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Choosing a Plasma TV

Technology in Plasma TVs

A plasma panel is made up of a network of pixels that are compressed with neon and xenon gas. Every pixel has sub-pixels of red, blue and green phosphor that are controlled individually to produce over 16 million colours. When the pixels are energised, the gas starts activating to form plasma that emits invisible UV light. The UV light acts with the coloured phosphors on the back glass to create visible light, producing the picture.

How to Choose a Plasma TV

When choosing a Plasma TV, priority should be given to the screen size. Typically, Plasma televisions start at 32” and go up to 63”. The most common sizes are 32”, 42” and increasingly 50”. The screen size should be based on the viewing distance. Obviously, choosing a large TV for a small living space will compromise your viewing pleasure. The performance of a Plasma TV is sharp even in ambient light conditions and allows you to watch from almost anywhere in a room with a viewing angle of 160 degrees or better and a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.

A Plasma TV thus offers high resolution and can work as a television and computer monitor. It can display cable television, HDTV and home video with various connectivity options including composite video, S-video, component video, DVI, HDMI and RGB/VGA, depending on the manufacturer and model. A typical Plasma TV has a depth of some 3-4 inches and can be hung on walls or from ceilings using special mounting kits. Speakers are an optional feature and are not usually integrated. The frequency or the refresh rates representing the number of times the image is updated per second are 100HZ in the latest models.

Is It Worth Paying Extra for HDTV?

Many Plasma screens are labelled as ‘HDTV compatible’ or ‘HDTV ready’ which means that they are capable of displaying high definition signals. There are some discrepancies in the definition of ‘readiness’ and you would be well advised to research this a little further before commiting to a specific model, if HDTV is important to you. The picture quality of an HDTV ready set is dependent on the quality of the signal input and the manufacturer. Standard non-HDTV Plasma displays are fine for lower end video signals and most DVDs while HDTV is the right option for higher end broadcasting and some of the latest film releases. A Plasma TV can also display XGA signals from your computer and produce a crisp text image. If you want your television to function both as a TV and as a computer monitor Plasma could be the best way to go.

Price and Warranty

The average lifespan of a Plasma TV is 30,000 hours although this is increasing as the technology evolves. Most manufacturers offer a warranty of one year for parts and labour and some offer an extended warranty. The price ranges from around £300 to £14,000. Price variations are dependent upon your choice of screen size; aspect ratio; refresh rate; additional decoders; connectivity options; manufacturer; HDTV compatibility and audio type, amongst other factors.

Conclusion

Regular TV sets simply don’t allow you to experience the quality and resolution that is offered by a digital television. Plasma technology brings improved image and screen size, together with unbeatable aesthetics. As with most technology markets in recent times, a wealth of new brands and offerings leads to a potentially confusing choice for the consumer. Stick to your guns and be very certain as to your intended use of the set; the equipment with which it must connect and of course the size of the room in which it is to be located. Find a friendly helpful retailer and sit back to enjoy years of razor sharp imagery.

About Author

Sean Clark is Head of eCommerce at Tribal UK.

Find a guide to buying Plasma TVs at www.tribaluk.com - your home for quality electrical goods delivered FREE of charge to your door!


Source: ArticleTrader.com