Looking over the new array of gear that ambitious LCD TV vendors are releasing, it might be a good idea to reconsider where the TV is going to go. Test bed reviews for floor and standing speakers assume nobody on the other side of the wall isn’t going to want to hear lightsaber duels at THX level 29.
A new LCD TV buy should be determined by its use and function. If you have a library of VHS you won’t need surround sound unless you plan on buying or tuning into new media outlets and products. There is no information in those video formats to program sophisticated sound output. Even DVD technology is said to be decaying as the standard audiovisual output in a few years.
Sleepless nights for the rest of the family won’t improve things, so wireless sound to headphones and Bluetooth headpieces are excellent suggestions. If the kids want to play that video game with the music that shuts your brain down, get a pair of headphones to keep the din to a minimum. FIFA soccer is not for everyone. Immersive gaming and 3d glasses make staying home rocket science, and a blast.
Look for audio input jacks near the cereal-munching area. Sennheiser (with Adidas) makes an excellent pair of sport headphones that can be used for sports fanatics or guests trying to catch 4:00 a.m. stock reports without shaking the entire family out of the rack. Get a sleep timer and go without the green guilt of waking up to see the TV has been on all night.
Thus the wall mounted LCD TV is a solution. The wall is unlikely to have sleeping people on the other side cringing in their beds as the Empire shudders through their walls. Selecting an “outward” wall with non-conducting wall mount of the LCD TV will be necessary for your family’s sanity.
Making sure the sound and video signal from the cable box or computer modem can happen with cellphones and text devices in the room is a serious consideration to many home theater systems. Likewise, if the LCD TV is a home office writeoff, access to a computer keyboard or laptop in the space provided should be planned for maximum efficiency.
Also of note when upgrading the home theater or home office video hardware is signal robustness. Review your monthly cable download and upload frequency and think about upgrading. Networked systems and passive recording mean more pull than ever on what began as a basic account. Review Bluetooth device elsewhere in the home and see if a Bluetooth friendly LCD TV model with signal can coordinate more of your home experience “remotely”!
Many home video aficionados don’t even know how to shop for an LCD TV. Test drive TIVO on your new model if possible to determine ease of use. Look at the performance spec of the models of LCD TV you are considering for purchase. Is floor dip (interference with conflicting speaker signals) a possible result of your positioning of speakers? Consider a sound bar for single device sound envelope.
Also, consider LCD TV as a gift. Philips makes a portable DTV that is nine inches, perfect for rooftop tanning or backyard scanning of the soap opera universe while relaxing. This makes that backyard cabana or kitchen counter a bit more amusing as you mix up dinner. (portable TVs are popular because they save a wall mount installation).
Finally, review the bundled video entertainment and source output access enabled by a particular LCD TV model or make. Sony gives Netflix access, LG promote Vudu video streaming, and many wireless device inclusions make cable box video sources just a server-source flip of the switch away.
Do you blanche at the LCD TV prices for your target size video wall of sound? Wait for your secondhand market. When the 3D LCD TV market expands, 2D LCD TV’s will swamp the garage sales and EBay listings everywhere. Your family room might then accommodate budgetarily that 52-inch monster without instituting a second mortgage.
