Getting big, bright, colorful, super sharp images is one of the keys of a home theater. Though it may be tempting to skimp on a high definition television, by spending a few extra dollars, it’s possible to get a screen that’s suitable for most needs.
Big Screen Entertainment and Letterboxed Movies
Just a decade ago, a 27-inch television screen was considered the smallest acceptable size for a home theater system. That was in the day of the videotape and LaserDisc. Today, the smallest acceptable size screen is 42-inches. This isn’t a rule written in stone, but more of a guideline. In a smaller room where the viewer sits closer to the screen, a 42-inch flat screen monitor is perfectly acceptable, but shoppers may want to opt for a bigger screen.
With high definition Blu-ray discs and broadcast/subscription television available, the best bet is to go with a larger screen. Television shows shown in the HDTV aspect ratio (the shape of the screen) of 16x9 will look fine on a 40-42-inch monitor. But DVDs and Blu-ray discs with wider aspect ratios will be letterboxed. This is how the film was originally shot. Most directors and cinematographers want the home video audience to see the entire film frame. Letterboxing is necessary, but it may make the screen seem smaller. How to correct that? Buy a bigger screen.
Models starting at 46-inches and higher will not only give a viewer a much more expansive picture, but it will alleviate those “nasty black bars” on the top and bottom of the screen.
By going to a screen 50-inches and above, not only is letterboxing less intrusive to some viewers, movies and television look more impressive. Technology has made these large, flat screen plasma and LCD televisions very bright, sharp and colorful. These aren’t the clunky rear projection televisions of the 1980s or even the early-2000s. Some buyers will undoubtedly be attracted to higher end models, but it’s not necessary to spend that kind of money to get excellent picture quality.
Which Brand To Buy?
Almost any of the major brands make excellent sets with stunning picture quality. Which brand to buy is a matter of personal taste, loyalty or prestige.
The most well known brands are perhaps Sony and Panasonic.
Sony is known for its high quality televisions that go back decades. The Trinitron television was and still is considered to be one of the best analog television line ever made. The Bravia line is probably Sony’s 21st century version of the Trinitron. It’s user friendly, both guys and gals like them, and they produce outstanding picture quality. These are also Sony’s relatively priced models and can be purchased at almost any major retailer.
Panasonic is rated highly and produces some of the nicest sets around for a modest cost. Going with a Panasonic plasma will give a viewer outstanding images with breathtaking clarity, deep blacks and a dimensional picture. The Viera line is very easy to use and gives viewers a very good picture for little money.
LG, Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba are the other major players. Apparently, Samsung is a very major player, supplying most of the LCD screens used by the other brands. Each of these brands supply very good sets to the market.
Smaller or lesser known brands include JVC, Sanyo, Vizio and Philips. Vizio is a newcomer to the television crowd, but has gained a good reputation for making high quality sets at reasonable prices. Costco began selling their sets not too long ago, and the company grew into one of the largest television suppliers on the market.
Not all brands are created equal, however, and one should be cautious of off-brands and brands they’ve never heard of. This is not to say that those brands are unreliable, but an off-brand that sells for very cheap may not be reliable. It’s better to spend a little extra money for a name brand in the case of these electronics, than be out of a few hundred dollars on something that doesn’t work in a year.
