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The receiver is the brain of an audio/video system. It provides Am and Fm tuners, amplifiers, surround sound, and switching capabilities. It’s also the heart of the setup--most of the devices in a home-entertainment law associate to it, together with audio components such as speakers, a Cd player, cassette deck, and turntable, as well as video sources such as a Tv, Dvd player, Vcr, and cable and satellite boxes. Even as receivers take on a bigger role in home entertainment, they’re losing some audio-related features that were base years back, such as tape monitors and phono inputs. Manufacturers say they must eliminate those less-used features to make room for others.
What'S Available
Sony is by far the biggest-selling brand. Other top-selling brands contain Denon, Jvc, Kenwood, Onkyo, Panasonic, Pioneer, Rca, and Yamaha. Most models now are digital, designed for the six-channel surround-sound formats encoded in most Dvds and some Tv fare, such as high-definition (Hd) programming. Here are the types you’ll see, from least to most expensive:
Stereo. Basic receivers accept the analog stereo signals from a tape deck, Cd player, or turntable. They furnish two channels that power a pair of stereo speakers. For a uncomplicated music setup, add a Dvd or Cd player to play Cds, or a cassette deck for tapes. For rudimentary home theater, add a Tv and Dvd player or Vcr. Power typically runs 50 to 100 watts per channel.
Price range: 5 to 0.
Dolby Pro Logic. Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic Ii, and Pro Logic Iix are the analog home-theater surround-sound standard. Receivers that maintain it can take a Dolby-encoded two-channel stereo source from your Tv, Dvd player, or hi-fi Vcr and production them to four to six speakers--three in front, and one to three in back. Power for Dolby Pro Logic models is typically 60 to 150 watts per channel.
Price range: 0 to 0 or more.
Dolby Digital. Currently the prevailing digital surround-sound standard, a Dolby Digital 5.1 receiver has a built-in decoder for six-channel audio capability--front left and right, front center, two rear with varied wide-band signals, and a powered subwoofer for low-frequency, or bass, effects (that’s where the “.1” comes in). Dolby Digital is the sound format for most Dvds, Hdtv, digital cable Tv, and some satellite-Tv broadcast systems. Newer versions of Dolby Digital, 6.1 and 7.1, add one or two back surround channels for a total of seven-channel and eight-channel sound, respectively. To take advantage of true surround-sound capability, you’ll need speakers that do a good job of reproducing full-spectrum sound. Receivers with digital decoding capability can also accept a signal that has been digitized, or sampled, at a given rate per second and converted to digital form. Dolby Digital is backward-compatible and supports earlier versions of Dolby such as Pro Logic. Power for Dolby Digital receivers is typically 75 to 150 watts per channel.
Price range: 0 to 0 or more.
Dts. A rival to Dolby Digital 5.1, Digital Theater Systems also offers six channels. It’s a less base form of digital surround sound that is used in some movie tracks. Both Dts and Dolby Digital are often found on the same receivers. Power for Dts models is typically 75 to 150 watts per channel.
Price range: 0 to 0 or more.
Thx-certified. The high-end receivers that meet this capability thorough contain full maintain for Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and Dts. Thx select is the thorough for components designed for small and average-sized rooms; Thx Ultra is for larger rooms. Power for Thx models is typically 100 to 170 watts per channel.
Price range: 0 to ,500 and up.
Important Features
Controls should be easy to use. Look for a front panel with displays and controls clearly labeled and grouped by function. Onscreen display lets you control the receiver via a Tv screen, a squint-free alternative to using the receiver’s tiny Led or Lcd display. Switched Ac outlets (expect one or two) let you plug in other components and turn the whole law on and off with one button.
Remote controls are most useful when they have clear labels and buttons that light up for use in dim rooms. It’s best if the buttons have separate shapes and are color-coded and grouped by function--a goal seldom achieved in receiver remotes. A studying remote can receive programming data for other devices via their remotes’ infrared signal; on some remotes, the essential codes for other manufacturers’ devices are built-in.
Input/output jacks matter more on a receiver than on any other component of your home theater. Clear labeling, color-coding, and logical groupings of the many jacks on the rear panel can help avert glitches while setup such as reversed speaker polarities and mixed-up inputs and outputs. Input jacks situated on the front panel make for easy connections to camcorders, video games, Mp3 players, digital cameras, MiniDisc players, and Pdas.
A stereo receiver will give you a few audio inputs and no video jacks. Digital-ready receivers with Dolby Pro Logic will have some types of video inputs, together with composite and S-video and sometimes component-video. S-video and component-video jacks allow you to route signals from Dvd players and other high-quality video sources through the receiver to the Tv. Digital-ready receivers also have analog 5.1 audio inputs. These accept input from a Dvd player with its own built-in Dolby Digital decoder, an outboard decoder, or other components with multichannel analog signals, such as a Dvd-Audio or Sacd player. This enables the receiver to carry up to six channels of sound or music to your speakers. Dolby Digital and Dts receivers have the most perfect array of audio and video inputs, often with some of a given type to adapt multiple components.
Tone controls adjust bass and treble, allowing you to definite room acoustics and satisfy your personal preferences. A descriptive equalizer breaks the sound spectrum into three or more sections, giving you slightly more control over the full audio spectrum. Instead of tone controls, some receivers come with tone presets such as Jazz, Classical, or Rock, each accentuating a separate frequency pattern; often you can craft your own styles.
Dsp (digital signal processor) modes use a computer chip to duplicate the sound characteristics of a concert hall and other listening environments. A bass-boost switch amplifies the deepest sounds, and midnight mode reduces loud sounds and amplifies quiet ones in music or soundtracks.
Sometimes called “one touch,” a settings memory lets you store settings for each source to minimize differences in volume, tone, and other settings when switching between sources. A similar feature, loudness memory, is exiguous to volume settings alone.
Tape monitor lets you either listen to one source as you article a second on a tape deck or listen to the recording as it’s being made. automated radio tuning includes such features as seek (automatic searching for the next in-range station) and 20 to 40 presets to call up your popular stations.
To catch stations too weak for the seek mode, most receivers also have a hand-operated stepping knob or buttons, best in one-channel increments. But most models creep in half- or quarter-steps, meaning unnecessary button tapping to find the frequency you want. Direct tuning of frequencies lets you tune a radio hub by entering its frequency on a keypad.
How To Choose
First, don’t assume that pricey brands outperform less precious ones. We’ve found fine performers at all prices. Points to consider:
How many devices do you want to connect? Even low-end receivers generally have sufficient video and audio inputs for a Cd or Dvd player, a Vcr, and a cable box or satellite receiver. Mid- and precious models normally have more inputs, so you can associate further devices, such as a camcorder, a personal video recorder, or a game system.
The amount of inputs isn’t the only issue; the type also matters. Composite-video inputs, the most basic type, can be used with everything from an older Vcr to a new Dvd player. S-video and component-video inputs are used mostly by digital devices such as Dvd players and satellite receivers. If you have such digital devices or may add them, get a receiver with a few S-video and/or component-video inputs. Both can furnish great video capability than composite-video.
All these video inputs require a companion audio input. The basic left/right audio inputs can be used with almost any expedient to furnish stereo sound. A turntable requires a phono input, which is available on fewer models than in years past.
To get multichannel sound from Dvd players, digital-cable boxes, and satellite receivers, you generally use a digital-audio input. With this input, encoded multichannel sound is relayed on one cable to the receiver, which decodes it into isolate channels. The input on the receiver must be the same type--either optical, the more base type, or coaxial--as the production on the other device. You normally must buy cables, about and up, for digital-audio, S-video, and component-video connections.
What kind of sound do you want from movies? All new digital receivers maintain Dolby Digital and Dts, the surround-sound formats used on most movies. Both furnish 5.1 channels. Most receivers also maintain Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic Ii, and sometimes Pro Logic Iix. If you want the most recent type of surround sound, look for a receiver that supports Dolby Digital Ex and Dts-Es. These offer 6.1 or 7.1 channels, subtly improving the rear surround. Fairly few movies using these formats are available, but offerings should increase.
What kind of music do you like? Any receiver can reproduce stereo from quarterly Cds. Most models have digital signal processing (Dsp) modes that process a Cd’s two channels to simulate a sound environment such as a concert hall. Dsp modes feed a stereo signal through all the speakers to simulate surround. For multichannel music from Sacd or Dvd-Audio discs, get a receiver with 5.1 analog inputs.
How big is your room? Make sure a receiver has the oomph to furnish sufficient volume: at least 50 watts per channel in a typical 12-by-20-foot living room, or 85 watts for a 15-by-25-foot space. A huge room, plush furnishings, or a noisy setting all call for more power.
Is the receiver compatible with your speakers? If you like to blast music for hours on end, get a receiver rated to deal with your front speakers’ impedance. Most receivers are rated for 6-ohm and 8-ohm speakers. If used with 4-ohm speakers, such a receiver could overheat and shut down.
Is it easy to use? Most receivers have legible displays and well-labeled function buttons. Some add an onscreen menu, which displays settings on your Tv screen. An auto-calibration feature adjusts sound levels and equilibrium to improve the surround effect. Models with a test-tone function for setting speaker levels help you equilibrium the sound yourself.
Two tips: When choosing where to place your receiver, allow 4 inches or so of space behind it for cables and at least 2 inches on top for venting to prevent overheating. If setting up a home theater is more than you want to tackle, consider calling in a pro installer. Retailers often offer an installation service or can refer you to one.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
For the most recent data on this and many other products and services, visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org
consumer Reports - Receivers
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Introduction:
The Samsung Ln46B550 is a flat panel Lcd-Hdtv of exceptional quality; the set has an exemplary 46 inch screen display that supplies the user with perfect sounds flowing from the finest integrated Srs TruSurround Hd system. Along with first-class photo potential and classic audio quality, the consumer gets entrance to a long list of superb features including WiseLink(R) features, ultimate connectivity, and an awe-inspiring Tv case compose thanks to the inclusion of Touch of Color(R) technologies.
The Samsung Ln46B550 is an Lcd Tv with a height of 29 inches with its stand included and a height of 27 inches when the stand is not in use. The product is 44 inches wide, and has a depth of 10 inches with the stand and 3 inches without it. In all, the Samsung Ln46B550 is a lightweight of 43 pounds without its base and 51 pounds with the base included.
Display Properties:
Aspect Ratio: 16 to 9
discrepancy Ratio: 70K to 1, dynamic
Display Type: Flat Panel
Maximum Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Technology: Lcd
Vertical Resolution: 1080p
Widescreen Display: 46 inches
What Is Included?
TheSamsung Ln46B550 is sold along with its elective stand, but the consumer will need to buy the wall mounting fixtures if wall mounting is desired. The gismo is accompanied by its remote and a comprehensive, simplistic user by hand for ease of product use. The Ln46B550 is not cable ready and requires a isolate box to by comparison cable and satellite signals. This set is also not sold with an integrated Dvr.
Product Capabilities:
The exceptional images presented on the 46 inch screen of the Samsung Ln46B550 are, in part, due to the 60Hz refresh rate and the 5 millisecond response time. The gismo furnishes the user with a 1080p high definition photo which is further enhanced by the 16:9 aspect ratio, the integration of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, Wide Color Enhancer 2(Tm), and the impressive 70k to 1 dynamic discrepancy ratio. This Hdtv is also designed with optimal vertical and horizontal viewing angles fixed at 178 degrees in all directions.
The Ln46B550 has a wealth of technology embedded into an ultra slim, sleek black casing with a rich red accent fixed along the bezel edge. The attractiveness of the gismo on the surface does not begin to reflect the classic technologies housed on the inside of this prime Hdtv. The Samsung Ln46B550 is situated with consummate connectivity options; the consumer gets a personal computer input, four Hdmi inputs for connecting of digital devices, two rear component video inputs, one side composite Av input, one rear composite input, and one audio optical input.
Along with super connectivity, the owner gets parental controls via V-chip integration, incorporated dual, ten watt speakers delivering classic surround sound effects, and an unforgettable television viewing experience. Designed for a wide audience, the Ln46B550 is programmable in three languages including Spanish, French, and English. Finally, this gismo is fixed with a built in alarm, sleeper timer and is power Star(R) certified.
Samsung Ln46B550 report
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Lcd Display has many tiny cells which are called pixels. It also has fluorescent back light. This produces light to a mirror and then projects it to the screen. The excellence and sharpness of the shape that you receive also depend on the pixel. In new times, due to the hi-tech era, images are now as true as it is because of the quality of matching accurate color tones.
Some of the beloved models are: Samsung Ln46A650, which is 46-inch, has 1080p and 120hz. Samsung Ln40A650 which is 40-Inch, has 1080p and 120Hz. Samsung Ln52A650 which is 52-Inch, has 1080p and 120Hz. Philips which is 37'' Widescreen. All are Lcd Hdtv.
Comparing shops than comparing brands is more beneficial if you are going to buy a flat screen Tv. You should also test out sites such as Target and Best Buy for great buys. Circuit City and Wal-Mart are also good sites for it. There are tons of good deals there. Things that are for extravagance before have turned into items of consumption because of the continuous improvement in technology. Manufacturers are now having a quarterly price war which gives them a smaller behalf margin.
Few years ago, people think that Lcd Tvs would just be feasible in tinier sizes. Now that we have known about Samsung, Westinghouse Digital, and also Sharp and Lg Philips, it is now safe to say that all those past notions are not true.
If you can not still settle which Lcd Tv you are going to buy, here are some tips that will categorically help on making your decision.
You should first consider your money. Do a funds for buying your Lcd Tv.
Second, select the size of the Tv you will buy. It should all the time fit with the size of your room. 27' is the typical panel size but it still depends on your definite needs.
Third, think of the features you are looking for in a Tv. Varied Lcd sets appear in the enterprise of memory card slots. Camcorders are also part of Lcd sets sometimes.
Fourth, consider where you like speakers to be at. Do you want it to be on whether sides of the panel or you just want it at the bottom?
Fifth, make sure viewing angles will fit to the arrangements of seating in your room.
Sixth, ask yourself, "What quality of photo do I want?" For instance, if you are fond of bigger screens compared to 30", 1366 X 768 resolution will be suggested.
Finally, be cordial to other experienced customers of a store. Ask them about the Tv you desire to buy because their answers would categorically be a big help. The store staffs' recommendations will also be credible because they know much about this thing.
selecting Lcd Tvs - 7 Easy to ensue StepsLooking for a new Hdtv Lcd Tv and not sure which one is the best? You are in good enterprise because many habitancy are in the same situation. There are several beloved manufacturers and even more configurations of sets.
Technology has industrialized to a place where high definition and digital media are the norm, you can expect in the next few years to see more and more Hd applications. Hdtv Lcd Tv's fit this bill and have fewer issues than their plasma counterparts.
Popular Brands Sharp Aquos
When it comes to Hdtv Lcd Tv Sharp has snuck up on the competition and in case,granted a superior product. However, there is a bigger price tag to go along with it. Sharp has artificial many in the Aquos line for the purposes here we will look at the 42 in Hdtv Lcd Tv.
Features
• 42 inch Hd screen
• 1080p resolution
• 10,000:1 Dynamic contrast ratio
• 60,000 hour lamp life
• Pip (picture in picture)
• Stand included
• V chip for parental control
• Connections Hdmi, S video, Component video, Av, Rf, Pc and head phone
Review Price
While somewhat higher than the average unit, the price was very cheap among the top brands. For a top of the line product 00 is an proper cost and is in fact below a couple of other high-end sets.
Picture
Picture quality is great even though there were some preliminary concerns because of Sharps early credit for banding problems. The photograph is especially sharp with the accurate Hdmi connections coupled with a Hd Dvd player or BluRay. The Ps3 easily pops with this television.
Features
Of all the sets available, the features are outstanding. Abundance of input/output and particularly paramount is the three Hdmi ports. High definition products are in their infancy but it will not be long before they are the norm. At this point, the extra ports will be very useful.
Overall
Great Hdtv Lcd Tv with more than enough options for the tech geek. No critical issues were noted with this unit. Out of the box, the photograph quality is perfect and there were no problems with dead or stuck pixels.
If you are in the store for a good quality Hdtv Lcd Tv, the Sharp Aquos is a great buy.
Who Has the Best Hdtv Lcd Tv?Some consumers think a 21" Lcd Tv to be the excellent size: for Tv viewing and for use as a computer monitor. Some take it one step further: they consolidate their 21" Lcd Tv with a home theater Pc. It's easier than you think, and a home theater Pc setup lets you access any media files like digital image files, audio files, and videos. You can also watch your favorite television shows or Dvds, and you can even use the 21" Lcd Tv as a computer monitor. It's no surprise, then, that some consumers feel a 21" Lcd Tv is one of the most versatile screen sizes available.
If you watch digital Tv on your 21" Lcd Tv, you could be already taking benefit of the possibilities of Digital Video Recorders (Dvr) or TiVo. You can go one step farther; integrating your 21" Lcd Tv with a home theater Pc setup is the extreme in versatility. And it's not that hard - here are a few ways available to you.
1. Buy a Pc with the Media center version of Windows Xp and make sure it has a Tv tuner card capable of capturing digital signals from your cable or satellite box. Once it's installed, it works just like a Dvr. You won't need to buy a high-end Pc to consolidate with your 21" Lcd Tv if you just want to article and play shows and movies - if you also want to play graphics-intensive video games, you may need a more costly Pc with greater graphics capability. Just make sure you get plentifulness of memory.
2. Upgrade your Pc. You can buy a copy of Microsoft's operating principles with Media Center. oftentimes it comes bundled with a Tv tuner card you'll also need. If you have decent computer skills you can cope the installation fairly truly and your 21" Lcd Tv home theater Pc setup will be running in no time.
3. If you don't want to upgrade to a new operating system, a number of software companies produce applications that perform the same chores as Media center does. A few are available as freeware, but the features they offer tend to be limited. You'll still need to factor in the cost of a Tv tuner card - a Tv tuner card won't be included with the freeware.
Once you've decided how to set up your computer, you can consolidate it into your home theater principles so your 21" Lcd Tv can cope the video feed you send to it. A 21" unit is ideal for this purpose; sets that are larger sometimes deliver reduced image capability when the Tv signal is sent through the computer.
How you send the signal to your Tv is the main hurdle to overcome. There are many different audio and video options for joining the two; the formula you select will obviously depend on the inputs and outputs available on both your Pc and your Tv. Older, standard-definition Lcd Tvs will have, at a minimum, a composite-video relationship (a yellow video relationship that's regularly accompanied by red and white stereo audio jacks). Hopefully, it will also provide an S-Video port. Newer 21" Lcd Tvs should provide component inputs, and more developed 21" Lcd Tvs that are Hdtv capable will provide Dvi or Hdmi inputs. If you haven't purchased a 21" Lcd Tv yet, try to find a model with Dvi or Hdmi inputs.
Once your computer is connected to your 21" Tv you can use Media center to keep track of your media files and cope your Dvr recording needs. If you want to article Tv without using Media Center, similar products on the market can do the job. For example, SnapStream's Beyond Tv comes bundled with many Tv tuner cards, so if you're building a home theater or upgrading a motor you already own, you might end up with a copy by default. And you can take a additional step and add the Beyond Media schedule for organizing photo, music, and other media files, and it does pretty much everything Media center does. Beyond Tv doesn't hold every Tv tuner card on the market, so check the hardware specs for your 21" Lcd Tv before you setup it.
Even if you have no interest in recording Tv programs, you can still use programs like Windows Media Player, iTunes, and PowerDvd to manage your preexisting media library using software you already have.
Whichever option you choose, make sure you have plentifulness of hard disk space; once you start recording television programs or watching your home videos on your 21" Lcd Tv, you'll find you need all the space you can get. And due to its increased versatility, you'll find your 21" Lcd Tv is an even bigger part of your home entertainment system.
A 21 Inch Lcd Tv: a Versatile MidRange SizeOverview:
The Panasonic Tc-P55St30 is a 55' inch plasma screen that offers 3D picture. The institute is sleeker then previous models with sharper edges and a more inconspicuous look. Unabridged the Panasonic Tc-P55St30's appear much more modern and cleaner than last year's sets. The St30 has a dark look that will blend in with most house decorations. The panel is 2.2" deep which is fat compared to other plasma Tv's, though you wont often notice when it's in front of a wall. It comes with a low profile stand that can swivel.
Installation:
Installation is very simple. Get the Tv out of the box, set it where you want, and plug it in. More in depth factory would involve set up in the Tv's menus. That kind of set up depends on personal preference and more can be learned in the product's manual.
Interface:
The St30 can interface with Dvd's, Vcr's, and video streaming. A highlight called Viera connect includes Amazon streaming, Netflix, Skype, Pandora, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube. A range of games are also available. You can now do these things from the couch in front of your Tv
Pros:
The 3D will request for retrial to many. No longer will you have to go to a movie theater to see your favorite movies in high definition and in 3D. The picture produces very deep blacks and high contrast. It also has strict color and solid video processing. It can handle 1080p/24 sources well and exhibits the nearly perfect screen uniformity of plasma.
The Viera connect is very user friendly and it makes renting a movie on a whim even easier. Other leading features are a Wi-Fi dongle, anti-reflective filter, and "Motion Smooth" dejudder processing.
Cons:
The St30 does not come with 3D glasses. The glasses cost 50-100 dollars, so this is a needful set back. The institute of the Tv may not request for retrial to some because it is fatter than most modern plasma Tv's. picture ability flaws contain tiny brightness (especially in interesting rooms) and less-saturated color in its most strict picture mode. The St30 has fewer picture controls than the competition and uses significantly more power than Lcd Tvs.
Conclusion:
For the money, the St30 is great. It may not furnish the best picture or have the best look, but it produces a very good picture and has many fun features. It is also an improvement from past models. Its ability to handle fast request for retrial and video processing capabilities, along with deep blacks and great inequity make it a well rounded product. For the value, this product is surely recommended.
Panasonic Tc-P55St30 delineate
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If you have been seeing at buying an Lcd flat screen tv, no doubt you have read about the 120Hz models. You are probably wondering if the 120Hz models are worth the extra cost. The value of the 120hz highlight has been widely debated in up-to-date months. There are a amount of things to consider before production your decision.
In the early days of the Lcd vs Plasma tv wars, one of the biggest drawbacks to purchasing an Lcd tv was that they were prone to appeal blur and a somewhat choppy picture, especially in times when there was a lot of fast action such as sports or in movie scenes such as car chases. Although there has been a great deal of revision over the years in the tvs potential to handle fast motion, Lcd is still battling the stigma of not having as smooth of a photograph as plasmas.
Enter the 120Hz tv. As a direct response, Lcd manufacturers have incorporated 120Hz tvs into their newest tv models. These tvs have refresh rates that are twice as fast as the "standard" 60Hz models.
Those who are supporters of the 120Hz technology claim that the photograph is noticeably smoother with crystal clear clarity, especially while fast action scenes or sports. someone else advantage is the potential to produce an practically 3D-like picture.
On the other hand, others say that they can't notice a disagreement when comparing side to side with the "standard" 60Hz models. They feel that the 120Hz models are plainly marketing gimmicks to sell higher priced tv.
So who is right? As usual there is a middle ground. Put simply, a 120Hz tv will take a suitable 60Hz signal and plainly replicate it twice which by itself does dinky to improve the photograph quality. The real disagreement is made when applying a video processing highlight for appeal enhancement. Each firm has there own name for this process. For example, Samsung's highlight is called Amp for Auto appeal Plus. This highlight takes the screen and interpolates the image to provide a smoother photograph to sell out judder.
Does the appeal enhancement provide a more satisfactory picture? Again this is open to debate. appeal enhancement at its best provides a noticeably smoother, garage picture, free of jutter, appeal blur and ghosting. Some reveal gaming in 120Hz as production a 30 frames per second game look like a 60 frames per second game, while others are mesmerized by the potential to make sports and movies look live and 3D-like.
At its worst appeal enhancement, especially while fast appeal can introduce split second glitches in the photograph called artifacts which can obviously be distracting. Others feel that while documentary type shows like Planet Earth can provide astonishing garage live action shots, that appeal enhancement takes away from the cinematic feel of movies by providing an practically too realistic, live tv or soap opera feel instead of a cinematic experience.
It is foremost to point out that appeal enhancement can be turned on or off, so if you prefer to watch a movie without the appeal enhancement you can plainly turn it off.
For the time being the selection to go with a 120Hz Lcd flat screen tv is purely one of personal selection and budget. Keep in mind that this is a very new technology and as with all new technologies there are still some things that need to be perfected. There is dinky consider that 120Hz is the wave of the time to come and that technology will only improve over time. If price is not of traditional concern or if you can spare the extra dollars in an endeavor to time to come proof your tv purchase then it would seem to make perfect sense to go with the supplementary features and benefits that a 120Hz Lcd flat screen tv can offer. If price is a traditional factor and you are working on a dinky funds then one of the suitable models would be a fine selection until the 120Hz models are perfected.
Lcd Flat Screen Tv - Are 120Hz Lcd Flat Screen Tvs Worth The Extra Money?
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Don't give up on tubes...With flat panel Tvs emerging nowadays such as plasmas and Lcds, most consumers are highly misinformed and believe that the capability of a flat panel is better than that of a tube (Crt) Tv. This is not true at all. The image capability of a plasma or Lcd Tvs far inferior to a Crt, such as the Sony Kd-34Xbr970. Even worse, more and more habitancy are buying these flat panel Tvs as a 'status symbol' and do not understand true picture quality. Why do you think studios use Crt monitors while output and editing instead of a plasma Tv? Most studios want the best, most spoton picture possible, so they use Crt monitors. The capability of the Sony Kd-34Xbr970 is much like a studio monitor, and surpasses all other displays regardless of cost. The dot pitch is so fine and the picture has so much realism to the point where all other displays look dull and muddy in comparison. Convergence and geometry is perfect out of the box, and the set looked fantastic. Its picture had depth and dimension, unlike the flat look of most plasma and Lcd Tvs. Hd channels look splendid they are very real and are not overly enhanced. The Sony's on-board processing and Drc is perfect and does not make sources look pixelated at all. The picture is fine, clear, and has exceptional detail.
One caveat to remember: The set is shipped in 'Vivid' mode, which is meant to grab your concentration in the stores with a bright picture but lacking in clarity. It is way too bright and much too sharp. You can see outlines and picture artifacts in this mode. If you keep the Tv in Vivid mode, you are guaranteed to burn the tubes in no time and shorten the life of the Tv. Also, the vivid mode is very inaccurate in color reproduction. I have my set calibrated in the 'Movie' mode, with a picture (white level) setting of 20/63 and a brightness (black level) setting of 30/63. Remember, it is very prominent to lower the 'picture' setting because it controls the number of white light on the screen. If you do this, the tube will last a very long time and you will see an exceptional image. On the other hand, the 'brightness' setting controls the number of dark areas you see in the picture. Turning this setting up will allow you to see more dark areas in a movie, but will not burn the tubes or impair image quality. An spoton image is better than a bright one.
Finally, the color decoder needs adjustment as it emphasizes red severely and makes habitancy look reddish or tanned. If you change the 'color axis' setting from 'Default' to 'Monitor,' the colors will be much more spoton and vibrant. If you adjust this set properly and take good care of it, it will yield the best picture of any Tv and will last a very long time. (My old Xbr Tv is 16 years old and still going.) I have a neighbor who spent ,000 on a plasma Tv and the picture capability is far worse than this set. What kind of Tv would you buy? Is status seal more prominent than image quality? Remember, that after reading this review, you are a much more educated consumer.
What is the Best Flat Screen Lcd Hd Tv to buy For the Money?Sony has claims that its Bravia Lcd Tv series has long been a benchmark of all other Tv manufacturers. Although a miniature narcissistic, I would have to mostly agree with this claim. Sony Tv's today may no longer dominate the market, but it remains the pioneer of many Tv technologies used in many Tv models today. Here is a quick characterize of Sony Bravia's latest roll out.
The Sony Bravia Xbr Kdl-52Xbr6 1080p Lcd Tv is the latest offering from the Bravia Tv series. To date, this model has all the latest features and applications that any Lcd Tv could have.
Electrical appliances from Sony have always sported a plain and minimalist, and this can be observed in the latest Bravia model. In fact it displays little, if any produce differences from its predecessors. But one must not be fooled by its deceivingly uncomplicated produce as this new model has tones of new features inexpressive underneath.
One of the best features of the Sony Bravia Xbr Kdl-52Xbr6 1080p Lcd Tv is its 120Hz Motionflow technology. This feature allows for smoother images transitions in videos, delivering, a smother and sharper video quality.
Like many Sony appliances, the new Sony Lcd Tv incorporates the 24p True Cinema technology. As most cinema movies are shot at 24 frames per second, this technology allows you to view a single movie at the ability the film was shot. This Lcd Tv feature works best with a Sony Blu-ray disk player, which also has the 24P True Cinema feature.
Another new feature found in the Sony Bravia Xbr Kdl-52Xbr6 1080p Lcd Tv is the built in Tv guide. The Tv guide continually updates itself for free where you can view the latest program listings from the comfort of you Tv couch.
Although the Sony Bravia Xbr Kdl-52Xbr6 1080p Lcd Tv has tiny inexpressive speakers, the ability of sound produced is astounding. No matter what the shape of your room is, the S-Force surround sound ideas enables you to hear sounds from behind you while a movie. This model has 4 Hdmi inputs, 2 video inputs, and a Pc input.
Sony Bravia Xbr Kdl-52Xbr6 1080p 120Hz Lcd Hdtv (High Definition Lcd Tv)I recently terminated an exhaustive month of doing intensive explore on what kind of big screen Tv or home theatre principles to purchase. I mean, it is time. The tube Tv is just not cutting it anymore, especially with a large room where Tv is typically watched. I learned a lot in the process - not all from talking with sales people, but in writing down things the sales population told me, then verifying those facts. The arresting thing is that many times those "facts" were incorrect, and it made me wonder how many other population were basing a purchase decision on the "facts".
For me, the first cut came in inspecting plasma versus Lcd. With projection Tv's and even with the Dlp technology which appears to deliver an superior picture, there were two things that made me eliminate these options in the first cut:
1. The size of the Tv. With projection Tv's, and also with Dlp Tv's (although to a slightly lesser extent), size is a consideration. Plan on the unit sticking out from the wall at least 18 to 24 inches, perhaps even more, which severely cuts down the full, size of the room you will be using to watch Tv. Plasma and Lcd Tv's, by contrast, are about 4 to 5 inches thick, and wall mounts can optionally be purchased to well mount the screen on the wall.
2. The viewing angle. With projection Tv, and again to a slightly lesser extent but still present in Dlp technology, the clarity of the picture starts to decrease dramatically when you start arresting away from viewing the screen head-on. If the room you are going to use to do your Tv watching can accommodate this, it may not be as big of a negative point for you, but for me, this was huge.
So my choices are narrowed down to plasma or Lcd. seeing at all the choices ready in plasma and Lcd however, I did not feel that my choices were all that narrow, so I needed more criteria to supplementary narrow my choices.
First cut, let's consider plasma versus Lcd and define the technology we want to shop for. I was able to relatively speedily select Lcd over plasma for manifold reasons. With today's technology, plasma screens will typically reach "half life" within about 5 years. That is the point where the screen radiance is about half of what it was when it was new. By contrast, Lcd life expectancy is about twice that, so this was a specific factor.
Your criteria may vary for other reasons though. For example, today's buyer Lcd Tv's max out at colse to 46 inches. This was fine for me, since a larger Tv would almost overwhelm the room I will be using, but with Lcd, be aware that you are not going to get the 50 or 60 inch units that are ready in the plasma lineup.
Although I live pretty much at sea level, also note that if I ever anticipate arresting to a high altitude area, most plasma manufacturers will not warranty plasma units at more than about 5000 feet above sea level. Really! This has to do with the way the air movements happen to generate the picture, and this cannot be done as effectively at higher altitudes. This is not a factor for Lcd technology.
Next is the resolution. I suggest a resolution of at least 1366 by 768 pixels. That is even more than today's cable associates broadcast at, but should keep you in line with the broadcast technology over the next few years. Even the movies you rent at Blockbuster are not going to show up in higher resolution than that. There are some top end units (Samsung and Sony, as well as others) that have 1920 by 1024 resolution, but the reality of it is that you will end up paying a premium for that higher resolution, and the Only way you will ever be able to use it is connecting your computer to your Tv. That resolution will Not be used for Dvd movies or broadcast, or even Hdtv broadcast, it is simply not there. So in essence, you are going to be paying for bragging rights, and those are some pretty costly bragging rights.
Get something that is at least 1080i and 720p. The "i" indicates "interlaced" and the "p" indicates "progressive" scan. While cable Tv broadcasts may do 720p, some units can interpolate that to 1080i. Again, you will pay a premium if you opt for a unit that can do 1080p, and again, that is for bragging ownership only. Even a video professional with a microscope would be hard-pressed to differentiate between 1080i and 1080p with today's movies or cable Tv broadcasts.
Considering all the criteria above, this should narrow your choices to less than a half dozen units. So your last step is to crusade online for reviews. See what other customers think of the unit and read their online comments. While I am not necessarily a big fan of paying for a specific brand name for the sake of it being a brand name, there is also some wisdom associated with that.
Lastly, as opposed to many other things, I would suggest the store's extended warranty. If you elect to go with just the manufacturer's warranty, note that you will need to keep the customary box that it came in, and will need to ship the unit to the manufacturer in case of a problem. That means being without the unit for a minimum of two weeks or more. The in-store warranty from Sears, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc, are normally Onsite warranties, and typically cover almost any problem, not just something that may be termed a "manufacturing defect". This is probably going to add about to per month to the price for a 3 year or 5 year warranty, but when you are spending this kind of money for a buyer electronics device, I believe it makes sense, especially when you consider that if the backlight needs replacing or the unit needs recharging, the parts and labor complex in performing that work if not under warranty are likely to exceed the cost of simply replacing the whole unit.
Find Out What Criteria To Use For Your Big Screen Tv Home Theatre
