After years in the making and a last-minute postponement from the original date of February 19, the digital television (DTV) switchover is finally here. Effective today you'll need a converter box if you want to continue watching shows on your analog television: If your set has only an antenna, it will no longer receive analog broadcasts. Luckily, if you have a newer TV with a digital tuner, or if you're a cable or satellite subscriber, you won't be affected by this, because you already have the hardware necessary to receive digital signals. Chances are you don't need to worry—and you definitely don't need to buy a new TV.
Even if you're not directly affected by the changeover, this could still be a great time to get your hands on a new set. Prices on LCD and plasma HDTVs have dropped considerably over the past six months and only keep going down—while their quality and the features continue to improve.
Check out our reviews of some of the best HDTV bargains we've seen lately (linked below)। Or compare these models side by side.
Featured in This Roundup:
LG 47LG90
Was: $3,899.95
Is: $1,899
You save: $1,999.96 (51 percent)
The LG 47LG90 is an impressively capable 47-inch LED-backlit LCD TV, but it still needs some fine-tuning out of the box.
Panasonic TC-P42S1
Was: $1,099.95
Is: $899.99
You save: $199.96 (18 percent)
Panasonic's TC-P42S1 42-inch plasma struggles with upconversion, but it's affordable, and its considerable energy efficiency means savings on your power bills, as well.
Samsung LN46A850
Was: $2,599.99
Is: $1,695 (from bhphotovideo.com)
You save: $904.99 (35 percent)
Despite its super-thin cabinet design, useful extras, and competitive price, the picture quality and contrast on the 46-inch Samsung LN46A850 plasma TV prevent this set from rising to the superb standard set by many of its Samsung siblings. Still, it's a solid set.
Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U
Was: $2,099.99
Is: $1,457.99 (from bestbuy.com)
You save: $642 (31 percent)
Talk about "the big picture": Sharp's 52-inch Aquos LC-52D85U LCD TV delivers admirable performance and excellent out-of-the-box energy efficiency at an appealing price.
Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8
Was: $3,999.99
Is: $2,119.95
You save: $1,880.04 (47 percent)
Sony's 46-inch Bravia KDL-46XBR8 lacks the integrated multimedia capabilities of other LED-based LCD HDTVs, but it makes up for it with picture quality that's second to none.
Vizio VF550XVT
Was: $1,999.99
Is: $1,547 (from samsclub.com)
You save: $452.99 (23 percent)
Though not always great at handling standard-definition video, the energy-efficient Vizio VF550XVT, a 55-inch 1080p LCD TV, is still an undeniable value.
