Integrated Digital TV roundup

While the Americans and Japanese have been enjoying HD digital broadcasts for eons, we Asians are still generally lacking behind on antique analog flair. That said, there've been some progress lately with countries such as Singapore inching ahead in hi-def and digital convergence. This has prompted some consumer electronics companies to roll out a new breed of flat panels.

IDTVs or Integrated Digital TVs have onboard digital TV tuner and MPEG-2/MPEG-4 video decoder to receive high-quality 1080i HD broadcasts. Crystal-clear visuals and Dolby Digital surround sound aside, you'll also have an onscreen electronic program guide for an at-a-glance overview of the current program schedule and listing.

To kickstart your road to digital nirvana, we've rounded up the selections available to you right now.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	Samsung LA46A650A1RXXS (46-inch LCD)   CNET Asia rating: 8.4 out of 10 The good: Good black levels and natural colors; clean and sharp pictures; sleek and unique Crystal Design styling; four 1080p24-ready HDMIs; USB port for JPEG/MP3 playback; lit and versatile remote controller; abundant tweaking options. The bad: Stain magnet and stretch prone; mediocre stereo imaging; sound distortion when bass is driven hard; unnatural 100Hz for some film-based materials; pricey. The bottom line: The latest Samsung LA46A50A1RXXS is another fine all-rounder much like the legacy Bordeaux Plus-series. However, it also has some noticeable misses on top of a high sticker price. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Sharp Aquos LC-46D83M (46-inch LCD)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Vibrant and sharp pictures; excellent shadow details; onboard high-def TV tuner; electronic program guide; punchy sound; sleek and thin bezel design. The bad: Mild red push; fixed table-top stand; less-than-optimal signal support for video inputs. The bottom line: The Sharp Aquos LC-46D83M combines a complete hi-def TV tuner integration with solid A/V performance. It's just a pity most of its video inputs are hardly optimized for the latest signal formats in the market. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	LG 42PG60D (42-inch plasma)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Rich colors and good DVD playback; above-average sound quality; high-performance DCDi video engine; onboard high-definition TV tuner; electronic program guide; four HDMI inputs; unique "one sheet of glass" bezel. The bad: Limited software tweaking options; cumbersome video switching for remote; internal screen reflection; 1080i-only component-video; displays PC text a little soft; visible onscreen memory effect. The bottom line: The LG 42PG60D is a stylishly designed plasma TV that delivers a combination of above-average picture quality, excellent connectivity and support for HD broadcast. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	LG 47LG50FD (47-inch LCD)   CNET Asia rating: 7.3 out of 10 The good: Sharp HD visuals and rich colors; accurate primary colors; integrated HD TV tuner; electronic program guide; sleek design; feminine red tint, 1080p-ready component-video and PC inputs; optical audio output. The bad: Shared analog and digital TV aerial input; only two HDMI 1.3 inputs; overly recessed side A/V jacks. The bottom line: The LG 47LG50FD shines with a blend of sleek design, good performance and HD broadcast compatibility. However, the omission of dual TV aerial input is an oversight that will probably irk most couch potatoes. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Sony Bravia KLV-46X4500 (46-inch LCD)   First take The KLV-46X4500 stands out from most other 2008 Bravia LCD TVs with its LED backlighting system and onboard digital DVB-T tuners. The latter, when coupled with an integrated MPEG-4 video decoder, further extends its program selection to encompass HD content. Rounding up its TV broadcast reception credentials are an electronic program guide and Dolby Digital surround sound support. First take | See full specs | Rate this