Buying a new High Definition Television

Prices on thin flat-screen HD televisions continue to fall. They've dropped about 25% in the last year and more declines are expected. Why? It's because the new sets now account for about 70% of the local retail market. As more of the new sets are sold, the more price competitive they become.

Consumers still wonder what they should buy and frankly, that answer depends on how much you want to spend. The four big formats currently are plasma, LCD, Liquid Crystal on Silicon and the current big seller, DLP (digital light processing).

Consumer Reports continues to test all the formats.

"For example, we tested 10 plasma TV's, ranging in price from 3,000 dollars to more than 10,000," says the magazines Gerard Catapano.

So what does that much money get you in a television? Well, for one thing, a great big picture - these screens are 42 to 43 inches. And their thin profile is a real space saver. The sets are less than six inches thick.

And the plasma technology means you'll get a brighter picture. But Consumer Reports says plasma TV's do have some drawbacks. For one, they use a lot more power than a conventional set.

"You will see an increase in your electric bill," says Catapano.

Another problem he says - images can become burned in to plasma screens.

"Burn-in happens when a static image is left on a television screen for a long time, say when you're watching a television program that has its logo on the bottom."

Of course, the biggest drawback for most people is paying thousands of dollars for a TV. You can save a small fortune and still a great high-definition picture on a DLP wide screen. DLP stands for "digitial light processing." These sets are still very small profile, about 14 inches deep, and are very light weight which makes them easy to carry home. They also wont burn-in and they operate off of one high-tech light bulb that should last about three years before it must be replaced. The replacement bulbs are about $200.

The DLP is a big seller right now because it can cost below $3000 and it's a format that looks to have some staying power.

The Liquid Crystal on Silicon format, is some of the newest technology, and many believe it could end up being even cheaper than DLP.

These sets also have a terrific picture and a slim profile, and they also won't burn-in. The biggest screens, the 50-inch to 70-inch sets in this format, are selling for $5,000 to $12,000, but smaller sets are coming and they will be far more affordable.

If you're looking for a space-saving television set, Consumer Reports says an LCD-TV is an option to consider.

Like Plasma TV's, LCD sets are very thin. But they come in smaller sizes and therefore can cost thousands less.

The LCD screens weight only about 15 pounds and are very affordable. You can get a 17-inch monitor for about $250.

But if you still must have a big screen, and space is no consideration, Consumer Reports recently tested 14 projection televisions ranging in price from 17-hundred dollars to 27-hundred.

Testers found that these older technology sets are not only offered at great prices given the size of their screens, but most of them also have excellent sound. They're inexpensive because most retailers are trying to close them out.

As you step down to these sets, you once again are dealing with the possibility of burn-in. An image can leave a permanent shadow on the screen if it's up for too long - like a ticker that runs along the bottom.

And remember that projection TV's aren't small. These sets take up about eight square feet of floor space.

You also have to be able to sit at least eight to nine feet away from these screens to get the full effect of the video.

But if you want a big screen, projections sets currently do offer the most bang for your buck.

Consumer Reports recommends the $2000 Toshiba Theaterwide. It's HD-ready and has very good picture.

No matter what kind of TV you're considering, HD-ready is the least expensive way to get high definition.

Another high-definition decision- whether to get a standard, square-shaped screen or one with a wide screen, called a 16-by-9 format.

"With a sixteen-by-nine aspect ratio HDTV, your HD programming will completely fill the screen," says Catapano.

"With the traditional four-by-three set, HD programming will have bars on the top and bottom."

You'll see lots of different kinds of HD-ready TV's. Most all new sets have the 16-by-9 format screen so keep that in mind. It's the new standard format.

So what do you need besides an HDTV to get HDTV? You'll need a receiver. You can rent one from your cable company or you can buy one for a few hundred dollars from your satellite company.

If you have cable, you need Comcast to give you "digital" cable and an HD cable set-top box.

Otherwise, unless you have a set with a built-in tuner, you need to buy a tuner or a set-top box which is 200-300 dollars. And currently in Denver, you need an antenna that you can put in your attic or even hang in your garage to aim at local transmitters.

Make sure you buy only a standard UHF outdoor antenna. Don't let anyone talk you into a "special" HD-antenna. There's no such thing.