BEST LCD TV Reviews

Their inherently technical limitation to block all light from the backlight from reaching the surface makes it difficult for LCDs to handle predominantly dark images correctly while preserving the right brightness levels and good shadow detail for the bright parts of the image.

Plasma performance is unsurpassed here though some of the best LED TVs using both edge-lit and full array backlights with local dimming can do an incredibly good job. Even so, screen uniformity and black level intensity with off-axis viewing are still more problematic with LCD TVs and especially with edge-lit LED HDTVs.

But then LCD TVs and in particular the latest LED LCD TVs are more eco-friendly than plasma TVs; the energy guide as published by the FTC for the Samsung 55-inch UN55D8000 show a yearly electricity consumption of just $17! Equally important for those planning a DIY installation, LED TVs are significantly lighter and easier to handle than a plasma TV equivalent.

Featured LCD TV Reviews for 2011

Product lines covered by Practical Home Theater Guide for 2011 include the Sony LED TV lineup, Samsung CCFL and LED LCD TVs, and LG LED TVs. Note that the following covers the salient points discussed in the various LCD TV review articles appearing on our site; for the relevant details, please follow the respective review links as indicated below.  

2011 Sony LED HDTVs

The 55-inch KDL-55NX720 - Sony's best-selling 55-inch LED TV for 2011

Since the release of the superb XBR8 LED LCD TVs in 2008, Sony has been among the most preferred LED HDTV brands by demanding home theater enthusiast. Though in 2009, Sony missed the LED TV bandwagon, in 2010 it did more than made up for its absence from the LED TV market the year before by presenting an extensive line of LED TVs complemented by innovative features and a great picture.

The Sony's line of LED TVs for 2011 continues to build on last year's success. A classy slim styling is on offer on all Sony LED HDTVs, complemented by Sony's monolithic design for premium LED TVs, active 3D, built-in Wi-Fi, and more. In total, there are 25 different models ranging from entry-level LED LCD TVs but that boast of Internet Video and excellent energy efficiency, to the XBR-HX929―one of the very best LED LCD TVs with full array local dimming. As expected, the latter are among the most expensive LED LCD TVs for 2011 but despite the expensive price, the 55-inch XBR-55HX929 Sony LED TV is selling online at a price that is surely more within reach of the average home theater budget than the extremely expensive LG 55LW9800 equivalent.

Yet, irrespective of the present reduced online pricing, these high-end Sony HDTVs still remain too expensive for many home theater enthusiasts looking for solid picture and the latest advanced TV features. Cheaper Sony alternative options that come with an almost identical feature set except for the use of the more affordable Dynamic Edge LED backlight technology include the Sony 55-inch BRAVIA KDL-55HX820 and the 55-inch KDL-55NX720.

Both HDTVs support excellent picture quality; however, it is the NX720 range that delivers the best overall value. These come significantly cheaper than the more expensive series, yet NX720 HDTVs come with the same feature set of the HX820, the more refined styling of the flagship, and deliver a picture that is too close in performance to that of the flagship to justify spending an extra $1,000 for a Sony flagship equivalent.

More information on 2011 Sony LED TVs is available in our Sony LED LCD TV review; this is a four-part article that discusses the main features for 2011, review entry-level and premium/flagship series, and also presents our pick for the best Sony LED TVs at the different price brackets.

You may join our Sony LED TV discussion by filling the submission form here.

Samsung LCD TVs for 2011

Samsung HDTV lineups have for the last years been characterized by one of the largest range of models available from a single brand; this year lineup is no exception, with forty-six different CCFL and LED LCD HDTVs. This means that if you are in the market for an HDTV, there is surely a Samsung LCD TV for you, whether that being an expensive feature-rich LED HDTV or an entry-level budget-class CCFL LCD television; there is one problem though: TV choice!

High-end models sport among the most technologically advanced features. We have already referred to the Samsung UN55D8000 flagship TV in this write-up. Impressive is not just its extremely low yearly energy consumption; even more so is its ultra-thin 0.2-inch bezel which leads to an almost frameless design that gives you more TV picture for less wall space. Almost equally thin is the bezel found on Series 7 and some Series 6 LED TVs. The UND8000 is doing well in many LCD TV reviews published on major sites—mainly thanks to a picture performance that competes well with that of high-end plasma TVs. Other features include improved 3D and the much touted for 2011, Smart TV and Micro Dimming Plus LED backlight technologies. Do not expect these Samsung LCD TVs to come cheap though we dare say that when considering what's on offer, they are still relatively affordable.

Samsung 55-inch UN55D8000 Rated as best Samsung LCD TV for 2011, the D8000 is characterized by an almost borderless design thanks to a 0.2-inch bezel, the latest Smart TV features and improved 2D and 3D picture performance. Available from amazon US & Amazon UK

At the more affordable budget category, one finds Samsung Series D630 CCFL LCDs and the corresponding Series 6 LED HDTVs. For many, CCFL LCD TVs represent 'old school' display technology but while these are still capable of a very good picture—often delivering better brightness uniformity and a wider viewing angle than most edge-lit LED TVs. And this at a price that is significantly cheaper than an equivalent LED TV.

Interesting models here include the 40-inch LN40D630 CCFL Samsung LCD TV and the 46-inch UN46D6000 LED LCD TV. Both are 120Hz HDTVs. These are among the most affordable Samsung HDTVs despite that they include a few extras like DLNA network connectivity and more than enough HDMI inputs. In addition, the D6000 introduces you to the latest hot spec in TV entertainment, Smart TV.

Samsung LCD HDTVs competes well with the competition from other brands, often offering more picture controls and an enhanced feature set for the price, apart from the more refined styling.

For more information on Samsung LCD TV line-up for 2011, please refer to our Samsung LCD TV review article; this is a detailed product guide that discusses the pros and cons of each CCFL and LED LCD TV series. We then conclude this article by picking those Samsung HDTVs that in our opinion represent the best choice at the different budget categories.

2011 LG LED TV Lineup

Once again, the new line of LG LED TVs confirms LG as one of the main leaders in LED TV technology. The latest LG LED TVs come in a slim attractive design and are characterized by extensive features, innovative technology, and a price that is often below that of the competition. LG's main focus for 2011 is Smart TV, a feature complemented by its unique magic motion remote.

In total, LG has eight different LED TV series, apart from the recently launched 55-inch LW9800 high-end model.

In total, there are more than twenty different LG LED TV models to choose from. These range from cheap LED TVs such as the entry-level 32-inch 32LV2500 720p HDTV and the 120Hz  42-inch 42LV5500—LG's best-selling LED TV for 2011, to some of the most technologically advanced feature-rich LED HDTV sets within LG's latest Infinia line.

Infinia combines a more aesthetically pleasing design with enhanced connectivity and a superior feature set. All LG Infinia HDTVs come with the latest Smart TV portal. Other features include LG TruMotion processing and Cinema 3D; the latter is a passive 3D TV glasses technology that makes for a more affordable 3D entertainment in the home.

The LG Infinia HDTVs include sets such as  the popular 55-inch LG 55LW5600 120Hz 3D LED TV with LED Plus technology, and the very expensive 55-inch 55LW9800 480Hz flagship HDTV with its amazingly thin, stylish design despite its full LED array backlight with local dimming. This is possible thanks to LG's new Nano LED technology.

LG's Nano LED technology represents a most advanced development in full LED array backlights with local dimming that leads both to a much slimmer TV profile and also to a superior TV picture, one that is in line with that of 2011 high-end plasma TVs from Samsung and Panasonic.

For more information on the latest LG LED TVs, please refer to our LG LCD TV review article; there we discuss the different features and performance of each LG LED TV series and present our selection of the best LG LED TVs according to different price brackets.

You may join our LG LED TV discussion by submitting your comments here.

Most of the LCD HDTVs we touched upon in this LCD TV review fall within the respective companies' premium and step-up line-ups. But not all applications call for the best LCD TV you can dream of, so...

LCD TV Reviews: 2011 Cheap LCD TVs for your home entertainment

Up to a few years ago, a cheap LCD TV still meant a risky purchase from some unknown brand. Yet things have changed and relatively cheap LCD TVs and affordable LED TV sets are readily available from all major brands.

In fact, it is now possible to purchase a 37-inch or even a 42-inch LCD HDTV for under $500. Best sellers within this price category include the LG 42-inch 42LK450 1080p 60Hz LCD TV and the Vizio 37-inch XVT373SV 1080p 120Hz LCD TV with Vizio Internet Apps. As expected, these cheap LCD TVs are close to bare-bones HDTVs even though Vizio managed to squeeze its most valid Internet TV Apps—definitely a most welcome bonus at this lower price bracket. However, a reduced feature set is generally not an issue with most consumers at this price bracket since primary interest here is mainly price versus TV size.

And if $500 is not cheap enough for you, well... Even cheaper are the few 720p LCD/LED TVs still present on the market. Some may skip these HDTVs due to their lower 720p resolution. But do not let this hinder you from opting for a cheap LCD TV from a top-tier TV maker if it delivers the features and screen size you are after. At anything less than 50-inch, it would be hard to enjoy the superior picture detail afforded by the higher pixel count of a 1080p HDTV with broadcast content from normal viewing distance. Unless you have very specific needs for the higher resolution, like when using the TV as a PC monitor for viewing from a close distance, a 720p LCD TV at these screen sizes represents the best option. The real problem with 720p LCD and LED HDTVs is that these have become hard to find for anything larger than 32-inch.

Popular cheap LCD TVs within this category include the Samsung 32-inch UN32D4000 720p LED TV which is selling at close to $400, and the 32-inch LG 32LK330 720p 60Hz LCD TV, which at $340 is one of the cheapest LCD TVs from a major TV maker.

Moving towards the $500 - $750 price bracket gives you more choice in terms of features—including Internet TV access and the latest Smart TV, and this apart from a larger screen size. A case in point is the 42-inch 42LV5500 120Hz LED LCD TV with Smart TV.  And if you are to look around, it is even possible to find cheap LCD TVs that come with 3D TV support; one such 3D TV is the Vizio 42-inch E3D420VX LCD TV with Internet Apps. Vizio uses passive 3D glasses technology on its HDTVs similar to the one used by LG on its LED TVs.