When it comes to treating yourself to a new plasma television there are a wide variety of makes and models available, so much so that it can make the task of choosing one rather difficult. For those shoppers amongst you who are not very technologically-savvy, you can take comfort in the fact that there is no one \’best\’ television. There are plenty of quality brands out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here is a checklist of things to look for when you are next buying a plasma TV.

Firstly, you should make sure that a plasma television is right for you as there is still the choice between buying an LCD TV or a plasma TV. A plasma television is a better purchase if the room in which it is to be installed is a dark one. Plasma TVs have a shiny screen which are likely to reflect any ambient light coming into the room.

The next decision to take is to whether you want 720 or 1080 vertical lines of screen resolution. This is perhaps something to decide on if you are especially picky about the picture quality. Screens with 720 lines can generally only be found on 50\” (or smaller) TVs. On current makes of HDTVS, 1080 is generally the standard however most people wont really be able to tell the difference between the two resolutions, especially when sat 8 feet away from the screen or further. If you are that particular then ask the shop if you can compare the same broadcast on two different televisions when placed side by side. It is well worth checking to see whether you can tell the difference between the picture quality from the distance you are likely to be watching from as this will have an impact on how much you spend.

When shopping in the high street, most audio visual equipment retailers will offer you various packages when buying a television. You will need to decide on which features are essential to your purchase and which you are unlikely to require. Take into account things like picture quality, overall styling, tuners, video inputs and outputs as well as any additional accessories such as surround sound. Some retailers may well even offer warranty packages as well.

One of the most important aspects to take in to consideration is of course your budget. If you are really looking to get a bargain then you may be well advised to steer clear of high street retailers and spend time searching the internet for specialist internet only suppliers who will be able to offer you the same brands at a slightly lower cost. Online only retailers have significantly lower overheads and this is likely to be reflected in their prices. It may even be a wise suggestion to compare models of TVs you are interested in buying in a high street shop and then search for the cheapest option online once you have found one you like.

Don\’t forget to check out independent expert reviews when it comes to narrowing down your options. There are plenty of online sources as well as trade magazines which will make recommendations for you. If in doubt then don\’t be afraid to get help from shop salesmen who will be able to advise you on the best purchase for your budget.

Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (www.cts-networks.co.uk), leading UK multi room TV installers.

Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (http://www.cts-networks.co.uk), leading UK multi room TV installers.

Author Bio: Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (www.cts-networks.co.uk), leading UK multi room TV installers.

Category: Advice
Keywords: TV, plasma, HD TV, entertainment, home cinema, leisure, home, technology