The good news is that manufacturers are so intent on throttling one another that prices are falling sharply even as the technology in each set improves. The "sweet spot" for set sizes has edged up to 37- and 42-inch plasma and LCD models, such as Samsung's LN-S496D LCDand Sony's 40-inch XBR Bravia. That's where you get the most TV for the money.
But buyers often think bigger. Many current HDTV owners are sorry they didn't buy a bigger set--as in 50 inches or more. The chief consideration in supersizing your set is whether owning a high-definition DVD player is in your future (page 110), since those players look best on really big screens.
The fine print there? You'll need a set labeled "FULL HD1080." That means it offers 1080 progressive resolution, which is what makes high-definition DVD players shine.
We were blown away by the overall quality of most of the big-name brands. They deliver deeper blacks, brighter colors, and more detail than ever before. Many now throw in technology to "upscale" grainy analog broadcast television, and they help you take full advantage of the increasing wealth of HD sources by including loads of inputs for your HD TiVo, cable, and satellite boxes.
With the competition stepping up a notch, it was a tough call choosing our favorite set--until we feasted our eyes on Sharp's new 52-inch Aquos LC-52D62U. The long-overdue redesign of the $4,700 LCD set looks great, and the TV delivers one of the brightest, crispest, and most colorful pictures we've seen in all kinds of lighting. If that doesn't suit your fancy, take a gander at our other picks after reading the cheat sheet below for choosing the perfect centerpiece for your home theater.
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