections more easily than a panel you've had mounted onto a wall.

If you watch many movies, look for a Film mode feature on ED and HD sets. This feature is also called 3:2 pulldown compensation or brand-specific names such as CineMotion. This can make moving images that were converted from film to video look less jerky, with less jaggedness around the edges. On 16:9 sets, stretch and zoom modes will expand or compress an image to better fill the screen shape. This helps to reduce the dark bands that can appear around images if you watch content formatted for one screen shape on a TV that has the other shape. (The picture may be distorted or cut off a bit in the process of stretching and zooming). Those bars make the picture slightly smaller and use the phosphors unevenly, which may leave ghosted images on the screen over time. This "burn-in" may be also a risk with any images left on the screen for long periods--say from a stock ticker.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Decide whether you want true HD or the next best thing. HD sets generally perform better than ED sets with all types of signals. They may be worth the higher cost if you're a purist who wants the best image quality. Most ED plasma sets can down-convert an HD signal to fit their lower resolution, so you can still enjoy HD programming. While it won't be true HD quality, it can be very good. Minor differences in resolution between two HD sets or two ED sets won't necessarily determine overall image quality. Other factors affect the picture, such as the way a TV converts a signal to fit the screen and its ability to render subtle shading. Note that the shiny surface of a plasma TV can produce annoying reflections, especially in brightly lit rooms. Many of these sets look best in low light.

Weigh screen size against price. If you're buying a plasma TV, an important question is how much screen you can afford. All other things being equal, the bigger the screen, the bigger the price tag, and the greater the viewing distance you need to see optimal picture quality. You'll enjoy the best viewing experience if you sit at least 6 feet away from a 42-inch HD set, and a little farther from an ED set or larger screen.

Beware of burn-in and burnout. Plasma TVs are prone to burn-in, much like CRT-based rear-projection TVs. Over time, static images from fixed items displayed for long periods (such as a video game or a stock ticker) can leave permanent ghosted impressions on-screen, so minimize the risk as much as you can.

You may have seen reports, in print or online, suggesting that plasma TVs may not last as long as other types of TVs. Overall longevity and reliability is an open question because the technology is so new. Major manufacturers now tout 60,000 hours of use or more before a recent-model plasma screen loses half its brightness. Even in heavy use (40 hours a week), that's about 29 years.

Don't get hung up on specs. Ads touting high contrast ratios and brightness (cd/m2, or candelas per square meter) may sway you to one set or another. Don't pay much heed. Manufacturers arrive at specs differently, so they may not be comparable. Try adjusting sets in the store yourself to compare contrast and brightness.

Determine what's included when comparing prices. Most other types of TVs come with speakers and a tuner at least for standard channels. (A digital tuner for HD isn't included with any HD-ready or ED-ready set.) Some plasmas are purely monitors only, sold with no sound capabilities whatsoever; they don't include speakers or a tuner for any type of TV signal. You won't have to pay for a tuner if you'll be using a cable box or satellite receiver, which would serve as the tuner for all programming. Otherwise you'll need a set-top box to work with an antenna. You'll have to pay extra for optional speakers unless you plan to connect the set to your existing sound system.

Consider the logistics. Ads for plasma TVs may not show any wires, but you'll probably be connecting a cable box or satellite receiver and a DVD player, and possibly a VCR and audio receiver as well. You can tuck wires behind the TV if you place it on a stand. With wall-mounting, you can run the wires behind the wall or through conduits, a task that might be best handled by a professional. Often weighing 100 pounds or more, plasma TVs need adequate support and ample ventilation because of the heat they generate. Ask the retailer to recommend an installer or contact the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (800-669-5329 or www.cedia.net). Figure on $300 to $1,000 for labor, plus a few hundred dollars for mounting brackets.

Weigh the merits of an extended warranty. While extended warranties aren't worthwhile for most products, they may be for high-priced devices using new technologies. Because plasma TVs are costly items that haven't yet established a track record for reliability, check into the cost of a service plan. Find out whether in-home service is covered and whether a replacement is provided if a set can't be repaired.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

Find More Plasma TVs with Easy Deal at ShopNdeal.com

LCD Plasma Television Appear Like Works of Art Hanging in Your Living Room

If you've been shopping around for a television set in the recent past, chances are that you've been astounded by the wide array of television sets available. I'm not referring to the number of manufacturers. Apart from the brand names most of us have grown up with, most state of the art television sets today come from the Asian region, from companies in China, Korea and Japan. What I am referring to however, is the new technologies that are available. If on the one hand there are still cathode ray tube conventional televisions, on the other hand, there are innovative display systems like liquid crystal display televisions and even what is known as plasma televisions.

In the tried and tested conventional televisions that most of us have grown up with, the technology used is known as the cathode ray tube technology. A cathode gun fires electrons, which, when charged and excited, tend to form an image on a glass screen. These images form as pixels in the three basic colors, which when combined can produce millions of colors. While the technology itself has been fine tuned and developed through the ages to give us great television monitors, there are certain limitations to what the conventional cathode ray tube television can do.

For one thing, being built of glass, the screen of the cathode ray tube or conventional television has a size limitation. Most conventional televisions which use the cathode ray tube technology are less than 42 inches in size. This size is not the height or width of the television, but the diagonal distance between one end and the other. So, the biggest conventional television you can have is around 42 inches. Conventional televisions are bulky, restricted in image size and confined to the limitations of the box they are built in. This makes them big, and in some cases impossible to fit into your living room.

This is where newer display technologies have resulted in better, modern televisions like the plasma television. In a plasma television, the older cathode ray tube technology is left behind in favor of an atomic technology. Our ability to manipulate and control the behavior of atomic particles has also enables us to enhance our viewing experience. This is the technology that a plasma television uses. A plasma, is a gas that contains freely flowing ions and electrons. When an electric charge is passed through this plasma, photons are released, which then provide illumination. The rest of the technology in plasma televisions is concentrated on using this illumination to create the three primary colors and to display them as images. Just as the cathode ray tube televisions use different intensities of particles to produce differing colors, the plasma television also varies the intensity of the illumination to produce color changes. Which is why, while using a plasma television, more numbers of colors can be seen.

The plasma television removes or negates most of the drawbacks of the conventional television. For one thing, size is no longer a restriction, as the bulky cathode ray tube has been done away with. For another, bulky boxes are not required and the plasma television can be as thin as you could have imagined it. Most plasma televisions nowadays appear more or less like works of art hanging in your living room. So adopt the plasma television today and see how innovations in display have enhanced the quality of our entertainment!

Muna wa Wanjiru has been researching and reporting on HDTV LCD TV for years. visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/home-theatre.html

Why You Should Buy A Plasma Television

The plasma television has many advantages and benefits for you and your entertainment needs and wants. The plasma tv gives you incredible picture quality, it has a sleek design, and it is HDTV compatible.

Plasmas provide sharper images and more vibrant colors. You can display both HDTV and DTV signals as well as computer signals such as XGA, SVGA, and VGA.

Plasmas Superior to Both CRT's and LCD

Plasma screen televisions provide sharp, clear pictures, plus no image distortion. CRTs can't match this. Plasma tvs have brighter pictures and provide a better viewing angle at 160 degrees, than LCDs. For the best technology in display panels, choose plasma technology.

High Resolution

Plasma display televisions have higher resolution than most standard TV sets. They are able to display full HDTV and DTV signals as well as XGA, SVGA, and VGA signals from a computer. If a plasma has a resolution of 1024x1024 it can display images from 1080i and 720i HDTV resolution, plus 480i and 480p HD signals.

Flat Screen

Plasma display televisions have screens that are completely flat. There is no distortion of the image even at the edges and corners. Plus to increase your viewing fun, the flat plasma screen tv provides an amazing 160-degree viewing area.

Ultra Thin Design Saves Space

Plasma televisions can hang on almost any wall. You can even hang them from your ceiling. Other advantages of plasma screen tvs are high ambient light tolerance, distortion free images, entirely digital techology, not affected by magnetism, and can be attached to a ceiling or wall, or used as a freestanding fixture.

Jeremy Hier Find out about the top plasma televisions by reading our reviews at http://www.best-plasma-televisions.com/