Plasma, LCD or projector? With so many options available for television buyers, it’s easy to ind the right product to suit your interior design style and personal tastes. Andrew Gregory reports
1. Lifestyle choice
Before you even start researching the latest and greatest plasma television or projector, have a good look at the space where you intend to install the TV, speakers and other components. How much room do you have? Will they block out light or impede access from one room to another? The next step is to sit on the TV couch and figure out the most suitable screen size not just for yourself, but for other members of the household. Matching a new entertainment system and the latest technology with your home and lifestyle is paramount.
2. Size matters
We’ve all seen someone we know get a television that’s way too big, dwarfing everything else in the room. Trying to watch an oversized screen can be like sitting in the front row of a cinema, unable to see everything without constantly looking left and right, up and down. Remember too that a home- theatre system is a selection of components working together, not just a television with some other bits attached to it. Getting a quality DVD player, AV receiver, speakers and cables will do wonders for your home-theatre experience.
3. Providing backup
Most commentators don’t consider the furniture as part of the home theatre, but it’s advisable to invest in quality seating to maximise your viewing experience. Getting the right TV stand or AV cabinet will help you position the television screen at the correct height. The right furniture will conceal the unsightly mess of cords, and give you somewhere to store all the extras like DVD boxes and video games. Finally, remember that televisions, DVD players and similar components all generate heat, so the area needs to be adequately ventilated to avoid ‘cooking’ them slowly over time.
4. Lighting the screen
Never watch television without additional lighting. The extreme brightness of the screen in contrast to the darkness of the room will damage your eyes. Equally, avoid positioning lamps where they cause reflections on the screen, as will happen if they are set too close. The best solutions are to place a light behind the television set or deploy light sources elsewhere in the room to bounce indirect, general light off walls and other surfaces.
5. Advantages of plasma
In a plasma television, microscopic cells containing inert gases are sandwiched between two panes of glass. When a cell is activated, the contained gas is charged with electricity, turning it briefly into plasma and causing it to emit light. These millions of cells working together form the impressive screen image that plasma televisions are renowned for. Another touted advantage of plasma TVs is their superior colour range. Enthusiasts argue that plasma televisions have better contrast, which translates into richer colours, ‘blacker’ blacks and ‘whiter’ whites.
6. Tried-and-tested LCD
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Diodes and consists of coloured pixels arranged in front of a light source. LCD technology is tried and tested – currently used for computer monitors, portable gaming devices and television screens. Another advantage is that, like plasmas, LCD TVs are much thinner than the traditional Cathode Ray or ‘tube’ televisions and this slim design is a plus, especially in an apartment or small-room setting.
7. Technological laws
One drawback with LCD is its relatively poor performance when displaying fast-moving images, which results in ghosting and other unwanted screen blips. LCD’s limited viewing angle can also be a drawback – people looking at an LCD screen from the far left or far right will not be able to see a clear picture. On the other hand, a disadvantage with plasma televisions is the risk that an image, if left on the screen too long, will burn into the screen and leave a permanent mark or ghost image.
8. Projector problems
A drawback of projectors is the limited life span of the light bulbs or lamps, which are
said to last for 1,000 to 2,000 hours before they perish. The life expectancy of these
bulbs/lamps is clearly stated in product information and should be carefully noted by potential buyers, along with the price of a new bulb. Mounting a projector on a wall is both an advantage and a disadvantage: an advantage, because it frees up space, and a disadvantage, because it requires extra effort and possibly a professional installation.
9. Opting for projectors
We all know what a projector is from holiday slide nights with relatives, and from video
presentations at high school or university. In the home entertainment market, projectors have caught up with plasmas and LCDs for picture quality and on the price tag, making
them a real competitor in the battle for your dollar. There are two types of TV projector – Direct Light Processing (DLP) and LCD – and the differences between the picture quality and performance are decreasing as the products are refined. A projector screen is required to get the best-quality picture from your projector.
10. Installation issues
Prospective projector buyers should also note that they will need to install light-
blocking curtains, as if the room is filled with light, it will make the projector image poorer. A windowless home-theatre room is the ideal setting for a projector. Buyers must also consider the need for adequate ventilation around these hot-running machines, and make sure the room is as free of dust as possible, to maximise the useful life of the projector and its bulb/lamp.
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