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TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

FLAT SCREEN AND PROJECTION TECHNOLOGIES FOR YOUR HOME

Though we normally work only on commercial AV and higher end home theater systems, a lot of CTI customers ask us about their homes. So we thought, before the holidays, we might share our knowledge of large-screen TV technologies.

As you know, consumer TV quality can vary. Almost every largescreen set is called "HDTV capable," but most scale the signal down to lower resolutions. Ask the native resolution before you buy: the actual number of pixels the set will display. You probably want at least 720P in native format-a set built with 1280 x 720 pixel elements. Note too, that that a native 1080p progressive scan) set will look much cleaner than the corresponding 1080i or interlaced version.

Before you spend the extra money on a 1080i or 1080p TV, make sure your cable company offers this format. Many do so only in certain areas. If they don't plan to order HD cable, realize that many people don't like normal-resolution TV on a higher-end set. You can see all the flaws in the signal.

We are often asked about screen size. For movies, experts suggest that the best image has a height of .303 times the distance to the viewer. That is to say, a 40” diagonal wide-screen set would be best in a room where the TV is 5.4’ from the main seating. A 50” diagonal wide-screen set is best viewed at a distance of about 7’, a 73” diagonal 10’, a 100” diagonal 13.5’. These are the ideal, but people usually end up with screens that are a little smaller, especially if they’re buying a plasma or LCD flat-panel set.

Plasma TVs are very popular today. They give you large images, high contrast and good video at a relatively low cost. Rated lifetimes are high.

On the downside, image retention (burn-in) is a real problem. TV sports, cable news and many games leave graphic elements in the same place on screen for long periods of time. After only a few months of use, you are likely to find ghost images permanently part of every show you watch.

Plasmas also have a highly reflective screen, as do regular CRT-based TVs. You'll find, if you watch them during the day or where lights can reflect off the screen, that glare is an issue. The high contrast you liked so much at the store is greatly reduced.

LCD TVs are more costly than plasmas but give you a non-glare screen, higher resolution, very long life and little or no issue with burn-in. They're ideal if you watch a lot of sports, play video games, watch during daylight or in a brightly-lit room, or if you tend to leave the set on for hours at a time.

On the downside, you may decide to purchase a smaller display because of the cost, and you may want to be careful to check fast moving video on your set before you buy. Video quality is not an issue with the better LCD TVs, but older units and those built mainly for computer often have too slow a refresh rate.

Cabinet-style projection sets come in very large sizes, have non-glare screens and offer very good video. They may be your best value, with costs lower than plasmas.

On the other hand, they're bulkier than a flat-panel TV. Off-axis viewing is generally poor: you need a relatively narrow seating area. They use lamps, which wear out. Lamps can cost $400 or more to replace. These sets are not a good choice if you tend to leave your TV on whenever you're at home.

You also have to be careful to read the specs and look at each set carefully before you buy. Watch out for "HDTV" sets with low native resolutions. Compare the lamp life on sets you like.

Projectors are terrific if you want a really large image and you have a good place to put one. They're great for movies, sports and multi-player games.

The biggest issue is the need to darken the room. Many of the best home-theater projectors offer only 1,000 - 2,000 ANSI lumens brightness. They look great in the dark, but not so good in a brighter room. Commercial projectors are brighter but often fail to give you the high-end video you're looking for. For these reasons, most people hang projectors in their basements. A first-floor media room can work, but you'll need black-out shades or thick drapes.

As with cabinet-style units, watch your resolution specs and your lamp life. Be very careful if you buy a low-cost unit. Most of these look good when they're new but don't hold up, particularly if you run them more than a couple of hours at a time. Many people believe a DLP projector will show a better video image than LCD, but that varies so much with the individual unit it's really not possible to say.

Comparing TV technologies

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