Switched http://www.switched.com Switched. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Just Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/just-tell-me-what-to-get-sub-1-000-lcd-for-the-living-room/#comments A reader writes: I need a good TV for my living room specifically, and I've decided that LCD is the way to go. I definitely want good video quality and I'd like to keep it under a grand if I can. Please... just tell me what to get!

What up, reader? While the screen-size arms race is destined to continue forever (We fully expect to see a 120-incher any day now.), it turns out that the sweet spot for a typical living room is 40 or 42 inches. A TV around that size is big enough to let you lose yourself in a movie, but won't squat in the corner like an electronic elephant once you turn it off. With that in mind, we're pretty hot for Samsung's LN40B550 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV ($950 list, but lower at many places).

Continue reading Just Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room

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Just Tell Me What to Get: Sub-$1,000 LCD for the Living Room originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuresjusttellmewhattogetpanasonic viera x1PanasonicVieraX1samsung lcdsamsung ln40b550SamsungLcdSamsungLn40b550top Chris Chiarella Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Cutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/ http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/cutting-edge-eco-friendly-led-tv-for-less-than-2-200/#comments
A reader writes: I need a good TV for my living room, and I've decided that LCD, particularly LED, is the way to go. I've heard that some plasmas can look better than LCDs, so I definitely want good video quality, but I heard they use up a lot of energy and I don't want to break the bank if I can avoid it. Also, I'd like something that doesn't use up too much power. Please... just tell me what to get!

What up, reader? Indeed, the Plasma vs. LCD conflict is a tough one, as plasma does traditionally provide better black levels, which can translate to superior contrast between dark and light onscreen, especially valuable when watching high-definition movies now in the Blu-ray era.

The good news is that LCDs are continuing to evolve, with the switch to energy-saving LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as their light source (versus more common cold cathode fluorescent lamps, if you want to get technical). The Next Big Thing in energy-efficient televisions is local dimming LED, which can make specific areas of the screen lighter or darker depending upon the picture being displayed. The improvement can be absolutely stunning, imparting more drastic blacks and a much-needed boost to the dynamic contrast ratio, rated at a mind-boggling 2,000,000:1. Unfortunately, a lot of these LED TVs are pricey, but we've found one from good ol' bang-for-the-buck Vizio.

Continue reading Cutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200?

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Cutting-Edge, Eco-Friendly LED TV for Less Than $2,200? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuresjusttellmewhattogetlcdlcdtvledtopvizio Chris Chiarella Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Gift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/ http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/#comments
"High-end" and "iPod dock" are seldom combined, but Wadia Digital has made it so with its 170iTransport, a squat little component that can turn Apple's portable audio and video capabilities into a stellar home media server. The first product to offer iPod's native digital audio output--over SP/DIF coaxial cable, included--the 170i enables your compressed music collection sound purer than it ever has, enjoyed over a home stereo/home theater rig. Boasting component video, the i170 delivers your movie files to the TV or HDTV with exceptional clarity, too. In black or silver, with remote control and assorted docking inserts.

$379.99

wadia.com

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Gift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> hgghgg-500hgg-mediahound Chris Chiarella Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST Switched