Choosing a Television
There are various high-definition television formats on the market, and each has strengths and weaknesses that consumers need to know about before buying. Be wary of sets that promise 1080 lines of progressive-scan vertical resolution. No HD channels broadcast in that format. Although a 1080p set can amplify a signal to that level of detail, you probably won?t see the difference on a screen smaller than 50 inches.
| Set Type | Size | Picture Quality | What Kind of Room? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCD | The only flat-screen option that comes in sizes smaller than 37 inches across. | Has a brighter picture and is less prone to glare but can suffer slower refresh rates and lower contrast ratios than plasma. | LCDs are the best option for well-lit spaces, such as a living room or family room. Their lighter weight makes them easier to hang on a wall. |
26- or 27-inch: $500 to $1,100 32-inch: $700 to $1,400 46-inch: $1,800 to $3,400 |
| Plasma | Most come in sizes from 42 inches up to 103 inches. | Offers the widest viewing angles andbest picture quality overall, but is more affected by glare than LCDs. Can suffer "temporary image retention" when connected to computers and other devices that keep a fixed image on the screen. | Plasmas do best in basements, dedicated "media rooms" and other spaces where you can limit outside light. |
42-inch: $1,000 to $1,800 50-inch: $1,700 to $2,800 58-inch: $3,400 to $4,500 |
| Projection (LCD, DLP, LCoS) | Can be as small as 42 inches, but most start at 46 or 50 inches. | Good picture quality overall when viewed from straight ahead, but most projection sets? pictures fade dramatically when seen from other angles. | Best in a square or rectangular room, where nobody sits too far away from the prime viewing spots. |
46-inch: $1,000 to $1,500 50-inch: $1,100 to $2,300 60-inch: $2,200 to $3,400 |
| Cathode-ray tube | 27 to 36 inches. (Smaller tube TVs are usually standard-definition models.) | Good picture quality. | Somewhere on the first floor ? nobody wants to lift a bulky CRT for too long. |
27-inch: $250 to $400 30- or 32-inch: $350 to $800 |
SOURCE: Washington Post reporting. Pricing information from the Web sites of Best Buy, Circuit City and J&R Electronics
