Home : Related readings for satellite TV shoppers

Dish Network Articles: HDTV and Your Home Entertainment System

HDTV's make an excellent addition to any home entertainment system. They have more than twice the resolution of a standard DVD output and four times the video clarity. High Definition televisions can easily be integrated with all your analog video equipment such as VCRs, camcorders, and gaming consoles.

The TV market is undergoing its biggest change in 50 years, when the first color set was introduced. Manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba are leading a charge to develop flat-panel sets, which range from plasma and liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) to rear-projection sets and even to advanced versions of the incumbent cathode ray tube (CRT). At the same time, new digital standards are leading to the rise of high-definition programming, which eventually will replace those fuzzy analog broadcasts that now rule.

Many people are purchasing digital TV and the numbers are growing. When governmental regulations on digital broadcasting take effect, prices should plummet to a reasonable level. It is important to compare TV's before purchasing. The lower-quality digital sets offer DVD quality pictures. This is fine since only a small percentage of people have signed up for HD programming.

But when the time comes to see the HD flavors offered by most broadcast networks, you'll need sets that offer resolutions of at least 1,280 by 720 pixels. That last number typically will let you know if you meet the magic HDTV threshold for viewing one of the two most common high-definition programming standards in the United States as it's broadcast instead of being downgraded by the set.
Also, look for sets with fast response times (the lower the better to handle fast-moving images) and high contrast ratios (the higher the better for brightness).

Be sure to buy an HD set that offers plenty of choices for connecting audio-visual gear. A general rule is the more the better. In particular, look for TVs with a digital video interface (DVI) and high-definition media interface (HDMI).
These offer the best possible picture. The relatively new HDMI uses a single cable to transmit video and 5.1surround sound, an audio format that separates soundtracks into theater-like speaker setups. The single cable goes a long way toward reducing the sea of cords common to many home theaters.

Even after you buy, be prepared for disappointment. The vast majority of programming is still broadcast in the old analog format known as the National TV System Committee (NTSC) standard, where even the best rabbit ears still have occasional problems with tuning in snowy pictures. On higher-definition big-screen sets those pictures look absolutely lousy. So, you'll have to bear with it until more HD programming becomes available and the benefits of crystal-clear TV shine through.

Pomme Divan is the proprietor of MAC Television your one stop source for all of your television needs. Find your dream television at: www.mactelevision.com

Related readings

• How HDTV works?
• Get started with HDTV in Windows media player
• Dish Network vs DirecTV
• Dish Network vs cable TV
• Dish Network programming packages

About the author:

Claudia Walters, expert writter on consumer products reviews. Check out his latest satellite TV related website and get recommendations on DirecTV or Dish Network dealers, <a href="http://www.sunsatellites.com/dishnetwork/directtv.html">compare Dish Network with DirecTV's</a> and other issues on <a href="http://www.sunsatellites.com">satellite TV deals</a>

More readings at: Dish Network offers

Featured Articles

Article index
Dish Network 101
Dish vs DirecTV
Free satellite TV

Advertisement

www.sunsatellites.com © 2005 - 2007 | Be a smart satellite TV shoppers!