When designing your home theater, there are many questions and decisions to be made regarding audio and visual elements. The type of television itself is usually one of the biggest of these decisions. Plasma, LCD, flat panel, rear-projection ? these terms are thrown at us each day and many of us are just starting to understand the differences. The most common televisions being purchased in the United States are plasma televisions and LCD flat panels.

There are several pros and cons to consider before choosing a LCD television. While the reduced footprint and the flat screen are nice they certainly aren't for everyone. You should carefully consider the various advantages and disadvantages of this TV versus a plasma screen before making a purchase.

The following is some of the basic information about the LCD and some advice to help you in making your decision. You should keep personal considerations in mind as well, and ask electronics and audio-visual professionals for their opinion if you still aren't sure as to what you should buy.

Advantages of LCD Flat Panel Television Sets

LCD flat panel televisions have the most options available in regards to how they are installed. When including one in your home theater, installation can be as simple as placing it on a standard television stand or you can choose to mount it on the wall. Most LCD flat panel televisions are aesthetically pleasing because they are incredibly sleek and thin. They should fit in well with pretty much any home theater design, and they are relatively lightweight when compared to other televisions so that they can be moved easily.

LCD televisions are also considered to be good long-term television investments because they will run for 50,000 ? 60,000 viewing hours. Most modern LCD televisions also support higher picture resolutions and high-definition display options are becoming more available as well. And unlike some brands of plasma televisions, LCD video displays do not but an image into the screen after a long period of time.

Disadvantages of LCD Flat Panel Television Sets

Because of the nature of the liquid crystal display in their screens, they are much more likely to be damaged if something hits the screen. LCD screens should always be installed by a professional; an incorrectly-installed wall mount will pull away from the wall over time and could fall. The cost of an LCD television set is generally higher than plasma or rear-projection televisions, as well. You should consider that while high-definition display options may be available, not all LCD flat panel televisions are HD-ready and even if they are additional components are generally required to allow HD programming to display. These must be purchased as an additional cost. Additionally, early models of LCD screens did not display black and dark images as clearly as a plasma screen. This differentiation appears to have been improved upon in newer models.

Deciding if LCD Is Right for You

While some of the disadvantages listed above are worst-case scenarios, they should be considered simply because they add additional costs to your overall home theater system. Be sure to consider exactly how much you want to spend on a television that fits your home, especially if you're still in the process of buying your system and want it to be included in the home theater installation. Decide whether you need a high-definition system now or not. With the transition to digital television in 2009, many are preparing their household for HD now. The decision to buy HD ready televisions and components now is one you will have to make based on your budget and household's entertainment habits. This is a major decision to make, and you're going to want to make sure that you're happy with the final result when you make it.

~Ben Anton, 2008