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Frequently Asked Audio-Visual Questions
How Do I Know What TV Size to Choose?
The size of the TV that is best for you and your family depends on the size of your room.
wide screen
diagonal size |
minimum
viewing distance |
maximum
viewing distance |
26 inch |
3 ft |
6 ft |
32 inch |
3 ft |
7 ft |
37 inch |
4 ft |
8 ft |
42 inch |
5 ft |
10 ft |
47 inch |
6 ft |
12 ft |
60 inch |
7 ft |
15 ft |
What Is High Definition (HDTV) And How Is It Different From Standard Definition (SDTV)?
SDTV features up to 480 interlaced lines (480i), but can show only 240 lines at any given time. Although SDTV produces a sharp picture with good color, its performance does not compare to an HDTV. HDTV monitors reveal 720 progressive (720p) or a minimum of 1080 interlaced lines (1080i). An HDTV will show 540 lines at a time. These resolutions create sharp, realistic images with the most vivid colors.
How Do You Clean Your LCD Monitor or TV?
To clean your LCD monitor, use a soft cotton, lint-free cloth and a special LCD cleaner. Do not use cleaners that contain any of the following agents: acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acid, ammonia, and methyl chloride. Do not spray any liquids directly on the LCD screen. Always apply the solution to your cloth first, not directly to the parts you are cleaning. Some materials, such as paper towels or old rags, can cause scratches and damage the LCD screen.
How To Know What TV Type to Choose?
Plasma
Advantages |
Disadvantage |
- Less expensive compared to LCDs
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- Restricted to at least 32-inches diagonal
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- Superior contrasts and colour saturation
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- Difficult to distinguish between two similarly dark shades
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- Capable of display in full HDTV and DTV signals
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- Prone to burn-in (images permanently imprinted on the screen)
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LCD
Advantages |
Disadvantage |
- Higher resolutions compared to plasmas of the same size
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- Viewing angles cannot match those of plasma displays
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- Excellent image stability with crisper and brighter pictures
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- Lower contrast ratios than plasma
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- Longer lifetime than plasma (50,000 vs 30,000)
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- Relatively poor, in comparsion to plasma, at rendering deep blacks
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- Space and power efficient
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- Relatively poor, in comparsion to plasma, in tracking motion and fast-moving objects
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Digital Light Processing (DLP) Tvs
Advantages |
Disadvantage |
- DLP set will display richer black levels than LCDs
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- Lamps typically last about 8,000 hours on most high end models
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- Angles will impact the overall color accuracy of the image
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What is the Difference Between a 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 Sound System?
5.1 surround sound includes a total of six channels -- five full-bandwidth channels with 3-20,000 Hz frequency range for front left and right, center, and left and right surrounds, plus one "low frequency effects" (LFE) subwoofer channel for frequencies from 3-120 Hz. Two main formats that deliver surround sound for 5.1-channel systems are Dolby Digital and DTS.
The two formats are DTS-ES and Matrixed 6.1 surround with Dolby Digital EX and THX surround EX. DTS-ES: Discrete 6.1 surround uses existing digital multichannel technology to deliver the "5.1" channels of regular DTS, plus it adds a discrete, full-bandwidth back surround channel. Matrixed 6.1 surround with Dolby Digital EX and THX Surround EX do essentially the same thing, both adding a matrixed back surround channel for use in a 6.1-channel speaker system, in order to provide an even more complete, 360° soundstage.
Many Blu-Ray Disc (TM) and HD DVD players support 7.1 audio formats, and even offer high-quality surround sound. Dolby TrueHD discs are encoded with more audio information per channel. They provide sound with improved directionality and more precise effects. DTS-HD(TM) Master audio is similar to Dolby TrueHD.
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