If you're shopping for your next television or home theater video display, the great news is that there has never been more variety, choice and quality -- and at more affordable prices. There are the traditional direct-view TVs, sexy new flat-panels that can hang on your wall, front projectors for home theater and even lighter and slimmer rear-projection sets. There's also an array of technologies to choose from, including good-old CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display) and newer technologies like DLP (digital light processing) and LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon). And you've no doubt heard of plasma-based monitors.

Digital television (DTV) and high definition television (HDTV) are available in all these sizes and flavors. And let's not forget that sooner or later all TV broadcasts will be in digital -- the current deadline is still the end of 2006 -- so you'll want a digital set for your next TV. In fact, the transition to DTV has already begun. Starting in July, all sets 36 inches and larger must include a built-in (or integrated) HD tuner. By the following year, all sets 13 inches and larger will be required by law to include an HD tuner. So if you're in the market for a TV or home theater video display, we have three words of advice: HDTV or DTV.

The Skinny on DTV

There are several different varieties of the new DTV standard: SDTV for standard TV resolution, EDTV for enhanced resolution that is on par with DVD quality and HDTV for high definition. All HDTVs are part of the larger DTV family, but not all DTVs are HDTVs. Get it? You also won't need an HDTV to enjoy the brave new digital broadcasting world, but having that super clear picture will make it a whole lot sweeter.

Most of these new display devices are also available in widescreen, providing a longer, more rectangular screen image. It's the only way to really appreciate DVD movies and TV shows that are shot and broadcast in high definition.

There are basic types of HDTVs: those called integrated HDTVs because they have the necessary digital TV tuner built in and those without the tuners built in. Sets without the tuners are called HDTV monitors or are labeled as HD compatible, HD capable or HD upgradable.

Integrated HDTVs include a built-in HDTV tuner/decoder that allows you to receive HD broadcasts over the air. This is often called the ATSC tuner (for Advanced Television Systems Committee). Many models also include cable (QAM) HD tuners that are capable of playing nonscrambled cable channels. Higher-end models also include CableCARD slots and will be designated as digital cable ready (DCR). These have a card slot for a CableCARD provided by your local cable service in lieu of an HDTV set-top box. Keep in mind when you use a CableCARD, you lose the ability to use the picture-in-picture feature and the cable companies' program guide. CableCARDs also do not currently allow interactive services such as pay per view or video-on-demand, though two-way CableCARD technology is being developed.

Integrated HDTVs include progressive scan converters or "scalers" that upconvert or add resolution to lower-quality images. They also have built-in Dolby Digital decoders and digital audio outputs. Most integrated HDTVs include IEEE1394 (also known as FireWire or i.Link) inputs and outputs so digital audio/video signals can be passed to and from a digital recording device such as high-definition VCR or a DVR (digital video recorder). Many companies also now include a TV Guide On-Screen electronic program guide to complete the package.

Any set called an HDTV monitor or HD compatible, capable or upgradable simply means it lacks the built-in HDTV tuner and decoder, but the device is otherwise capable of displaying HD signals in 1080i (1,080 lines of resolution). If you buy one of these HD-compatible units, the set-top box will complete the package. On average, these sets can cost $500 less than an integrated HDTV. Nonintegrated sets will include a standard TV (NTSC) dual tuner, improved picture quality such as a progressive scan converter or scaler, a better sound system and DVI (digital visual interface), HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) or component video inputs. (See the Accessories section for information on cables and connections.)

Best of all, you can get an HDTV in any type of display. So which one is right for you?

Display Types

Video displays are primarily available in four types: direct-view TVs, front projectors, rear projection sets and flat panels.

Direct-view TVs are characterized by the familiar large glass cathode ray tube (CRT) housed in a squarish box. Screen sizes range up to 36 inches, and all sets today feature digital quartz tuners. Manufacturers have tried to milk as much performance as possible by adding wideband video amplifiers, video noise reduction, digital comb filters and other enhancements. All HDTV sets also include progressive-scan technology that acts as a line doubler on steroids. All include component video inputs, and many now also have DVI or HDMI. Models with 27-, 32- and 36-inch screens normally come with a traditional squarish 4:3 aspect ratio, while those with 26-, 30-, and 34-inch screens are offered in the more rectangular widescreen format (16:9 aspect ratio).

Rear-projection TVs are now available at up to 80 inches in size, have lines of resolution of more than 1,000 and feature superior brightness. And with these newer sets, you no longer have to sit 10 to 15 feet from the screen to get a clear picture.

CRT rear-projection models use three tubes (one each for red, blue and green) and are so bright they can be viewed in normal room light without appreciable loss of picture quality. Many models sport transparent plastic or acrylic screens that are tinted for higher contrast. They also are not the behemoths they once were. In some cases, chassis depth has been shrunk to 20 inches. Many models still sport black cabinets to blend into most rooms, while newer models feature silver or dark gray cabinetry.

A new breed of rear-projection sets are available as well. These "microdisplays" include LCD, LCoS and its variations HD/D-ILA (digital image light amplifier) and SXRD (silicon crystal [X-tal] reflective display). (See the sidebar on video display technologies.) Their smaller light engines and computer technologies reduce cabinet depth to 16 inches or less. They also weigh far less than giant CRT units.

Many rear-projection sets today display 480p (progressive) to 1080i (interlaced) resolution with great brightness. Models that include progressive scan and other digital circuitry can truly enhance images. A handful of 2005 models will push viewing limits to 1080p.

Front projectors are normally part of custom home theater installations and range in screen size from about 20 inches to more than 300 inches. Front projection systems need to be viewed in dark rooms, providing what many feel is a true home theater experience. These devices can be ceiling mounted or floorstanding. Newer models are rapidly moving away from large CRTs and toward lightweight and portable DLP and LCD models. Besides the purchase of the projector, a screen is required that will add another $1,200 to $5,000 to your total bill. To improve overall picture quality, progressive-scan circuitry, stand-alone scan converters and scalers, line doublers and line quadruplers are available from major video projector brands and specialized video companies. These can add another $10,000 to $20,000 to the package.

Flat-panel displays are growing in popularity as consumers become more interested in the differences between LCDs and plasma display panels (PDPs). And LCD technology is coming on strong for a number of compelling reasons.

Plasma displays can be even larger, with screen sizes ranging from 32 inches to a whopping 102-inches wide. But LCD has made strides with, panels now ranging in screen size from 10 inches to 57 inches. LCD TVs also have excellent viewing angles compared with plasma-based displays.

LCD maintains high contrast and is easier to view in bright places than plasma displays. LCD TVs weigh nearly half that of plasma displays of the same size, which can be relevant when wall mounting a set. LCD TVs also have a slimmer profile, measuring approximately 3 inches, while most plasmas displays are approximately 4 inches deep or more.

Other factors to keep in mind: LCDs have backlights that lasts approximately 80,000 hours, which equates to 20 years when used eight hours per day, while plasma displays have a reportedly shorter lifespan, although some companies have announced that they have been able to increase their plasma display life spans to about 60,000 hours. LCD also maintains low power consumption while in use. Plasma displays, however, require more power to light each cell individually. In some plasma products, traces of images may remain "burned in" on the screen after prolonged use, though burn-in is more likely to happen with sets that display news and sports score tickers continuously. Burn-in is not possible with LCD.

LCD picture resolution is measured in pixels or picture elements, beginning with 640 x 480 (480p) all the way up to 1366 x 768 (equaling 720p) or higher. A few models now offer resolutions of 1920 x 1080 (1080p). For HD-capable and integrated HD sets, the most popular resolutions are 1280 x 768 or 1366 x 768.

Look for LCD sets with higher brightness levels and with greater contrast ratios. Greater brightness translates into the unit's ability to be viewed in brightly lit rooms, and higher contrast translates into deeper blacks.

Brightness and contrast ratio are also important factors when choosing a plasma display. Be aware that many inexpensive plasma-based screens are not HDTVs and can only display standard or enhanced resolutions. These should be marked as either EDTV or SDTV and should denote that they can only display images at 480p.

PDPs using ALiS (alternate lighting of surfaces) technology with resolutions of 1024 x 1024 can easily display high-definition signals. Higher-resolution eALiS (enhanced ALiS) is now available in select models of 55 inches and larger and offer resolutions of 1366 x 768. While there are some other schemes on the market to improve PDP resolution, ALiS and eALiS are the most prevalent.

• See the sidebar articles for a display type index, hi-res info, and more.

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