Home Theater Heaven
A three-part series on how to create the ultimate home theater on a budget. Week 1: the TV. By Pavan Shamdasani
These days, big-screen TVs are at rock-bottom prices, PCs are tricked out for next to nothing and 5.1 speaker systems are practically thrown away. Yes, the time is now for your home cinema experience. But where to start? In the first of a three-part series on building your personal theater setup, we’ll help you choose a TV.
Doma LCD 4221TV
You’ve never heard of them, but that shouldn’t deter you from investing in this Hong Kong-based brand’s highly affordable flat-screens. Built with all the same parts as your top-of-the-line rip-offs, their 42” model sees no loss in color levels (warm blacks, soft whites) and has a crystal-clear image that rivals even the best of the “expensive” brands. A sleek design and a reasonable 8-millisecond response time make this ideal for even the geekiest of tech fiends, while decent built-in side speakers won’t leave you embarrassed in front of your audiophile friends.
How much? B56,570 (HK$13,990)
Where? Available online at www.doma.com.hk
LG 47LB7RF
This beast of a TV gives off a stunning impression despite its relatively affordable price. It packs a mere 5-millisecond response, four internal speakers and an “intelligent eye” (no more fiddling with image settings like brightness and contrast levels). But the multiple ports, numerous component slots and yes, even an easy-to-use remote, leave the option of being compulsive obsessive to those so inclined.
How much? B99,000
Where? Power Mall Ultra, 4/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000.
Samsung PS63P71FHX
Money to burn? Samsung’s 63” monster is so big, all its flourishes are basically moot. Well, almost—it’s hard to overlook the antiglare technology, which creates a stunning picture of natural colors and crisp blacks. Best part for all those who can afford this despite being mentally impaired: the menu is very, very easy to use.
How much? B299,990
Where? Power Buy, 4/F, CentralWorld Plaza, 02-646-1222.
Philips 37PFL7422
Perfect for those in cramped quarters seeking a big-screen feel, this 37”-incher boasts all the trimmings of a Full HD with few LCD setbacks. And while that 8-millisecond visual response time might mean Jason Bourne’s latest adventure is a little laggy, it more than makes up for it with Philips’ “incredible” surround sound. Did we mention the dirt-cheap price tag?
How much? B59,990
Where? Power Mall Ultra, 4/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000.
HD Ready vs. Full HD.
The big duke-out right now is between HD Ready and Full HD. But what’s the difference and why is Full HD almost double the price? The short of it is, HD Ready means the maximum resolution is 720p, while Full HD is 1080p. Those numbers refer to the lines of resolution on your set. Up until the end of last year, you’d have been fine with a 720p – it played all your standard TV shows and DVDs. But considering the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD war has been settled, and even terrestrial TV has gone HD, you’re going to want everything in 1080p. Because of that, all the selections here are Full HD.
OLED – The Next Generation
It’s been touted as the next big breakthrough, the first step towards TVs as wallpaper—and having seen a recent demonstration, we have to admit that the half-inch thick, 31” OLED TVs if not that big a breakthrough, are truly super-thin. At B80,000 for a 14” model, they better be.