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The screen is without doubt the most important part of any home-entertainment system. It's used for viewing a vast array of material from movies and TV programmes, to games and digital photo slideshows.

Watched for hours a day and expected to last at least a decade, it's the most crucial electronics purchase we're likely to make. But with new LCD and plasma screens vying against traditional tubes, not to mention talk of high-definition TV, which technology is best for you? This is where we reveal all.

Cathode Ray Tube
The CRT is by far the oldest TV technology around. Employing large glass tubes, they're heavy, and often as deep as they are wide. In terms of screen size, the largest commonly available sets measure just 32in, which is relatively modest in an age of home cinemas.

You're also unlikely to find a model that supports high-definition TV, or has any kind of digital video inputs. But it?s not all bad news. As the most mature technology, CRT boasts the best looking picture with the deepest blacks, greatest colour and smoothest motion.

Models are also relatively cheap, with decent 32in widescreen sets sporting digital tuners costing less than £1,000. So if you're happy with a screen no larger than 32in, and have no need for a thin box or HDTV capabilities, CRT TVs can offer a great picture at an equally great price.

Plasma
Plasma is the technology most associated with hang-on-your-wall TVs. Available in sizes from 32in right up to 60in and beyond, while typically measuring around just four inches thick, they're physically very impressive. The best plasma sets support high-definition video, and also feature a wealth of digital and analogue connectivity.

Plasma may therefore seem like the ultimate TV technology, but it's not without its faults. They may be thin, but their front glass panel is very heavy and can only be hung on strong walls. They can also consume lots of power, sometimes require cooling fans, and suffer the most from burn-in, where stationary logos left on-screen for long periods can be seen faintly all the time.

Buying a plasma set is also no guarantee of quality. Cheaper or older sets can have restricted connectivity and a picture that could be worse than a CRT. So while budget plasmas sound tempting, we would recommend spending between £2,000 and £3,000 on a new 42in set.

This will get you an excellent picture with a wealth of connectivity, and at the higher-end, support for future HDTV. If you want a big screen, but can't afford a good plasma one, rear-projection sets represent better value.

Liquid Crystal Display
Colour LCD displays are best known as PC monitors and notebook screens, but are now proving a popular option for TV sets. They can be thin and light enough to hang on any wall, and are available in a wide range of sizes from 15in to 50in and beyond.

The best models feature a wealth of connectivity and support for high-definition TV and, unlike plasma, there are no concerns over screen burn-in.

LCD therefore sounds like the ideal technology for flat-screen TVs but, like its rivals, it has several downsides. Contrast and tonal range on LCD screens is generally the poorest of all TVs, and some models suffer from motion blur on fast-moving action. The viewing angle is also usually narrower than plasma and CRT screens.

LCD screens are maturing fast though, and picture quality is improving all the time. Indeed, mass manufacturing should see LCD become cheaper than plasma in the long term. Today, it's ideal for a thin, flat, stylish TV up to 40in, but plasma is currently a better bet at larger sizes. You should be able to get a 27in set for less than £1,000.

Rear projection
Rear-projection sets generate their picture using tiny screens or mirrors, which are then projected onto a large screen using a bright bulb using LCD or DLP technologies.

They're typically available in sizes of 40in to 60in and beyond and, while thicker than a plasma or LCD TV, can be much slimmer than a CRT. The best models sport a wide range of connectivity, support high-definition TV and, best of all, normally have an unbeatable picture for the price.

The only real downside to rear-projection sets are that they're deeper than plasma or LCD and can't be hung on a wall. That said, many plasma and LCD owners lose the benefit of a super-slim set by putting their screen in a corner or on a stand. You will also have to replace the bulb, so always check prices and life spans.

Rear-projection may not be the sexiest TV technology but, if you're after a big screen on a budget, they'll thrash cheaper plasma or LCDs. £2,000 could get you a 50in screen that looks great.

Connectivity
There are many different sockets on the back of a modern TV, and it's crucial to have the right ones for both the best quality and long-term flexibility.

Virtually every TV set has at least one Scart socket, which are large rectangular plugs which carry both audio and video. Scarts can, however, deliver three different types of video quality. The most basic is called Composite and is offered on every Scart as standard. Some Scarts additionally offer S-Video, which gives better picture quality.

Best of all are Scarts that support RGB video. Since most set-top boxes, DVD players and even games consoles have RGB output options, it's best to buy a TV with two or more Scarts equipped with RGB capabilities. Composite and S-Video connections are also available, each using a single round plug, and most TVs offer one of each for connecting a camcorder.

An alternative high-quality connection is called component video, which uses three round plugs labelled Y, Cr and Cb. These offer similar quality to an RGB Scart and are commonly offered by DVD players. Better DVD players offer a progressive component option, but to enjoy this extra picture quality, you'll need a TV with a corresponding progressive component input, again using three round plugs but labelled Y, Pr and Pb.

The latest TVs feature digital video inputs for very high quality connections to new DVD players and future high-definition devices. There are two types called DVI and HDMI. They offer the same quality video, but HDMI also carries sound.

In order to work with future high-definition DVD players and set-top boxes though, it's crucial to ensure that any TV with DVI or HDMI plugs also supports a copy-protection system called HDCP. Some older sets may not support HDCP.

High definition
High-definition video is up to four times more detailed than current DVD or digital TV broadcasts, allowing you to see a more realistic picture than ever before. High-definition TV broadcasts will begin in the UK with Sky in 2006, while the successors to DVD will deliver high-definition movies on disc.

To see high-definition video, you'll need a screen with sufficient resolution and the right connectors. While early high-definition boxes may offer analogue outputs, most will demand a TV with a digital HDMI or DVI plug which also supports HDCP.

So if you're interested in watching high-definition in the future, make sure you buy an HD-ready TV with an HDCP-equipped digital connection.

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