If your trying to keep up with the times or simply want to hang a TV on your wall, you might want to consider buying a Plasma television. Before buying, there are a few things you should know. We have created a Glossary of terms to help you better understand Plasma TV terminology as well as answers any questions you might have. For any additional help or information, please call our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-888-228-5800 x1.

Size
The first thing you should have in mind before buying a Plasma TV is size. Plasma televisions or Displays range from 32 to 63 inches. However the majority of screen sizes are 42 to 50 inches. When deciding on a screen size you should be aware of the room size where the Plasma TV will be installed. You don’ want to sit to close to a large screen because the pixels will probably be visible causing an interrupted view.

Sound
When purchasing a Plasma TV you should also keep in mind sound quality. Not all Plasma TV’s come with built-in sound or speakers. The one’s that do however don’t live up to surround sound standards. You will enjoy your plasma TV more with a separate high quality home theater system.

Placement
There are several ways to display a plasma monitor/television on your home: On The Ground/ On A Piece Of Furniture- If you are purchasing a large plasma screen, you can place them on the floor or a piece of furniture using a plasma stand or plasma feet. These accessories must be purchased separately.

Playback
It’s important to know that not all Plasma TV’s include TV tuning. Without a TV tuner, you won’t be able to watch your local over the air television stations. One reason for this is because some Plasma TV’s are also displays and can be used as monitors for business presentations. On plasmas with no tuners, simply add a VCR (for TV tuning), Satellite dish (for regular and HD satellite transmissions), cable TV box to watch television.

Altitude Issues
Altitude has long been a factor affecting the performance of plasma monitors. The display elements of plasma units actually consist of rare natural gases (like xenon, neon, and argon), which have been compressed inside hundred of thousands of tiny glass envelopes. Ideally, the pressure these gases are under should match the pressure of the gases (N2 and O2, mostly) outside the walls of those glass envelopes. At sea level or thereabout, these two pressures are more or less equivalent, for this is the atmospheric pressure level at which most plasma panels have been calibrated. So, the thinner air at higher elevations causes an air-pressure differential-an imbalance between inner and outer air pressures-and the pressure of the gases inside the plasma display panel (PDP) increases as the outside air pressure decreases. Hence, most PDPs (at least those not specifically designed for use at or above 5500 feet) emit a slight buzzing noise under such conditions. This noise is the result of the PDP's increased power consumption and the corresponding increase in its cooling needs and, hence, its fan usage.

If you live above, say, 6000 feet, your best bet is to go to an audio-visual appliance store, and do some investigating of your own. Figure out first hand just how well plasma TVs operate in the showroom. Listen closely to the display units. And don't forget to ask questions.

Aspect Ratio
This number indicates the width to height ratio of the screen. Standard screens have an aspect ratio of 4:3 while wide screen monitors have a 16:9 ratio.

BNC Connector
For computer usage of the Plasma TV or display. This is a cable that helps the plasma connect to the computer network.

Brands
At Abt Electronics, our Plasma brands include Panasonic, Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, and LG. To view all the models we stock, click here.

Contrast Ratio
The ratio of the whitest white to the blackest black. For example the number 350:1 will mean that it's 350 times more white than black. The higher the contrast ratio, the sharper the image.

Depth
The actual depth of the Plasma TV. This is an important number to pay attention to if you want to place your Plasma on the wall. The depth of the Plasma TV or display can range from 2 to 8 inches.

Digital Signal Type
Although not all Plasma TV’s are equipped to receive high definition signals, many can receive some types of digital signals in compliance with FCC's push for analog to digital signal conversion by 2006. Three types are found in plasma displays: SDTV, HDTV Ready, and HDTV.

HDTV
Also known as high definition television. HDTV has the highest digital signal quality level. HDTV’s have sharper and less "noisy" images than current analog television sets.

HDTV Ready
HDTV Ready Plasma TV’s have digital inputs for set top boxes that can convert the high definition signals.

Native Resolution
The number of rows of horizontal and vertical pixels that creates the picture. The native resolution describes the actual resolution of the Plasma TV and not the resolution of the delivery signal. Plasma TV’s will convert the delivery signals to the Plasma's native resolution.

SDTV
Plasmas with standard definition (SDTV) have a lower picture quality than Plasmas with high definition. However, they have higher picture quality than existing analog televisions.

TV Tuner
Unlike other TV technologies a TV tuner is not a standard feature found in plasma displays. Plasmas without a TV tuner can either use an external source like a VCR as a tuner or be purchased separately.

Video Signal Compatibility
The type of video signal that the Plasma TV receives. The NTSC is the American signal reception standard while other countries use the PAL and the SECAM signal.

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