Choose the size of your plasma screen and search the plasma TV that gives the best picture:

Making a choice between plasma TV and LCD TV always put many customers in a dilemma as these different technologies offer a wide range of features which are unique to them. Once you decide over the size of your TV you like to buy, you need to make a complete research into the TVs available in the market with an aim to find out the TV that can give best image quality.

Facts about HDTV resolutions available with your Plasma screens

Another major consideration should be whether you like your TV should support HDTV resolution or you will be content with EDTV resolution of the plasma TV.
Usually, some of the high end models of the larger Plasma TVs (50“or above) come with any of the two standard HDTV resolution – 720p and 1080i and you may not find smaller Plasma TVs with High Definition resolution.

Most of the Plasma TVs available in the Plasma TV market boast of HDTV features but you need to watch out for the difference between truly HDTV plasma TV and HDTV Ready. A true HDTV feature enables your TV to display 1080i resolution without any scaling of pixels. On the other hand, HDTV Ready, although it is capable of displaying all HDTV resolutions – 720p or 1080i, its native pixel resolution is just 720p and it usually converts other resolutions to fit into its native resolution.

To find out which Plasma TV maker offers the best Plasma TV

Today’s Plasma TV market is flooded with the broadest line of TV models from the major Plasma TV makers like Panasonic, Pioneer, Hitachi and Samsung. The latest advancements in Plasma technology combined with fast dropping of the prices attract many consumers as the market for standard television sets is slowly falling by this impact.

These major Plasma makers usually specialize in certain sizes of plasma TV. So, you will find Hitachi has some unique models in 55” plasma TVs while Samsung produces some of the best 63” Plasma TVs in the market. Pioneer Plasma TVs are quite popular in 42” section and they are quite unique for true black levels and enhanced brightness. All these makers offer numerous models with the same screen size but each one constantly updating its feature with every new model. Some of the high end Plasma TVs from these companies come with enhanced video processing and scaling features. They usually come with high price tags, but their superior picture quality and superb performance add value to your money.

Todays's Plasma TVs come with better longevity and innovative technologies

Many consumers tend to have misconception that Plasma TVs do not long last and that they suffer from screen-related problems like screen burns. This view does not hold any truth as far as today’s Plasma TVs are concerned. Latest plasma TVs come with anti-burn protective layer on their plasma screens and rarely susceptible to burn ins.

Similarly, the half-life time of plasma TV varies between 30000 hours and 60000 hours. In other words, you can watch your TV eight hours a day for ten years. This is relatively better longevity when compared with standard CRT television. If you have any fears over leaking of gas in a plasma TV, it hardly happens or becomes a serious issue. It is true that Plasma TV develops some annoying problems related to high altitudes such as buzzing or over-heating. The happy news is you can go for Plasma TVs that come with in-built features that can handle this problem efficiently.   

Newer Plasma TVs come with technologies which are constantly getting updated. To match with the performance of such plasma TVs and to get the optimum performance, you need to use upgraded video cables and upgraded video sources. As HDTV creates such hype in the present world, television broadcasts and home video devices are more and more adopting this new format for transmission of video to your plasma TVs. For example, HD DVDs like Blu-ray discs have taken the picture quality of home videos to their pinnacle.

Use high quality video cables
If your plasma TV comes with in-built features that can support HDTV format, that alone cannot assure of better picture quality unless you use compatible, high quality video cables. Your plasma TV, if it supports HDTV, usually will have a few inputs like component or Digital Video Interface (DVI), or High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The number of inputs that come with a Plasma TV varies from one model to another. A few plasma TVs offer two or three HDMI inputs depending on the make. Usually these inputs can be found both on rear and side panels so that you can connect more than a device without requiring extra hardware. It is always better to buy a plasma TV that provides as many convenient options for use of HDTV materials in your TV. It is also suggested that you use as much short cable as possible. This not only helps your TV from looking messy, also ensures better picture quality.

Use videos sources like DVDs and HDVDs
DVDs use progressive scan video images which look certainly better than standard pictures from your CD players. DVD players also come with 3:2 pulldown which offers movie-like experience when watched on plasma screens. It should be remembered the picture you see on your plasma screenlargely depends upon the video source. Higher the picture quality your external video device offers, better your TV viewing experience.
Latest blu-ray discs and other HD-DVD players are best options available that can enhance picture quality thereby providing superior visual experience.   

Proper Installation of your TV and room light conditions
You cannot have better picture quality, if the room is flooded with external light like sunlight or some fluorescent facing your TV. This leads not only to annoying reflections on the screen, but it also dims the picture quality by taking away the colours and brightness of your TV.
It is highly recommended that you install your plasma TVs in a place where it does not face windows or doors. If your room has windows, use blinds to obstruct sunlight thereby making room little darker. For comfortable viewing in dark settings for a longer period, you may use some dim lamp behind the TV which may be soothing for your eyes.

Take care of the plasma screen
Plasma screens are made of glass which often gets fingerprints, dust, or dirt if you don’t clean it quite often. Cleaning the plasma screen does improve the picture quality to certain extent. There are some do’s and don’ts while you clean your plasma screen. Please follow them.

Plasma screens are so glossy, so shiny that they tend to get some dust or finger prints quite often. Cleaning a plasma TV screen should be done carefully considering its high price.

When you try to clean its screen, you need to be careful over two things: first, the product you use should not scratch screen. Using even paper towels or gentle toilet paper may scratch the screen.

Secondly, your plasma TV might have anti-reflective coating on the glass. If you use certain cleaners which contain ammonia, they can damage this protective coating of the screen.

If at all you decide to clean your Plasma TV screen, the first thing you can do is to consult the manual given by the manufacturer. It often gives you instructions about how your plasma screen should be cleaned.

Always use pure cotton or some fibre of finest quality. Avoid using anything made of paper to wipe the screen.

Anti-reflective layer on your plasma screen prevents glare in bright rooms. So, care should be taken when you clean the screen so that this layer is not damaged. Cleaners containing ammonia react with this protective layer and damage it. Never use ammonia-based cleaners. When you buy cleaners, see whether they have ammonia in them.

Most of the dirt can be removed just by rubbing over the area with a dry cotton cloth or wiper made of microfiber. If the dirt is not removed then, use wet cloth to clean the area. You may also use some mild detergent when you clean the screen with a wet cloth. However, the manual book should be consulted before doing so.

There is a misconception that both Plasma TV and LCD TV lack superior audio quality when compared with traditional TV sets. It is also suggested that when you buy a flat panel like plasma TV, you should also buy some home theatre system or an audio system to enhance the quality of sound. This makes your choice of plasma TV more selective as you need to check whether the unit provides options for connecting it with an external audio system.

When you go for a plasma TV, first you need to check the number of connectivity options available in the unit. You can find audio/video inputs both on front and side panels. There are a wide range of inputs that include S-video, composite and component video inputs.

Check, whether the TV has at least one audio input and output. The audio output helps you to connect it with some external audio system to get enhanced sound quality. If you want your TV to show HDTV materials received from HDTV broadcast or DVDs, your Plasma TV should have high definition component video input, HDMI interface or DVI-HDCP. These inputs enable you to enjoy HDTV channels, HD-DVDs like blu-ray discs.

If you want to use a camcorder, PC or video game with your TV set, check you have got additional inputs on the side panel of your TV. This will often help you to connect these devices with your TV without additional hardware.

Even if you don’t plan to use all these devices with your TV presently, buying a TV with many inputs/outputs will nevertheless make your TV future-proof. As the flat panel technology is making tremendous advancements, this has become inevitable.

How altitude affects the performance of a Plasma TV?
Plasma TV uses rare gases like xenon, neon and argon which are enclosed between two glass sheets. For the optimum performance of the plasma TV, there must be a balance between the pressure of these gases inside the plasma display panel and the atmospheric pressure. In other words, both the pressures should be more or less equal for optimum performance. However, when the altitude increases, say above, 2500 ft above sea level, the atmosphere becomes thinner, resulting in low atmospheric pressure. In such conditions, the gases inside a plasma TV tend to work hard to produce the display. During this process, a plasma TV usually produces more heat and a sort of buzzing noise when it is working.

Most of the plasma TVs are designed to work at sea levels or within 3000 ft ASL. However, if you happen to live in higher altitudes, say in a place over 5000 ft ASL, you should go for a plasma TV which is especially designed for such conditions.

It is fairly easy to find out whether your plasma TV struggles to cope up with low atmosphere outside. One way is to feel the heat emitted by your TV. Another way is much easier the buzzing noise can be heard when your TV works much harder. Nowadays, this problem is being eliminated as newer plasma TVs come with design and calibration suitable for higher altitudes