HDTV 101: A beginner's guide
By CNET StaffFeb 22, 2008
2. What kind of HDTV to buy?
HDTVs come in all shapes and sizes, but there's a general hierarchy in size from smallest to largest.
You also can read on the article on the difference between DLP, LCoS, plasma and LCD TVs here.
Now, that's really all you need to know about HDTVs. Armed with this information, you can check out our top HDTV product picks at to find the sets we liked best But there is a bit more about HDTV that you'll probably want to know. Here is it, short and sweet.
| Typical size | Price range | Most popular size for best price (as of September 2006) | Notes | |
Direct-view CRT (not flat) |
26, 30, and 34 inches | $500 to $1,200 | 30 inches for $550 | This is the kind of tube we've all come to know and love. The majority of these are not HDTVs, but an increasing number are. If you're on a really tight budget, they're a fine choice, but LCD prices are getting so low that tubes are fading fast. |
Flat-panel LCD 
Top LCD TVs
|
17 to 56 inches | $400 to $20,000 | 32 inches for $800 | These are the most popular kinds of HDTVs, mainly because they're relatively affordable and flat. If you just want to replace your tube with a similarly sized flat TV, then LCD is the way to go. |
Flat-panel plasma
Top plasmas
|
37 to 65 inches | $1,600 to $10,000 | 50 inches for $2,000 | There are a lot of myths about plasma, and most are untrue. The fact is, they cost less than LCDs at the 50-inch size, so if you want it big and flat, plasma is still king. At 37 and 42 inches however, you may need more information. |
Rear-projection (not flat) |
42 to 73 inches | $1,000 to $7,500 | 61 inches for $2,200 | If you want a picture larger than 50 inches, you're talking rear-projection. This is also where the alphabet soup of technologies gets really thick: DLP, LCoS, SXRD, and so on. They can all produce fine HDTV pictures, so don't be afraid to shop on price. |
