LCD TV Best Buys

Samsung LN-T5265F ( Around USD 2800)

Best 52-inch LCD HDTV. According to reviewers, the Samsung LN-T5265F is the best blend of screen size, performance and price among LCD TVs. Colors are said to be accurate, and a full range of picture controls allow owners to tweak further. Critics also say that the image is crisp, blacks are impressively deep and shadow detail is good. Even better, the Samsung is inexpensive for a top performing, 52-inch LCD TV, and it costs less than many plasma TVs of this size. Unlike most LCD TVs, the LN-T5265F has a glossy screen coating that's liked by some reviewers, but called too reflective by others. The Samsung LV-T5265F has the highest HDTV resolution of 1080p


Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR4 ( Around USD 3180)

Best 46-inch LCD HDTV. Although more expensive than other LCD TVs, this Sony set delivers cinematic black levels only slightly lighter than those of the best plasma TVs. Shadow detail and color performance are described in reviews as excellent. Because the picture on the Sony KDL-46XBR4 looks better than most LCD TVs when viewed off center, it's a great choice for a family room. The great-looking TV has an elegant floating glass frame but the main reason for the high price is its 120 Hz processing to reduce motion blur. Reviewer opinion differs on how well this works, but all agree that the Sony is a great looking and performing LCD TV.

Westinghouse Digital TX-47F430S ( Around USD 1300)

Top-rated budget 47-inch LCD HDTV. While it doesn't match the color rendition and black levels achieved by top-rated Sony and Samsung LCD TVs, critics say the Westinghouse TX-47F430S comes close, and is a great value for non-picky viewers. Detail and color are good, though shadow detail and black levels fall short. Despite the budget price, this is a 1080p display that can display every bit of an HD broadcast. For the screen size, it's an even better value than most plasma TVs

Syntax-Brillian Olevia 537H ( Around USD 775)

Best budget 37-inch LCD HDTV. While this Syntax-Brillian Olevia LCD TV does not offer the highest 1080p resolution, reviews say that doesn't matter very much for TVs smaller than 40 inches. And, critics say the Olevia 537H outperforms most other LCD TVs in its size and price class when it comes to image quality. Black levels are better than with many LCD TVs, though not as good as LCD TVs from Sony or Samsung. Some say the menu system is confusing to use, and the TV is otherwise feature-light. But reviews say those shortcomings are more than offset by the TV's value.

Samsung LN-T3253H ( Around USD 870)

Best 32-inch LCD HDTV. If you need a smaller TV, reviews say this Samsung model is a standout in its 32-inch screen size. Black levels are said to be deep with great shadow details, good connectivity and attractive styling. Picture quality is said to be great out of the box, but a huge number of picture adjustments lets you tweak the picture to your liking. An adjustable backlight makes it easy to get the right brightness level for both well-lit and darkened viewing situations. The resolution of this TV is just 720p, but experts say that the benefits of higher 1080p resolution are lost in a screen of this size. Some reports say that sound quality could be better.

Syntax-Brillian Olevia 532H ( Around USD 500)

Budget 32-inch LCD HDTV. The Syntax-Brillian Olevia 532H is the 32-inch version of the larger 37-inch Olevia 537H (*est. $775), which also gets excellent reviews for value and picture quality. This Olevia LCD TV uses a lower 1366 x 768 resolution -- not the highest, but still high-def, and it's feature-light compared to the class leaders. But the Olevia 532H also costs half as much as some Sony or Samsung TVs in this size range, making it an excellent value.

Samsung LN-T2353H ( Around USD 570)

23-inch LCD HDTV. The 23-inch Samsung LN-T2353H is expensive for a small-screen LCD TV but the image quality is first rate, and the styling, featuring a piano-black bezel, fits comfortably into almost any decor. Like some of Samsung's larger-screen offerings, the TV has a startling array of picture controls that make it possible to tweak image quality to perfection. Reports say that sound quality is above average, which is especially important for a small TV that's unlikely to be hooked up to a home theater audio system