Choosing The Right Plasma TV For Your Home Theater 

A plasma television isn't the TV you grew it with. This type of TV has cells. Each cell also has two glass panels that are separated by a gap that has neon-xenon gas sealed in plasma. This gas is charged at intervals and then strikes red, green and blue phosphors. This is what makes the images.

The TV you grew up with had picture tubes, called cathode ray tubes. They worked basically as a vacuum tube where a beam scans the tube quickly, lighting up red, green or blue phosphors to create the picture.

Both types of televisions have their advantages and disadvantages. And even as plasma and projection and other CRT "upgrades" have made their way to the market, the good old-fashioned CRTs still have their place. Just not in your Home Theater.

Plasma is considered the top-of-the-line technology, but its use is a matter of personal preference. The pictures on plasma screens can be incredible, but big-screen and flat-screen and even good old fashioned CRTs sometimes offer a much sharper image for all types of viewing - DVDs, television, VHS. In fact, many experts claim the picture on an old CRT is still better than "newfangled" plasma screens.

The biggest advantage to plasma is the ability to hang one of these screen right on the wall. The biggest downfall is the price. Since the technology is still relatively new, plasma is still pretty expensive. Oftentimes, these screen can cost two to three and even more times another television of similar size.
On the upside, plasma pictures are getting better with each new model release and the prices will eventually level out. For those creating a home theater, the thin screens and hanging ability really can help maximize small spaces. Plus, they look neat, adding to the ambiance.

Whether you choose a plasma, big screen, projection or even a CTR, the television is the biggest ticket item in most home theaters. With this in mind, it's a very good idea to do some serious research before buying. Consider the options, weigh the choices and pick the screen that provides the image you're looking for. Go look at the differences in picture quality to help guide the decision if you haven't noticed them before.

Viewing is a very subjective undertaking and the screen that provides you with the benefits you want is the one to buy.