Overview
Many of these plasma and LCD TVs (including
LCD TVs that use LED backlighting, noted in the Ratings) offer fine performance
that would please most viewers. The TVs highlighted below stand out for the
reasons noted, but any recommended set is worth considering. If a tested model
isn’t the size you want, check the last column to see whether a bigger or
smaller screen is available.
Best
Values in 60-inch TVs
A. 60- Inch and larger. All have 1080p resolutions
A3: Samsung $1,300 CR Best Buy
A7: LG $1,250 CR Best Buy
A9: LG $900 CR Best Buy
A2
Samsung
All of these are 1080p plasma sets that
offer top performance and bang for the buck. A3 and A7 are loaded with
features, including 3D capability, built-in Wi-Fi, and Internet with full
browser; A3 also has very good sound. A9 is very low-priced for a set this size
and has excellent picture quality, but it lacks the 3D and Internet
Capabilities found on the other. It has three HDMI inputs, one fewer than A7,
and doesn’t have the gesture-based Magic Remote that comes with its
higher-priced brandmate. Still, if performance matters most, check it out.
A7
Samsung
Full
– Featured 60-inch and larger TVs
A1: Panasonic $3,700
A2: Samsung $2,300
A5: Panasonic $1,700
A6: Samsung $2,000
A8: LG $ 1,800
These higher-priced plasma TVs have lots of
features, including 3D, streaming video, and Web browsers. A1 Panasonic and A6
Samsung are the largest, with 65 and 64-inch screens, respectively. A1 is a
premium flagship model with a high price that gets you impressive black levels,
better-than-average sound, and a second, touchpad remote that’s handy for
Internet activities. You can save almost $2,000 with A5 if you can live with a
slightly smaller screen (60 inches) and without the premium design, touchpad
remote, and THX mode that comes with A1.A2 and A8 are 60-inch flagship plasmas;
A2 can be controlled via hand movements and voice and has very good sound and a
touchpad remote. A8 comes with a gesture –based remote.
Best
values in 55-to 59-inch TVs
B2: Panasonic $1,300 CR Best Buy
B6: LG $1,200 CR Best Buy
B12: Vizio $1,330 CR Best Buy
B14: Samsung $1,300 CR Best Buy
B15: Sony $1,300 CR Best Buy
B16 Vizio $830 CR Best Buy
B.
55-to 59-inch. All have 1080p resolution
All of these models have 1080p resolution,
and all but B16 have excellent picture quality. B2 is a plasma TV; the rest are
LCD sets, most of them with LED backlighting. The lowest-priced, B16, has a
fluorescent backlight. B2 and B6 are loaded, with internet access, Wi-Fi, a
browser, and 3D; B12 has all but a browser. B16 is especially well-priced, with
very good scores for picture and sound quality, a wider viewing angle for an
LCD, and streaming video and Wi-Fi. B12 is the first TV we’ve ever tested with
an extra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio rather than the 16:9 screens on most HDTVs. It
displays wider-format movies without black bars on top and bottom.
B2
Panasonic
Full-featured
55-to 59-inch TVs
B1: Panasonic $ 2,500
B3: Panasonic $2,300
B4: Samsung $2,500
B5: LG $2,800
B7: Sony $3,000
B6
LG
B.
55-to 59-inch, continued
All of these 55-inch TVs are loaded with
features, including Internet access, Wi-Fi, browsers, and 3D. B1, plasma in
Panasonic’s flagship line, is the best all-round choice for HD, 3D, and sound
quality. The other TVs in this group, all LCD sets with LED backlighting, are
fine performers worth considering. For easier use of internet features, you
might like the touchpad remotes that come with B1, B3, B4 or the gesture-based
wand-style remote with B5. B7 may well have the best black levels we’ve seen on
an LCD. B3 and B5 have wide viewing angles for LCDs.
Comparing
Brands: Sound quality
If you won’t be hooking your TVs up to
external speakers, it’s worth checking out the set’s sound score in the
Ratings-especially if you’re fussy or like to watch lots of movies or music
videos. Only 23 of the 143 TVs in our Ratings have very good sound quality, any
of them in the larger screen sizes. A number of the Samsung models we tested
have better-than-average sound, along with a few LG, Panasonic, and Vizio sets.
A good score for sound should be OK for typical TV programming, but think twice
about any set with fair or pour sound.
Best
Values in 46-to 51-inch TVs
C7: Samsung $650 CR Best Buy
C14: LG $600 CR Best Buy
C16: Samsung $700 CR Best Buy
C18: LG $600 CR Best Buy
C20: Panasonic $700 CR Best Buy
C21: Vizio $700 CR Best Buy
C22 Samsung $680 CR Best Buy
C23 LG $600 CR Best Buy
C.
46- to 51-inch. All have 1080p resolution except C7 and C13, which have 720p.
Most viewers should be happy with the
picture and sound on all of these TVs. The first five are 50-to 51-inch
plasmas, which tend to cost less than similar-sized LCDs. C21, C22, and C23 are
LCDs with 46-or 47-inch screens; C21 and C22 have LED backlighting, and C23
uses fluorescent backlights. All except C7 have 1080p resolution. If you want
to watch 3D, check out C7 and C23. C21 is the only one in the group with
Internet capability. Among LCD sets, C21 and C23 have wide viewing angles; like
all plasmas, C7, C14, C16, C18, and C20 have unlimited viewing angles.
C3
Samsung
Full-Featured 46- to 51-inch TVs
C1: Samsung $1,250
C2: Panasonic $1,100
C3: Samsung $1,400
C4 Samsung $850
C5 LG $1,600
C6 LG $1,200
C.
46- to 51-inch continued
All of the models in this group have
excellent high-def picture quality and many features, including Internet
access, Wi-Fi, browsers, and 3D capability. C1, C2 C3, and C4 are plasmas with
50-or 51-inch screens. C5 and C6 are 47-inch LCDs with LED backlighting. C4
stands out for its comparatively low price, considering its many features. C1
is the only odel in this group with very good sound quality. C5 and C6 have
wide viewing angles for an LCD TV. Among the Samsung models, the most
expensive, C3, has an ultra slim design and more picture controls than its
brand mates. The main differences between C5 and C6 are that the pricier LG has
a more stylish frame and limited voice control using the microphone in the
wand-style gesture-based remote control.
