Review date: 16^th Nov. 2009

Last Update:  15^th Jan. 2010

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BEST HDTV Sets

Picking the Best Plasma TVs and the Best LCD HDTVs

Throughout these past few months, we have seen quite a number of great HDTVs - all capable of an excellent picture.

These are often complemented by the hottest specs of the day - Internet-enabled content, 240Hz processing in LCDs, 600Hz processing in plasmas, THX display certification, mega-contrasts, LED backlighting in LED LCD TVs, and ultra-slim designs - just to mention a few.

Yet, while most of today's premium and high-end HDTVs are capable of solid picture performance, not all HDTVs perform the same. Hence, the issue remains... Which are the best HDTVs?

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Best HDTVs around for 2009 - More than just a picture...

While as stated, most of today's HDTVs are capable in their own way, of an overall excellent picture, yet even more important is that some of the very best TVs have brought about more than just the typical incremental improvement in performance.

It is this that in our opinion differentiates the very best televisions from the rest. At the same time, we cannot but remark that even the best HDTVs do not excel in the same manner when it comes to the most important deliverable - the picture.

Some excel in deep blacks - to the point that the best HDTVs would disappear when displaying a dark scene in a completely darkened room. Others excel in color accuracy and shadow detail, while some simply excel overall. Others come with extensive user-adjustable picture settings that make it easy to zero-in to the best picture, while a few also come with THX display certification for the best out-of-the-box picture at the touch of a button.

And at a time when a great picture seems just not enough to qualify for a great HDTV, some TV makers go into extensive research to package their HDTVs in stylish ultra-slim designs while others include hot features such as Internet-enabled content to further enrich your TV viewing experience.

It is thus clear that picking up the best HDTV is not just a picture matter. And what may constitute the best plasma or LCD TV depends not only on picture performance, but also on whether the selected model comes with the features you are looking for at the best price for your money.

In the end, the whole issue is simply a matter of ensuring that you opt for best HDTV that fits your budget.

We have already covered some of the best LCDs and plasma TVs under the respective LCD and plasma TV reviews sections. What follows instead is our preferred list of top-rated HDTVs that in our opinion falls within the 'best HDTV' category, irrespective of display technology. We do highlight the main features to better explain where the selected models fit best, while additional information is also available in our HDTV reviews and detailed product guides.

Therefore, if you are in the market for the best HDTV, we hope that our list will make your life a bit easier. In the meantime, if you are still deciding between plasma and LCD, and would like to know more where each of these display technologies fits best, we advise you to refer to our plasma vs. LCD TV guide.

Best HDTVs overall...

Presented in order of ranking, this 'Best HDTVs' list was originally planned to list our top-10 HDTVs. In the end however, we found it hard to differentiate between the Samsung B8500 and the Panasonic V10 for the top position. In a similar manner, we felt we could not leave out the Sony V5100 series. It is true that this just made it with the best HDTVs, but this definitely represents one of the best 1080p HDTV options in terms of overall value.

Samsung UNB8500 Series

Samsung 55-inch UN55B8500

Released just a few weeks ago, Samsung latest LED TV series with local dimming is definitely in a class of its own - to the point that these HDTVs have been labeled by a few experts and consumers, as the king of LCD and the best HDTVs for 2009. These sets come with a most extensive feature set, a never ending list of user adjustable picture settings, a most stylish design, and a picture that surpass the competition in most areas of picture quality.

However, whether overall picture performance is better than that of the Panasonic V10 series plasma TVs depends on what are your exact requirements. Main issues with the Samsung B8500 series - apart from its very expensive price, relate to a slight blooming - typical of all LED TVs with local dimming, and a somewhat restricted viewing angle with respect to plasmas and CCFL LCDs.

But as long as one stays within the recommended viewing area, then it should still be possible to enjoy the best picture that the latest cutting edge display technology has to offer.

Models available are the 46-inch UN46B8500 ($3,100) and the 55-inch UN55B8500 ($4050).

For more information, please read our B8500 full product evaluation...

Panasonic TC-V10 Series

This in our opinion represents Panasonic best HDTV series for 2009, and the best HDTVs for overall picture quality; hence, this shares the No. 1 position in our Best HDTVs list together with the Samsung B8500 series.

V10 plasma TVs are capable of one of the deepest blacks together with LED TVs using local dimming, one can expect from any HDTV - this apart from their highly accurate colors and excellent shadow detail. According to Panasonic, this is the series for videophiles, hence the 'V' signature.

These HDTVs come with THX display certification but they do lack some of the conveniences and features found on the Samsung B8500. Mind you, you would still get one of the hottest specs of the day, Internet-enabled TV content in the form of VieraCast. And Panasonic VieraCast happens to be one of the most responsive suites of interactive content available today.

The V10 series comprises four models, the 50-inch TC-P50V10 ($1,820), the 54-inch TC-P54V10 ($2,600), the 58-inch TC-P58V10 ($2,700), and the 65-inch TC-P65V10 ($3,650).

For more information, please refer to our Panasonic V10 review here...

Samsung B860 Series Plasma TVs

Almost in line with the Panasonic V10 in terms of picture quality, Samsung's high-end plasmas come in an extremely stylish design - with an ultra-slim package that is no more than 1.2-inch deep. This is the same as the slimmest LED TVs from Samsung.

Series 8 Samsung plasma TVs are among the best HDTVs around for overall picture quality and an enhanced feature set that surpasses that of the competition. The blacks on the Samsung B860 (and B850) HDTVs are not exactly in line with those of the Panasonic V10 but otherwise, Samsung plasmas excel in color accuracy - with an accuracy that is better than that of the Panasonic V10 HDTVs. Video processing on the Samsung is also superb - capable of doing a great job with both high definition and standard definition content. The latter is an area where most HDTVs - including those from Panasonic and Sony - fail.

The B860 Series comprises the 50-inch PN50B860 ($1,800), and the 58-inch PN58B860 ($2,700). This is the most interesting series and the most expensive within Samsung 2009 plasma TV lineup.

For more information, please refer to our B860 product evaluation...

Samsung B8000

Samsung's edge-lit LED TVs were among the first to appear on stores shelves; these soon proved to be among the most popular - mainly because of their LED TV technology and an ultra-sleek 1.2-inch thin design. For 2009, Samsung did present three edge-lit series but the one that really generated most interest is the Series 8 UNB8000 lineup.

Through its B8000 HDTVs, Samsung managed to combine some of the hottest specs of the day - 240Hz processing, LED back-lighting, mega-contrast ratings, Internet-enabled TV content, and an ultra-slim inch-thin design.

As with other LED TVs, these do suffer from a reduced viewing angle; screen uniformity is also not among the best though it is still better than many other LCDs. Overall however, these are among the best HDTVs and as long as you can stay within the recommended viewing area, you will definitely enjoy one of the best pictures complemented by super color accuracy and very deep blacks. And latest reduced pricing on Samsung premium edge-lit LED TVs definitely makes the B8000 series an even more compelling HDTV option for series home entertainment.

Series 8 - UNB8000 comes in two models, the Samsung 46-inch UN46B8000 ($2,300) and the Samsung 55-inch UN55B8000 LED HDTV ($3,020).

For more information on edge-lit Samsung LED TV series, please refer to our B6000/B7000/B8000 product evaluation guide here...

Sony XBR8 LED LCD TVs

Sony XBR8 series was released in November last year but it still is one of the very best HDTVs that LED TV technology has delivered. These TVs come with a rather thick profile in comparison to the latest HDTVs, but this has nothing to do with their placement in our list of best HDTVs.

Rather, it is the XBR8 picture quality - in particular with respect to blooming, screen uniformity and reduced viewing angle. But if you can take the best seat, then you will enjoy one of the very best pictures around - with exceptionally deep blacks that make these sets disappear in a dark environment when displaying dark content.

The Sony XBR8 real problem is their very expensive price. A year down the line and these Sony LED TVs are still among the most expensive though their present reduced price makes then somewhat more affordable. However, if you have the money to spend on one of these Sony HDTVs, you will definitely be rewarded by an exceptionally pleasing picture.

Sony XBR8 HDTVs come in two screen sizes, the 55-inch Sony KDL-55XBR8 LED LCD TV and the 46-inch KDL-46XBR8; average price online for the 55-inch is $4,400.

More information on Sony XBR8 LED LCD TV series is available in our Sony KDL-55XBR8 review here...

LG LH90 LED TV Series with local dimming

The LG LH90 series represents LG high-end LED TV line for 2009. These LED LG LCD TVs are the only LCD TVs from a top brand that come with THX display certification. These LG HDTVs may not represent the prefect TV but the LH90 deep blacks and accurate colors help deliver solid picture quality that lacks nothing with respect to the more expensive competition.

Instead, they do miss on IPTV interactive features, do support a relatively poor off-angle performance with respect to most conventional LCDs, and have some blooming issues. The latter is typical with LED TVs using local dimming and becomes more noticeable from off-angle. But as most professional reviews show, the LG LH90 off-angle performance is not worst than that of the Sony XBR8 and better than that of the B7000 Samsung LED TVs.

If interactive features are a priority, then these TVs are not for you. Otherwise, the LH90 stylish design, affordable price for an LED TV with local dimming, and solid overall picture especially from the best seat, make these LG LED LCD TVs among the best HDTVs, and a most compelling big screen LED TV option for home entertainment.

Screen sizes within the LG LH90 series include the 47-inch LG 47LH90 ($1,750), and the massive 55-inch LG 55LH90 ($2,700).

More information on these LG LED TVs is available in our 2009 LG LCD TV product guide here...

Samsung B750 LCD Series

Series 7 LCD HDTVs represent Samsung premium conventional LCD TVs for 2009. Without doubt, these LCD HDTVs are among the very best HDTVs, with an overall solid picture that is on par with that of most edge-lit LED TVs. Rather, in areas of screen uniformity and viewing angle performance, B750 HDTVs surpass the Samsung edge-lit B6000 and B7000 LED TVs.

Deep blacks, accurate colors, good shadow detail, solid image uniformity, a great customizable dejudder mode, solid connectivity, network streaming with DLNA support, complemented by the latest trend in HDTVs - TV widgets and 240Hz refresh rate, numerous picture settings, solid video processing and a sleek design are just but a few of the features that characterize these LCD TVs.

It is not that these are the perfect HDTVs. Their blacks - despite being very deep - does not surpass those of the best plasmas and LED TVs - including those of the G10 and G15 Panasonic HDTVs and which we rate at a lower position not because of their picture quality - which is superb - but because of other issues. In addition, if your viewing will be predominantly in a bright room, then the shinny screen on these Samsung LCDs may represent the best option.

Otherwise, if you can control the room lighting, then these represent a great HDTV option. They do not come cheap but the present reduced pricing makes the B750 LCDs among the best HDTVs for series home use.

B750 Samsung LCD TVs come in three screen sizes, the 40" LN40B750 ($1,470), the 46" LN46B750 ($1,630), and the largest in the lineup, the 52" Samsung LN52B750 ($1,900).

More information on the Samsung B750 LCD series is available in our Samsung Series 7 LCD full product evaluation...

Panasonic G10/G15 Plasma HDTVs

G10 and G15 series Panasonic Viera plasma HDTVs represent Panasonic most affordable 1080p HDTVs with THXTM Display certification. These series share almost identical specifications and come with Panasonic NeoPDP display and VieraCast - Panasonic's way of delivering interactive content. The real difference between the two series is the slimmer package of the G15 that is just over 2-inch as against the 4-inches of the G10.

The THX mode on these HDTVs is possibly the best implementation of the perfect out-of-the-box picture at the touch of a button. Very deep blacks, excellent picture uniformity, very good shadow detail, superb overall color accuracy, and excellent off-angle viewing all help establish G10 and G15 HDTVs among the very best HDTVs in a post-KURO era.

The main problem with the G10/G15 HDTVs is their inability to handle 24p content directly without the use of 2:3 pulldown processing; also, typical of Panasonic, standard definition handling is not among their best capabilities.

Overall however, these Panasonic plasma TVs represent the best bet for those looking for high performance HDTVs at a more affordable price. In this respect, G10 and G15 HDTVs are among the best HDTVs at the higher end-category.

G10 Panasonic plasma HDTVs include the 42-inch TC-P42G10 ($900) the 46-inch TC-P46G10 ($1,180), the 50-inch TC-P50G10 ($1,230) and the 54-inch TC-P54G10($1,500). Instead, G15 HDTVs come in three sizes, the 42-inch TC-P42G15 ($900), the 46-inch TC-P46G15 ($1,200), and the 50-inch TC-P50G15 ($1,260).

More information on these Panasonic plasma TVs is available in our G10/G15 product review here...

LG 60PS80 Plasma TV

LG real strength in the TV industry arises out of its ability to deliver feature-packed HDTVs at a most affordable price tag - in particular at the really big-screen TV end of the market. It is in this respect that LG's massive 60-inch 60PS80 ($2,000) high-end plasma definitely delivers better than the competition.

At just over $2,000, the 60PS80 represents the best HDTV option for overall value - features/performance/price - for the home theater on a budget.

In fact, this is the TV that comes with the best feature set; LG NetCast is a joy to use, there are plenty of inputs to choose from, and its elegant design would surely add impact to any room decor. LG THX mode delivers a great picture thanks to its highly accurate color while the included Picture Wizard is an added bonus to the already extended set of user-adjustable picture settings for those who like to play around with the user controls for the best picture.

It is true that the LG picture quality is not exactly in line with corresponding Panasonic or Samsung TVs but... the LG 60PS80 is some $700 cheaper and comes with a picture that you would definitely love and enjoy. Taken on its own, the LG 60PS80 is definitely a great big screen TV worth every dollar.

LG high-end PS80 series comprises the 60-inch LG 60PS80 ($2,000) referred to above and the 50-inch LG50PS80 ($1,300).

More information on the LG PS80 series of high-end plasma HDTVs is available in our 2009 LG plasma TVs product guide...

Sony XBR9 Series

Like the Samsung B750 LCDs, Sony's XBR9 series represents Sony premium line of conventional CCFL-based LCD HDTVs. It is one of the best performing Sony Bravia LCD TVs for 2009, and while it cannot match the performance of top plasmas and LED TVs, yet it is good enough to be among the best HDTVs.

This is all thanks to their deep blacks and good shadow detail. Color accuracy is also generally good. All is complemented by an attractive style and plenty of connectivity.

As expected, Sony's XBR9 series are somewhat expensive but the latest price drop makes these Sony LCD HDTVs more of a compelling option to those in the market for what the best cutting edge HDTV technology has to offer. Due to its extensive streaming capabilities and DLNA networking support, Sony defines the XBR9 as the 'ultimate in Sony video technology'.

It is not that they come with the perfect interactive suite but Sony's Bravia Internet video capabilities are definitely more responsive and a joy to use in comparison to Samsung's slow Medi@2.0 Internet-based functionality.

Sony XBR9 HDTVs come in four screen sizes; the 52-inch Sony KDL-52XBR9 ($1,950), the 46-inch KDL-46XBR9 ($1,575), and the 40-inch KDL-40XBR90 ($1,350) - which all share exactly the same specifications, and a smaller 32-inch but which comes with reduced features and different specifications.

More information on these Sony LCD HDTVs is available in our Sony XBR9 product review...

Samsung B650 Series LCD HDTVs

If you want to enjoy almost the same features and performance as supported by Samsung's B750 high end series, but at a lower price, then the B650 is the best HDTV series to opt for. Apart from the 240Hz processing, B650 series 120Hz Samsung LCD HDTVs share almost identical features - including Samsung full suite of interactive content.

Some may argue that 240Hz is better but as most experts would tell you, the improvement brought about by 240Hz processing over 120Hz systems is often impossible to perceive.

Overall, Series 6 Samsung LCD TVs are capable of solid picture quality - with blacks that are extremely dark, and highly accurate primary and secondary colors. And as is typical of Samsung HDTVs, video processing is also among the best you can find on any HDTV. In this respect, Samsung B650 HDTV series offers one of the best HDTV options at the mid-tier category - with a performance that is almost in line with that of top-tier HDTVs but at a lower price.

Samsung Series 6 HDTVs come in eight screen sizes. However, the smaller 19-inch and 22-inch sets in the series come with a reduced feature set and lower specifications. More interesting instead are the larger screen sizes; these include the 32-inch LN32B650 ($890), the 37-inch LN37B650 ($1,020), the 40-inch LN40B650 ($1,190), the 46-inch LN46B650 ($1,449), the 55-inch LN55B650 ($2,300), and the largest in the series, the 65-inch LN65B650 ($4,670). These all share the same specifications.

More information on these Samsung LCD HDTVs is available in our detailed Samsung 2009 Series 6 LCD product guide...

Sony V5100 Series LCDs

Not exactly one of the very best HDTVs around but the relatively excellent picture quality of these Sony 120Hz LCD TVs represents a very good value for those in the market for an HDTV that is capable of just delivering what a TV should deliver - a great picture. This is something that V5100 HDTVs are capable of doing - and this at a most affordable price.

As one might expect, these Sony LCD TVs do not come with the hot frills of the day - 240Hz processing and interactive content, nor has Sony invested in some stylish design as in the case of the XBR9. But otherwise, these HDTVs are capable of very similar picture performance to that of the more expensive Sony series - thanks to almost identical picture related specifications to those found on Sony XBR9.

The V5100 Sony series comprises four models, the 55-inch KDL-55V5100 ($1,700), the 52-inch KDL-52V5100 ($1,365), the 46-inch KDL-46V5100 ($1,150), and the smallest in the series, the 40-inch KDL-40V5100 ($790).

More information on these Sony LCD HDTVs is available in our detailed Sony V5100 LCD TV product evaluation...

Buying a new HDTV - Buy now or wait till later?

Should you wait for 2010 HDTVs or buy now to enjoy the present reduced pricing on 2009 sets?

Following the CES, many end up engulfed in the dilemma of whether they should opt for a premium line HDTV from 2009 at a heavily discounted price, or simply wait for the new models to start filling stores shelves and get the latest... at a significantly higher price.

We discuss this hotly debated issue to help you make a better choice.

Join our discussion here.

Covering some of the best HDTVs around - sorted according to display technology

Samsung B8500 LED TV Series detailed product evaluation

Samsung Series 6 LCD TVs:  Full product guide covering B610, B630, B640, and B650 LCD HDTVs

Samsung Series 6 LCD TVs:  Full product guide covering B610, B630, B640, and B650 LCD HDTVs

Sony Bravia KDL-V5100 120Hz 1080p HDTVs - full product review 

Sony Bravia KDL-XBR9 240Hz 1080p HDTVs with internet-enabled content and DLNA support - full product review 

Samsung LED TVs vs. LCD TVs
Which is Better?
Now that we have reviewed both the new Samsung LED and Samsung Series 7 LCDs, it is only natural that we discuss this LED vs. LCD TV issue.

Samsung 2009 LCD TVs:  The B750 Series:
Series 7 Samsung LCDs have all it takes to become the best selling HDTVs for 2009. More in this LCD TV review.

2009 Samsung LED TVs - the Complete Lineup: Product Evaluation

LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 1: Samsung A950 Series

LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 2: Sony XBR8 series

LED LCD TVs - Sony vs. Samsung Part 3: Which is Better?

2009 Samsung plasma TV Reviews:

Samsung Plasma Lineup:
A detailed product guide covering the full 2009 Samsung plasma lineup.

Samsung Series 6:
Reviewing Samsung most affordable 1080p premium plasma series for 2009.

Samsung Series 8:
Samsung's best plasma TV for 2009

2009 Panasonic Plasma TV Reviews:

2009 Panasonic Plasma TV Line-up - full product guide.

Review: X1 entry-level 720p HDTVs - covering also the X14 and the C1

Review: S1 entry-level 1080p HDTVs - covering also the S14 and the U1

Review: G10 THX-certified Premium 1080p HDTVs - covering also the G15 series

The Panasonic V10 in detail - Reviewing the best-rated Panasonic plasma TV for 2009

More 2009 Plasma TV Reviews

Cheap Plasma TV Reviews - 2009 Update:
Sub $1,000 name-brand plasma TVs within the 42-inch and 50-inch category.

2009 Best Plasma TVs - Samsung B860 vs. Panasonic V10:
Which deserves the 'Best Plasma TV' title for 2009?

LG Plasma TVs:
Full 2009 product guide and detailed review of LG high-end PS80 plasma TV series

Check out the latest special offers on the best HDTV sets at amazon

LED LCD TVs

CCFL-based LCD HDTVs

Plasma HDTVs

Samsung stylish 1-inch ultra-thin plasmas for 2009.

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please click here.

 

Suggested TV Wall Mounts & AV Cabinets

Wall Mounts and Media Cabinets

Would You like to get the best out of your HDTV?

There is no better way to make the most out of your new HDTV then to invest in a set-up DVD.

A great calibration disc is the Avia II Home Theater Set-up DVD, suitable for the novice and the expert.

Another interesting calibration disc for the advanced user is the Digital Video Essentials HD.

For more information, check our Guide to HT Set-Up DVDs.

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