HDTV and You: Top High Defintion Television Under $2500

Television is a major aspect of the lives of most people. It is the way in which many of us keep in touch with the world and of course it provides endless hours of entertainment. The television is often the focal point in the living room of the average American home. Now that television is going to High Definition, it is the time to purchase a High Definition Television, also known simply as HDTV. Pretty soon, all channels will be broadcast in HDTV and all non-HDTV's will either be obsolete or need a converter. The price has dropped on HDTV's recently, but the best bang for your buck comes from the Sony Grand Wega.

When deciding to make such a large purchase, my husband and I did a lot of research. We knew we wanted a big, flat panel HDTV. There are several options available. Of course there is the standard rear projection television with DLP (digital light processing), LCD (liquid crystal display), SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display), and of course the prestigious plasma. These choices can be mind-boggling. The difference between the four must be seen in person because different people respond to different options. The clearest picture will come from the plasma television, but plasma is much more expensive and requires upkeep every few years. Also, because plasma technology is still fairly new, there is no knowing how long the television will last. But, if you have the money to purchase a plasma television, then you probably have the money for the upkeep. Personally, the decision to buy a big screen television was something my husband and I took a lot of care in making because we do not have a lot of money and saved up for years to make this purchase. In the end, we chose to go with Sony's SXRD technology and purchased a 50" Widescreen, High Definition, flat panel television. The brand name is the Sony Grand Wega, which runs from 50-60".

The Sony Grand Wega provides a clear, crisp picture. The difference is most notable on High Definition television channels, but there is also a significant difference on channels that have not yet gone high definition. The 50" television is a widescreen, which is perfect for movie buffs like my family. Most movies are shot in widescreen and watching them widescreen allows the viewer to see more of the shot. Before the widescreen television, there would be black bars running at the top and bottom of the screen while watching a movie in the widescreen setting. Watching a movie in full screen causes the picture to be cut off. The widescreen television shows the film without the black bars and without losing any of the picture.

The Sony Grand Wega has the following specs pulled directly from the Sony website, www.sonystyle.com. I am not a technology aficionado, and therefore these don't mean a lot to me, but I am sure they make a difference to some people. My preference for this television set comes directly from the enhanced picture, quality, look, price, and overall ease of use. The specifications are:

50" Grand WEGA(TM) SXRD(TM) Rear Projection HDTV
KDS-R50XBR1

• Full HD 1920x1080 native SXRD(TM) panel resolution
• WEGA Engine HD(TM) with DRC-MFv2 digital video processing
• 2.5ms display panel response time
• Up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio
• ATSC integrated tuner with CableCARD(TM) slot
• 2 HDMI(TM) (1080i) inputs

The cost for this 50" television can vary, but it generally runs for under $2500. Many retailers run sales often on the Sony Grand Wega, and it can be purchased for closer to $2000. The Sony Grand Wega is by far the best HDTV for the money. This is an investment and Sony is a reputable company with quality products. Just as we did, I suggest you do the research before making such a large purchase, however I am confident that the Sony Grand Wega will reel you in just as it did my family.