Where are you going to put that huge entertainment center now?

Wall-mounting flat-panel HDTVs is all the rage these days, as more and more consumers realize the benefits of having their TVs flush against their wall. The space that is saved, both on the wall and the floor, by not having a massive, clunky entertainment center is a breath of fresh air to anyone who has, or is considering, a wall-mounted TV.

However, even if you have the sleekest and slimmest flat screen TV wall frame on the market, you are going to have some other considerations before you can sit back and enjoy the stunning action scenes in Spiderman 3 – where are you going to put all that stuff that was sitting on your entertainment center? Those DVDs and game discs, consoles and Blu-Ray players, amps and cable boxes… where does it go now that your TV is floating free from the bulky (but admittedly useful) entertainment center?

All that space you’ve just freed up on your wall and floor shouldn’t have to be filled up again in order to store your home theater accessories. There has to be a better way, but what is it?

The first and more obvious option is to install shelves for all of your storage needs. On the market today are some extremely modern-looking and heavy-duty shelves, so whether your concerns are style or functionality, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for. These shelves can hold everything from your DVD collection to your amp and cable box, so don’t overlook the simple answer when on the hunt for home theater storage.

Smaller racks are also an option. Racks come in a variety of sizes, so in order to minimize their appearance but still benefit from their functionality, you could look into 19-inch or smaller. Racks can hold a variety of electronic modules and can take care of much of your audio and video needs, while remaining relatively discrete in a corner or unobtrusive spot in your room.

The floor space that you’ll save by installing a flat screen TV wall frame or other device can also be used for storage purposes. You can purchase a low-sitting cabinet to sit discretely under the TV itself, or you can use the space for speakers and other A/V enhancements. You can even use the floor space to play Twister between commercials!

The space you’ll save by wall mounting your flat panel TV can be used in a nearly infinite number of ways, limited only by your imagination and your home theater needs. If you are of the minimalist set, you can leave it entirely blank, hide the wires behind your TV and within the frame, and hook up your cable box and other necessities at the back of the room. Or you can decorate it with pictures and curios. It is up to you.

Lauren Dugan is a contributing author to HDEnvy. HDEnvy is a quality manufacturer of flat screen TV wall frame solutions. By incorporating a flat screen TV wall frame into your home theater, you will save space and upgrade your style to meet the needs of a modern home. The flat screen TV wall frame products at HDEnvy are produced with only the highest-grade material and are fully customizable, to ensure that you get the most out of your home theater.

Articulating Wall Mounts

Getting the perfect picture from our HDTVs is a complex business, and relies on a number of factors. So once you’ve got the right cables, media hook ups, sound system and the like all set up, how do you get that “sweet spot” that everyone is talking about? How do you make sure you’re seeing the best image that your TV can produce?

Well, first, let’s define “sweet spot” for the uninitiated. Every TV has an elevation and angle that is the best in terms of picture clarity, quality and brightness – and this is usually smack dab in the middle. It might sound silly, but if you’re sitting on an angle, you might not be getting the most out of your TV.

Articulating wall mounts are a great, and popular, solution to both stylish TV display and practical TV orientation. Because many of us don’t have a room that is a dedicated home theater, it can be difficult to set up our seating to perfectly match the TV’s sweet spot. However, if we are able to move the TV to match our seating, we wouldn’t have to worry about reorganizing our living rooms to hit that perfect image. It would come to us.

There is a great variety of articulating wall mounts out there, designed for different needs. Most articulating wall mounts will have the ability to change depth, by pulling the TV away from the wall and closer to your seating. Some can come out as far as two feet or more. They can also allow you to tilt the TV to different angles, and swivel it from left to right.

When shopping around for a mount, keep in mind wall stress and the size of your TV. Some mounts are simply not up to the job of providing a sturdy mount for larger TVs, while others are so heavy-duty that they might cause wall stress even without the added TV poundage.

Wiring your HDTV once it’s mounted is usually a straightforward task. Because articulating wall mounts allow the TV to be pulled away from the wall, you can easily get behind there and connect to your heart’s desire. And check out the “bonus” features of your mount – many of them offer a wire management system so that you install is clean and clutter-free. And here’s a tip: make sure you install the cables with the arm outstretched, or else you’re going to find yourself in a tight situation after installation.

Articulating wall mounts are wonderful devices for stylishly displaying your HDTV while adding maximum flexibility. And they would work in perfect tandem with a wall mount TV frame to produce the slickest home theater setup in the neighborhood. The wall mount TV frame products at HD Envy are designed to fit snugly on any size flat panel TV, and rotate, swivel and pivot on the mount as if they were part of the TV itself.

Lauren Dugan is a contributing author to HD Envy. HD Envy offers wall mount TV frame solutions for home theaters that combine functionality with art. With modular designs, installing a wall mount TV frame from HD Envy has never been easier. And the years of expertise that HD Envy brings to the wall mount TV frame industry sets them apart as the go-to people for your TV framing needs.

Internal vs. External Speakers

So you have a High Definition Television now. Maybe its full 1080p or maybe not. Maybe you don't even know what that means. You do however notice that your picture looks clearer and crisper than ever before. That's great. Now what about the sound? Did your new television come with built in speakers? About 85 percent of televisions do, so the chances are that it did. Are you planing on using the speakers? The answer in most cases is simple: you don't know what you are missing if you are not using some type of Home Theater Audio Solution.

The superiority of High Definition television over standard television is evident the moment you walk in to a friends house who still has a tube set. Once you've become accustomed to High Definition television, you can't go back. It is the same with audio solutions. If you are using the built in speakers that came with your television you are doing yourself a disservice. So what do you do? The best solution would be to go and talk to your local Audio Visual installer and see what they would recommend. Let them know what your budget is and what your AV goals are. If you only want to spend a hundred dollars or less, they may be able to point you in the direction of a decent budget Home Theater in a Box.

"A Home Theater-In-A-Box is a system that contains most (or all) of the components needed for a basic Home Theater, including all speakers, a surround sound receiver, and, most-times, a DVD/CD player, and in a few cases, a DVD Player and VCR combination, or even a DVD recorder. If you are getting into home theater for the very first time and don't know what get and how to set everything, a Home Theater-In-A-Box may be a great way to get started."

If you really want to get your home theater audio system right, ask a certified AV installer to help you determine the best equipment,placement, and connection for your needs. They will be able to leverage years of experience and intimate knowledge of audio video integration. A certified installer will be able to set up your system for the best possible sound reproduction in your room and make the audio much easier to hear and enjoy.

All HD Envy frames are capable of handling the use of internal or external sound sources. We use an acoustically transparent matting system to pass audio through. Our frames do not interfere with the audio solution you choose. Robert Silva (n.d.) What Is Meant by "Home Theater-In-A-Box"?

Retrieved Sept 13, 2008, from http://hometheater.about.com/od/hometheaterbasicsfaq/f/htbasicfaq3.htm.

Television Cable Confusion, and how a Wall Mount TV Frame can Help Organize the Clutter

We all want that pristine, sublime landscape image we saw on the store display model of the TV we just bought – but somewhere along the line, our cables got crossed and we’re left with a washed-out wasteland. Getting the cables right for your TV hook-ups is almost as important as getting the right features in your TV and your media players, and it can stand in the way of a great looking image if not done correctly. It’s also important to know your cables if you are going to install a wall mount TV frame, because it will make the process quicker and more efficient.

The following descriptions are to give you an idea of what all the talk of digital versus analog is all about, and to clarify what each cable is for. And remember to keep in mind that by using a wall mount TV frame, these cables can be discretely hidden and you can free up a lot of your home theater space.

VGA Cables

This type of cable is found solely on computers, and mostly older models. It is an analog video connector, and because of this, the quality will not be as high as a digital connector. Some newer LCD and plasma TVs will have a VGA input in order to allow older PCs to connect and display their pictures, video and other media.

RGB Cables

The RGB (red, green, blue) signal is often carried through a computer’s VGA port. This is a composite cable, meaning that it is composed of several different signals that are transmitted and stored separately. This is an analog signal, and as such it requires a lot of bandwidth and it is falling out of favor quickly as newer TVs and computers begin to use digital signals. RGB cables can still be incorporated into a wall mount TV frame, and hidden just as easily as their digital counterparts.

DVI Cables

A DVI cable is the standard for transmitting a digital image. It is found on LCD computer monitors, and it allows digital signals to be transmitted between digital devices with converting them to analog. This means a clearer picture, sharper text and overall better quality. A DVI cable cannot transmit digital sound, only digital video, so an adapter is usually necessary when connecting to an HDMI connector on your flat screen TV.

HDMI Cables

This is the standard, best, and most widely-used cable today. It is capable of transmitting both 1080p images and multi-channel audio through its single cable unit. It provides the highest quality image and sound, along with the best bit rate for the smoothest experience possible. These are quickly become the industry standard because of their ease of installation, high-quality and flexibility. And even though their single unit will cut down on cords, you can still use a wall mount TV frame to hide them, and to hang your TV.

COAX Cables

The COAX cable has seen better days, and has been usurped by HDMI cables in newer TVs. It is a video and stereo audio transmitter, and produces comparatively low quality sound and video. Some older TVs have only COAX inputs, so you may need a converter if you are trying to hook up an older TV to newer digital devices.

Best Buy Inks a Deal with HD Envy, Manufacturer of Beautiful Flat Screen Frames

Best Buy of St. Petersburg, FL has just launched an innovative flat screen frame product line in an effort to boost holiday sales and profitability in its television department, specifically targeting its Magnolia flat screen customers, with flat screen tv frames from HD Envy.

Best Buy Customer Experience Manager, Genevieve Holmes, says that the flat screen frame works with wall-mounted flat panel televisions and "is gorgeous, I love it, I want one!" Select Best Buy locations are selling the flat screen frames for $799 with the option for a $100 install.

The concept behind the development of the flat screen frames is quite simple. Most flat screen televisions produced today try to minimize the impact of the frame by having flat screen frames of either black or grey to allow for a more general integration into the typical home decor. HD Envy has created a beautiful product line of standard flat screen frames that fit just about anyone's decor and even offers very affordable custom solutions for that, "just the right look."

The majority of televisions sold today are flat screens. Ian Naster, who heads up the Best Buy partnership at HD Envy, believes that "your flat screen investment deserves more than tangled wires and a boring facade. Revolutionary flat-panel frames and mounting systems are affordable, stylish, and effortless to install."

The flat screen frames can be found at select Best Buy locations in the St. Petersburg market including: Best Buy Tyrone Square, St Petersburg, FL; Best Buy, Clearwater, FL; and Best Buy Citrus Plaza, Tampa, FL. Future Best Buy locations where the flat screen frames will be found, beginning of 2009, will include Best Buy South Tampa, FL.

About HD Envy Flat Panel Frames

HD Envy offers standard and custom designed frames and mounts for flat panel LCD and plasma televisions. Our frames are affordable, incredibly easy to install, and come in a wide range of finishes and styles to match your home decor. Our frame designers have years of interior design and frame building experience, so you can be assured that your new HD Envy frame is of the highest quality. For more information, to see product images, or to purchase a flat panel frame go to www.hdenvy.com or call 888.878.3689.

Contact:

Ian Naster, HD Envy Best Buy Partnership Manager

HD Envy

727-642-4158

http://www.hdenvy.com

Intel - Plasma or LCD: What is the difference? And what’s all the talk about “a custom TV frame”?

When shopping for a flat-panel TV, it seems like you’re always bombarded with sales people telling you that Plasmas are clearly superior, or that LCDs take the cake. And phrases like “burn-in” and “1080p” are thrown around without any definition. So how do the uninitiated find their footing in all of the tech jargon, and make the decision that’s best for their needs?

Well, to assuage your worries right off the bat, there are some significant differences between plasma and LCDs that should act as a guide and point you in the right direction. These differences mean that plasmas are perfect for some home theaters, while LCDs are a better option for others – and you will be able to tell which one fits your needs after you do a quick comparison. But be warned – anything that might stand out as an extreme disadvantage is probably already being fixed in future versions, so ultimately your decision will require thought and an eye toward the future of these technologies. And remember that flat panels are able to incorporate a custom TV frame, so you can bypass all those wires and unsightly, space-hungry shelves.

But let’s go over some of their similarities first. They are both HD TVs – meaning they are capable of displaying high-definition video. They are available in similar sizes, all the way up to well over 60-inches (and there are some behemoth 100+ inch screens utilizing both technologies in the making). Both plasmas and LCDs are capable of displaying that coveted 1080p format…the highest quality a Blu-Ray disc can display. And both are flat, thin screens that will look super sleek hanging on your wall. So now that we’ve knocked off the similarities, let’s dive right into the differences.

One great similarity between the two types of TVs is their support for a custom TV frame. Since they are both flat and relatively lightweight, you are able to buy a custom TV frame for either a plasma TV or an LCD and hang it neatly from you wall, no bulky entertainment unit necessary.

First, let’s talk about the technology behind each type of screen. Plasma TVs use cells that contain two glass panels and a space filled with neon-xenon gas. This gas is electrically charged when the TV is on, and creates the reds, blues and greens in a video image. LCDs use crystals to produce their image, hence the name liquid crystal display. Two transparent pieces of a glass-like substance are polarized and then joined together. The back display is coated with a substance that contains the liquid crystals, which are used to either block or allow light to pass through. LCDs and plasmas alike can be fitted with a custom TV frame for your home entertainment solutions. This a popular method of positioning your TV at just the right angle and ensuring that your home theater is slick and discrete.

This display technology is at the heart of what makes plasmas and LCDs different from each other. With plasmas, you’re getting a TV that has individual cells that light up – this can cause what is known as “burn-in”, or some of the cells remaining on even after the TV is off. This effect is permanent, but the newer plasmas have specialized technology to avoid this. With LCDs on the other hand, an external light must be used to pass through the crystals. This means that true black, that deep, intense lack of light, won’t be present in an LCD display. Because a back-light must always be on, dark black will always appear a little washed out.

Power consumption, again based on the display technology used, is a large factor in differentiating the two types of HD TVs. Plasmas tend to use quite a bit more power, as they require phosphors to power each individual cell. This can cause plasma TVs to become quite hot.

While the single light source that LCDs use means they will consume less power, this can have a negative effect on their motion processing. Plasmas will show little to no lag when displaying fast-motion video, while the fast-motion on LCDs will sometimes appear to get “stuck” or fall behind. However, faster refresh rates (up to 120 Hz) on newer LCD models have begun to pop up, eliminating this problem.

There are other differences between these TVs as well. For instance, plasmas usually get a wider viewing angle, while LCDs have only a small “sweet spot”. But , like many of the other things that separate the two types of TVs, this is addressed in newer models of LCDs and the viewing angle is much improved. And plasmas are notorious for screen glare, because of the shiny surface – it was previously recommended that if you had a home theater that experienced a fair amount of light, you should stick to LCDs. But yet again, improved technology has provided plasmas with a coating that reduces glare and nearly eliminates this negative point against them.

So, for all of the differences between the two technologies, it almost appears as if they are converging to meet somewhere in the middle, each containing all of the advantages. There will be some things that remain unchangeable, based on the technology that each display uses, however, so keep these in mind when you hit the electronics stores and the custom TV frame suppliers next time.