Ask Engadget: What's the best home theater display out there? {Engadget}

Oct 19th 2007 2:44PM I have a 50 inch Pioneer Elite that I chose after months of research and love it. I also do like the products from LG, Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Hitachi. Please stay away from the no-name brands. You really need to look at this as a system. Source, processor, cables, display, surroundings, etc. You can have a great display and a poor source and be unhappy, and vice versa, it needs to be a balance. Regardless of the display you purchase, in order to get the most out of it it will need to be calibrated. The default settings are made to make the display stand out on the store shelf. Use the DVD "Video Essentials" which you can get from Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, etc to calibrate both the video and audio of the system. I have a 10 year old 35" Mitsubishi that many people have asked if it was high-def. Also realize that there are various HDMI versions for the connection to the display. The standard for HDMI has been evolving and is not final (currently V1.3a is available but 1.3b is being tested). There has been compatibility issues between products that support different versions. As far as receivers go, the list I would pick from includes Marantz, Dennon, Integra, Rotel, Onkyo, Outlaw Audio, and NAD. These manufacturers provide products that are good value. As far as speakers go I like Paradigm, PSB, B&W, and Definitive Technology. Research sources include AVguide.com and hometheatermag.com. Avoid the big box stores and find a smaller store that knows the industry and the products. The small stores can be very competitive with big box prices.