A Guide to Buying a Plasma TV

Plasma TV's are the greatest improvement in the world of TV watching to hit the market since the invention of color TV. The biggest buzz in plasma TVs is 1080p. This refers to the resolution output of the screen. The other format of importance is 720p. Now the “p” stands for progressive scan which will improve the quality of the picture in a DVD home theater. So either the 720p or 1080p resolution will give you a better picture.

Next question, “Is 1080p better than 720p?” Experts disagree, but most seem to feel that the difference in picture quality is minimal especially with smaller screens. Smaller means anything less than 50 inches. So unless you are getting a huge screen or are looking to add a Blu-Ray player, the difference in price between the 720p and the 1080p may not be worth the cost.

Another thing to look at is the brand. The top major brands are Pioneer, Panasonic and Samsung. Sometimes Sony is also added to the list. Pioneer is the top of the line and usually the most expensive. Panasonic and Sony are comparable in price. Samsung is usually the easiest on the budget. The moral of the story here is to shop around for the best price and quality of picture.

Many of the other brands like LG, Visio, Sharp, Toshiba and Akai are usually prices lower. Be sure to check out the warranty and the reliability of the company you choose. Where you buy is also a factor. Will they mount it on the wall for you? Will they dispose of your old TV? These are important especially if you have an older big-screen TV.