Well-known Phillips, inventors of CDs and a host of other electronics type gadgets, offer a long line of both LCD and plasma HDTVs. The line covers everything from the 30" 30PF9946D LCD for under $1000 to upwards of $6400 for the 50" 50PF9986 plasma. Fortunately, with Phillips, you frequently get what you pay for in your home improvement projects.

Even the - these days - relatively tiny 30" 30PF9946D offers six widescreen modes, just as do the high-end models. The modes are used, for example, to adjust a standard TV broadcast from 4:3 aspect ratio to the now-standard 16:9 aspect ratio of HDTV.

Resolution is excellent at 1280 x 768p. The 'p' stands for progressive, a technique in which the pixels are illuminated in one pass, rather than interlaced - i.e. 'painted' in two separate passes. The contrast ratio is a respectable 600:1, and brightness is good at 600 cd/m^2.

But, Phillips' line really starts to shine in the 42" plasma arena. The 42PF9630A, for example, offers Phillips' proprietary Ambilight and Pixel Plus 2. The first allows a very fine control over the color and brightness, while the Pixel Plus 2 creates a smooth, natural-looking movement.

One advantage most plasmas have over some LCDs is the off-axis contrast. Though less an issue now, contrast and even color can shift at wide-angles of view with a LCD set. Plasmas don't suffer from this effect and provide a deep black and good contrast at all angles.

Contrast ratio for the 42PF9630A is listed at 10000:1, which would be phenomenal. Some reviewers put the actual measured number in the 1500:1 range; still an excellent number.

One possible reason for the large difference, may be less blatant dishonesty than old-fashioned marketing. The larger number often refers to dynamic contrast, as opposed to static. Since images are usually moving, the larger number isn't completely bogus.

Burn-in is largely a thing of the past for most normal circumstances. Not too long ago, having a stationary image for 15 minutes on a plasma could contribute to a permanent haze. Now, it would take hours before the effect would be a concern. Newer sets move the image across pixels ever-so-slightly every few minutes. So, unless you leave a news broadcaster's logo on the screen all day, every day you can buy a plasma without concern.

The set comes with a variety of ports, such as two HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs, which allows for showing the best quality possible from your DVD. S-video, for example, doesn't output the highest possibly quality for films on DVD.

The USB ports will come in handy for those who want to display digital photos or video on their large, flat panel and can also be used to upgrade the software inside the set.

At 93 lbs (42kg), the set is on the heavy side for wall-mounting, but that's certainly possible with proper installation.

Priced around $2,400 the set is competitive with comparable models from Samsung, Hitachi and others. Larger models offer the same great picture, but with a correspondingly higher price. Phillips is known for making quality equipment and shoppers will find it worthwhile to give their line a look. Check with your family, budget and other home improvements to see what you think.