Three Keys To A Great HDTV Setup

Your new HDTV is an expensive addition to your home. You will be spending many hours each week in front of your new TV. You should make sure the picture settings are correct, the correct connections are used, and you have full sound to match.

Calibration

We all have walked in front of the banks of HDTVs in the showroom. Have you ever wondered why the same show looks so different on the different models? Often the difference in quality and resolution of the display is obvious. Most people choose the brightest and most colorful HDTV on display. But even after you have done your research and chosen the best model, you can be disappointed with the result in your living room. Because they must compete with other TVs in the brightly lit showroom, the settings which look good in the store may not look good in your home. All TVs need calibration once they are installed in your home. Here are just a few of the benefits of calibration.


DVD Calibration Discs
  • Proper brightness and contrast settings increase the detail and clarity of dark and bright scenes.
  • The right color settings add greater realism and life-like skin tones to the program.
  • Differentials in light levels can strain the eyes. Calibration adjusts the brightness of the picture to relieve eye strain and extend lamp life. We also advise on lamp placement and viewing distance to further improve your viewing comfort.
  • Proper settings on your TV match the picture to what the director intended you to see.

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Use The Best Connection

On a new HDTV, there can be up to seven different video connection types. Are you using the right connections to maximize the picture quality your TV receives? We can help you choose between the various cable and connection choices.


HDMI Cables
  • HDMI is the new standard for digital connections, carrying the full range of signals from 480i basic TV to the 1080p full HD TV signal. This means no loss of signal quality between the source and display. New cable and satellite boxes as well as HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disc players should use this type of connection.
  • Component video connections use three cables to deliver color signals separately. Quality cables can carry the full range of signals from 480i basic TV to the 1080p full HD TV signal. Component video connections are most often used with DVD players and game consoles, such as the PS2 or XBox 360.
  • VGA cables are used to connect PCs to your TV. Did you know you could use your HDTV as a giant monitor? With the explosion of digital audio and video in the home, using a computer with software like Windows Media Center for XP or Vista as a multimedia hub is growing in popularity.
  • S-Video and composite video cables are limited to 480i(and lower) signal, but are still the best option for VCRs and older game consoles.

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Surround Sound

Nearly all commercial DVDs include digital surround sound. These discrete audio tracks recreate the movie theater sound at home, hence the term Home Theater. If you only listen to the sound coming from the TV speakers, you are missing out on a large portion of the experience. Let us review you system, fix any problems, and advise you on upgrades to get great sound on a budget.


Digital Sound Cables
  • Many shows on the major networks now broadcast in [HD] and 5.1. This means that along with the high definition video signal the show also features Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Dolby Digital uses five channels of sound to put you in the middle of the action plus a subwoofer output to add punch to events and depth to music.
  • Optical digital connections use fiber optic cable to transfer the audio signals from the HDTV, satellite box and DVD player to the stereo with no loss of quality. They are required for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound.
  • Since your current DVDs already have the digital surround sound included, you can start enjoying vastly improved sound without spending thousands of dollars for a new HDTV by making a few changes.
  • If you have a home theater surround sound system, we can help you maximize it's sound quality. Using audio test signals and SPL meters, we can test speaker connections, set audio levels, and make sure digital signals are properly decoded.

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Even if you are not ready to upgrade to HDTV, hearing movies in digital surround sound, with the punch of a subwoofer, can vastly improve your enjoyment of your current DVD collection. Add to that improved color and picture quality of a properly calibrated TV with the proper video connections, and you may enjoy your current TV for years to come.

Our technicians service all types of TV sets and surround sound systems in Charlottesville, VA and surrounding areas. We will calibrate your TV, determine the best connection options for your equipment, and evaluate your surround sound system.
Our calibration service is $34.95 plus tax. Let us give you your best home theater experience!

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