VisualApex2Work specializes
in professional plasma TV lines from industry leaders like Panasonic, Pioneer and
NEC. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Q. What’s the difference between the "consumer" model and the "professional" model?
A. The retail marketplace today is flooded with plasma TV’s
that come equipped with everything you’d need to start watching basic cable TV
while your television sits on a tabletop stand. We call these "consumer model
TV’s "the ones our parents would buy" They come with a built-in HD tuner which
requires some sort of roof top antenna (or maybe just a coat hanger wrapped in
some tin foil) in order to work.
The question to ask yourself is "Would I use the built in
HDTV tuner? The good content is going to come via HD cable TV (and requires a
separate tuner) or satellite (also requires a separate tuner). In short, it’s
like getting free pregnancy tests for life after your vasectomy—thanks….but I
really can’t use it!
Concerning the on board speakers, we have one thing to say:
It is ironic that the manufacturers would have you to spend $$$ on your plasma
and they include speakers that are normally muted—adding space and not much
else. The consensus here is that value of the TV would go up if they made these
speakers detachable….and disposable!
Professional plasma’s (what we sell) are designed for those
who want to put their systems together component by component and don’t want to
be force fed a table top plasma with sub par audio.
Professional plasmas do not include
- speakers,
- a tuner,
- or mounting hardware----
...on purpose.
Whether it’s the Panasonic TH series (i.e. TH50PHD9UK etc) or
the Pioneer PDP’s, these professional plasmas
will plug into any theater system. Prior to purchasing, you’ll actually have
the option of wall mounting, ceiling mounting, or even putting your plasma on a
table stand. What’s more, with the expanded HD option available through
satellite TV, you will not be limited to connecting your plasma via a coax
connection that requires a tuner.
Pick your input type HDMI, DVI, component—whatever works
best for your application is the only connection you’ll need to make.
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Q. Would I be compromising if I bought the EDTV (enhanced definition) instead of the HDTV (high definition) model?
A. The mother of all decisions...should I get ED or
HD plasma? Like all decisions, it is a matter of preference. However, in our
comparisons between ED and HDTV plasma, we found that there is not much of a
difference. Yes, and HD plasma has a higher pixel count, and yes you can see
the difference standing unusually close to the HD plasma watching HD
programming. However, nobody really watches TV from that close and everything
else including progressive scan DVD’s and standard definition television (SDTV)
will run fine in the native resolution (852x480) of an enhanced definition
plasma.
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Q. What should I buy - plasma display or LCD? Which is better?
A. It depends on what we have in stock at the time you place your call!
Choosing between plasma and LCD has only become more
difficult as the technologies get closer in price and performance. But decisions to choose one technology over
the other have been based on a lot of misconceptions between plasma and
LCD. The biggest misconception
surrounds burn-in on plasmas.
You really need to try hard to burn in a static image on
plasma, and even if you do there are simple ways to correct this problem.
Below, we’ve put together a list of advantages for both
technologies that will hopefully help you make a decision. For the record, we
favor plasma because it looks better. It’s like the difference between Finding
Nemo and Barbie Swan Lake.
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Q. Should I get an ED or an HD Plasma?
A. The mother of all
decisions. And like all decisions, it's a matter of preference and what makes
you feel better.
You put 10 people in a
room, 5 will tell you they see a difference between EDTV and HDTV, 5 will tell
you they don't. (And yes,
those are official scientific results and all, like Trident's 4 out of 5
dentists.) In our comparisons, we haven't
seen a huge difference between the two. Yes, an HD plasma has a higher
pixel count. And yes, you
can see this difference standing unusually - nay, abnormally - close to the HD
plasma watching HDTV
programming. But nobody watches TV that close and everything else, including
progressive scan DVDs and SDTV will
run fine in the native resolution (852/853/854 x 480) of an Enhanced
Definition plasma.
So which one should you
get? Well, which one do you want? You can't go wrong with either but you
could< save money going with
an EDTV over an HDTV without much performance loss. On the other hand, if the
majority of material
you are going to be watching is HD, take full advantage of the technology and
get the HDTV
model.
Perhaps a better
question you should ask yourself is which is better for my
budget?
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Q. How far back should I sit from my plasma display?
A. Again...there is no set answer and some people may love
watching the display at three or four feet back. Oh the brightness…the
gases...the sunburn! For obvious reasons,
the smaller the plasma display, the closer you can sit to it.
37" plasma 8’ to 10’
42" plasma 10’ to 12’
50" plasma 10’-15’
65" plasma 12’-20’
These are just recommended viewing distances based on
feedback from our customers as well as information from the manufacturers. Your
kids may want to sit only 6' back and lick the screen during ice cream
commercials.
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Q. How do I clean my plasma TV?
A. This is a tricky topic because the front panel of most plasma
displays has been treated with an anti-glare coating that is easy to disturb.
We have to reference the Panasonic 8 series operating manual for suggestions on
how to clean your TV.
"The front of the
display panel has been specially treated. Wipe the panel surface gently using a
cleaning cloth or a soft, lint free cloth. If the surface is particularly
dirty, wipe with a soft, lint free cloth which has been soaked in pure water,
or water to which a small amount of neutral detergent has been added and then
wipe it evenly with a dry cloth of the same type until the surface is dry.
DO NOT scratch or hit
the surface of the panel with fingernails or other hard objects, otherwise the
surface may become damaged. Furthermore, avoid contact with volatile substances
such as insect sprays, solvents and thinner, otherwise the quality of the
surface may be adversely affected". Try one of our plasma cleaning kits – click
here.
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Q. What is an "input board" or "blade" and how do I install it?
A. Similar to computer cards/blades, plasma TV input options
allow users to upgrade their equipment as standards and needs change. These
input boards include the option of adding digital inputs (HDMI and DVI), tuners
(NTSC, HDTV) and more standard inputs (component video, s-video or PC). Some
blades include a computer motherboard/hard drive that is complete with windows
software and fully network able.
Installation is a breeze, too. Lay the display flat on a
padded surface and slide the board/blade in.
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