Home Cinema Guide – Preview

Morning all,

Here at Front Room Cinema we have had a big discussion about our book. Firstly we would like to say thank you to all who have downloaded it. We hope you are enjoying the read and it is helping you in your quest for a perfect big screen experience.

We decided that today we would post up the first part of chapter 1  here for everyone. We want all our readers to have a chance to get the home theater they desire.

So here we go….

CHAPTER 1 – Display

What is a Display? Aren’t we looking at TVs? I hear you ask. Well, yes and no is the simple answer to your questions.

 

LCD TV

Gone are the days when there was just one type of television. The old and very trusted CRT TV. These big old beasts never went wrong and lasted for years. Problem was they were HUGE!! The actual screen was only the front and they need a very big tube behind to get the image on the screen.

 

Houses got smaller, the public demanded a successor. Luckily the demand was answered, more than once. There are different technologies all asking for your cash. What we have to do is find the one that is best suited for you and the type of experience that you are after. To do this we will need to look at the different types of displays.

 

First up, LCD TV…

 

LCD

What exactly is a Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) TV?

LCDs are all around us. They are everywhere. Liquid crystal displays so prevalent, in fact, that most people couldn’t get through their day without using one. This technology can be found in digital clocks, microwave ovens, car dashboards, calculators, stereos, thermometers, and even some bathroom scales! The applications for liquid crystal displays are almost limitless, so it should come as no surprise that this technology has revolutionized the most basic home appliance of all-the television set.

Liquid crystal technology has given birth to those slim, cool-looking, bright displays that are popping up everywhere from bank lobbies to living rooms. How does it work?

In very simple terms, an LCD screen has pixels filled with liquid crystal – and a backlight. The backlight illuminates the pixels and each pixel can be controlled individually to produce different colours. The Pixels are controlled by colour filters and a varying electric current to control the brightness

The picture you see on the screen is formed by all those tiny pixels changing their colours very quickly – and if you go very close to the screen you can see each individual pixel. This is sometimes called the chicken wire effect. On early displays this was very visible. As the technology has moved on this has almost been eradicated.

The fact that an LCD screen uses a backlight is the main difference between an LCD TV and a plasma screen (which doesn’t use a backlight). It is important to understand that the ‘new’ LED TVs are essentially just LCD TVs with a different backlight. LED TV’s us Light Emitting Diodes to illuminate the pixels whereas traditional LCD TV’s use fluorescent tubes.

A big thing to note here is that LED TV’s will often be sold side by side to LCD TV’s. They are essentially the same but the LED ones may have a higher contrast ratio due to the different way they are lit.

The take up of this Technology in the AV world has been huge. Far greater than its other main rival, Plasma. This can be directly attributed to the fact that LCD’s are not limited to BIG sizes. Surely BIG is better right? Well, apparently not everyone wants a big one!!!

It used to be the unspoken rule that if you want a BIG TV then go for Plasma, Small for the Kitchen then have an LCD. These days it is not the case. The Manufacturers of LCD TV’s have moved the tech on so much that now HUGE screens can be made and this has really changed the playing field somewhat. LCD can suit any room in the house! From 15” to 60” they have it all!

Not only that but LCD’s are generally lighter than the same size Plasma display. This makes them much easier to hang on the wall, or be put on your precious (but weak) table.

As you can see an LCD is a very good option. You can fit it in anywhere you like, and then design the rest of your room around it.

Good right? But that’s just the first part. We also talk about Plasma displays and the good old battle that LCD and Plasma’s have. Not only that but if you wondered about projectors but always thought they would be out of reach, we tell you about the things to think about and how you could get one.

Pop over to the Guide section and download your copy today!!

CLICK HERE