Selecting a Home Theater TV
Another critical element of your home theater design is the TV that you
will select. There are many options available from the type, size, and
quality of the video display. The best video display for you will depend
on the size of your room and your budget.
Selecting the Home Theater TV
To design your monster home theater you will want the largest screen with
the best picture quality that can fit into your home theater room and
budget. The four types of TVs to choose form are front projection, LCD/plasma,
rear projection and CRT. When selecting your TV you will need to consider
the screen type and size for your home theater room, HDTV, aspect ratio
and inputs.
Screen Type and Size
You will choose the TV for your home theater from these 4 types of screens:
Projection: Selecting a projector and a screen will give
you the largest display for your home theater possible. Learn more from
our guide on how to select a projection display.
LCD/Plasma: These flat panel options will allow you to
conserve space while still providing a large picture. The picture from
LCD and plasma screens are bright and clear and provide an excellent option
for home theaters. Learn more from our guide to selecting a LCD/plasma
TV.
Rear Projection: Rear projection TVs will allow for a
slightly larger picture than LCD/plasma screens but will use more space.
Rear projection TVs will be best viewed straight on, so if you have a
wide viewing area rear projection may not be the best option. Learn more
from our guide on how to select a rear projection TV.
CRT: The CRT is the smallest option for screen sizes.
If you choose to select a CRT for your home theater, go with the largest
screen size available (36").
HDTV
HDTV, short for high definition television, is a format that is broadcast
in wide screen with many more lines of detail than a standard definition
broadcast. HDTV provides an amazing life-like viewing experience. To receive
HDTV broadcasts you will either need a TV that has an integrated HD tuner
(HD tuner is built-in) or a TV that is HD ready and an additional receiver
that can pick up HD broadcasts. Satellite and cable companies offer HD
packages as part of their programming. If you are planning on purchasing
one of these services, an HD ready model is right for you. If you do not
plan on purchasing such a programming package select a TV with HD built-in,
this will allow you to receive HD signals for local broadcasts using an
antenna. HDTV should play a major role in how you design your home theater.
Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio is the width of the image to the height of the image.
Currently the 4:3 aspect ratio is most widely used. HDTV broadcast are
broadcast in a wide screen format with an aspect ratio of 16:9. If you
are designing your home theater to watch movies and programs broadcast
in HD then you will want to select a TV that displays 16:9.
Inputs
The number of A/V inputs your TV has will have a major impact on your
home theater design. You will want to be sure that your TV has enough
inputs for DVD players, digital cable and satellite TV receivers, and
video games. You will want to be sure that your TV has at least two sets
of component inputs and a HDMI input. Additional inputs that are important
are S-Video and coaxial for antenna or cable.