Home Theater Buying Guide

Toshiba 42 inch LCD TV

2008-07-25T03:58:53Z

I finally got myself an HDTV. A couple of weeks ago as I prpared to move I decided that I was going to cancel my Shaw Cable TV and move to Bell ExpressVu. I was excited about the PVR and picking up a few more time shifting channels but mostly I was excited about getting a clearer all digital picture.

So I found a del on the Toshiba 42AV500U 42 inch 720P LCD.

I am right now looking at the box that holds my TV. I have had this new Toshiba TV for two weeks now but did not want to open the box and have trouble transporting it so it has stayed in the box and I look longingly at it everyday. On Saturday I will be getting the Satellite hooked up and tomorrow I will be getting a stand and then everything will get pulled together.

Tomorrow the Wii gets pulled out, no component video for the Wii yet but maybe I will get the Wii component video cables tomorrow as well. I will hook up the surround sound stereo. I will pop in a DVD, either Fight Club (my favorite) or maybe Almost Famous with that great concert footage.

Anyway sometime in the next couple of days I will go through everything on this cheap HDTV and do a thorough review in case you are in the market for your first HDTV.

The Death of HD-DVD

2008-02-18T16:04:05Z

Well I was expecting format war that would never end but it seems that now Toshiba has pulled the plug on HD-DVD and Sony has won with Blu-Ray.

Just a few months ago it seemed that there would be plenty of competition between the Microsoft-Toshiba backed HD-DVD having it bundled as an addon to Xbox 360. The porn industry got a bit of press with their backing of the spec and there was word that cheap players were coming down the pipe. At the same time Sony was having a hard time winning the game console war with the new Playstation 3 against the Wii and Xbox 360 but the battle continued.

Over the last couple of months the press seemed to be pushing Blu-Ray but in my mind the cheap HD-DVD players on the market as well as WalMart selling only standalone HD-DVD seemed like enough that the major studios would have to go with the HD-DVD over Blu-Ray, but strangly a couple of studios mainly Warner last month went to Blu-Ray and everyone said that blu-Ray had won.

Nothing had changed over the last month and then last week there were a spate of announcements that in just a couple of days killed any chance for HD-DVD.

First NetFlix said they would go Blu-Ray by the end of the year
Best Buy said they would go Blu-Ray by the end of May
Walmart said they would sell only BluRay

And then there were rumors that Toshiba was going to pull the plug on the manufacture of HD-DVD drives. Rumor is enough to kill a technology and today HD-DVD is dead.

I am pretty happy actually that there is a decisive sinner in the HD disk market. There was a combo dirve planned a couple of months ago that was going to keep both formats alive but really why would we want two formats. I have not seen anything that tells me that one format is better then another, this is no Beta vs VHS part two and the support of two formats is not going to help anyone, manufacturers, studios or consumers so good news that a standard is here that everyone can coalesce around and offer cheaper media and Cheaper players. Also hopefully we will see more and more features as we have seen with DVD players over the last few years supporting MP3 and DivX.

Home Audio Video installer ideas

2008-02-07T23:43:39Z

AvReview has a great guide for installers eager to start this year on the right foot. This is a long but really good article.

Since the rise in popularity of the VHS tape, the home theater business hasn’t really known much in the way of down economic times. For decades now, the size of one’s television could be socially equated with the speed of their sports car. Bigger is better. Flatter is better, and High Definition is the ultimate. Back the tape up to five years ago when only the upper middle class and above could afford a plasma TV, dealers were converting their retail businesses from more traditional store front shops to slick, design oriented, custom install firms so that they could install $10,000 plasma HDTVs in houses by the dozen.

It was a good living that left room for mid-level dealers like Tweeter, as well as hundreds of regional AV dealers. They could make a healthy living selling flat TVs along with all of the goodies, and they were poised for even more boom times as interest rates hit 50 year lows and the real estate market took off like anycompanysname.com circa 1998. Ah, those were the good old days.

]]> As we time travel back to the present 2007 holiday season, the home theater market finds itself suffering its first real hangover in decades. Even the gutless and unanswered-for attacks of September 11, 2001 didn’t affect the home theater business the way the current U.S. economic malaise has in the past two quarters. Those $10,000 plasma TVs that buoyed the sales of the mid-level retailers and custom installers nationwide wouldn’t fetch $800 at warehouse and mainstream retail stores the likes of Costco, Wal-mart and Sears. Big box AV retailers like Best Buy are thriving this holiday season based on low-end, low-margin electronics like video game systems, digital cameras and cheap computers. Meanwhile competing Circuit City isn’t reporting the same kind of boom times as Santa was on approach to an American city near you. With powerful new players in the marketplace promoting every man’s dream of owning a big, bright, flat HDTV, the specialty retailer sits in his store wondering why his parking lot isn’t as packed as Best Buy or Costco.

In some ways, things are even worse for the custom installer who rode so high during the housing boom of early 2000. When new housing starts were raging in every corner of the country, everyone and their uncle needed new HDTVs and a home theater system complete with whole home distributed audio and beyond. With housing prices in some major cities increasing at a rate of 25 percent or more per year every year, there was always that equity loan you could use to pay for all of your goodies, even if you were mortgaged to the hilt on your home. So, borrow people did, and the party just kept going and going as if the Energizer Bunny was the guest of honor.

Today, analysts suggest it could take as many as 500,000 home sales to start to significantly lower the available “for sale” inventory and to get back to any real growth or even stability in the American real estate market. To get to this level of volume, expect home prices (and the equity that people were spending on that new 55-inch LCD set) to drop, which isn’t good news in the short term for traditional dealers and or installers. Complex and pricey custom installation budgets are likely to be trimmed back to more of the basics like HDTVs, satellite receivers and limited surround systems. Specialty retailers struggle to add value to that HDTV sale as the warehouse stores can beat their best prices by 20 to 30 percent any day of the week.

The time has come for specialty audio video and custom retailers to get back to the basics, as the turbulent real estate market, the weak dollar and an uncertain political situation will not last forever. Today is the day for custom installers to make a truly meaningful New Years resolution to meet with three interior designers or general contractors each week for a year to pitch their services and systems. The days of waiting by the door for FedEx to drop off the blueprints for yet another 6,000 square foot house are over for now. That is just order taking, and when you can get it order taking is nice. In 2008 things are different and today is the day to work on new leads and to diversify the sources for new business in ways that are respectful so that custom home theater installers now work in a more cyclical business, based around market trends in the real estate market.

Bose Lifestyle V20 and V30 home theater systems

2008-02-07T23:41:32Z

Bose Corp today launched its Lifestyle V20 and V30 home theater systems that promise high-quality audio and video from almost all entertainment sources available on the market, including those with HDMI.

The new home theater systems deliver premium 5.1 surround sound for movies, music, sports, and video games. Typically, they include five small speaker arrays, a hideaway media console, an Acoustimass module, a radio frequency remote, and a standalone display.

All audio/video sources can be connected to the media console, which can be tucked away in a cabinet or closet. The included radio frequency remote can control connected sources, thus reducing clutter and doing away with the need for more than one remote. It's possible to connect both standard and high-definition sources with multiple digital and analog inputs. For simple HDMI connections, two inputs can be used.

The V20 and V30 systems can also automatically upscale video to the highest resolution acceptable to the connected television, i.e. up to 1080p over HDMI.

Of the two systems, the V30 includes five Jewel Cube speaker arrays while the V20 includes five Direct/Reflecting cube speaker arrays. Both the V30 and the V20 have a horizontal center channel speaker that helps provide clear, focused dialogue and balanced surround sound.

Further, speakers of both systems work with an Acoustimass minimizing audible distortion so that all sound appears to emanate from the tiny cube speakers.

The V20 and V30 systems incorporate advanced Bose technologies such as the ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, which analyzes and automatically adjusts system sounds to particular rooms or locations. With Bose's link expansion feature, it's possible to extend music benefits of both systems to as many as 14 additional rooms.

One more feature common to the V20 and the V30 is the Videostage 5 decoding circuitry that provides surround sound experience even from stereo and mono formats like videotapes, stereo CDs, and older TV programs.

Both V20 and V30 home theater systems are available in Black or White through Bose stores, the Bose India Web site at www.boseindia.com, and the toll-free number 1-800-11-BOSE (2673).

Choosing a home theater remote control

2007-12-02T05:45:18Z

Fed up with finding the remotes of each of your electronic devices, then a universal remote control comes as an easy answer. In general a universal remote is a remote control that can be easily programmed to operate various brands and one or more types of electronics devices such as TV, music system, Air-conditioners and many other devices.

Typically, the low-end universal remotes can only control a set number of devices pre defined by their manufacturer, while the mid- and high-end remote controls allow the user to program in new controls codes to the remote for controlling a number of other devices.

With the increasing use of these remote controls many remotes sold with various electronic devices include universal remote capabilities for other types of device, which allow the remote to control other devices apart from the device it came with.

The universal remote controls can be broadly classified in two types like

Device Based Universal Remote Controls
Most universal remotes that are sold today are device based and they are quite popular. The use of the device-based remote control is simple and the user has to press a button associated with the desired device to control and then uses the remaining buttons to control that single device.

Controlling other devices is also simple as the remote control identifies the other devices when the user presses a different device button and then the remote starts sending command to the new device. An example of a device-based remote is the Home Theater Master line of remotes.

Activity Based Remote Control
These types of the universal remotes are programmed to work on the concept of activities and not on the devices. In this instead of controlling each device individually the user can instead focus on the activity that they want to perform. For instance the user might want to watch a movie, or listen to some music, or just watch TV.

It is when a particular activity is selected the universal remote control may send out the necessary signals and commands to various necessary devices in to turn on and to configure device to accomplish the desired activity. For instance selecting an activity like watch a movie the remote control might turn on the TV, configure the TV to the DVD video input, turn on the amplifier, configure the amplifier to the DVD audio input, turn on the DVD player, and start the DVD playing. One of the most popular activity based remote controls is the Logitech Harmony line of remotes.

The journey with the universal remote control just doesn't stops there, but can continue with the up gradations that are required with the changing electronic devices. That is why many universal controls allow the code lists programmed into the remote to be updated to support new brands or models of devices not currently supported by the remote.

Interestingly the lower end universal remotes accomplish this by allowing audible signals to be sent over a telephone to a receiver on the remote. This is applicable when the user calls customer service, an operator can have the caller place the remote next to the phone's speaker and then send a signal over the telephone to upgrade the remote for any requested new brand of model of supported device type.
About the Author

Make your life easier by getting a universal remote control. End the days of picking up the wrong remote.

Why pick HD-DVD

2007-12-01T01:58:34Z

For some time now the hot news in the technology market has been HD DVD movies. Everyone is speculating which format will win, Blu-ray or HD DVD. It is like the vhs vs beta max debate of the 80's. The Blu-ray format is made by Sony and is incorporated into the new PS3, so they have an advantage there. HD DVD is made by Toshiba, and is much cheaper than Blu-ray. I believe that this will ultimately make the HD DVD the standard for high definition movies.

Many stores are dropping the prices on the Toshiba HD DVD for the holidays, and while some are just having black Friday sales on them many stores such as Wal-mart are dropping the price permanently. The trend is to drop the price right under $200, which is a very good price for technology this new. Because of the big difference in price between the two formats, I believe that after the holidays the HD DVD will slowly pull away from Blu-ray in sales. Once a lot of the players have sold on black Friday and other holiday promotions, people will begin to buy the movies in that format, which will be the deciding factor ultimately. The more movies that are bought in one format or the other, the better the chance that that format will win the battle.

So watch for these sales near you, as they will probably be selling out quickly, and I would stay away from wasting money on a Blu-ray player unless you are buying the PS3, in which case the price isn't that bad for what you get. Also, for those interested in stocks, watch for Toshiba. I'm not a big stock person, but I think there is a good chance that the Toshiba stock will take off during and right after the holiday shopping season. Also, if you are watching for a good deal on these keep your eye on Ebay, Amazon, Overstock, and other discount websites. You can sometimes get some great deals on these websites. Also, watch for coupons and promotional coupons from office depot, best buy, and other major retailers. Especially this time of year you can get some really good deals if you are willing to shop around a little bit.

For more great articles and advice check out my free blog: http://tipsfromacollegestudent.blogspot.com/

Upgrading your Surround Sound

2007-11-30T19:20:31Z

There are many large and smaller surround sound and home theater systems on the market today. With so many choices of the earth how do you know what you can expect to get your money? The answer to that just might be easier than you imagined. The thing to remember when it comes to technology, it is constantly evolving. This means that it is in your interest to find a surround sound or home theater system that is evolutionary.

In fact, I would say that it would be my first requirement when buying a home theater or surround sound system in the current market. If you buy an AV receiver, which has room to expand as technology advances for noise when you have the foundation to build a better system, even over time. If you can find a good deal on an AV receiver which is also THX-certified then you are paving the way for a remarkable system once you have everything in place.

While the actors are extremely important that you can buy the 5 speakers and subwoofer, you will need a 5.1 channel surround sound system at a reasonable price and make plans for the purchase of the best speakers in the time. You want to make sure that speakers should buy certain that you can certainly live with as you register to even better speakers in the future, but for the purchase of a game that has a good sound quality rather than to stretch your budget for those who are better means you can put your money together and buy a better set of speakers in your surround sound system or home theater.

The good news is that you like the speakers today, which are simply out of your price range will be a lower price this time next year. Of course, it will be even better players on the market at this time. If you save your money during the next year, in a year you can upgrade a system far outpacing even though you had the opportunity to take advantage of the system you already use the entire time. Imagine how much more pleasure you receive from your investment once you have performed an upgrade?

Another important thing to consider when it comes to upgrades is that they are not an all or nothing. "You can update a room at a time and never have to go without in order to reach a excellent sound quality that is simply better. Whilst I know, first, that the sacrifice is good for the soul, I am never too delighted to abandon things that pleased me to obtain the best things later. Doing things that way I get to a big sound, whereas I am saving for her even better in the future. It's like having your neighbors and your agglutination cake too!

As you wander through the aisles of your local electronics and view all the options that are available to be sure to take the time to look at the things you want to make plans for the future. Make sure that the components you buy today are in line with the things you want to add to your surround sound system in the future and not to lose sight of the ultimate goal of overspending on a starter set.

We offer free information on home audio and give you the inside look, please have a visit to http://yoursurroundsoundguide.com/ebook/

How to choose home theater speakers

2007-11-26T16:22:05Z

When it comes to surround sound or home theater system, the quality of your speakers can really make or break the entire experience. Good quality is one of the speakers, if not, the most important components when it comes to your home theater and surround sound system. You need to take action early on, to make sure you do not get below the speakers of your entertainment system if your surround sound system will be used for viewing television, home theater, the music enjoyment, or to enhance your experience of the Games on the personal computer of the quality of speakers will have an enormous impact on how much you enjoy your system.

The problem is that most people do not even know where to start when it comes to the selection and purchase of speakers. There are a few guidelines you can follow when your decisions on speakers that will help you make better purchasing decisions in order to obtain a better quality speakers (the budget for the course, but I recommend postponing the purchase until 'that you can put in place sufficient rather than purchase of inferior quality, because it is within your price range).

There are many types of speaker systems. Speakers who have been certified THX are usually your top of the line speakers. They will have very little distortion and a beautiful tone clear. If you can get your hands on a set of them and their place within your budget constraints I strongly recommend going with speakers that are certified THX. The noise, however, should be the ultimate deciding factor in the selection of speakers and quite frankly, you have to hear the sound for you to decide which sound you prefer.

Speakers, like anything is always a matter of preference. You can hear many speakers and some people believe that all the sounds, they look while others believe that the amount of distortion in certain is simply unbearable, and still others simply blame the poor quality of music on the sounds they hear through the speakers. The fact is that there are different dosages for quality and everyone has their own preferences and things that are important to them when listening to the music and feel things that can be sacrificed. I tend to be a bit of a snob good way of sacrifice is not a word I like to hear when it comes to sound quality.

There are some things you can do to make sure you get a good quality set of speakers for your surround sound system. First, you need to listen and to ensure that sounds do not seem high or distorted facts as if they were inside a tin can. You should also check that sounds mediums are clear and resonant. You should also make sure that the speakers are not doing the work of the cabinet, it is there for a reason and has a job, others of the whole should not try to do so (if they is it generally indicates problems with the cabinet). Mixture is important in a series of speakers. You do not want a speaker crushing others. If the music seems too garish or midrange scores are abundant, this is probably not the system for your needs.

It is recommended that you try sound systems you plan with different types of music and media (especially if you must use your surround sound system for a home theater or gaming system in addition to the music). I always recommend that the first 10 minutes of the film Top Gun sound check when it comes to Home Theater. You should also bring a copy of your favorite CD (as is what you will hear more about your system) and perhaps a few other records that show a variety. Listen to the way the different sounds were made on the system and choose on the basis of the whole system, in order to have the greatest flexibility in your surround sound system.

We offer free information on home audio and give you the inside look, please have a visit to http://yoursurroundsoundguide.com/ebook

What to look at in HDMI cabling

2007-11-26T15:54:44Z

You're seeing the marvel that is High Definition TV, in a hundred different monitors at your local retail outlet. It can be very exciting, but confusing. So, you pick out your baby, buy it, and take it home. Following a storm of unwrapping, and the plugging in of cables, you have...a picture that doesn't even come close to what you saw in the store. Annoyed, you finally decide to read the manual (something most people would never think to do), see a reference to a type of High Definition connection called HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), and realize that's exactly what you need to go out and get. So back to your local Retailer you go, only to be confronted with DVD players that Upscale, HD-DVD Players, Blu-Ray Players, Video Game Consoles and dozens of other products that use this same new Interface. Just when you thought you understood your new HDTV, you are thwarted by the numerous choices available.

Older Analog style video connections did not offer nearly the connection standard of HDMI, which allows a single cable connection to pass both Audio and Video signals; this is the new High Definition age connection standard. If your TV supports Full HD, make sure you have an HDMI cable to take advantage of this. Rather than a multitude of cords and a maze of cables snaked behind your TV and entertainment system, HDMI allows the best of both worlds by combining audio and visual into one single digital cable.

To help you learn what to purchase and why, let us briefly discuss HDTV resolutions and their meanings.

HDTV Resolutions:

- 480i (480 interlaced lines of resolution) Also known as what you've watched on normal TV for years

- 480p (480 Progressive lines of resolution) Known as SDTV, progressively scanning images from a DVD player creates a nicer, smoother image on your SDTV/HDTV

- 720p (720 Progressive lines of Resolution) This is your initial step into HDTV. Allowing for 720 lines of resolution, nearly twice that of 480p, provides a much smoother image on a High Definition TV

- 1080i (1080 interlaced lines of Resolution) Currently the greatest resolution provided by Satellite and Cable operators, offering exceptional quality picture on a television capable of displaying 1080i

- 1080p (1080 Progressive lines of Resolution) Also known as Full HD, 1080p is currently "IT" in the market place in terms of best quality picture.

Now that you understand the progression of HDTV Resolutions, let's figure out what all those numbers really mean on that new HDTV you've just purchased.

When you are selecting the cables to connect your HDMI equipped devices, these are some elements to keep in mind.

As you will be spending a good bit on the cable, make sure you get one which is future proofed - even though your TV programs aren't broadcast in 1080p, the latest DVD and game consoles are, so get a cable that is 1080p certified. To ensure that it transmits video as well as lossless audio, make sure the cable is HDMI 1.3. Many cables longer than 10 feet begin to lose quality, so make sure that the cable is certified for 1080p. Lastly, pay attention to how strained the cable is, because most versions don't have any sort of locking device, and it can wiggle loose.

That's it. Now it is time to purchase a HDMI cable, so that you may enjoy that vibrant video and crisp audio that you fell in love with at the store!

Vic Metten, a home theater installer, knows what most people don't realize - that the connectors and cables make make or break the picture clarity. He highly suggests conferring with the employees at Best Deal Cables for their unique HDMI cable which has been 1040p certified. (It also includes an innovative clasp that will keep the cable well-secured.) Since they don't blow a bunch of money on their advertising.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 720

2007-10-22T18:06:30Z

Epson has released a press release concerning their new Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 720 home theater projectors. Not only are these projectors using some very cutting edge technology but they also have a nice reasonable price. Just in time for Christmas.

Epson America Inc. today announced that it is advancing its award-winning line of high definition projectors for the ever-growing home theater market with the launch of the Epson PowerLite(R) Home Cinema 720. This new high definition projector is engineered to set a new standard in performance among all 720p native resolution projectors currently on the market. To meet that promise, it comes loaded with cutting-edge technology and high-end features typically reserved for much more expensive projectors. The result is stunning HD image quality at up to 120 inches, incredible color control and the hassle-free setup, service and support Epson has become famous for -- all for $1,299 (estimated street price). The combination makes the Home Cinema 720 the perfect choice for any home theater enthusiast. The Home Cinema 720 will be available in late-October through authorized Epson resellers.

"As the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,(1) Epson continues to expand its leadership position with a continuous wave of innovation influencing all segments of the home theater market," said Mike Isgrig, director, Multimedia Projection Products, Epson America. "The Home Cinema 720 is another great example of our commitment to leadership in the market. This product sets a new price/performance standard by offering truly amazing image quality driven by an advanced 3-chip optical engine and 10-bit color processing. It also offers state-of-the-art features usually found in more expensive projectors including lens shift and color management combined with our exclusive two-year Road Service(TM) and PrivateLine(R) support -- all for under $1,300."

The Home Cinema 720 features industry-leading 3LCD technology to deliver brilliant high-definition 16:9 images and video, smooth shadow detail and outstanding tone response -- with no risk of color break-up or distracting "rainbow effect." 3LCD technology is renowned for its outstanding color quality, amazing detail and road-tested reliability, helping to clearly set the Home Cinema 720 apart from other projectors in this category.

The Home Cinema 720 offers a range of features and benefits for today's home theater enthusiasts, Including:

3LCD technology for incredible color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability with no color break-up or distracting "rainbow effect"
3-chip optical engine for brighter, more accurate color, excellent tone response without moving mirrors or color wheels
Up to 1,600 ANSI lumens for brightness levels that are among the highest in the home theater category
10-bit color processing -- displays more than one billion colors resulting in intense detail and color accuracy with a wide color gamut
Up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio for incredible depth and shadow detail
100 percent vertical and 50 percent horizontal offset lens shift allowing easy installation without any need for digital keystone manipulation
Epson AccuCinema(TM) Color Management for calibrated performance right out of the box
Robust grayscale tracking includes 1,024 steps between black and white
Epson Super White achieves 100 IRE for cleaner images with less noise and better picture quality
Built-in Cinema Filter optimizes and expands the image color space, resulting in richer hues with greater Intensity and contrast in dark scenes
Versatile interfaces include Component Video, RGB Video, S-Video, and Composite Video as well as HDMI, and RS-232 digital connections
Two-year warranty with Epson's exclusive Road Service and PrivateLine(R) support
Epson E-TORL(TM) Lamp engineered to project light more efficiently, maximizing brightness and uniformity across the entire screen and extending lamp life up to 4,000 hours
Sleek, soft white design allows projector to blend in smoothly with most homes' decor

About 3LCD Technology 3LCD is the world's leading projection technology, delivering unbelievable color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability. Using an advanced 3-chip design, 3LCD offers full-time RGB for brilliant quality images without the possibility of color break-up. 3LCD is based on LCD technology, which is used by leading manufacturers worldwide for the ultimate viewing experience in a variety of products. For the latest list of companies using 3LCD technology in projectors and large screen TVs, visit the 3LCD website at http://www.3LCD.com.

Cheap HDTV for your home?

2007-10-15T14:11:15Z

As obvious as the answer to this question may seem to some of you, there are actually more than one reason you would want to buy a cheap HDTV. The top 3 reasons to purchase an HDTV at a lower cost would be:

1.) budget,
2.) buying for your children and
3.) buying more than one.

Let’s explore these reasons in more detail…

1.) HDTV On A Budget
This is the most obvious reason. You’ve noticed a trend that your friends, family and all the rest of the Jones’ are getting bright shiny new HDTVs and it’s eating a hole in your wallet not to have one of your own. But when you check your budget you realize why you don’t already have one – you’re ‘extra money’ isn’t as plentiful as you wish. Remember, no one - other than you - have to know how much your HDTV cost.

2.) HDTV for your children
This is a situation I found myself in recently. My pre-teen is asking for a HDTV for Christmas. Wow! I think I was asking for a $10 action figure when I was his age… but I digress.

Now granted it probably isn’t worth buying an HDTV for your child just to watch TV shows in high definition. However, if you have purchased (or plan to purchase) a newer video game system like the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 then you’re really wasting your money without having it hooked up to a HDTV.

3.) More Than One HDTV
Have you just moved into a new house and want to have all new high definition TVs? Have you decided it’s time to step up to the 21st century with your television viewing and want to upgrade a few of your rooms? Imagine soaking in a hot jacuzzi bathtub with a 27" HDTV starring down at you. Now that's luxury living and if you do it correctly, you can purchase cheap HDTVs and not have it break your bank account.

Summary
Ok, if you fit one of these situations don’t worry there are solutions for you to get what you want without spending a fortune. First decide if you can wait 4-6 months. If you can then the in-store prices will drop. If you have to have it sooner rather than later then look for auctions, clearance and refurbished items. If you can find clearance or refurbished HDTVs that still have a warranty that’s the best.

CustomerReviewVideos.com is dedicated to help you make better HDTV buying decisions. Step 1: Check out our HDTV review videos to find the model you’d like and Step 2: See our Top 3 Cheap HDTV solutions.

Why a Plasma compared to an LCD?

2007-10-10T17:01:41Z

Plasma TV’s are a large design but very slim, the images being smooth, crisp with black and dark colors being displayed very well. This differs a lot when it comes to comparing a Plasma Television to your old CRT TV, which stretches out far behind the actual display. Even by looking at a Plasma TV for a few seconds, will give a instant first impression that these are something very special compared to what you have been using up until now.

LCD designs, technology and feel are increasingly as rapidly as Plasma technology, if not more. LCD's are becoming very popular as an alternative to a Plasma. A LCD Television outlives a Plasma and CRT TV due to how they work, as well as also being used as a monitor for your PC or console.

The advancement in technology has also meant that LCD's are also as thin as a Plasma Television with recent advances giving much wider viewing angles without the picture fading if you are sitting at an angle from the screen. You may remember using previous PC Monitors where the image would fade if you moved to the side of the monitor for whatever reason. This is now becoming increasingly less common. With a common viewing angle of 170 degree’s, this is become one of the standards people are expecting when buying a new Television.

Comparisons of an LCD and Plasma
Plasma Television Sizes mainly range from 42” to 50” where as LCD Sizes mainly range from 26” – 32” but at the time of writing, 40" Televisions are becoming available. With Plasma sizes being larger, you obviously get a larger picture but an LCD usually has a higher resolution, which is the number of individual dots on the screen making up the picture. With picture sizes increasing, it is advisable to sit around 3 meters away from a 40” Television so make sure your front room is big enough for this.

Brightness and Contrast
There are levels of brightness and contrast which show the level of these areas but do not mean much to many people but to describe the differences would be that a cinema screen produces a contrast ratio of about 500:1, a Plasma produces this at about 3,000:1 – 10,000:1 meaning a Plasma can show very dark blacks and dark colors.

A Plasma Television has a glass front, so the brightness does look brighter but is misleading due to the fact that if you put types of TV next to each other, they both look the same. In rooms with bright light already, a LCD does produce a better picture due to it not reflecting as much light as a Plasma.

How Long Will Each Last?
A Plasma has a estimated life of 60,000 hours where as a LCD average is 60,000+ hours and keeps on going. The life of a Plasma TV was quite short until a short while ago, but as with many things the technology has caught up and now a Plasma lasts a lot longer. If you do the calculations, a Plasma would have to be on for 5 hours a day for 27 years before it was to be replaced, so either way both a LCD and a Plasma are level on the life expectancy front although a Plasma will fade over time, a LCD will stay as bright as the day you purchased it.

Viewing Angle of Each TV
Plasma has a Perfect Viewing Angle no matter where you sit whereas a LCD could be affected if you sat to one side of the tv so a viewing angle of 170 degrees or more is recommended.

Latency – How fast can the picture be displayed without Ghosting
Ghosting is where the image is redrawn but you see a slight delay in it changing from one image to another. With a Plasma this does not happen, but with a LCD it could show a slight blurry image with fast movies or images. These days a LCD has a response time of 12ms or 8ms so this issue is becoming more rare by the day.

Screen Burn-in
This is where the same image stays on the screen for a period of time, and leaves a faint reproduction of it when the image changes. This was originally the case with CRT Monitors and TV’s, which is why screen savers were designed. With a Plasma Reproducing Color A Plasma can show color very accurately, but can flicker slightly. A LCD on the other hand won’t flicker but cannot show black as well as a Plasma.

Power Usage
A Plasma uses on average about 250W for a 42” screen whereas a LCD uses around 150W for a 42” screen

Conclusion
Even though the above points for both the LCD and Plasma debate can sound a little daunting, the actual watch ability and picture quality are fantastic. Even the cheaper TV’s are so much better than a CRT they maybe not worth worrying about. At the end of the day, it is down to the individual on what they want to spend and what make to buy due to the top quality technology in either of the two types of TV. Whichever you buy, they are a fantastic addition to your home

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HDMI Cabling

2007-09-30T14:10:11Z

The HDMI cable is the type of the cable that is used to connect a number of electronic devices into the same interface. Mostly we see HDMI cables hooking up DVD , HD-DVD or Blu Ray or satellite to your HDTV. You would be surprised, I’m sure, to learn of all the ways that this new version will expand your multimedia interface and make it easier for you to combine your electronics.

To understand how this HDMI cable is going to help you, let’s first talk about Digital Visual Interface (DVI). This is an uncompressed digital connection scheme that was actually originally developed for a network of personal computers. It was to be a low-cost, high-bandwidth digital connection between PCs and digital monitors, so that you could view your work on the best of television sets. Now it is the most widely used digital display interface in the computer industry. What does all this mean for your home theater system? Well, it means that you can include the DVI with it, especially by using DVI connections on projectors, monitors, and advanced DVD players, such as the new HD-DVD players.

HDMI cables come in when you want to hook up a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) system with that of a DVI. HDMI cables can carry video, audio, and inter-component operability commands (remote control signals) on one digital interface that has been built on the success of DVI. When a device is connected to an HDMI 1.3 cable, it gets all the video performance that DVI has to offer, up to and including 1080p.

Compared with your standard A/V interfaces, HDMI interfaces actually have a number of important advantages. The uncompressed format delivers digital HD video, multi-channel audio, and control signals between various HDMI and/or DVI components. By combining all this power into one cable, HDMI offers a convenient connection alternative to the maze of existing analog A/V cables that plague your home theater.

The HDMI cable actually offers six distinct benefits to the HDMI world. The most obvious is the higher data transfer speed that it offers. It also supports a special format type known as Deep Color. This is the brand new color space used in video electronics. It can support 1.8 times as many colors as RGB (Red, green, blue color schemes), which helps it to show all the various colors found in nature. Incorporating automatic audio syncing capability is also a new feature for the HDMI cable. This system will automatically adjust for the difference in electronic latency between the processing circuits of the sound and the image. This discrepancy usually comes up as a slight delay in sound and image correspondence, but it will be unnoticeable thanks to this new cable version.

In addition to all of this, the HDMI supports the output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-FD Master Audio streams. These are the lossless audio codec formats used on HD DVDs and Blue-ray discs. The cable is only useful here if the DVD player can’t send information in an uncompressed format, though. The HDMI can be used with a number of products, including the latest DVD players and the Playstation 3, which you may be interested to know, is the first product on the market that uses a HDMI 1.3 wire connection.

So if you’re looking for the best connectivity possible, look into purchasing the HDMI cable. The benefits HDMI provides your home theater wiring set-up can’t be beat, and you’ll soon find yourself able to transfer data like never before.

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What is surround sound?

2007-09-30T04:25:10Z

One of the main aspects that make watching a movie enjoyable is sound and surround sound systems have changed what way sound is reproduced in a movie. When in a movie theater we feel as if we are surrounded on all sides with different sound effects and this is because of a surround sound system. In earlier days we used to have speakers only in the front and it was more like an unidirectional sound that we used to experience in theaters but now a movie theater has speakers all around giving you complete sound experience. To get such effects at home, many people have installed speakers and stereo sound equipment to make their home theater system give them surround sound.

Many people spend a lot of money on a surround sound system without actually knowing the basics of a surround sound system. Knowing the basics will help you to select the right equipment and also allow you to setup your surround sound system better.

Surround sound as the name depicts is a sound technology which surrounds you with sound from all directions. When you watch a movie in a theater you will be inundated with sound coming from every direction. If you are watching a movie in a theater that has a good surround sound system, you will be able to identify the direction from which a particular sound or dialogue is being reproduced.

Surround sound technology gives multiple channels of sound and hence you can split sounds to come out from different speakers. With this option you will be able to hear clear sounds and not a muddled mix of sounds. A surround sound can increase viewing pleasure of not just movies but also in music. Symphonic music or any other type of music can be enjoyed a lot more when heard over a surround sound system. The instrument sounds are split and channeled into the right and left speakers providing you with a great musical experience.

As different sounds are separated to be heard through specific channels, the positioning of the surround sound speakers is very important. If you put all the speakers together in one spot you will not be able to experience surround sound effect. The best option would be to hire a surround sound specialist to setup your surround sound system and the speakers so that you get maximum pleasure out of your surround sound system. There are many websites that help you to setup your surround sound system which would save you the money you would spend on a surround sound specialist.

Books on setting up surround sound systems are also available in the market. The best way to setup your surround sound system by yourself would be to get some basic information from websites or books and then use a trial and error method to position the speakers. Sound preferences can differ from person to person and this trial and error method is a great way to setup your surround sound system to your liking.

A good video projection coupled with a great surround sound system will give you a similar experience to watching a movie in a movie theater. You can get the feel of watch your favorite movies in a theater right in the coziness of your home. A theater provides direct and explosive sound, but with a good surround sound system you can experience similar sound at your home. Surround sound systems have revolutionized the way we hear sound and with lot of research going into surround sound systems, it can only get better!

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The future of Flat screen TVs

2007-09-29T16:05:43Z

Many people are wondering what the next technology will be in home theater TVs as now we are at the point that Plasma TVs and LCD televisions are both popular and dropping in price. There are many kinds of technologies on the horizon that will be dropping into Best Buy in the next few years.

OLED
OLED is the acronym for organic light-emitting diode. The technology was originally developed years ago by Eastman Kodak and is used for both light sources and television. Sony is one of several companies hoping to bring this technology to market. Images are produced via the electro-phosphorescent properties of certain organic materials. No back light is required in an OLED television. In addition to television, OLED may be used on small screens such as on cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras.

An OLED television (active matrix) will use less power than the average LCD television. They offer a superior range of color and brightness as well as a wider viewing angle. These televisions are lighter weight, thinner, and yet more durable. The most significant drawback to an OLED television in this early phase is their lifetime. The longevity of some of the LEDs (the blue component) is only 3,000 to 5,000 hours at this time. Once manufacturing technology advances are made, it is anticipated that OLED televisions will have a much more competitive lifespan.

SED
SED is a surface conduction electron-emitter display, a technology reportedly being pursued primarily by Toshiba and Canon. SED uses an electron emitter for each subpixel to light up the phosphors in the display and operates similarly to a CRT display. Unlike a CRT television however, SED provides a much thinner and flatter screen.

An SED television is said to have a long working life, with only a 10% reduction in emitters after 60,000 hours. They use significantly less power than traditional LCD and plasma screens and possess excellent contrast ratio and brightness. Unlike LCD, an SED television does not experience lag (blurring during fast action scenes) and provides a 180 degree viewing angle. Like early plasma sets however, an SED television may be at risk for burn in.

Laser based Television
Mitsubishi may be unveiling its new laser based HDTV models by the end of the year.

The television is a slimmed down rear projection model that will reportedly rival the space saving design of plasma and LCD screens. Said to be only 10” deep they should not be too imposing in any room. It is also anticipated that they will be lighter in weight, due in part to their lightweight plastic screen versus traditional glass.

According to the manufacturer, other attractive features include improvements in picture quality. These sets are said to offer better color content and blacker blacks than current technologies. In addition, this new laser based television reportedly consumes significantly less power and is expected to be priced well below that of similarly sized plasma or LCD screens.

FED
Another potential leader for the future is FED (field emission display). Sony is currently behind the FED push.

FED television is said to operate more like a CRT set but offers the flatter, thinner display like LCD and plasma. They use a more efficient emitter (carbon nanotubes) and can therefore create a higher resolution picture than an LCD, use significantly less power than a plasma, and display fast motion without blurring.

The good news of course is that the evolution of television technologies should present some options that offer outstanding viewing and yet are affordable for the average consumer. Only time will tell which technologies will actually reach the market and whether or not actual performance will match current expectations.

The author, Christine Peppler invites readers to discover more information about any type of television by visiting homemedias.info, her online home electronics store.