The HT Guys put together an HDTV Buyer's Guide for the 2006 Holiday season. 

 

 

Oppo Universal DVD Player DV-981HD

(Available early December  Estimated MSRP $229)

Disc Types

• DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, DivX (DivX Certified Home Theater Profile Parameters, V2.2. Covers DivX 3.11, 5.1) CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD+R DL

Output

• Analog Audio: Stereo, 5.1ch
• Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical
• Analog Video: Composite, S-Video (Y/C)
• Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (NTSC: 480p/720p/1080i/1080p, PAL: 576p/720p/1080i/1080p)

Video Characteristics

• Composite Video Amplitude: 1.0Vp-p (75O)
• S-Video Amplitude: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), C: 0.286Vp-p (75O)

Audio Characteristics

• Frequency: 20Hz - 20kHz (±1dB)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >100dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.01%

General Specification

• Power Supply: ~ 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz AC
• Power Consumption: 20W
• Dimensions: 420mm x 270mm x 41mm, 16" x 10" x 1" inches
• Mass: 2.4kg / 5.20 lbs

 

Christmas is near and many of you will be looking to buy your first HDTV, or if you have been really good this year, your second or third. We want to do a show that will help you cut through all the options available. We list and briefly discuss nine sets ranging from $600 to $6000.

 

LCD

• Westinghouse 32" LCD HDTV -  Integrated HDTV tuner built in, 1366 x 768 resolution, 4.4" deep with side access to connectors, four HD inputs. Street prices range from $600 up to $900 depending on the particular model
• Olevia 332H LCD HD-Ready TV 1366 x 768 Resolution (16:9 Aspect Ratio), 1600:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio Street Price $650
• 46" BRAVIA LCD Flat Panel HDTV KDL-46XBR3 1920 x 1080, 7000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, Street Price $3500 to $4000

Rear Projection

• JVC HD-ILA 56" Projection TV HD-56FB97 -  1920 x 1080, 3-Chip DILA Technology (LCoS),  ATSC/QAM Tuner, MPEG Noise Reduction, Street Price $1700
• Samsung HL-S5679W 56" DLP HDTV - LED based light engine, 1920 x 1080, ATSC Tuner, No bulb replacement! - Street Price $2799
• SONY 60" SXRD Rear Projection Television KDS-R60XBR2 - 1920 x 1080, LCoS (3 panels), 10,000:1 contrast ratio, Street Price $3200

Plasma

• Panasonic TH-42PX6U 42" - 1024 x 768, Built-In ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners, HDMI Interface, Street Price $1300
• Panasonic TH-50PX6U 50" - 1366 x 768, Built-In ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners, HDMI Interface, Street Price $2000
• Pioneer PRO-FHD1 Elite 50" - 1920 x 1080 Monitor, Independent dual HDMI, ISF CCC Video Calibration, Street Price $6000