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When you get a plasma TV, you expect a high-quality picture, but the reality is that you don't always get it. However, there are a number of ways to get better picture quality from your plasma TV. This article will teach you how.



  1. 1
    Upgrade your video cables. To fully appreciate the high definition picture that your plasma television is capable of, you need to be using quality video cables. In order to watch your cable or satellite programs or HD DVD movies in HD (high-definition), you need to use Component (Red-Green-Blue colored), or Digital Video Interface (DVI), or High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cables. Any of these 3 can handle HD signals. (Composite and s-video cannot handle HD.) There may be subtle quality differences between Component, DVI and HDMI - the truly best choice depends on your source device and the TV.
  2. 2
    Upgrade your external devices. To get a better picture while watching DVD's, you'll need a DVD player that can do your plasma TV justice. Look for one with progressive scanning or a high quality up-convert processor. (The up-conversion in *low*-cost DVD players is likely not as effective as the up-conversion built in to more-expensive plasma or LCD TV). Alternatively, you could invest in a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player.
  3. 3
    Adjust the lighting conditions. Bright lights will wash out the picture on your plasma TV. This is especially true with fluorescent overhead lights or sunlight. Dim your room lights and, if possible, block any sunlight entering the room by closing the blinds. When watching in the dark for long periods, your eyes can become fatigued. To combat this and improve your overall viewing experience, add a 6500K low wattage fluorescent tube behind the television. This will frame the television, assuaging the shock to your eyes when the scene changes from dark to light. 6500K is the color temperature of daylight, which the whites on your plasma should match. (But even dimmed incandescent is better than nothing.)
  4. 4
    Keep it clean. Fingerprints, smudges, dust, and hair on the screen can all lessen your picture quality. Keep your screen clean with an appropriate cleaning kit.
  5. 5
    As long as you have a DVD player hooked up to your TV via component cables, go out and purchase a Digital Video Calibration Disk such as one made by Avia. Following the steps on this DVD will significantly improve the quality of video on your TV. Or if you have a HD-DVD player you can purchase the "Digital Video Essentials HD DVD" by JKP which was created in HD


  • There is no need to buy "high-end" (premium brand) cables. Normal grade cables will work just fine. The premium brands charge more money because they can profit off of people's ignorance.
  • In adjusting a set, proceed in this order: Contrast, then Brightness, then Color, then Tint. Contrast should be started at just 50% of the available Contrast. Contrast controls the "white" level and the overall voltage across the circuit boards, whereas Brightness actually controls the "black" level. Keep in mind that the higher you set your Contrast, the shorter the life of the TV, particularly if you set your contrast above 75%. You should start at 50% however since that is how televisions are designed. Don't be afraid to vary somewhat from that setting but stay as low as you can. It is best to adjust a television with lighting controlled at the level it would be when watching TV. Many TV's are received with 100% Contrast level but that is because a voltage check is one of the final Quality Control checks before shipping a TV out. Most settings should be close to the mid-point of the range of adjustment. That also applies to Tint and Sharpness. Obtaining a CD to help "calibrate" your flat panel TV is worth the investment and can make a dramatically noticeable difference when a TV is properly adjusted. There are several out there, they go step by step and all it requires is you follow the directions, a decent pair of eyes, and an hour or two to go through the adjustment steps. They have advanced images that allow you to make corrections to obtain the best picture possible with professional results.
  • HDMI and DVI cables will provide comparable picture quality. The HDMI cable, however, will also transmit the audio signal.
  • Remember, your picture is only as good as your cable or satellite service transmits. TVs cannot do much to improve poor signals.
  • Don't buy a flimsy cables. This will defeat the purpose of improving your picture quality.


  • Don't leave any still images on a plasma screen for extended periods of time. This will cause the image to burn in.
  • Never clean your screen with abrasive cleansers. A soft cloth moistened with water is usually safe to use. You may go to an electronics store and purchase a screen cleaning kit. Read more about it in your TV's instruction manual.

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Categories: Television

In other languages:

Español: conseguir una mejorar calidad de imagen de una televisión de plasma, Italiano: Migliorare la Qualità Video della Tua TV al Plasma, Português: Deixar a Qualidade de Imagem Melhor numa TV de Plasma, Русский: улучшить изображение плазменного телевизора

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