Plasma TV Buying Guide

Size Of Screen
Plasma TV screens range in size from 32" to 63" and are measured diagonally. For a number of people the size of their plasma depends on where they want to place it. If you are constricted by wall or cabinet space, it is important to select a plasma TV that will fit these needs. Even plasma TVs with the same diagonal screen size may vary in overall width and height from manufacturer to manufacturer. In cases where the unit is going to sit on a desk stand, the height may be increased by 2-4" and you want to leave some space for airflow on each side of the plasma. All measurements are in the product details on our site or you can call us if more exact measurements are needed.

Another determining factor of what size Plasma screen you need is the distance you will viewing the plasma from. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, but there are some guidelines for Plasma TV viewing.

Inputs
A plasma TV should include the inputs you need to plug in your various video components. The various inputs include composite, S-Video, component, DVI, and RGB. RGB is a standard 15-pin computer input. Composite is a single line video output that is typical on VCRs and is also present on cable/satellite receivers and DVD players. The next step up in quality is S-video. This can be found on DVD players and most cable/satellite boxes. Component, which is of a higher quality than S-Video, divides the video signal into red, green, and blue and is on progressive scan DVDs and some newer cable/satellite boxes. Finally, DVI is a connection on some new high-end electronics and is capable of up to 1,000 lines of resolution.

Resolution
Resolution is a determining factor when it comes to selecting a plasma TV. Where there is really no bad picture when it comes to plasma TVs there are some plasmas whose resolution allows them to display certain signals better than others. When this becomes an issue is when watching an HDTV signal on your Plasma TV. To be considered true HD, the plasma must have a resolution of at least 1024x720. However, plasmas with a lower resolution will display an HD signal after doing some internal scaling. These plasmas tend to be at a resolution on 852x480. This resolution is actually what progressive scan DVDs and Digital Television are in and looks as good as any plasma with a higher resolution when displaying these signals. The only visible difference between plasmas with a resolution of 1024x720 and 852x480 is when watching HD.