Ahhhh, Super Bowl Sunday. What better time (and excuse) to get yourself hooked up with your very own HDTV system than when you've got all of your buddies coming over to watch the big game? Whether or not you're rooting for the Seahawks or the Steelers, or just love the game itself, check out our HDTV Buyer's Guide to find out exactly what you need to do to get your hands on the coolest (and possibly most expensive) TV you may ever purchase. The good news is that they're now more affordable than ever.

HDTV, as you may very well know, means High Definition Television. What you may not know, is that the picture is five times sharper and clearer than a standard, analog TV because there are more pixels packed together (300,000 to 2 million) to create a highly detailed picture, versus analog images (200,000). HDTV is also transmitted in widescreen format, 16:9 (16 units wide by 9 units high), giving the viewer the movie theatre experience, versus analog screens at 4:3. And, last but not least, HDTV programs typically have better sound. Way better. Most contain 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound for a complete audio and visual immersion in the comfort of your living room.

First and foremost, the program you want to watch must be transmitted in high-definition. That's not to say that you won't be able to watch the program if it's not, but it definitely won't have the same visual "wow factor" if it's not transmitted that way.

Signals are transmitted to televisions three ways: over-the-air broadcast, cable service, or via direct broadcast satellite. At home, the signal must move through your antenna, cable or satellite dish to the receiver (either via an integrated set or a set-top receiver). Your cable or satellite service may require a special HDTV set-top box or service. Call your provider for info.

If you don't have cable or satellite service, fear not and just pick up an antenna. Some people put an antenna on the roof of their homes, while others can use good, old fashioned rabbit ears. If you are in the U.S., check out the handy color-coded antenna mapping guide at www.antennaweb.org, from Consumer Electronics Association and Decisionmark, to find out your specific area's antenna status. To find out what over-the-air stations broadcast in HDTV visit NAB.org. A free program guide can be found at www.titantv.com.

Option 1: HDTV set with an integrated tuner. This system is an all-in-one monitor with an internal tuner. Basically, you will only need to plug your antenna, cable service or satellite service into the back, as the receiver is built inside the set.

Samsung TX-R3079WH

 

Sharp LC-45GD4U

 

If you need an HDTV-ready flat-screen, plasma, projection or direct view TV, check out our guide for choosing the right one. Click here to check it out!

For Digital Trends' HDTV tuner reviews, visit our HDTV Tuner review section.

Better Cables. New gear often comes with the cheapest of cables. Do yourself a favor and buy a good cable (or cables) that carries high-definition signals. Your best bets are component, DVI and HDMI cables.