Buying a television can be an enjoyable part of building your home entertainment system. You will spend endless hours watching your favourite shows, movies, and games with friends and family. To make sure your viewing time is a completely satisfactory experience, there a few things you need to know before you buy.

What's the size of the space the TV will be in?

Measure the space where the TV will be placed. There should be 1 inch to 2 inches of space along the top and the sides, and the back should have enough room for proper air ventilation to prevent overheating. There should also be enough room for easy installation of cables and other audio/video components. Once you have made your measurements take them with you to the store where you'll be making your purchase.

Room size:

For 26-inch or 27-inch screens, you will need a distance of about 6 feet. If buying a 32 inch, approximately 8 feet of viewing space is recommended. If you are looking at 35 inch or 37 inch LCD TVs, you'll want at least 10 feet of space. Plasma TVs that are 50 inches to 60 inches, 12 feet of space would allow for maximum viewing pleasure.

When constructing your own viewing space, talk with a knowledgeable person who specialise in selling home theatre entertainment systems to evaluate lighting, sound properties, as well as the size of the room. These are important factors when deciding on the type of visual and audio entertainment you will be using.

Size of the delivery vehicle:

You will need a large enough vehicle to safely transport your new television. This avoids safety issues for the passengers, as well as preventing any damage from occurring to the TV. If you are looking at large screen LED TVs, a small truck, van, or SUV will have ample space for transporting. You may want to consider having the company deliver it for you. If the TV sustains any damage during the delivery process, the company will replace it at no charge to you.

Picture quality:

TVs with black picture tubes offer better picture quality than a grey picture tube will. A grey picture tube does not have the high contrast capabilities of a black tube. Also, a flat screen prevents glare from windows and lamps in the room, and there will be less image distortion than you would get with a tube screen. A black flat screen would give you the best visual experience.

Upgrade capabilities:

Make sure your new TV has the capability to add upgraded components such as Blu Ray, video recorders, and DVD players. Even if you don't have them at the moment you may want to add them later to update your home theatre entertainment system.

Remote control:

A universal remote control can manage all of your audio/video components in one unit. This is better than having to use several units to manage different electronic devices. Additionally, check if the remote has adequate back-lighting to make the buttons easily visible in a darkened room.

If the remote is misplaced, can you operate the TV without it? These controls are usually found on the front of the TV below the screen. On LCD TVs and plasma TVs, the controls can be seen on the side. On some TVs, the buttons to operate them are conveniently located on the top.

When buying TVs you have many choices. These are just some helpful tips to ensure you buy the best television that fits your needs.