LCD

Good choice if you want a thin, lightweight set that comes in a wide range of sizes.

Common screen sizes 32 to 47 inches, more 50-plus inch sets arriving.

Typical prices About $800 to $1,000 for a 32-inch model, $1,200 for a 37-inch model, and $1,500 to $3,000 for a 40- to 46-inch model.

Points to consider LCD flat panels are very light. Most sets with screens up to 40 inches or so weigh less than 50 pounds, so they're good for wall-mounting.

The best LCD TVs display excellent, bright HD images. Reflections and glare are much less of an issue than with plasma screens, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lighted rooms. There's a wide selection of 1080p sets.

But LCD TVs haven't caught up with plasma TVs in terms of viewing angle, color accuracy, and the ability to display the deepest blacks. Some sets have difficulty displaying subtle shading.

At this point, a plasma TV still offers more for the money in 42-inch and larger sizes, but LCDs are narrowing the gap. If a 32- to 40-inch screen would do, an LCD is a good choice for a main TV. Smaller LCD TVs would be best as second sets or in small rooms.

If low price matters most, consider some of the bargain-priced LCD TVs being sold at such chains as Costco, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City. We tested a half-dozen low-priced brands and recommend several of them.

But the newer brands don't have a track record at this point. We have reliability data for some established brands for the first three years of use, showing a low rate of repair for most.

PLASMA

Good choice if you want a thin TV with a screen 42 inches or larger.

Common screen sizes 42 and 50 inches, more 55- to 65-inch models arriving.

Typical prices $1,200 to $1,800 for a 42-inch set, $1,800 to $3,000 for a 50-inch model.

Points to consider It's hard to beat the best plasma TV sets for accurate colors, deep blacks, and great contrast. And a virtually unlimited viewing angle means no one in the room has a bad view.

For screens 50 inches and larger, plasma TVs cost less than similarly sized LCD models. More 1080p sets are available, though not as many as in LCD sets.

But while plasma sets are less than 6 inches thin no matter how large the screen, they're fairly heavy. Some 42-inch sets weigh about 100 pounds, though others are 20 or 30 pounds lighter. The reflections from a plasma TV's shiny screen can be annoying in a bright room, but an antireflective coating can minimize the issue.

Plasma TVs can be subject to burn-in from fixed images displayed for a long period, but many new sets have screensaver features to minimize the risk. Burn-in might have been more of a problem with early plasma sets. We've seen no evidence of permanent image retention in our short-term tests, and recent anecdotal evidence from our own staffers and online forum participants hasn't turned up any burn-in issues in typical long-term use at home.

Less-familiar brands of plasma TVs being sold at such chains as Costco, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City cost much less than major brands. Some of those we've tested have done decently.

The newer plasma brands don't have any track record at this point. We have reliability data for some established brands for the first three years of use, showing a low rate of repair for most.

REAR-PROJECTION TV

Good choice if you want a big-screen TV that costs less than a plasma set.

Common screen sizes 50 to 73 inches.

Typical prices $1,200 to $2,000 for a 50-inch set, $1,800 to $2,500 for a 56-inch model.

Points to consider They're the lowest-cost big-screen HDTVs. Many DLP, LCD, and LCoS microdisplays have 55- to 65-inch screens and are thinner than older, CRT-based sets-about 12 to 19 inches deep compared with 24 inches deep for CRT-based models. They are much bulkier than plasma TVs.

The top models offer exceptionally good picture quality with fine resolution, but the best viewing is limited to a "sweet spot" that can be fairly narrow, although some newer sets have a wider viewing angle.

With most DLP sets, you might be bothered by the "rainbow effect"-a flash of color some viewers see when moving their eyes across the edges of bright objects on a dark background.

Bulbs used in microdisplays require periodic replacement. Claimed life for bulbs is about 5,000 hours, and they cost $200 to $400. Some new bulbs are guaranteed for five years. A few sets use LED backlights, designed to last much longer and to minimize the rainbow effect.

Our surveys show that microdisplays have needed more repairs than flat panels in the first three years, but the majority have been trouble free.

FRONT-PROJECTOR TV

Good choice if you want the largest image.

Common screen sizes The screen, bought separately, is typically 70 to 200 inches. The projector has a 9x12-inch footprint or larger.

Typical prices $1,000 and up for an HD projector; several hundred dollars for the projection screen.

Points to consider A front projector comes closest to giving you a theaterlike experience. Projectors and screens can be stored when not in use.

Top models produce excellent images but are best used in a dark room and are not ideal for daytime viewing. More 1080p units are coming out at lower prices.

Finding the best position can be tricky, especially if you mount the projector and screen. Most DLP units are subject to the "rainbow effect"-a flash of color some viewers see when their eyes move along the edges of bright objects on a dark background.

Bulbs have a claimed life of about 2,000 to 3,000 hours, and cost $350 or more. We have no data on reliability.

PICTURE-TUBE (CRT)

Good choice if you want a low-priced, midsized set, even though it's bulky.

Common screen sizes 20 to 32 inches.

Typical prices $600 to $800 for a 30-inch HDTV, about $400 for a 32-inch SDTV.

Points to consider Tube TVs are heavy and bulky. The maximum screen size is limited.

According to many years of reliability data, most picture-tube TVs have had a very low rate of repairs. Digital standard-definition tube TVs offer very good picture quality at a modest price.

Most HD sets tested recently had lower picture quality than in years past.