How to Put Together A Home Entertainment System

"For viewing a game in the evening in a room with low ambient lighting, a plasma TV is the best choice..."

This article is sponsored in part by Pillsbury.

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Ticket sales for major sporting events of all kinds have been down over the past few years. While part of that is related to the rocky economy, some voices believe that it also has to do with the lifelike experience offered by new technology. A home entertainment system powered by an HDTV and surround sound has the power to create the experience of a live game from the (free) comfort of your couch. Instead of spending the better part of the day freezing in the nosebleeds, you’ll enjoy front-row seats to however many games your remote finger has energy to travel to. Of course, you’ll need equipment that’s up for the task.

Start With The Right TV
A small standard-definition television is nothing more than an insult to your favorite team. If you want to do the big game right, you’ll need a large high-definition television with the best picture possible. The ultra-high-definition 4K2K television is just hitting the market, so unless you have five figures to spend, 1080p should still be your focus.

LCD TVs continue to dominate the HDTV market, but plasma screens offer several key advantages to sports fanatics. While LCDs’ problems with “motion blur” are largely a thing of the past, plasma still comes out on top when it comes to the smoothest motion, something that’s important for a television that will see a lot of game-day action. Plasma televisions are also the hands-down winner when it comes to viewing angles. Wider viewing angles mean that all your buddies can cram into the room for the championship game and enjoy a crisp view of the action. With an LCD TV, viewers on the sides of the screen may find themselves craning their necks.

LCDs have some selling points of their own. Most noticeably, LCDs are more widely available in sizes and price ranges of all kinds. Only a few manufacturers continue to make plasma televisions and they’re only built in certain screen sizes. LCD TVs are brighter and perform better than plasmas in bright rooms. They’re also less power-hungry. LCD TVs that use LED lighting -- often called LED TVs -- can produce an even brighter picture and better contrast.

“For viewing a game in the evening in a room with low ambient lighting, a plasma TV is the best choice,” explains Dr. Raymond Soneira, president of TV/video evaluation and calibration company DisplayMate Technologies. “Plasmas are much less bright than LCDs, but they have much wider viewing angles and much less motion blur and motion artifacts.”

“For viewing a game in the afternoon in a room with bright ambient lighting, an LCD TV is the best choice. LCDs are very bright. Some lower-end LCDs have major color and contrast shifts with viewing angle. That doesn't matter if only one person is watching from the center sweet spot. But if there is a party, there can be a significant issue for viewers on the periphery. Look for LCDs advertised as IPS, PLS, or FFS -- they have almost no detectable color shifts.”

Soneira suggests sports fans with money (think $8,000 and up) and a bit of time wait for the 55" OLED TVs making their way to market in early 2013. He calls the picture quality outstanding and believes these sets will be an optimal choice for those that can afford them.

Another option to consider when shopping for a new TV is the young technology of 3D. Because there is limited 3D sports content available, 3D makes the most sense for those that want to enjoy a variety of media. 3D sets tend to be more expensive than standard HDTVs and typically require eyeglasses for the 3D effect.

Screen size is largely a matter of personal preference and budget, but there are guidelines if you’re unsure how much screen you need. The Lechner Distance Chart -- developed by former RCA executive Bernard Lechner -- provides a guideline for the ideal distances for screen sizes. For instance, the chart indicates that a 46" 1080p television is best viewed from about six feet away. If you’re unsure of what size will work in your room, measure the distance to the couch and use the chart to make a more informed decision.

When shopping for a TV, pay attention to the number of HDMI inputs to be sure that it offers enough for all your components (cable box, Blu-ray player, video game console). Smart, Wi-Fi-connected televisions are another option to consider, but you can always add a separate set-top box for internet content later on. Next Page >>