Types

High-definition TVs come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of HD sets now available are flat-panel LCD displays and plasma TVs that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a stand. Rear-projection sets and the familiar picture-tube TVs are becoming much less common. (With few new models being introduced, we no longer test sets in those two categories.)

LCD TVs

Good choice if if you want a thin, lightweight TV that comes in a wide range of sizes and is well suited for viewing in a bright room.

Common screen sizes. 23 to 60 inches. Manufacturers have showcased sets larger than 100 inches. No matter how large the screen, most LCD TVs are only 4 or 5 inches thick, and some new ultra-slim sets are even thinner.

Typical selling prices. About $500 to $1,000 for a 32-inch model, $650 to $1,200 for a 37-inch set, $700 to $1,800 for a 40- to 42-inch set, $900 to $3,000 for a 46- to 47-inch set, and $1,300 to $4,000 for a 52-inch set. (With prices continually dropping and special promotions, you'll probably see some TVs selling for less than the prices indicated.)

Key points. There are many more companies selling LCD than plasma TVs, and in a wider range of sizes. LCD televisions still cost more than most comparably sized plasma sets, but the gap is narrowing. Many LCD sets with 40-inch or larger screens (and a few smaller models) have 1080p resolution.

LCDs tend to be brighter than plasma screens, and reflections and glare are much less of an issue, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lit rooms. There's no risk of burn-in of static images, which can be a concern with plasma TVs, although it is less of a problem than it was in the past.

Advances in technology have also addressed problems that have plagued LCD technology. LCD TVs have had trouble displaying deep blacks, a problem caused partly by backlighting leaking through in dark scenes. Some new models have minimized this problem by using full-frame LED backlights (instead of fluorescents) and so-called local-dimming technology. The backlight can be dimmed behind a dark scene, enhancing the depth of black, while remaining bright elsewhere. TVs with edge-lit LED backlights around the perimeter of the screen don't offer local dimming, but this design can allow for extremely thin profiles. In addition, the use of 120Hz and 240Hz technology on some new TVs, an increase from the usual 60Hz refresh rates, has improved their ability to display fast-moving scenes without blurring.

But LCD TVs haven't caught up with plasma TVs in terms of viewing angle. With most LCD sets, the picture looks its best only from a fairly narrow sweet spot right in front of the screen. The image can lose contrast, look washed out, or lose color accuracy as you angle away from the center of the screen.

Plasma TVs

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

Common screen sizes. 42 to 58 inches, with more 60-inch-plus models arriving. Most models are 6 inches or less in depth, and some new ultra-slim plasma TVs are even thinner.

Typical selling prices. $600 to $1,500 for a 42-inch set, $1,000 to $4,000 for a 50-inch model, $2,600 to $4,500 for a 58-inch set, $3,400 to $6,500 for a 60-inch model. Most models are 6 inches or less in depth, and some new ultra-slim plasma TVs are even thinner. (With prices continually dropping and special promotions, you'll probably see some TVs selling for less than the prices indicated.)

Key points. You'll find more sizes, including 46-inch and 54-inch models, as manufacturers try to compete more directly with LCD sets. There are also many more 1080p sets than in the past, including 42-inch models. 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.

You see the same picture quality from anywhere in a room. New plasmas use much less energy than older models and in general are now comparable to LCDs for power consumption. The reflections from a plasma TV's shiny screen (similar to what you might have seen with a picture-tube TV) can be annoying in a bright room, though an antireflective coating can minimize them. Static images displayed for extended periods—such as stock tickers or video games—can burn in temporarily, and could become permanent if you consistently leave the same pattern onscreen over a long period. But that seems to have been more of a problem with earlier plasma TVs. Screensaver-type features on new plasmas greatly minimize the likelihood of burn-in. In our tests, we've seen temporary impressions that have disappeared after a short while; we haven't seen any evidence of permanent burn-in in normal home use.

Front projectors

Good choice if you want a theater-like experience at home, with the largest picture available.

Common screen sizes. The projector has a 9x12-inch or larger footprint. You must buy a screen (typically 70 to 200 inches) separately.

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

Key points. You can get top picture quality from a projector, especially one of the rising number of 1080p models available. With a front projector, you're not locked into a specific screen size. You can use it with a screen or other smooth surface of your choice, and vary the picture size from about 50 inches to about 200 inches by moving the projector closer to the screen or farther back, and using the zoom control. Projectors and screens can be stored when not in use.

Technically display devices rather than TVs, projectors require additional gear to provide you with entertainment. To get TV programming, you must connect an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box. For movies, you can hook up a standard or high-def DVD player. You generally have to provide an amplifier or A/V receiver and speakers, because most projectors don't have built-in audio capability. When speakers are included, they're generally not of the highest quality, so you'd probably want to use a sound system anyway.

Despite their advantages, front projectors aren't the best choice for typical, everyday viewing. The picture from a projector looks best in a dark room, because any light that falls on the screen reduces contrast and washes out the picture. Your best bet is a room with blackout window shades. Even at night, you have to keep light from nearby lamps from hitting the display surface.

Also, the need to add a screen, speakers, and a TV tuner increases the cost and complexity of set-up. Finding the optimal position for the projector and screen in a furnished room can be tricky. If you mount the projector, be sure to place it at the distance recommended by the manufacturer, angled to prevent the rectangular shape of the image from being distorted. Projectors with a vertical and/or horizontal lens shift will give you more placement flexibility; those without a lens shift have to be mounted or placed so that their image is centered on the screen to avoid using the keystone adjustment, which can distort the picture.

In our tests, we used a 110-inch screen ($400) with a matte-white viewing surface 4½ feet high by 8 feet wide. Screens with more reflective finishes designed to enhance brightness (called gain) might have a narrower viewing angle than a matte screen. Other so-called dark screens are designed to enhance contrast by improving black-level performance, but they do take a small hit in overall brightness. Freestanding screens can be folded and stored when not in use, and some wall- or ceiling-mounted screens can be manually or electronically retracted.

In general, projectors using LCD technology haven't been as good as DLP models at reproducing true black, but recent improvements have enabled some LCD projectors to do quite well. LCoS projectors, from companies such as Sony and JVC, are becoming more common as prices fall, and some are outstanding.

When watching a DLP front projector or rear-projection set, you may experience a "rainbow effect." This is a flash of color some viewers notice mainly when they move their eyes across bright objects on a dark background. The rainbow effect isn't obvious to some viewers, but once noticed, it can be annoying. Many newer DLP projectors now use faster-spinning color wheels, which can reduce the effect. Take a video with high-contrast scenes to the store so that you can see whether it's a problem. All DLP projectors using a single chip (including all DLP models in the Ratings online) are affected. Only the most expensive DLP units avoid the problem by using three chips to produce red, green, and blue and eliminating the spinning color wheel.

Note that a projector's bulb typically needs replacement every 2,000 to 3,000 hours or so. We have no data on reliability.

See also:

Blu-ray & DVD players

Digital video recorders

TV Service Providers

Special Section:
Digital TV switchover