CLUTTER KILLER
Mitsubishi LT-46149 46-inch LCD $3,299
The Lowdown: You’ve traded your bulky boob tube for a flush flat-screen. But you’ve still got a rat’s nest of wires and speakers sticking out like a sore thumb. Mitsu solves the problem by packing a loud 5.1 surround system into a 16-speaker projector mounted under the TV; it detects your room’s acoustic signature and proceeds to blow your mind.
Spike’s Take: “You don’t want bulky speakers, so I see where they’re going. And it sounds incredible. But compared to the others, motion in Blu-ray video is blurry. Mitsubishi, I expected better!”

PRICE CHOPPER
Vizio SV470XVT 47-inch LCD $1,699
The Lowdown: Vizio peddles cheap HDTVs by the jillions at Wal-Mart; our nation’s economy depends on it. With their new XVT line, the brand goes upmarket by producing sets with specs that rival Sony’s high-end panels—and costs a few benjamins less. A 120hz refresh rate and motion interpolation prevent pixilation and artifacts during intense scenes.
Spike’s Take: “The blacks are deep, but the brights aren’t quite as bright as the others’—it looks a little dim. I know every­body can’t spend five grand, though. If you don’t got the dough—Vizio!”

NO BALONEY
Sony Bravia KDL-46Z4100 46-inch LCD $2,799
The Lowdown: Sports nuts and cinephiles tend to knock LCD screens, since motion tends to blur more than on a plasma. But Sony’s new 1080p Bravia LCD may win them over: Its 120Hz technology doubles video frame rates and reduces motion blur. Bummer if you wanna see trails coming off a soccer ball.
Spike’s Take: “The Sony’s no baloney! To my naked eyeball, I can’t tell much difference at all between this and the most expensive set [the Pioneer]. The whites are whiter, the darks are dark, and the tones are spot-on. I’m buying this one!”