An LCD Television is a flat panel television that utilizes the same basic Liquid Crystal Display technology that has been in used for some time in cell phones, camcorder viewfinders, and computer monitors.

LCD panels are made of two layers of a glass-like material, which are polarized, and are "glued" together. One of the layers is coated with a special polymer that holds the individual liquid crystals. Electric current is then passed through individual crystals, which allow the crystals to pass or block light to create images.

LCD crystals do not produce their own light, so an external light source, such as florescent bulb is needed for the image created by the LCD to become visible to the viewer.

LCD televisions can be made very thin, thus allowing them to hung on a wall or placed on small stand on top of a table, desk, dresser, or cabinet very easily.

In addition, with some modification, LCD technology is also used in some rear-projection televisions and in video projectors.

For a closer look at LCD Flat Panel Television, check out my LCD Television FAQs.

For additional terms and definitions, check out my Home Theater Glossary

Does your currrent stereo or home theater audio system look and sound a little "worn" these days? The Summer is a perfect time get behind those components, clean out the dust, and apply some practical upgrades that can spruce up both the appearance and performance of your current setup without having to buy a whole new system. For all the details, check out some great tips from Gary Altunian, About.com Guide For Stereos: Ten Stereo System Upgrades.

The Atlona AT-LINE-EX is an affordable standalone video switcher and scaler can be used to connect up to six video input sources (2 analog, 2 PC, and 2 HDMI) and pass through or upscale those sources via HDMI to your HDTV. The Atlona AT-LINE-EX features 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p scaling, NTSC/PAL bi-directional conversion, and Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio pass though via the HDMI inputs.The functions of the AT-LINE-EX can be controlled by the provided wireless remote control. For more on the features, functions, and performance of of the AT-LINE-EX, and whether it is a product that is right for you, check out my Short and Full Reviews, as well as my Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results. Photos (c) Robert Silva, Licensed to About.com. Click on photos for larger view.

Plasma television has been adopted by many consumers as an alternative to those bulky tube and projection sets. Prices continue to come down and a wider variety of screen sizes are available. It may be that the idea hanging the television on the wall and regaining all that wasted floor space definitely offers more pleasing asthetics over staring at a "box". To find out more about Plasma TVs, check out my latest "Question of the Week Series" - This week: Can Plasma Televisions Work at High Altitude? Also, be sure to check out my complete Plasma TV FAQs.

The impact of DVRs in the consumer market has certainly not been overlooked by Best Buy it has entered into a partnership with TIVO. The agreement will allow Best Buy to employ TIVO's DVR and user interface technologies in future products, which may include LCD TV/DVR combos, as well as promotion of current and future TIVO DVR products. Also, the advantage for TIVO is potentially gaining more market stability in the face of increased competition from cable/satellite DVRs. For more specifics on this partnership, check out the Official Announcement from TIVO and Best Buy.

Related Story: Netflix Partners With Sony To Provide Content For Internet-Enabled Bravia LCD TVs (Audioholics).

Panasonic makes great Plasma TVs, but also offers a full line of LCD TVs in the 32-inch and below screen size. The TC-L26X1 is a great performing set in the 26-inch screen size. Some of the features include a 1366x768 native pixel resolution, 12,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio (native contrast ratio is lower), 2 HDMI inputs, and built-in ATSC tuner for access of over-the-air HDTV signals. The TC-L26X1 also comes with both an SD card slot for viewing still images as well as a universal iPod dock for accessing stored videos and music. If you are looking for a compact LCD television that still delivers a great high definition picture and offers some interesting features, check out the Panasonic TC-L26X1. Check out the full operating instructions.

The Home Theater receiver is being called on to do more and more, from simple connection to audio and video sources, to accessing satellite and internet radio, and to connecting iPods. However, as the sophistication of Home Theater Receivers increases, another feature that is being incorporated into many of them is what is referred to as "Multi-Zone" capability. To find out more about this feature and how it works, check out my article: Home Theater Receivers and the Multi-Zone Feature.

Bucking conventional wisdom that making a profit in the television market is getting harder and harder as prices fall and the economy stagnates, Samsung's television profits are up, mostly due to their new higher-priced "LED" TV line. With aggressive marketing, the attractiveness of new technology, extremely thin design, and lower power consumption, Samsung, and its retail partners, are successfully enticing consumers to part with more cash for LED-backlit LCD televisions. For more details on Samsung's television dominance and how it affects consumers, check out the report from Business Week. Also, for more on what you need to know about "LED" TVs, check out my article: The Truth About "LED" Televisions.

Interlaced scan refers to a video image that is displayed on a screen by scanning or displaying each line (or row of pixels) that make up the image, in an alternate order. In other words, the image lines (or pixel rows) are scanned down the screen from top to bottom, in an alternate order (lines or rows 1,3,5, etc... followed by lines or rows 2,4,6). The entire image is displayed every 30th of a second.

For additional terms and definitions, check out my Home Theater Glossary

Pioneer has announced a new line of Elite Home Theater Receivers: the VSX-21TXH ($700), VSX-23TXH ($900), SC-25 ($1,700) and SC-27 ($1,900) that feature the following: 7.1 Channel configuration, HDMI 1.3a connections, on-board decoding for all Dolby and DTS audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, 1080p video upscaling for all video input sources, MCACC, XM and Sirius satellite radio connectivity, iPhone and iPod connectivity and control, and multi-zone capability. Also, the VSX-23TXH, SC-25, and SC-27 incorporate 5 HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel) and 2 HDMI outputs.

In addition, the two top-of-the-line receivers in the series: the SC-25 and SC-27 also feature Class "D" ICE power amplification, Network connectivity for Internet Radio and Rhapsody access, Precision Quartz Locking System (PQLS) that synchronizes CD data more accurately when played back on Pioneer Blu-ray Disc players using the HDMI connection. The SC-27 also features both THX Ultra 2 and AIR Studios Monitor Sound Tuning Certification.

Stay tuned for further info, profiles, and reviews of these products as they reach dealer shelves throughout the Summer. I am still waiting for a home theater receiver that comes with a built-in popcorn popper... Top Photo: SC-27, Bottom Photo: VSX-23TXH (c) Pioneer Eletronics

Related Product Announcement: Yamaha Reveals New RX-V1065 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver with HD Radio.