Have you been wanting to buy an HDTV, but are waiting for prices to settle before you move? That’s understandable. Price erosion has defined the high-definition TV market for some time now and is projected to continue, especially for the biggest, costliest sets.

By summer, prices of plasma TVs with 50-inch screens and LCD flat panels larger than 40 inches could fall by $500, according to estimates. Sets of that size we’ve tested were priced from $3,000 to $6,500. Similar cuts are expected for rear-projection microdisplays using LCD and DLP technology. Prices for LCoSTV microdisplays could fall by as much as $1,000 as manufacturing ramps up.

Meanwhile, little change is likely for picture-tube TVs and CRT-based rear-projection sets. Those mature products are close to bottoming out in price.

Our advice: Although you could save money on the largest-screen TVs by waiting a few months, there’s little reason not to buy a smaller LCD or plasma set, or a tube-based TV, now. There always are going to be bigger, better TVs on the horizon, but at some point you have to jump in and start enjoying high definition.

Buyers of high-end TVs give local, independent retailers top scores for overall satisfaction, according to shoppers surveyed by Consumer Reports. A retailer that fits the category is Kief's Audio Video, 2429 Iowa, which sells an array of high-definition TVs and related components, above.

Still, there’s more to buying an HDTV than getting a low price. Here are some things to consider:

¢ Decide where to shop. In a 2005 survey of Consumer Reports subscribers who purchased electronics, local independent stores and the nationwide Tweeter chain won top scores from high-end TV buyers for overall satisfaction. Sears, Circuit City and Best Buy rated highly for overall satisfaction and product quality, but only average for service, price and selection.

¢ Consider buying online. Few of the buyers we surveyed bought a TV online, but it might be worth a look. Merchants such as Crutchfield.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com and JR.com all scored highly with electronics buyers, and they have low prices, product information and buying advice. But unless you get a free-shipping deal, the charges can wipe out any savings.

¢ Weigh delivery and setup options. With big-screen TVs bought from a brick-and-mortar retailer, delivery is worth the cost. For a few hundred dollars more, you can have a professional hook up multiple video devices and a sound system. Wall-mounting an LCD or plasma set and hiding wires takes skill and costs even bigger bucks. At Best Buy, it runs $400 to $900, plus the cost of mounting hardware, which starts at $50.