Other considerations
• Ensure there's sufficient space for ventilation and cord clearance at the back of an armoire or built-in unit.
• Picture your family using the armoire. Can your kids reach the door pulls? What type of doors do you want: accordion or hideaway (which are more practical if space is limited) or centre-open hinge style?
• This probably won't be your last TV, so if you're building a custom unit or recessing the set into a wall, are you prepared to do it again when you purchase a new model or size?
Technical requirements
Distance: From your TV to where you sit should be about twice the height of the screen, advises John Challinor, general manager of advertising and corporate communications for Sony Canada. For example, if you have a 20-inch-high screen (for a 32-inch LCD unit), sit almost 3 1/2 feet back.
Angle: First-generation LCDs had to be viewed head-on, but now, if you have a decent-quality plasma, LCD, CRT or projection model, you'll be able to view the image from any angle, says John.
Height: The bottom of your screen should be at chest level (no higher than your chin) when you're seated, says John.
Speakers: To ensure they won't vibrate, mount speakers securely or place them on an even surface -- no wobbly tables or uneven floors, cautions John. Talk to your audiovisual dealer to learn more about proper speaker placement for the best audio, whether you have stereo sound or a home theatre surround-sound system.
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