HDTV Secrets Part 1: Best HDTVs on a Budget

This time of year, HDTVs are flying off the shelves. Consumer Reports says that one in five families will buy a flat screen in the next few months. To get the best advice on buying a flat screen, I went to my TV guru, Robert Heron. Robert tests TVs and writes monitor reviews for PC Magazine, and previously we worked together at TechTV. When it comes to monitors, this kid knows what he's talking about.

To get the best advice on buying an HDTV, I asked Robert what factor matters most when buying a TV: resolution, brand name, number of inputs? As one of the geekiest guys I know, Robert could've spewed technical specs at me, but his response was shockingly pragmatic. "Price. That's what it comes down to for most people. Resolution isn't even in my top three buying considerations: after price, it's contrast, color saturation, and color accuracy that count more than resolution.

Best Budget Plasmas
Robert's right, price is the breakthrough when it comes to TV sales right now. Budget 50- and 42-inch plasmas can be found in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Robert has given solid marks to two plasmas in this range: the 42-inch Panasonic and the 50-inch Vizio set.

For a little more money, Robert says, "The NEC 42XR4 produced the best picture I've seen from a 42-inch plasma."

Best Budget LCDs
On the LCD front, sets like the Westinghouse are under $1,000 and still got good reviews from Robert. He says for the money it's a good set, but be sure to check out the color settings in the store as they can be a little "lacking." His favorite LCD is the Sharp LC-32D40U.

If you want the top of the line in LCDs? "Sony's Bravia XBR2 models produced the best LCD imagery I've seen to date (excellent contrast, color, and detail). Nobody is doing LCD color as well as Sony's latest."

Straight from the horse’s mouth: these are the HDTVs that are priced within the realm of possibility and have passed the test with the most discriminating of geeks.