Get the best deal on budget LCD HDTVs

— -- The digital television transition is right around the corner, so high-definition TVs — with their built-in digital tuners — will top many gift lists this holiday season. But before you buy, make sure you're getting the biggest bang for your buck.

HDTV prices are expected to reach unprecedented lows during the holiday shopping rush. Some 42-inch sets will sell for well under $1,000. You may even see 32-inch models for less than $400.

You'll find plasma and digital light processing, or DLP, sets, but LCD has become the most popular type of HDTV. Here are some tips for finding the perfect budget LCD HDTV.

Important features

Resolution differentiates HDTV from standard TV. HDTV resolution is 1,280-by-720 pixels (720p) or 1,920-by-1,080 pixels (1080i and 1080p). The letter "i" stands for interlaced; "p" stands for progressive.

Full high definition is 1080p. But don't worry too much about resolution. You probably won't notice a difference, especially on smaller sets.

Pay particular attention to response time. This is the time it takes a pixel to turn on and off. Response time is measured in milliseconds. Aim for 8ms or faster. Otherwise, you may notice smearing in action scenes.

Brightness and contrast ratio are also important. Brightness is measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m2). Higher numbers are better. The picture will look better in bright light.

Contrast ratio is the difference between the whitest white and blackest back. Shadow detail improves as the contrast ratio increases. Don't accept less than a 1,000:1 contrast ratio.

Make sure the set has connections for your current home theater components. Buy one with more than one HDMI input, if possible.

What's in a name?

You'll see plenty off-brand sets this year. In fact, off-brands will dominate early sales. Don't let the names deter you.

Budget brands may not be as physically attractive as the big boys. That doesn't necessarily mean that the quality is any less.

There are few manufacturers of LCD panels. Off-brands often share the same panel as costlier models. Different manufacturers make the software and other components, though.