They don't HAVE to be pricey, it just just depends on where you buy it. I was able to buy a 50'' plasma screen T.V. (with a little help from my parents of course) for a little over $2500 at Best Buy. Over the course of the past couple years, the price of HD- TV's has receded enormously. Now's the time to go out and buy. If you're not looking for a 40-50 inch T.V, you may not even break the 1500 mark for a quality T.V.
Right now I have my T.V. hooked up to my PS3 and 360, and have it running in 1080. Let me tell you, high-def makes all the difference in the world. It's simply stunning. how much better colors and textures are.
It depends on the specifications though. You can have a large 50'' Plasma TV with HDMI, but it doesn't always mean it has a resolution of 1920x1080 or good contrast proportions.
720p is also High-Definition and TV's that support that are about half the price.
If any one of you are to consider buying a HDTV, you need to look at the following:
-Resolution 1024x1024 en 1280x768 (plasma), 1366x768 (LCD), 1280x720 are all good. Anything else should be ignored.
-Contrast proportions The higher, the better.
-Size If you're going for a 40'' +, Plasma is for you as it is cheaper and produces better quality. If you want anything below 40'', LCD is for you as it is cheaper and well, they hardly sell any LCDs above 40''.
-Ports Make sure the TV has atleast a RGB, HDMI, S-Video, Component and Composite Out.
( RGB and Component are the same thing, but they're different ports. If you're in the NTSC area, a Component Out is sufficient )
-Extra's DCDI, 3D Comb Filter, Digital Crystal Clear, Backlight, Dolby Virtual Surround, Smart Sound and the works are all a plus.
-Reason Do you own a DVD-Recorder, Blu-Ray Player, HD-DVD player or PS3? If not, buying a TV with a resolution of 1920x1080 is not neccesary (yet). TV Channels, Wii, Xbox360, DVD Player do not support 'Full-HD' so it'd be a waste of money if you never use it. TV Channels, DVD players and Wii only support 480p, X360 only supports 720p as well as some DVD players so it would be best to invest in a TV lower than 1920x1080.
-Different TVs It's the best thing to do when looking at prices and specs as they can vary between different brands. Compare and decide what weights more, price or specs. Just keep in mind that buying a TV is a long-term investment.
I'd love to see my Wii perform on full quality
You don't need a HDTV for that. You just need Component Out on your TV or an RGB cable if you live in a PAL area.
I'd be happy with a 30 incher.
There are some really good TVs around 30'' that you can buy for less than $1200.
