ACT: Comparing Today's TV's

COMPARING TODAY'S TV'S

Home Theater

Surround Sound

Multi-Room/Whole House Audio

Shared High Speed Internet

Wireless Solutions

Advanced Phone Systems

Intercoms

Security

Wiring Infrastructure

Commercial Services

Voice, Data & Audio Systems

IT and Systems Integration

Home Theater: The Basics

Selecting a TV is just not a simple process anymore. Size used to refer to the diagonal length of the screen only. Now you need to consider the size of the set itself, the size of the room, and maybe even the size of the wall where you want it mounted.

And that's just the beginning. What type of TV best suits your needs (traditional analog, rear projection, flat screen, etc)? Will the world really turn to high definition (HDTV) over the next few years, and how does that differ from EDTV (enhanced definition)? Is plasma or LCD (liquid crystal display) the way to go for a flat panel set? And we haven't even mentioned cost.

At ACT, we're not in the retail TV business. We design and install home theaters, surround sound systems and multi room A/V systems. We'll recommend TV and related components (receivers, DVD, etc.) based on your desires, style, and budget, without preference to any particular manufacturer or distributor. We'll help you select the right TV, install it and integrate it with other A/V components. We'll even program the whole package into one universal remote control.

The accompanying summary won't answer all your questions, but it may help you as you begin to sort out your options. As you read it , keep in mind that technology changes rapidly and so can pricing. Use it as a guide and call if we can be of help.

	CONVENTIONAL (direct‑view) TV	LCD DISPLAYS	REAR PROJECTION TV	PLASMA
SIZE	32 to 36 Inches	10 to 40 Inches	10 to 40 Inches	32 to 63 Inches
PRICE	$400 to $1,600	$700 to $11,000	$1,000 to $5,000	$3,000 to $30,000
HOW THEY WORK	A single cathode‑ray tube (CRT) projects images onto the screen from behind.	Thousands of tiny transistors light up individual pixels on the screen to create a bright, smooth image.	Usually, three cathode-ray tubes (red, blue and green) project pictures onto the TV screen from behind.	A large array of tiny fluorescent lights create a picture image on a thin screen.
PROS AND CONS	Low maintenance and relatively inexpensive. But heavy and large (in depth). Limited screen size (width).	Very thin. Smaller sizes are ideal for non-traditional TV locations but not for use as your primary TV. Can be used as a computer display. Fast moving images appear fuzzy on inexpensive models.	Picture tube (CRT) models are relatively inexpensive, setup is fairly easy, offers better viewing in normal lighting. Sets are bulky and take up considerable space. Images may appear dim when viewed at angle.	Thin and spacious, uniform picture brightness. Can be wall mounted. No picture adjustments needed. Many are display-only units without tuners and speakers. Professional installation is suggested. Lower end models may not be HD capable.
HANDY DEFINITIONS	High Definition (HDTV) A TV that produces images digitally and with high resolution (the amount of detail in an image) for better clarity and realism.	LCD: Liquid crystal displays (LCD) Thin panels, rather than traditional picture tubes, are used in projection, allowing for flatter sets thinner sets	Rear Projection The projection system (picture tube or LCD) beams the TV image onto the back of the screen, similar to a direct view TV.	Plasma Uses tiny fluorescent lights and gases rather than traditional picture tubes to allow for flat screens and thin sets.