Q. Will it cause any problems to hang a flat screen TV above a fireplace?
A. No, if it is a normal fireplace then mounting above the mantle will cause no harm, just as many different decorations and pictures have always been placed on or above the mantle, this is a safe location where flat screens are commonly mounted.
Q. What is the difference between 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p?
A. The “i” and the “p” stand for “interlaced” and “progressive”, progressive being a truer smoother picture and the number is the resolution. 480i is the old standard, 480p is progressive scan DVD, 720 and above are considered HD. See lingo for more info.
Q. Do I have to use HDMI in order to get HDTV?
A. NO, component cables will also display HDTV but you do need HDMI to use the full 1080p of a BluRay Player.
Q. Will BluRay players also play my regular DVDs?
A. Yes.
Q. Why can’t I hear any sound in my surround speakers (in my home theater) while watching certain TV shows?
A. The rear speakers in a true home theater setup are only for rear effect sounds (when a bullet whizzes by, or a plane flies over head) so in a show or movie if there is only talking going on you will not hear much behind you. If you want to change this simply set your surround mode to all channel stereo or “5 channel stereo” depending on your receiver.
Q. Aren’t my DVDs already in HD?
A. No, even the best DVD players still only display at 480p because this is the native resolution of DVDs. Only BluRay and HD-DVD players are HD.
Q. Should I use a 7.1 surround setup in my theater?
A. If you have a large enough room to have speakers right at the listening area (chairs or couch) and plenty of room behind for another pair of speakers, then Yes. But if you do not have enough room to create separation between the rears, and rear backs, then you will not be able to hear the difference enough to make it worth it.
Q. What type of speaker wire should I use?
A. The standard in any length below 300’ is 16-gauge wire with a decent strand count. But for longer lengths or for added quality you can use 14-gauge, oxygen free, and silver for the true audiophile. Also for in wall or outdoor use an in wall or burial rated wire.
Q. Why can’t I control my other RF devices with my universal RF remote?
A. Because each RF device is created with a specific RF (radio frequency) code, just like different radio stations. Only when a universal remote specifically has a feature to control a specific device will it work, like the Universal Remote Control remotes with Lutron Lighting (see New Technology for details)
Q. What is the difference between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs
A. See Plasma Vs LCD under Tech Knowledge – Knowledge Base
If you have a question that you don’t see here leave us a comment below, and we’ll add it.