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 Major
home theater supplies include the TV or screen.
First, what kind of TV would you choose?
LCD, Plasma, Rear-Projection, or the classic Picture-tube
TV?
Then the next
choice would be the size of screen you want.
Other
supplies include the remote, decorations, speakers, stands for
the TV or sound system, seats, and other furniture.
See list below article for further information or
comparisons.
This next
article on TVs is from Consumer Reports, December 2005.
It rates TVs based on performance.
It does not rate price, features and reliability.
“LCD
TVs…Bigger screens-up to 46 inches and climbing—are the big
news in LCDs. Twelve
models in the Ratings have screens measuring 32 or 37 inches
diagonally, and another dozen have 26-27-inch screens.”
“For a main
TV you’ll watch often, we’d recommend a 32- or 37-inch LCD
set. The best did
very well with high-definition broadcasts, DVDs, and regular TV
programming, so you can enjoy fine picture quality no matter
what you watch. The top performers in the 26-inch range would be good for
smaller spaces. If
you’re considering 37-inch or larger LCD TV, you might want to
check out a plasma TV instead.
You can generally get more screen for the money, with
picture quality that’s at least as good.”
“If low
price matters most, you might want to consider some of the
bargain-priced LCD sets being sold at chains such as Costco,
Wal-Mart, and Best Buy…”
Plasma TVs
“Plasma TVs
are moving into the big leagues as more 50-inch and larger
screens join the 42-inch sets that have been most common.
Plasma sets generally cost more than rear-projection
microdisplays, their chief rivals in the big-screen camp.
But plasma TVs are capable of displaying better picture
quality than microdisplays, in part because they have better
brightness and contrast from any viewing angle. There are other pluses:
Plasma TVs are much thinner than microdisplays and have
been more reliable in their first year of use, according to
preliminary repair data.”
“Plasma TV
prices have dropped, so there are many good buys…”
Rear-projection
TVs
“Rear-projection
TVs offer the lowest-cost route to big-screen HD.
Sets with screens of 42 to 65 inches are available at
prices starting below $1,500 for the smaller sets.
Larger TVs cost $2,500 and up, but that’s still much
less than comparably sized plasma TVs.”
“You’ll
find real bargains among CRT-based projection sets, which are
more than 2 feet deep. These
TVs are being phased out, so shop soon if you want one.”
“The focus
is on microdisplay sets using LCD, DLP, and LCos technology.
With a typical depth of about 15 inches to 19 inches,
they’re slimmer than their CRT-based counterparts but still
quite bulky compared with plasma screens…Picture quality on
microdisplays tends to be better than CRT-based projection TVs
but doesn’t match that of the best plasma TVs.
Prices for microdisplays are about double those of
CRT-based rear-projection sets but lower than comparably sized
plasmas.”
Picture-tube
TVs
“The
familiar picture-tube TV still accounts for a hefty percentage
of overall TV sales, and low price isn’t the only reason.
The best HDTVs of this type display top image quality.
In fact, it’s technically better than you can get from
the best plasma, LCD, and rear-projection TVs.”
“The proven
reliability of this mature technology is another plus.
Picture-tube TVs have been very reliable overall, as
reflected in many years of repair data.”
“The
downside, of course, is that screen size is limited to 36 inches
at most, and the sets are about 2 feet deep.
The Samsung SlimFit is the first of a new type of tube
set with a thinner profile—in this case, 16 inches deep.
We found its performance unimpressive, though.”
“Overall,
tube TVs are attracting less attention than flat panels and
big-screen sets, and fewer new models are being introduced.
In fact, 36-inch sets are increasingly hard to find.”
Go
to home theater index for more supplies.
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