What HDTV should I buy for my Home Theater

At DataUnite our clients always want to know the best TV for their Home Theater.  In most cases we provide the TV but some clients like to make this purchase on their own.   We all know how to find a TV since most of us get the advertisements from the Kansas City Star, Best Buy, or Nebraska Furniture Mart.   Unfortunately, those ads only tell us about pricing and not necessarily the right choice for our specific application.   When purchasing a TV you should consider the following steps.

 

  1. Vehicle Size:   If you are picking up the TV yourself you'll want to know the box dimensions.  It's amazing how many times I've seen someone go to pick up a TV only to find once they get there that the unit will not fit in the vehicle.  We all know how frustrating a wasted trip can be, so be sure to measure the space in your vehicle before you head to the store.
  2. Inspect the space where the TV will be placed:   This step is obviously a very important step but just like making sure the TV will fit in the vehicle we still see people that buy the wrong size TV.   If you plan to mount the TV on the wall make sure that you have  power at the location and a plan to conceal the wiring from the TV location to the equipment location (e.g. DVD player or Home Theater Receiver).  Remember that not all TV mounts are created equal so ask DataUnite what TV would be best for your TV and applications.  Also make sure to plan for proper ventilation.  You will drastically reduce the life of your electronics if you miss this step.   
  3. Room Size:  Make sure that you have plenty of space between your seat and the TV.  It seems everyone is tempted to get the biggest screen but that is not always the best solution. The below guidelines are not set in stone but they are a good rule of thumb.
    1. 32" TV size:  Plan for 4-5'
    2. 42" TV size: Plan for 5-7'
    3. 50-65" TV size"  Plan for 7'-15'

For a true design of your TV room it is smart to contact a Certified CEDIA professional. DataUnite is a professional CEDIA Member and trained to tackle any electronic system. CEDIA is the leading industry in design and installation of electronic systems.  For more information about CEDIA visit:  http://www.cedia.net/