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TV Buying Guide
You just have to get a new one. Whether you are replacing an old one or getting a new one for another room, televisions are a necessity these days. The price of conventional direct view televisions have gone down, but there are so many options available today that you will want to study them before deciding on which new TV to buy.
There are many recognizable TV manufacturers today like, Panasonic, RCA, Sony, Toshiba, Zenith, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo and Sharp to name a few. There are also many not so recognizable TV brands that offer a high quality product.
The price of televisions run approximately from $75 on up, and the price is to some degree dependent on screen size and options. However, there are many smaller conventional black and white sets that are quite inexpensive. You should decide your budget and then look in that range for a new TV.
The conventional television or analog sets are still very popular today. They offer you a high quality output, are reliable, and are reasonably priced. The most common size for televisions today is the 21 to 27-inch set.
There are many options that you may want to consider with your television, such as picture in picture capabilities (PIP), which is the ability to show more than one channel at the same time, which can be helpful for example when there are multiple sporting events on at the same time. There is also simulated surround sound, as well as the universal remote. Some include built-in VHS or DVD players.
High Definition (HD) TV allows you shaper picture quality. That is because the signal comes into the system digitally. There are specially formatted HD programs that have better resolution and show much more details.
There are two kinds of television sets that can use HD images. There are HD ready sets, which require the signals to be decoded. You will need a digital TV receiver but there are no ongoing costs in receiving the signals once you have the receiver.
Integrated HD televisions have a digital tuner that is built right in and you only need a roof antenna. These HD sets require a cable box or satellite receiver to get HD signals from cable or satellite.
LCD screens can be a great option for you if you need your TV to fit in a little space because the screens of these TV are only a few inches thick. This could be a great option if you are in a smaller apartment. The images are made by tiny little pixels that open and close on a white backlight.
Plasma TVs are available in various sizes but start at 32 inches and go up to 63 inches. The image on a plasma TV is made by a large number of little fluorescent lights. You should make sure that a TV tuner and speakers come with it, as it is usually sold like computer monitors.
You should make sure that your television is compatible with the equipment you already have like speakers, DVD players and sound systems. If you plan to connect your television to your sound system, just make sure that the two systems are compatible.
The size of your room may become a consideration when purchasing a new television set. You will want to make sure that the set is viewable from all the logical places in the room. This could be important if you have a plasma screen mounted to the wall, as it can be hard to see the screen at some angles. For some, you need to sit at least a certain distance or more away to get the full effect
Repair and reliability of the television is another important consideration. You may want to check to see if the manufacturer offers a repair agreement that you can purchase at the time you buy you television. Repairs can be costly, especially for HD and Plasma screen TV’s, and having someone come to your home to repair your television costs even more.
Check the manufacturer’s warranty for your new television to see what is covered with the warranty. This can be an important factor when considering a new television but also you should know what is available from a given manufacturer, and compare to other manufacturers.
Make your selection and get the remote. Within no time you will have your new television so relax and start channel surfing.
Article By Karla Soule, May 2004.
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