Plasma TV by Size - Plasma Television Screen Aspect Ratio

If you are in the market for a new Plasma TV and also an avid viewer of DVD movies, an important consideration in choosing a plasma television is screen size and aspect ratio. Screen aspect ratio will affect television viewing and you should therefore investigate this feature prior to making your final buying decision.

Conventional analog TV signals are transmitted with an aspect ratio of 4:3 which is the nearly square TV picture to which we have all become accustomed to.

However, high definition TV and some SDTV signals will all be transmitted with an aspect ratio of 16:9 in the near future. Ultimately, this will result in the loss of part of the picture when viewing on a conventional square television.

HDTV broadcasts are now being transmitted in the wide screen format, which is the same aspect ratio that movies are made in.

The majority of plasma TV's and big screen televisions are manufactured in the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. However, since television programs are made to fit a square television, you may get some distortion on a wide screen format. So if you do choose a wide screen format, make certain that you get a television smart enough to know the difference.

There are a number of factors to consider when determining your plasma television screen size. Plasma televisions come in a number of different sizes and like all televisions, plasma monitors are measured diagonally across the screen. Plasma television screens start as small as 5 inches and increase in size up to 63 inches or larger. The typical sizes are 24 inches, 32 inches, 40 inches, 50 inches and around 60 inches. The most popular plasma television screen sizes are 32 inches and 61 inches.

Be aware that the larger your plasma television screen, the heavier it will be and the harder it will be to mount. The smallest screens can be taken just about anywhere while the 60 inch screens require their own carpentry supports!

Another factor to consider in your search for the right plasma television is how far you will sit from the screen. If you are likely to be sitting within close proximity of the screen, say six to ten feet away, then your best choice would be a medium sized monitor of 32 or 36 inches.

The best picture quality will come from a 42 inch plasma screen television but only if you can sit at least ten feet away from the screen. For the really big picture and to fully appreciate the quality of a Plasma screen, you will need to be at least fifteen feet back. Of course, you can just try out different distances in the show room to determine if it is a good match for you. As the saying goes - size is not everything, but in some things it does not hurt.

So approach your plasma television experience with the view to get the most versatile piece of equipment that you can. Aside from mounting conditions, the size considerations on a plasma television are the same as for any other flat screen television. You want the best screen for your space and needs. For movie buffs, that may mean a large wide-screen. Whatever your choice, make certain that you are happy with it.