With all the amazing advances in technology, even though our viewing experience is far superior, the prospect of buying a new television in the 21st Century can be a daunting one. Ever-changing, the market place for televisions in expanding rapidly; manufacturers are adding new features and functionalities at an alarming pace.
Selecting the perfect television for you will depend on;
- Shape and size
- Where you intend placing it in the home
- The screen resolution
- Comparing LCD and Plasma TVs
- And the features and option you would like
Shape and size
Televisions now look a lot different than what they used to; the old big sets, with a protruding back end are long gone, replaced by slim line, flat panelled TVs. There are various sizes from which to choose and all customers are strongly advised to measure the space where they intend putting the television.
Likewise, if you are replacing a screen as part of an installed home cinema system, you may find that you will need a square screen, rather than rectangle, although with some clever measuring and appreciation of how the viewing experience won’t be compromised, rectangle screens can be made to ‘fit’ the space.
A note on mounting: some manufacturers advise that space of a few inches be left all around the TV to allow for adequate ventilation, preventing over heating but also allowing for the hiding of cables and wires. We offer this installation service, giving you a professional finish to your entertainment centre!
Position
Two common mistakes people make when buying a new TV is that they buy one that is either too big or too small for the space; both make for a lacklustre and uncomfortable viewing experience. Use this equation to help you work out which one is the right size – for every 1 inch of the screen size, you should sit 2 inches away. Therefore, a 22 inch television will see the a perfect viewing experience from 4 feet but for a 50 inch screen, this increases to 8 to 9 feet.
LCD or Plasma
Today, the differences between LCD and Plasma TVs are minimal, and comes down to your own personal choice and budget, in some cases. Experts suggest that LCD have the edge on viewability, especially in bright rooms and also be purchased in a wider range of sizes. Plasma TVs, however, still boast a high level of viewability under all conditions, with some customer preferring their ability for showing a wide range of colours, especially on the darker side.
Features and options
There are so many now that it seems impossible to list them all! For example, you may want to consider;
- 3D (three dimensional) television for a fun and enhanced viewing experience
- TVs are used for much more than just watching programmes; gaming is on the increase and some offer improved viewability when objects are moving quickly on the screen
- Many TVs are also now WiFi, connecting you to the Internet so you can access online applications and programmes
- Film ‘mode’ can also be available on some sets, offering enhanced viewing in different formats, perfect for film buffs!
In summary…
There are many more features to televisions today than ever before, but you may not ‘need’ them all. You will also need to consider sound too but if it is all starting to become a little blurred and confusing, getting advice on the right television, with the right additional sound package is important.
Having been in the television trade for many years, Steve Bateman, has seen trends come and go, as well as the popular technology that is staying! He’s had to master av services in a constantly developing technology industry and likes to share his knowledge to help others.