Pioneer PDP-4270HD Plasma High-Definition 42” TV - $2,800

Scouting reports on the Pioneer PDP-4270HD are very strong, earning an overall rating of 95.5 out of 100 from www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com. It has a classy black look and a larger, updated feature set than its predecessor. You get three settings of “color temperature” adjustment, eight settings of digital noise reduction, five options for viewing preferences (standard / dynamic / movie / game / user), five aspect-ratio positions, and USB and PC connections.

You also get split screen, picture-in-picture, and V-Chip Parental Control. Clearly, there are some great options here. Speakers mount on the bottom, and, if you have limited space, the TV can be mounted on the wall. Check the Plasma TV Buying Guide for tips on calibrating the picture for truly outstanding quality. Man, those linebackers are big.

Specs at a Glance:

• 42" screen
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 5ms response time
• 1024 x 768 resolution
• 40.94” x 26.75” x 4.5”
• 160-degree viewing angle
• 63.9 lbs.
• Includes table stand, stereo amplifier with two-way speakers, TruBass® Surround Sound Audio

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Sony BRAVIA™ KDL-46XBR2 LCD Flat Panel High-Definition 46” TV - $3,799

The Sony KDL-46XBR2 is the top-rated LCD TV on www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com and was given an 8.3 rating on CNET, as well as its Editor’s Choice award. Sony is promoting this set as the “first television for men and women,” perhaps because of its custom bezel option of six different colors (available for an additional $299), and the stylish floating glass design.

Sony has also added what it calls the Live Color Creation backlight system to this unit to make its superb picture quality even better. CNET says “if you are in the market for a big-screen LCD flat-panel, and the best picture is a more important prerequisite than the best price, the Sony KDL-46XBR2 should be among your top choices.” Hey, with that kind of quality, you’ll enjoy second-guessing the ref for the entire game.

Specs at a Glance:

• 46” screen
• 7000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
• 1300:1 static contrast ratio
• 8ms response time
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 50” x 29” x 5”
• Side-mounted 22-watt stereo speakers
• 178 degree viewing angle
• 90.4 lbs.

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BIGGEST:

Sharp AQUOS® LC-42D62U – LCD High-Definition 42” TV - $2,299

The Sharp LC-42D62U also gets high marks from CNET and is another top-rated set on www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com. It includes built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners, 2 HDMI™, and 2 HD component video inputs — which is all good when it comes to football viewing.

The LC-42D62U also features a sleek black cabinet with recessed, bottom-mounted speakers, and a table stand that easily removes for wall mounting. With this unit, you’ll enjoy the most exciting 60 minutes of the year more than ever before.

Specs at a Glance:

• 72" screen
• 1080 pixel resolution
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• Includes two speakers
  and a subwoofer
  

From Our ‘Been There, Done That’ Department…

Yes, we know “been there, done that” is really boring. But in this case, it’s not, because we are providing you with links to some really great TVs that we reviewed in our last issue so you don’t have to go digging through your e-mail inbox to find them.

BIG
Westinghouse LVM-42w2 – 42” Full HD 1080p Monitor -
$1,325 - $1,999

BIGGER
Sony KDS-R60XBR2 – 60” Rear-Projection TV - $3,800

BIGGEST
Toshiba 72HM195 – 72” Rear-Projection TV - $2,500 - $3,685