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Widescreen TV Buying Guide
Buying a widescreen TV can ensure that you will have friends over all the time wanting to watch movies and sporting events at your place. The widescreen TV allow you to view movies as they were intended. So get out the popcorn and enjoy – create your own home theatre.
There are many well-known manufacturers of widescreen TVs in the marketplace today including RCA, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Zenith, JVC, Panasonic, Philips, Sanyo to name a few. Prices are varied, with some widescreen TVs starting out at $600 up to several thousand dollars.
You should decide what model and features that best fit your needs. Widescreen is also called “Letterbox” because of the similarities of the screen’s dimension parameters to that of a number 10 business envelope.
There are several different kinds of widescreen TVs including projection TV, rear projection, and high definition. Each offers its own set of advantages. So keep reading and then make your choice to the one that best fits you.
Rear projection TV’s use CRTs that are lined up and project the image on the screen. The quality of the picture is somewhat less detailed, but it does look good when you are some distance from the TV. You have to make sure that the viewing angle of the TV will fit with your room, as sometimes the angle from which you view the TV dims out the picture.
High Definition TV is available for widescreen TVs. This option gives you the clearest picture and much better detail. This option is one that would cost a bit more but may be worth it if you plan on watching a lot of HD programming.
LCD screens are an option for widescreen televisions. The screens are very thin and take up much less room. The screens are similar to the LCD computer screens with the technology being the same. This may be a good option for you if space and price are limiting.
Plasma or Flat panel displays are more expensive than an LCD TV. The screens are also very thin but the technology behind the screen consists of small fluorescent lights. Also, the screen display is mounted to the wall and you will need to purchase the television tuner separately.
Compatibility may be an issue to consider when purchasing a new widescreen television. If you plan on connecting your television with your sound systems or speakers or DVD player make sure that the TV is compatible with these components.
Widescreen televisions can have different viewing options including normal, zoom and stretch. The zoom view allows you to zoom in on the middle of scene and cuts off the top and the bottom. The stretch view is designed to take up the entire screen.
Aspect ratio refers to the relationship between the width and the height. The ratio for a standard TV is 4:3. For widescreen TV’s the ratio is 16:9. These ratios have been rounded off to the nearest whole number. It means that for the standard TV the display is 4 units wide for every 3 units high. For the widescreen TV it is 16 units by 9 units.
The size of your room can be a limiting factor when purchasing a widescreen TV. With some screens you need to be at least the recommended distance away from the screen in order to get good resolution. If your room is not big enough, it could be an issue as you might not get the best picture. Some screens allow you to view the screen at any angle, while with others, you need to be almost directly in front. Consider the type of screen as well as the size of your room when deciding which to purchase.
You should also carefully consider the manufacturers warranty available with the widescreen TV you plan to purchase. Some manufacturers offer full coverage for an additional cost, but that may be worth the extra money as replacement bulbs and parts can costly. So check out the warranty to see what is the best option for you.
One more thing to consider if you live in the United States, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) announced that all television broadcasts would be in digital by 2006. Although analog televisions and digital television will be running side by side until 2006 the future is going to be with the digital signals and broadcasting.
So, no more black bars on the top and bottom of your screen when watching a movie. If you buy a new widescreen TV, you always get the full view. Measure your room and purchase a new widescreen television. It is movie time!
Article By Karla Soule, June 2004.
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