Best TVs with a Freeview HD tuner

Freeview HD is the best-ever argument for the digital switchover. For the 50 per cent of the country that can currently pick them up, the high-definition channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and S4C are a razor-sharp, colour-saturated glimpse into the future.

Just like standard-definition Freeview channels, the HD ones are terrestrial broadcasts and free to everyone. All you need is a Freeview HD box -- or preferably a TV with a Freeview HD tuner already built in. Think of it this way: one less box in the living room means space for another inch or two on the screen.

It's still early days for Freeview HD, though. A postcode checker lets you see if your neighbourhood has upgraded yet. If it hasn't, you could be waiting until the digital switchover in 2012. Even if it has, most Freeview HD transmitters are operating at lower power levels until analogue telly is dead and buried, so you might experience dodgy reception, or need a better aerial.

At the moment, most Freeview HD sets have 40-inch screens and above. That makes sense. You can only really see the benefits of HD at 30 inches and above, and larger sets tend to have a fatter price tag that hides the added cost of an HD tuner.

Screen size and type should always be your first considerations when buying a TV. While larger screens can often mean more enjoyment, bigger isn't always better, especially in smaller homes or if you're going to watch plenty of standard-definition material. If you thought VHS image quality was bad, just wait until you've seen a dodgy SD Freeview channel blown up to 55 inches.

Many people think the battle between LCD and plasma technologies is over. It isn't. Plasma tellies may be hotter, heavier and more power-hungry than LCD sets but they still deliver gorgeously rich colours and butter-smooth high-speed action. LCD TVs have the edge in brightness and skinniness though, so test both before making your mind up.

Although super-sharp video is Freeview HD's most obvious benefit, don't forget that it also comes with multi-channel surround sound. But this is where it gets technical. Most Freeview HD broadcasts today are in the AAC format, which isn't supported by many existing home-cinema receivers, leaving you with plain old stereo sound.

Some Freeview HDTVs automatically transcode surround sound to the widely accepted Dolby AC-3 format, but this isn't obligatory for Freeview HD devices until April 2011. Until then, read spec sheets carefully before you buy.

All Freeview HDTVs also support subtitles, audio description, automatic software updates and have an Ethernet socket for vague 'future interactive services'. As these are still up in the air, don't expect on-demand viewing or widgets from Freeview HD anytime soon.

What you can expect, though, is more and better Freeview HD channels as analogue TV fades away. That's as good a reason as any to invest in a Freeview HD telly today. Here's a selection of the best ones out there.