Plasma TV Buying Guide

If you have signed up for this class you are interested in possibly purchasing a classy flat screen plasma television. Bravo! As you follow this classroom handout you will be sure to understand the fundamentals of a plasma television to ensure your best buying decision. Give yourself some time though before you watch that major college game tonight or spend hours playing your video game system, because you want to make sure you read this guide and then browse all the great deals on plasma televisions right here on Cowboom.com!

Plasma TV's 101

Welcome to the Cowboom Classroom on Plasma TV’s. You’ve heard about em’, you’ve been saving up for one, and now your wanting to further your knowledge on the magnificent device before buying one. Well turn off your old TV, sit up, and read along!

Compared to the LCD television, the plasma television can come across as a little bit more expensive. However what you will be getting out of plasma is far worth the investment. You will find various plasmas throughout Cowboom.com in various conditions and there is bound to be one to meet within your budget. The following essentials are important to keep in mind when browsing:

  1. Picture Quality
  2. HDMI Capabilities
  3. Room Destination

Picture Quality

First, know that once your purchase plasma, depending on how used it has been or condition, it could potentially last for a very long time. The average plasma television can last for up to 60,000 hours and months of quality use. When searching for plasma in Cowboom.com is sure to read the product description to get an idea of the best condition for your dollar.

When it comes to the colors of the images you are viewing on your plasma, what you are watching comes to life! With outstanding coloration and vivid structure, the plasma provides the viewer with vivid colors in a real-life presence. Another color attribute of the plasma is the black levels. Black coloration in the plasma is deeper and richer where the viewer does question whether the image is a shade of gray or black. The black coloration is firm and stands out immensely. Plasma televisions created from brands such as Pioneer, Samsung, and Panasonic continuously improves the deepening of black coloration making the viewing experience that much more vivid.

Plasma televisions also offer a well structured contrast and resolution for a crisp and clear picture. When it comes to resolution there are some important things to keep in mind. You will want to make sure you buy plasma with at least the resolution of 1080P. This type of resolution is basic for standard television watching. It also works great when viewing your movies on your Blu-Ray or High-Def DVD player. The images with the 1080P resolution via these devices offer a realistic image to the movie watcher. Every firm pixel can be seen with this type of resolution. The same goes for heavy gamers on their X-Box 360 or PS3; the 1080P resolution is heavily needed to get the best gaming graphics. Other types of resolution exist that can enhance your picture quality, such as 720P and 1080i, and those are prevalent for satellite or HDTV viewing. Be sure to read the specifications on the model of interest to ensure the best resolution capabilities for your viewing choices.

Another great feature of the plasma television in some models is different modes to limit or prevent image retention, also known as “burn-in”. Those modes are:

  1. Pixel Shift- Slowly shifts the pixels of the image in different directions to keep the pixels from burning in. Also eliminates the “ghosting” effect. That is where in image is left stuck on the screen. You have ultimate control on how fast the pixels shift, in which direction and the amount of time up to two minutes in the length you want this mode to operate.
  2. White-wash mode-a white screen appears to diminish the possibility of image retention
  3. 4:3-images are viewed with gray side bars positioned 4:3

Alright, that is some important info to notate when searching for your Plasma based on your viewing desires. Now let’s further the lesson with a discussion on the importance of HDMI.

HDMI Capabilities

One of the most common A/V inputs to your plasma television and devices you will connect to it is the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). HDMI is very important for a couple reasons:

  1. To get your standard 1080P resolution needed for movie watching and/or game playing, you will need an HDMI input on your television. 1080P resolution content can ONLY best be viewed through an HDMI connection.
  2. HDMI inputs are important to experience all high-def devices.

In searching for a plasma television with HDMI capabilities, it is best to look for a unit with multiple HDMI inputs. A set of three HDMI inputs or more will save you headaches in the long run. This is because; you will be able to hook up your gaming console, DVD or Blu-Ray and other HDMI devices all at once, for easier use. If not, a single HDMI input plasma television will not only force you to constantly switch out the HDMI cables on each device, but will also wear down your input. Also, an HDMI switcher, a separate piece to purchase for the single HDMI input plasma, can be rather pricy. It may be less expensive in the long run to purchase plasma with multiple HDMI inputs if planning on using multiple devices.

Room Destination

The briefing over picture quality and HDMI capabilities will serve great justice in your buying decision. The ultimate consideration in your purchase is where you think this masterpiece of electronics will go. It is important to know the dimensions of your room and desired location. Do you want this plasma above your fire place, or hanging in the ceiling corner? As the plasma television is great for off-angle viewing, you will want to know room dimensions to figure out the best size television. Rule of thumb is that you will want a sitting distance for viewing at 1 to 1.5 times the screen size. For example, for a 57 inch television you will want to sit about 7 feet away. You will not find plasma less than 42 inches giving you approximately 5.5 feet of viewing distance. Knowing the exact viewing space along with television size will ensure the best picture quality, and high-def experience.

Time to Put on a Show

Whether the first thing you do with your plasma TV is put on a HDTV show, Blu-Ray movie, or put on a show by gaming it in front of your friends, you are now geared up to browse Cowboom.com. Keep in mind this important information! Class dismissed!



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