The holidays mean spending time with family, eating, socializing, cozying up in front of a roaring fire with a good book, and in these tough economic times, saving a little money by buying less-expensive gifts. But who cares about that crap? The holidays also mean the best prices of the year on HDTVs! You can justify the expense by telling yourself that a shiny new flat-panel is still cheaper than a ski trip--think "stay-cation"--and that it's a gift the whole family can enjoy. Plus, every minute it's turned on means less time you'll have to talk to weird Uncle Tobias.
Editors' top pick
The bottom line: With the accuracy of its THX mode and great black-level performance, the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U is one of the best-performing HDTVs available.
The bottom line: The Vizio VO32L's mostly solid image quality and fully packed connectivity package make it a top choice among small-screen LCDs.
The bottom line: Priced less than a midsize flat-screen LCD TV, BenQ's MP512 ST DLP projector is a solid, affordable option for people who want a big screen for casual use or gaming.
Price:
$544.99 - $649.99
The bottom line: Solid picture quality propels the Samsung LN32A450 LCD TV to the front of small-screen class.
Price:
$529.95 - $594.99
The bottom line: Panasonic's TH-42PX80U 42-inch plasma sets the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level plasma TVs.
Price:
$2,499.99
The bottom line: Perfectly acceptable image quality and a well-integrated DVD player make the Westinghouse VK-40F580D a solid choice for people going the combo route.
The bottom line: The midlevel Samsung LN46A550 LCD TV strikes an excellent balance between price and performance.
The bottom line: If you don't mind its red frame, the Samsung LN52A650 LCD TV will reward you with a massive feature set and excellent picture quality.
Price:
$2,207.29
The bottom line: Samsung's HL61A750 61-inch rear-projection HDTV delivers excellent overall picture quality, and, compared to flat-panel options, it's a real bargain.
The bottom line: A unique design and best-in-class calibration controls cannot quite make up for the lighter black levels of the LG 47LG60 47-inch flat-panel LCD TV.
Price:
$2,239.00
The bottom line: The 58-inch TH-58PZ800U carries a big price tag compared with rear-projection alternatives, but its superb picture quality heightens its appeal.
Price:
$1,879.00 - $3,699.95
The bottom line: The 52-inch Sony KDL-52XBR6 LCD is a bit too expensive for the level of picture quality it delivers, but its styling and best-in-class black levels help its case.
Price:
$2,595.00 - $3,399.99
The bottom line: The Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD represents the pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality.
Price:
$3,295.00 - $4,499.98
The bottom line: Although not quite the best HDTV we've tested so far, the wallet-busting, LED-powered Sony KDL-55XBR8 comes mighty close.
Price:
$4,389.98 - $4,499.99
