HDTV recommendations?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm going to be buying an HDTV very soon, probably this weekend. Anyone have any recommendations?

It's going to be used almost exclusively for gaming. I have a 21" SDTV in my bedroom for watching TV and movies. This is going to be hooked up to the Wii, Xbox 360, and (eventually) PS3 so I can finally read the damn text in my games (I hate you, Capcom). Oh, and for widescreen.

The 360 and PS2 will play DVDs so I'm not concerned with in-built DVD players or anything like that.

Requirements:

=17" minimum diagonal (shouldn't be hard) preferably 21" or larger.

=At least 1 HDMI port (In addition, of course, to standard RCA composite and coax in)

=$450 max. I can live without HDTV, so I don't want to spend much.

=No online crap. I have neither the resources nor the patience to order online and wait for shipping. I want to walk into a real store and come out with a box containing my TV.

Would be nice to have but not necessary:=True 1080p @60Hz IN. Not sure if that's available in my price range, though.

=CRT. LCDs really don't look that hot, especially when it comes to contrast and black level. I regret getting rid of my CRT computer monitor. I don't want to make the same mistake again, especially for $300+. It's too bad no one makes entry level DLP TVs, because I'd be very happy with a 17" DLP.

From what I can see, my choices are pretty slim. CRTs are sadly in short supply (WTF!?) and for whatever reason some of the "1080i" CRTs I can find are 4:3 ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Since when did 4:3 become HD? Why does anyone even make 4:3 TVs anymore?

If I do end up having to go LCD, any recommendations on what brands have the best pictures?

[Alfador]

Geting 1080p in a set less than 40" tends to jack the price up a crapton very rapidly, and it can be somewhat hard to find without special ordering or doing it on line. A lot of stores don't bother with them. You'll probably have to settle for 720p and most of them don't take in 1080p signals, only 1080i. Anyway, below 37" the difference as it is noticeable to the human eye is pretty much nil at any distance that won't scar your retinas.

I would really really really REALLY recommend against CRT for HD. None of them are that great and like you said, they're almost impossible to find in widescreen. LCDs are probably what you'll get stuck with as I don't think they make plasmas that small and DLP seems to be having a lot of issues lately with color splintering and so on.

If you want good picture, Sony, LG, and Olevia all seem pretty nice though I don't know much about the quality of the Olevias. Just steer away from westinghouse (cheap crap), Sylvannia (their TVs are as crummy as their lightbulbs) and mitsubishi (class action lawsuit over their DLPs falling apart).

[MinisterofDOOM]

Sylvannia (their TVs are as crummy as their lightbulbs) and mitsubishi (class action lawsuit over their DLPs falling apart).

I used to think the same thing. Lately it seems Sylvania is more hit and miss than just straight miss.

For instance, I have a Silvania 21 inch TV in my bedroom. It's a decent tv but early on suffered from a lot of tube crackle. It went away over time but never completely disappeared.

At work I have a 17" Magnavox TV/VCR/DVD combo (for watching the news, etc. to keep on top of things). I have what looks like the exact same machine in my living room at home, except that it has a Silvania logo on the front and a different remote. The Magnavox is without a doubt the crappier machine. The volume is terrible (it does this thing where music in DVDs is 3x louder than dialog) and the UI/menus/functions are totally backward and retarded. The Silvania version has no sound issues, a decent menu/UI, and normal DVD/TV functions that aren't hidden in obscure sub-menus with poorly labelled remote buttons. The tube is going purple around the corners, though.