The holiday season is an important time for us tech reviewers. It's the time of year when everyone wants advice. During the holiday season, our in-boxes are flooded with questions, like, "What is the difference between 120Hz and 240Hz, or 1080p and 1080i?" or "How many contrast ratios does the TV have each refresh rate?" Sure, some of these questions are nonsensical, but the world of HDTVs is a confusing one, so we don't blame you, reader.

The Toshiba 46RVR525R is a vanilla 46-inch LCD TV. It supports 1080p natively, and an impressive screen size, but it doesn't have the features you'd commonly see on a higher-end HDTV. It does have a mode to help with 3:2 pulldown, which makes a difference, but doesn't have any additional media or playback features. While it did put up some above average numbers on our color tests, overall the TV seemed a bit average. The TV also has an average price for a 46-inch TV, $1200. If the TV's strengths and weaknesses match up to what you're looking for, this TV could make a good buy. 

The LC-46SB57UN is a mid-range LCD HDTV. Its performance results were a mixed bag, with an average contrast ratio, good color performance, and issues with blur and artifacting. The TV also features a 120Hz mode, but we didn't think it made a difference. While the LC-46SB57UN won't be for those looking for a perfect TV, its strengths might just play to your needs–providing you don't mind its purchase price. The LC-46SB57UN has an MSRP of $1400.

The Vizio SV470XVT1A seems like an unbelievable deal for a 47-inch TV at only $1399 (MSRP), and less than that in stores. It's certainly not the best TV that's passed through our labs, but it holds up nicely to the competition with more than adequate performance.