Top 10 LCD TV
With the way the world is changing, we are spending more and more time inside our homes. For better or worse, this means that most of our information comes from TV. This means the market is always flooded with new products, and this top 10 LCD TV shootout aims to help you make an informed buying decision. LCD TV sets are on the cutting edge of technology, in many cases they surpass thier plasma counterparts. While both types of televisions boast thin profiles and large screens, there are 3 main things that make LCD TVs tops:
- LCD HDTV sets have less glare from lights and windows
- LCD televisions have a wider viewing angle which means everyone in the room has the best seat
- LCD TVs are burn in resistant; this makes them great for sports and video games as you don’t have to wonder about damaging the screen
When shopping for an LCD TV, it’s important to remember that this is a major purchase, and it’s cost will be spread out over many, many years. This means that you should not always go for the lowest priced model or you could be stuck with your decision for quite some time. You want to buy the correct sized TV; bigger is usually better, but it’s important to keep the size of your room in mind. You want to find an LCD television that fits your budget and your lifestyle. Here are a few of the things we looked at when rating these LCD TVs:
- overall consumer and expert recommendations: We not only used the data from our panel of reviewers, but also looked at the data from other experts and from consumers to ensure that we provided the broadest, most objective review of each model.
- overall viewing screen size: While many reviews seem to only focus on the largest (read most expensive) models, we felt it was import to rate a selection of LCD TVs that are a good fit for the average room and the average shopper.
- pixel response time: This is what can really make or break your LCD TV purchase. If the response time is too slow, you picture can end up looking blurry; NOT what you want when watching the big game or the new action blockbuster.
- HDTV capabilities: While most of the LCD TVs on the market are HD capable, we wanted to focus solely on them. They are the best bang for the buck, and getting an LCD HDTV set is the best way to make certain that you can enjoy your purchase for a long time.
Now, for the winners of our top 10 LCD comparison. The finishers are in no particular order (let’s be fair) so don’t think of them as best to worst. Or goal was instead to pick the cream of the crop from the current LCD TV market. This will hopefully provide you with plenty of shopping options when looking at your new TV. We’ve also provided links to a very well known online shop (Amazon.com) to make price comparisons quick and easy. Don’t worry about shopping online either. Most of these units have free shipping included, and you can save ALOT when you buy online.
Samsung LN32B460- The beautiful colors put out by this 32″ TV really wowed all of our testers. The images were very lifelike and crystal clear. The action scenes were all blur free thanks to Samsungs 6 ms response time. Parts of the bezel are also transparent, giving this LCD TV a very modern look. Audio quality is also great, with SRS TruSurround HD built in.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 720p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 32 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| Refresh Frequency | 60 Hz |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Response Time | 6 ms |
| Best Price | $534.00 (free shipping) |
Sony Bravia KDL-40S5100- While the Bravia is considered an entry level LCD HDTV by Sony, it’s performance is top notch. The S series models get a bump to 1080p, but not the higher refresh rate of the more expensive models. That said, it will give the budget conscious shoppers something to smile about offering a beautiful picture and full 1080p all from a top rated manufacturer. It boasts 3 HDMI inputs, and will help save on your electric bill by using Sonys light sensing back light technology.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 40 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| HDMI Connections | 3 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Contrast Ratio | 30000:1 |
| Best Price | $779.00 (free shipping) |
Samsung LN40B750- This Samsung boasts a full 1080p, 240Hz panel in a case that is only 1 inch thick. While Samsung has really been pushing their new LED backlit LCD TV models, they quietly introduced the LN40B750 (a CFL model) with lots of the same features making it a win win for you. We liked it so much that it won our editors choice award for quality.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 40 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| Antireflective Screen | Yes |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Best Price | $1459.00 (free shipping) |
Samsung Luxia UN46B6000- Another top contender from Samsung. The Luxia series is their ECO-FRIENDLY line using an LED backlight that is over 40% more efficient that other LCD TVs in it’s class. Like the Sony, it can vary the back lighting in response to conditions which is a great feature.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 46 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| HDMI Connections | 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Best Price | $1839.00 (free shipping) |
Sony Bravia KDL-32S5100- While the Bravia is considered an entry level LCD HDTV by Sony, it’s performance is top notch. The S series models get a bump to 1080p, but not the higher refresh rate of the more expensive models. That said, it will give the budget conscious shoppers something to smile about offering a beautiful picture and full 1080p all from a top rated manufacturer. It boasts 3 HDMI inputs, and will help save on your electic bill by using Sonys light sensing backlight technology. The Bravia KDL-32S5100 is our top recommended 32″ LCD TV.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 32 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| HDMI Connections | 3 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Contrast Ratio | 30000:1 |
| Best Price | $580.00 (free shipping) |
Sony KDL-46Z5100- Like the XBR9 models, the KDL-46Z5100 features full internet connectivity. Boasting a 240Hz, 1080p panel, and 4 HDMI inputs this LCD television can truly be the center of your home entertainment universe. Sony chose a CFL backlight, technology that they have pioneered and perfected over the years.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 46 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| HDMI Connections | 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Contrast Ratio | 10000:1 |
| Best Price | $1517.00 (free shipping) |
Samsung Luxia UN46B7000- Samsung has another winner in their Luxia lineup. We liked enough to make it our choice for best 46″ LCD TV. It features an antiglare screen, internet capability, and full Energy Star 3.0 compliance. It also shares the beautiful picture quality and bold vivid colors of the 8000 series although without the major price increase.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 46 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| HDMI Connections | 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Backlight | LED |
| Best Price | $2019.00 (free shipping) |
Samsung Luxia UN55B6000- Another great option from the Samsung line of ECO FRIENDLY LCD TVs is the UNB6000 series. This 55 inch model features top of the line LED backlighting, an 120Hz refresh rate, and packs in at only 1″ deep. With the LED backlight panel, the Luxia series is 40% more efficient than other models in it’s class.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 40 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| HDMI Connections | 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Built in Ethernet | Yes |
| Best Price | $2559.00 (free shipping) |
LG 42LH55- This great LCD TV from LG wins our editors choice award for best value in an LCD TV. A wicked fast 240Hz TruMotion refresh rate keeps even the fastest paced video games and movies looking sharp making this model the best choice for action packed and sports watching households. It has 4 HDMI inputs allowing you to hook up all your home entertainment needs and boasts the new ISFccc ready color calibration system. This allows you the easiest, most accurate color calibration possible without all the guesswork and complicated menus.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 42 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Energy Star Compliant | Yes |
| HDMI Connections | 4 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Contrast Ratio | 15000:1 |
| Best Price | $967.00 (free shipping) |
Sharp Aquos LC-46E77U- This Sharp Aquos was just introduced at CES 2009. It features Sharps new Super View anti-reflective technology which when coupled with the lightning quick 4 ms response rate and 120 Hz refresh rate give your one beautiful, sharp picture. It’s plenty fast for all the latest video games, and fast enough to beat motion blur in even the fastest paced games like hockey and baseball. For the sports or gaming fans, this LCD TV is hard to beat. It also boasts 5 HDMI inputs, so you should always have room to hook up that new toy. Full Energy Star 3.0 compliance should also save you some money when the electric bill comes around.
| HDTV Native Resolution | 1080p |
| Screen Size (inches) | 46 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Response Time | 4 ms |
| HDMI Connections | 5 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Best Price | $1029.00 (free shipping) |
So there you have an unbiased look at the top 10 LCD HDTV models of this year. Keep in mind that shopping season is just around the corner, so theses units will be flying off the store shelves to make way for holiday merchandise. These models represent the very best in performance and price for LCD televisions, so it would be difficult if not impossible for you to go wrong with any of these models. Also remember that online retailer Amazon.com offers free shipping on almost all models and prices that are usually less than the local stores. Good luck in finding the best LCD TV for you, and our editors sincerely hope this top 10 LCD TV shootout helped in your research.
