Dream HDTVs on a Budget

Just because budgets are tighter doesn't mean you can't enjoy the finer things in life. A good, high-performance high-definition television is still attainable and smart consumers who know what to look for and are conscious of how to find the best deals can enjoy them without worrying about the creeping pangs of buyer's remorse. Here are some sweet sets you should check out. Prices cited are the manufacturers' suggested retail price and the typical street price (if different).

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Courtesy of Sony

Sony KDL-32XBR9
$759

This 32-inch Sony LCD television is the entry-level model of Sony's high-end XBR9 series, which are considered the company's top-of-the-line HDTVs. The KDL-32XBR9 differs from its larger XBR9 cousins, with a 120Hz refresh rate instead of the more expensive (and technologically dubious) 240Hz, but it's still a nice option for consumers interested in getting a high-performance, high-definition television from a trustworthy brand at a reasonable price. The KDL-32XBR9 offers full 1080p resolution and four HDMI inputs.

Courtesy of Vizio

Vizio SV320XVT
$749

With Vizio's medium-sized displays, you don't have to wait for big price cuts. They start low. The Vizio SV320XVT is the smallest model in the brand's new XVT series, which is meant to distinguish the company's more luxurious products from its traditional budget-friendly televisions. This XVT television, however, is an exception and is quite budget friendly. The SV320XVT has what you'd expect from a great LCD television: full 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and top-notch image quality on the reasonable 32-inch display.

Courtesy of Sony

Sony KDL-40W5100
$1,199

Though it's ostensibly part of Sony's "budget-minded" series, you'd never know it from looking at the impressive features on the KDL-40W5100. Not only does this LCD television have full 1080p resolution and Sony's super-smooth Motionflow 120Hz refresh rate--it's fully Internet capable. The KDL-40W5100 can connect to your home network through an Ethernet cable and access online, streaming video from YouTube, Amazon's Video on Demand Service and several other content providers. It also has handy Internet widgets that can feed news, weather and other information directly to your display.

Courtesy of LG

LG 42LH50
$999

Another "Connected" HDTV, the LG 42LH50 LCD TV ups the ante, providing broader broadband coverage. In addition to YouTube, the 42LH50 can directly access Netflix's Instant Queue, which lets Netflix subscribers stream feature-length movies directly to their HDTVs. It's a major coup for LG and puts the company well ahead of the connected competition. So does the very reasonable price tag; the 42LH50 can be found online for only $999, $300 off its initial suggested retail price.

Courtesy of Vizio

Vizio SV471XVT
$1,100

You might be familiar with the smoothing abilities of televisions that have 120Hz refresh rates. This year, most manufacturers are pushing the anti-judder crusade even further with 240Hz sets, which tend to be outrageously expensive and optically dubious. If you absolutely must have the latest in smoothing technology, however, the Vizio 47-inch SV471XVT will give it to you at a fraction of the price. Don't overpay for hyped-up features; get what you want at a comfortable price.

Courtesy of Sharp

Sharp LC46BD80U
$949

Pairing an HDTV with a Blu-ray disc player provides the pinnacle of high-quality high-definition viewing but buying two brand-new devices can be expensive. Sharp has simplified the choices by integrating a Blu-ray disc player right into the body of its 46-inch LC46BD80U. The side-loading disc player eliminates the need for an extra box that would occupy an HDMI input and clutter up your room. It's also a less expensive option than buying the devices separately.

Courtesy of Panasonic

Panasonic TC-P54G10
$1,509

Once again, plasma saves the day with a great bargain on a luxurious, big-screen, high-definition television. The 54-inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 can be found online for around $1,600. Even its original suggested retail price was something of a bargain at $1,999, almost $1,000 less than similarly sized LCD television. This device is a full HD 1080p display capable of deep, dark blacks, vivid colors and impressive brightness, and even includes some fancy perks like Panasonic's Viera Cast feature. You can also easily stream Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand content to your home network through a simple Ethernet connection.

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