Q. Which size screen should I choose?
A. You might be tempted to buy the biggest Plasma TV you can afford but this is not necessarily the best way to choose the right size for your TV. It depends how far away you are from the screen when viewing. Generally speaking a 37” screen is best viewed from about 1.8M(6ft) to 3M(10ft) and a 42” from 3M(10ft) to 4M(14ft). You can always be further away from the screen but these distances give you the best punch for the picture.

Q. Should I buy a TV with HDTV specification?
A. The resolution of your TV is important but probably not for the reasons you think. HDTV (high definition TV) 1024x1024 plasma screens are generally more expensive than standard Plasma or LCD 852x480. These numbers refer to the number of pixels that make up the picture.

A high-resolution monitor may or may not give you a better picture it depends on the input signal. HDTV transmissions will be here in the UK next year, there is a satellite station broadcasting HDTV now for special sporting events.

If you’re thinking about buying a high-resolution plasma display you will probably not notice any better picture from TV, Cable or DVD inputs in fact, the pictures may even look better on Non-HDTV plasmas because they have less converting to accomplish from signal input to signal display. It would be worthwhile buying a HDTV version if you intend to display computer XGA signals (1024X768) – this is the most popular current computer display output resolution. You will notice the difference especially with static images and numerals such as an Excel spreadsheet. And when HDTV starts in the UK next year you will not believe the quality of the picture. It is truly AMAZING!

Q. Should I buy a Plasma or LCD with built in speakers?
A. This is a personal preference and really depends on how much of a home cinema experience you are trying to create. If you wish to add an Amplifier to your system and can place the speakers in the correct position within your room then external speakers are the best sound option. Plasma and LCD TV's only have stereo sound and although the sound on most of the new models is very good, they do not have sufficient power (or the connections) to drive a five speaker set up.

A 5 speaker system has two speakers at the front (L and R) and a two at the rear, again a L and R. These four speakers create the surround sound that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action. The fifth speaker is the Centre speaker and this is where the dialogue is sent. This system is usually referred to as a 5.1 set up. The .1 is a Bass Woofer, usually powered which means you plug it into the mains and it delivers the really deep base that completes the experience. All these speakers need to be connected to an Amplifier which will also convert the input signal from your DVD to Dolby Digital or DTS sound for an experience that is as good as going to cinema.

If you want to keep your living space as unaffected by the whole home cinema thing there is some good news. As technology has come a long way it has brought improved sound with it, which most manufacturers have incorporated into their Plasma and LCD TV’s. So even if you don’t go to the trouble of building a large speaker setup you can still experience great sound from the TV alone. PLUS it’s all contained inside your Picture House cabinet. GREAT! (See more about 5.1 cinema sound in the TV connectors section)

Q. Do you have to sit right in front of a Plasma TV?
A. This used to be the case with the older Plasma displays but the models on offer now give you a viewing angle of about 160 degrees all the way around, left, right, top and bottom so you will be able to see a good quality picture from almost anywhere in the room.

Q. What is Progressive Scan?
A. Progressive Scan is a video scanning system that displays all lines of a frame in one pass. Contrast with interlaced scan like normal CRT TV’s where the 625 lines that make up the picture is done in two passes. Progressive Scan produces a much better picture.

Q. My TV supports PIP, what does PIP stand for?
A. PIP means Picture in Picture. It allows you to show another channel or video source in a small window superimposed in a corner of the screen.

Q. Some DVD’s state that the movie is a “Pan and Scan” what this mean?
A. Pan & Scan is a technique of reframing a picture to conform to a different aspect ratio by cropping parts of the picture. DVD-Video players can automatically create a 4:3 pan & scan version from widescreen video by using a horizontal offset encoded with the video, which allows the focus of attention to always be visible.