Choosing a TV

When preparing for a custom home theater setup in your home, undoubtedly one of the most important features is your TV.  Are you going with a projector and a screen to match or the largest flat screen you can find?  Are you looking to create a real movie theater experience right in the comforts of your very own home?  With so many different TVs to choose from, the decision can be difficult.  When choosing a TV, consider the following:

1- The screen size: It's okay if you're not sure what screen size to purchase.  Here's a good rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a screen size: Sit at a distance of about five times the screen's height, or even depending the TV try to sit as close as three times the screen's height, especially with an HDTV source.  Measure the distance between your main seating area and the TV's location.  After that divide the number by 5.  That will yield an estimated screen height.  This will at least give you an approximation.  From there you can of course go bigger or smaller depending on your preference.  If you have a TV cabinet of course measure to ensure the new TV will fit nicely inside the space.

2- Budget:  Typically your budget and screen size will go hand and hand, but really budget should probably be your first consideration.  You may want the biggest, most expensive TV on the market, but in reality that may just break the bank.  Consider the max of what you're willing to spend and see where your money gets you in TV land.

3- The room characteristics: Consider the room the new TV will be going into.  If the new TV is going to be apart of a new custom home theater setup, consider the layout of the room.  Is the room brightly lit?  If the new TV is going into a bright room you'll need a very bright TV so that the image won't appear washed out.  Is the room very dark?  If the room is very dark then you'll want a TV with a good black level to give images more depth.  Depending on the room characteristics a different TV type may be necessary.

4- Visit multiple stores: In your search for the perfect television you should visit multiple stores including retailers both big and small.  Big retailers offer great selection, while smaller stores may provide you with the attention and knowledge you need to help you make your decision.

5- Display type: Think about what kind of display type you are looking for.  This is also where budget once again come into play.  Perhaps you want the best flat panel model available, but don't have the budget for it.  You may want to consider other options and with so many different display types available, you should be able to find something great that is still in budget.

6- View the same TV in multiple stores: Once you've narrowed down your choices, try to visit the same models in multiple stores.  This will help you get a better idea of each TV's performance.  Check the lighting in each store and see how the TVs look in multiple kinds of lighting and environments.  The different environments may really help you choose.  

7- Service plan: So you've picked out your TV and you're ready to purchase.  Now you're faced with the question of, "Should I purchase the service plan?"  As with many major retail purchases, you will most likely be offered some type of insurance plan on your TV.  Look into what the service plan offers.  Depending on the plan it might just be worth it.  Some plans offer free pickup and delivery for a defective unit and this obviously comes in handy if something does happen to be wrong with TV you purchase.

Choosing the perfect TV to complete your custom home theater can be a challenging experience, but the end result makes it worth it.  Have questions about choosing a TV to complete your custom home 
theater setup?  Feel free to comment on this post or contact us.

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