How to Rate Plasma TVs
There are hundreds of different plasma TV models on the market to choose from, so it can be difficult deciding which TV to purchase. One way to help with this decision is to rate the televisions and decide which one to purchase based on these ratings. While rating a television relies heavily on personal preference and the available budget, there are several things that you can do to help rate the plasma televisions you are considering.
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Instructions
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Look at the television's screen resolution, as this is the best indication of television's image quality. The most common screen resolutions found in plasma TV's are 720p, 1080i and 1080p, with 1080p producing the best image quality.
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Look at the number and variety of input and output ports on the television. HDMI ports have become the standard port for high-definition video and audio, but some users may want composite ports, component ports or USB ports. In general, the more ports a television features, the more versatile it is.
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Look at the television's size in relationship to the screen's pixel resolution. Televisions that are larger than 50 inches should have a pixel resolution of 1080p, but televisions smaller than 50 inches benefit little from the increased pixel density that 1080p provides. Also, consider the screen size in relationship to your wants and needs for screen size.
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Check the television's power consumption. In general, the less energy a television uses while in operation and while in standby, the better.
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Compare the television's price with other comparable models. A television that is cheaper than other models with the same or similar specs offers the consumer more for their money and, thus, should be rated accordingly. Also, take the television's brand into consideration in relationship to its price. Best Buy, for example, has two house-brand televisions: Dynex and Insignia, with Insignia being the higher-end (and, thus, more expensive) brand. In general, name brand televisions, like Panasonic and Sony, will be more expensive than house-brand televisions, like Insignia and Dynex, but will offer better specs and an overall higher-quality product.
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Use these considerations to determine which television best suits your wants and needs. Consumers that value a television's size over all else may have different ratings for televisions than consumers that consider a television's price to be its main selling point, so the rating criteria is ultimately dependent on your individual preferences.
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Tips & Warnings
Many plasma televisions have their sub-field refresh rate printed on the box or the television itself. This number represents the number of pulses per frame used to display the image multiplied by a refresh rate of 60Hz. An example television with a sub-field drive refresh rate of 600Hz would refresh at a rate of 60Hz and use ten pulses per frame. Unlike LCD TVs, a higher number here does not indicate a better picture, because plasma screens natively refresh at a faster rate than even the fastest LCD TVs, so this number should not heavily factor into your buying decision.
References
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