Saturday, November 8, 2008

Panasonic 50" Widescreen Viera Plasma 720p HDTV

With stunning picture quality, outstanding service, and effortless connectivity, Panasonic makes HDTV ownership a truly entertaining and satisfying experience. This 50" Class (49.9" diagonal) Widescreen Viera Plasma 720p HDTV starts with mind-blowing picture quality and awesome 20-watt stereo surround sound and just gets better from there. It includes Anti-Reflective Filter Deep color technology, game mode, built-in SD card slot, GalleryPlayer ready to view 3 HDMI inputs, Viera Link HDAVI control and much more.Enjoy Deep Black Levels with Outstanding Contrast: The 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio creates deep, robust blacks and faithfully reproduces scenes with a delicate balance of light and shadow. Watch Fast-Moving Scenes with Clear, Vivid Resolution: The 480hz Sub-Field Drive self-illuminating plasma display features high moving picture resolution, so you enjoy smooth, clear motion in sporting events and action movies. Network Your AV Devices, Quickly and Easily: With VIERA LinkTM, you can control your compatible Panasonic DVD recorder, Blu-ray Disc® player, home theater sound system and HD camcorder all with a single remote. HDMI cables make set-up quick and easy; VIERA Link even automatically sets your DVD recorder via an Auto Preset Download function. Share HD Videos on the Big Screen: The built-in SD memory card slot allows you to instantly display your digital photos, either in random order or as a slide show. You can also watch videos that were recorded on your HD camcorder.


There are many lesser-known components available that are vital to creating a high-end home theater environment. Some of these components include sound equipment like a home theater amplifier or a surround sound preamplifier. If you aren't familiar with these custom home theater components, don't be overwhelmed. Below you'll find descriptions of both as well as how you can find a home theater preamplifier and amplifier that's right for your entertainment system.

The surround sound preamplifier and the home theater amplifier, though similar, are two separate components for a reason. The following is information on these components that will help you get a better understanding of what each does and how they work in unison.

Surround Sound Preamplifier

The home theater preamplifier was originally a simple component contained in the audio-visual receiver that serves as the core of a home theater system. To allow for better control over a theatre's audio quality, however, many manufacturers have begun offering preamplifiers as a separate component that can be more directly controlled. This doesn't mean that it's been completely removed from the A/V receiver and its functions. Several models such as the NAD T175 from NAD still feature decoding technology as well as control functions which allow for greater customization of the audio experience.

As the name implies, the surround sound preamplifier's job is to act as an initial amplifier for audio signals that come in to the A/V receiver. This allows the amplifier, or power amplifier (as it is also known), to have much less work to do in order to get the audio level to the point that you want it at. By using one in your system, you will also gain an additional control point for making small adjustments to the quality of your sound so that you can make everything exactly like you want it to.

Home Theater Amplifier

The home theater amplifier was also originally just a component of the A/V receiver. As the use of custom components began to rise in popularity, though, the amplifier was one of the first pieces to be separated. A separate amplifier allows for a much greater level of control when it comes to the volume and clarity of your audio, and when combined with a preamplifier, will allow you to customize your audio experience to the layout of the room or rooms that your system covers.

As previously mentioned, the home theater amplifier is sometimes referred to as the power amplifier because it is independently powered, as opposed to having to share its power with the other components of the A/V receiver. When audio information is sent to the amplifier from an A/V receiver or other decoder, it is sent as separate audio channels which are then independently amplified. The specific levels of amplification can be altered at the amplifier itself, allowing you to "shape" the end result to accentuate the specific qualities of your audio that you prefer and that work best with the acoustics of your home layout. Audio components manufacturers such as PSB strive to include as many options for audio customization as possible, ranging from basic graphics equalizers and volume controls to virtual audio effects, bass boosting technology, and the ability to emulate a wider range of sounds from individual speakers to better control the way that your home theater system plays audio.

If you are designing a very large home theater room or if you plan to have a complicated theatre layout, consider purchasing these components. When the two pieces are installed and are working together, you will have greater control over volume, better sound quality and clarity, and an optimum system for making additional customization changes to. A home theater custom installer can give you specific information about your amplifier needs if you are unclear about whether these items are right for your theater.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in the Northwest and writes for Ronny's 5th St. Audio Vision.
Ben Anton invites you to find out more about surround sound preamplifiers and other home audio components at the new Ronnys stereo store

Panasonic Plasma TV 50 inch

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