REVIEW: Consumer Report Best TV's

[~Stephen~]

Here is the latest Consumer Report on the High Def TV Market.  Check it out if you want to grab a super cheap one at Circuit City soon...or are doing research for the future:

Flat-panel LCD TVs

 

52-inch, 10 models tested

#1 Samsung LN52A650  $2700 – Recommended “Stands out as one of the best LCDs we’ve tested. It uses 120Hz technology to reduce motion blur and was among the few tested sets with excellent sound.”

#2 Samsung LN52A750  $2800 – Recommended “like #1, but adds a built-in subwoofer, preloaded games, and more.”

#4 Sony BRAVIA KDL-52W4100  $2700 – Recommended “is from the lowest-priced Sony line with 120Hz technology.”

#5 Toshiba REGZA 52XF550U  $2500

#6 Mitsubishi LT-52149  $3000

 

46- and 47-inch, 9 models tested

#1 Samsung LN46A550  $1500 – Recommended “tops with all video sources”

#3 Toshiba REGZA 46XF540U  $1700 – Recommended “did very well and has 120Hz technology.”

#4 Mitsubishi LT-46148  $2300

#6 Sony KDL-46S4100  $1500

#7 Toshiba REGZA 46RV530U  $1400

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40- and 42-inch, 12 models tested

#1 Samsung LN40A550  $1250 – Recommended, Best Buy “excellent picture quality across the board, topped a strong group.”

#3 Toshiba REGZA 40XF540U  $1400 – Recommended “has excellent HD, 120Hz technology, and a wide viewing angle.”

#7 Sony KDL-40V4100  $1400 – “has fine picture quality.”

 

37-inch, 8 models tested

#1 Panasonic TC-37LZ800  $1200 – Recommended “Both Panasonics have top-notch picture quality and the widest viewing angles we’ve seen on any LCD sets ... LZ800 has a glossier screen.”

#3 Panasonic TC-37LZ85  $1000 – Recommended, see comments above.

#4 Sony BRAVIA KDL-37XBR6  $1500 – Recommended “also has top picture quality and four HDMI inputs, which is unusual for this size.”

#5 Sony KDL-37N4000  $1300

#6 Samsung LN37A450  $1000

 

32-inch, 10 models tested

#1 Samsung LN32A550  $850 – Recommended “excellent picture quality and very good sound.”

#2 Panasonic TC-32LZ800  $900 – Recommended “has a very wide viewing angle.”

#3 Sony BRAVIA KDL-32XBR6  $1100 – Recommended “has four HDMI inputs, rare in a 32-incher.”

 

26-inch, 7 models tested

#1 Panasonic TC-26LX85  $600 – Recommended

#3 Sony BRAVIA KDL-26M4000  $600 – Recommended “had excellent picture quality with all content, but middling sound quality and ease of use keep it from being the top pick.”

#4 Samsung LN26A450  $700 – Recommended “fairly narrow viewing angle.”

 

 

Plasma TVs

 

58-inch and larger, 3 models tested

#1 Samsung PN58A550  $3200 – Recommended “excellent picture quality with all types of content.” (60” Pioneer Kuro was rated #2.)

 

46-inch to 50-inch, 15 models tested

#1 Samsung PN50A550  $1600 – Recommended, Best Buy “one of the best sets we’ve tested; its comparatively low price (which could go even lower as this older set is phased out) makes it a CR Best Buy.”

#3 Samsung PN50A650  $1900 – Recommended “its higher price gets you an antiglare screen coating, InfoLink RSS feeds from USA Today, and an extra HDMI input.”

#4 Panasonic TH-50PZ800U  $2400 – Recommended “has an all-glass bezel and excellent picture quality in THX picture mode (which changes the TV’s settings to match the THX video certification.”

#6 Samsung PN50A450  $1150

#7 Panasonic TH-50PZ85U  $1850 – “picture quality not quite as good as the PZ800, but it costs much less.”

#10 Panasonic TH-46PZ80U  – “picture quality is very good, and the screen is brighter than on most plasmas, a plus for daytime viewing or a brightly lighted room.”

#11 Panasonic TH-50PZ850U  $2700

 

42-inch, 5 models tested

#1 Panasonic TH-42PZ800U  $1600 – Recommended “excellent picture quality on all program types when set to THX mode.”

#2 Panasonic TH-42PX80U  $900 – Recommended “a 720p set with very good picture quality at a lower price.”

#4 Samsung PN42A450  $900

[Will]

None of those are what I would consider even inexpensive, let alone "super cheap".  Unless Circuit City's prices are far below the ones listed?  Or did you mean relatively cheap?

[ExMachina]

Not a bad introduction to the heavy hitters (and these are all "premium" brands, unlike LG, Olevia, Westinghouse, etc. which are budget flat panel manufacturers and would probably be better for those on a budget), but I'd take CR's attempts at assessing picture quality with a grain of salt.

Like they rated Samsung's plasma over the Pioneer Kuro... Seriously? D:

Best bet is to bring your own source to the store and check out the panels for yourself.

I guess Circuit City would be a good place to look into buying TVs because it's closing 150 stores, so they're bound to have some crazy sales.

[grimey]

None of those are what I would consider even inexpensive, let alone "super cheap".  Unless Circuit City's prices are far below the ones listed?  Or did you mean relatively cheap?

I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish here but you sound snarky and pedantic.

[Will]

Just reminding people that most of us don't exactly have overage of cash, so "super cheap" means something entirely different than to most people, and certainly not anything close to or above $1000.

[namestolen]

He means super cheap because starting Nov. 5th Circuit City will be having liquidation sales, so those prices will get lower. And remember that this consumer report is for the best televisions out there, so there will surely be cheaper models available.

[Will]

Yeah, I figured that out after I saw the other thread about the stores closing.  Which I hadn't read at the time of my first post.  The comment makes more sense now (though "super cheap" is still probably only relative to their normal cost and not exactly affordable for someone like me).  I can't get to Circuit City anyways, though, so it doesn't matter if I could afford one or not.  By the time I can afford one, I'm sure they'll have moved on to other stuff as the pinnacle of TV tech.

[Eureka]

of course, we college students all have 2500 dollars to waste on a tv.....

brb, need to gather up my nickels so i can buy a coke from the vending machine

[ExMachina]

How to Buy a Liquidation Sale HDTV at Circuit City and Not Get Screwed (Hint: It's Hard)

Oops, maybe not such a good idea to look for a flat panel at CC...