Philips 7400 Series - LCD TV

The 7400 Series from Philips is their 2008 high-end line of high-definition LCD televisions and feature a 1080p native resolution with 120Hz refresh rate. While most high-end televisions from competing manufacturers incorporate the 120Hz refresh rate, Philips has the lowest marketed response time with 2ms. Whether this response time means anything when the set is in your home remains to be seen. The 7400 series is a step up from the 5600 series with its 120Hz processing. Alongside this added feature is a refresh rate and response time, as well as a more powerful speakers. The other notable difference is the use of the Perfect Pixel 3 processing engine which Philips markets as being noticeably more advanced than the Pixel Pure technology found in the less expensive lines.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Attractive styling
•Very fast response time
•Great black levels
•High-end features for a budget price

Cons:

•HDMI handshake issues
•Infrequent random resets
•Audio can be flaky and cut out

More information

Specs

•1080p native resolution
•2ms response time
•500 cd/m2 brightness
•29,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
•4 speakers (including 2 subwoofers) at a total of 30 watts
•Pixel Plus 3 processing engine
•Inputs: HDMI x 4, Component x 3, Composite x 2, S-Video x 2, USB in

Perfect Pixel 3 - Found only on the high-end lines, Philips claims this is their most advanced processing technology. The claim is that by analyzing surrounding pixels various image problems such as compression artifacts and noise can be reduced.

Speaker system - There are four speakers total, two being regular speakers and two being subwoofers located on the bottom of the set for improved bass response.

Models

The naming convention of the 7400 series is: Philips xxPFL7403D/27 where xx are replaced by the display size
42PFL7403D/27 - 42" screen
47PFL7403D/27 - 47" screen
52PFL7403D/27 - 52" screen

JVC SL Series - LCD

The SL Series is one of JVC's premier entries into the LCD television market for 2008 focusing entirely on a slim profile featuring a maximum depth of 2.9 inches and providing a 1080p native resolution. Using similar technology as Hitachi and LG-Philips for their slim offerings, the panel itself measures 1.5 inches thick with most of the circuitry located in the center of the back of the unit. Other benefits to the slim profile is decreased weight (26.4 lbs) and reduced power consumption (145 watts). The SL series is a step up from the P-Series and X-Series featuring similar specs, but in a much thinner frame. Located above the SL Series is the flagship Procision series which contains the next generation GENESSA processor and is available in limited quantities.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Low power consumption
•Light weight

Cons:

•Need a special JVC motorized mount to take full advantage of slim profile

More information

Specs

* 1080p native resolution
* 145 watts of power
* All other specifications are currently unknown

GENESSA Chip - traditional television manufacturers house different image processing functions on different chips. JVC uses their GENESSA chip which is similar to a general purpose 32-bit CPU to handle all the image processing demans. JVC claims the integrated nature of their technology allows for clearer and more vibrant images.

Models

The naming convention of the SL Series takes the form of: JVC LT-__SL89, where the __ are replaced by the display size.

* LT-42SL89 - 42" screen | June 2008
* LT-47SL89 - 47" screen | June 2008

Panasonic Viera 800 Series

The 800U series is at the high end of Panasonic's 2008 plasmas, which is their 11th generation of plasma offerings. Positioned above the 85U series and below the 850s, the 800s offer premium features such as the one-sheet glass design and THX certification, but lack some of the more professional level calibration settings of the 850Us. The 800U series is the first line of plasma to achieve THX certification, with the LG PG60 Series subsequently released as the second.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Best-in-class image quality
•THX mode works as advertised
•Good connectivity with four HDMI inputs
•Ghosting effect isn't that bad for a plasma
•Excellent contrast performance
•More shades of color gradation than many competitors
•A good blend of glass finish without being too reflective
•Less grainyness than previous generations
•Runs much cooler than previous generations

Cons:

•High priced
•24p mode can introduce flicker
•The bezel/frame could be more attractive

More information

Specs

* 1080p native resolution
* 30,000:1 static contrast ratio, 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
* 24p film mode
* Game mode
* THX certified with a THX configuration built-in
* VIERA link
* Inputs: 4xHDMI 1.3, 1xVGA, Component, Composite, S-Video

800U features

One-sheet glass - The one-sheet glass design is similar to the Sony XBR4's, and Pioneer Elite and Kuro televisions where a single pane of glass covers the entire front of the television, including the bezel. This design reduces/eliminates the "halo" effect that can occur around lettering and logos with traditional 3-pane designs.

THX Certification - Panasonic pays the THX company to run their televisions through a set of tests to get a stamp of approval (THX tests). Not being THX certified doesn't mean a television won't pass the tests, the company just didn't choose to pay THX to test them. Alongside the stamp of approval is the addition of a THX Movie Mode. This a display setting that is pre-calibrated for "optimal" movie watching as the gamma, luminence and other features are pre-set.

800U, and 850U features

PC-input - usually a staple among HDTVs, in Panasonic's 2008 offerings only the higher end televisions retain a dedicated input for computers.

24p support - the high-end sets from Panasonic are the only lines that perform a true direct multiple of 24p content. When receiving a 24p source from something like a Blu-Ray disc the output displays at 48Hz with each from showing for 2 refresh cycles. What this means, is that movie content is smoother and more true to the original source.

Common to all 2008 Panasonic Plasmas

Anti-reflective screen - created by Fujitsu these screens reduce the amount of ambient reflection that can appear in a brightly lit room.

100,000 hour half life - Panasonic rates the panel to last 100,000 hours, which is about 30 years of regular usage, or 11 years of non-stop, before the brightness of the display is halved.

Models

* TH-58PZ800U - 58" screen | MSRP $3600 | May 2008
* TH-50PZ800U - 50" screen | MSRP $3200 | May 2008
* TH-46PZ800U - 46" screen | MSRP $2800 | May 2008
* TH-42PZ800U - 40" screen | MSRP $2300 | May 2008

Samsung 6 Series

The Samsung 650 series, also known as the 6 series, is one of the high-end offerings part of Samsung's 2008 LCD line up. It is positioned above the 550 series and below the top-of-the-line 750 series. The 650 series has similar features and specifications to the 750 series, as the most significant upgrade is the addition of a USB port found on the 750. Upgrading from the 550 series, the 650 series adds an Ethernet port for downloading Internet content, and a 120Hz mode for smooth display performance of video containing fast motion. The 6 series is considered the successor to the Samsung 71F series, released in 2007, that features a similar glossy panel, and 120Hz mode.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•120 Hz refresh rate and 4 ms response time
•Great black levels
•4 HDMI inputs
•Ethernet port for RSS and weather
•10 bit processing
•10 bit panel
•Excellent motion handling
•Do you like Entertainment modes

Cons:

•Picture-in-Picture support only for analog signals
•Doesn't have an LED backlight.
•Ugly remote control
•Red tinted bezel can be distracting
•Can't turn off the Auto-Motion Plus (AMP) feature
•Super-reflective surface leads to glare
•Sometimes the TV will randomly shut off for no reason

More information

Specs

•1080p native resolution
•50,000:1 contrast ratio
•120Hz mode
•4ms response time
•Ethernet port for RSS, news, weather and stocks
•Inputs: 4xHDMI 1.3, Component, Composite

750 and 650 features

Ethernet port - the included ethernet port will allow you to access RSS feeds and other real time content to display sports information, news, stocks and weather. It's currently unknown whether other forms of content such as full Internet access will be available in the future.

4 HDMI ports - the lower level series feature 3 HDMI ports, with the high-end models adding an extra HDMI port for more expandability. All HDMI ports are version 1.3.

Common to all 2008 Samsung plasmas

Anti-glare screen - first introduced in the Samsung's 71F series of television released in 2007, Samsung claims they have improved the glossy anti-glare screen to reduce glare and reduce reflections.

3D support - the televisions can accept and properly display 3D content. If you have the proper glasses and source conent the TV will handle 3D images.

Upgrades over 71F series

Upgrades have been made to the internal circuitry to reduce power consumption and improve image quality. The new backlight system runs at twice the frequency which reduces the amount of flicker perceived. Samsung has also reworked the Auto-Motion Plus (AMP) feature to reduce what is known as the Triple-Ball-Effect (TBE) where fast moving items in an image will appear three times. AMP settings have also been made more flexible as they can be adjusted independent of the 'display mode' chosen.

Models

The naming convention for the 6 series models: Samsung LNxxA650T. Where the "xx" is replaced by the size of the set.

LN40A650T - 40" screen | March 2008
LN46A650T - 46" screen | March 2008
LN52A650T - 52" screen | March 2008

Samsung 6 Series

The Samsung 650 series, also known as the 6 series is one of the high-end offerings part of Samsung's 2008 LCD line up. They are positioned above the 550 series and below the highest-end 750 series. There are many similarities with the 750 series with the major difference being the lack of the USB port. Added ontop of the 550 series is the ethernet port for Internet content, and a 120Hz mode for smooth displaying of fast motion. The 6 series is considered the successor to Samsung's 2007 71F series featuring a similar glossy panel, and 120Hz mode.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•120 Hz refresh rate and 4 ms response time
•Great black levels
•4 HDMI inputs
•Ethernet port for RSS and weather

Cons:

•Ugly remote control
•Picture-in-Picture support only for analog signals
•Can't turn off the Auto-Motion Plus (AMP) feature
•Red tinted bezel can be distracting
•Sometimes the TV will randomly shut off for no reason
•Doesn't have an LED backlight.
•Super-reflective surface leads to glare

More information

Specs

•1080p native resolution
•50,000:1 contrast ratio
•120Hz mode
•4ms response time
•Ethernet port for RSS, news, weather and stocks
•Inputs: 4xHDMI 1.3, Component, Composite

750 and 650 features

Ethernet port - the included ethernet port will allow you to access RSS feeds and other real time content to display sports information, news, stocks and weather. It's currently unknown whether other forms of content such as full Internet access will be available in the future.

4 HDMI ports - the lower level series feature 3 HDMI ports, with the high-end models adding an extra HDMI port for more expandability. All HDMI ports are version 1.3.

Common to all 2008 Samsung plasmas

Anti-glare screen - first introduced in the Samsung's 71F series of television released in 2007, Samsung claims they have improved the glossy anti-glare screen to reduce glare and reduce reflections.

3D support - the televisions can accept and properly display 3D content. If you have the proper glasses and source conent the TV will handle 3D images.

Upgrades over 71F series

Upgrades have been made to the internal circuitry to reduce power consumption and improve image quality. The new backlight system runs at twice the frequency which reduces the amount of flicker perceived. Samsung has also reworked the Auto-Motion Plus (AMP) feature to reduce what is known as the Triple-Ball-Effect (TBE) where fast moving items in an image will appear three times. AMP settings have also been made more flexible as they can be adjusted independent of the 'display mode' chosen.

Models

The naming convention for the 6 series models: Samsung LNxxA650T. Where the "xx" is replaced by the size of the set.

•LN40A650T - 40" screen | March 2008
•LN46A650T - 46" screen | March 2008
•LN52A650T - 52" screen | March 2008

Sony Bravia W4100 Series - LCD TV

The W-series by Sony is part of their high end lineup of LCD televisions. Last year's W-series offerings came under the W3000 label, with 2008's following the W4100 naming convention. These TVs come below the premium level Z-series and feature most of the same standard high-end display technology such as 1080p native resolution and 120Hz frequency, but lack the advanced connectivity options in their more expensive siblings. Just below the W-series is the V-series which removes the 120Hz mode for smooth display of fast motion.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Handles 60p content through both HDMI and component inputs
•4 HDMI inputs
•Small bezel/frame

Cons:

•No DLNA support

More information

Specs

- 1080p native resolution
- 120Hz mode
- USB port for accessing digital content
- thin bezel, and "ultra-thin" cabinet depth
- Inputs: 4xHDMI 1.3, 2xComponent, Composite

Z-Series and W-Series features

120Hz - to handle fast motion found in action movies, video games and sports the television's refresh rate is doubled from the usual 60Hz to 120Hz. This results in smoother motion and reduces the image artifacting known as judder.

24p True Cinema - movie's are filmed at 24 frames per second, traditional televisions display their images at 60Hz meaning the movie information needs to be converted. With the 120Hz mode, which is a direct multiple of 24, no conversion is necessary meaning you get the source exactly as it was filmed. 24p content comes primarily from Blu-Ray video.

Z-Series, W-Series, and V-Series features

60p and 24p support - these sets can accept Blu-Ray content that is delivered at 24 frames per second with a progressive picture. They also accept a progressive signal that is delivered at 60 frames per second, this is most common in video games. Both the HDMI and Component video inputs can handle these signals.

Bravia Sync - control the other components in your home theater system, such as your A/V receiver and DVD player, directly from the TV. The other components must be Bravia sync compatible.

USB port - view pictures and audio stored on a USB mass storage device.

Features found on all 2008 Sony LCD TVs

Digital Media Extender - this is a proprietary port that acts as a central gateway for future add-ons to be installe to expand the functionality of the TV. The first add-on available is the Bravia Internet Link module that lets you view video content from the Internet. Sony claims future add-ons will be available with more features.

Best LCD Monitors - Computers

NEC MultiSync 70GX2 (Around $200)

17-inch LCD monitor. Although still very popular with consumers, 17-inch monitors are rarely reviewed professionally. One exception is the NEC MultiSync 70GX2. Reviewers rave about the color quality and say that text, graphics, and video playback all look great. The 70GX2 has a glossy coating that improves brightness, but glare will bother some users in certain lighting conditions. This model was reviewed when new last year, and reviewers cited price as the major disadvantage. Current prices are 50 percent lower, and cheaper than any other recommended 17-inch LCD monitor. The NEC is Windows and Macintosh compatible.

ViewSonic VP930b ( Around $330)

Best 19-inch LCD monitor. Critics say that 19-inch flat-panel monitors don't offer any additional resolution over 17-inch displays. Even so, with a larger screen, text is easier to read. This Windows and Mac-compatible ViewSonic LCD monitor does well in any application from games and movies to text and web surfing, according to reviews. For those who work with graphics or photos, reviews say color fidelity and contrast are excellent. The monitor ships with a CD that includes display calibration software, making it easy to adjust the monitor to fit your preferences. This is a standard 4:3 aspect monitor. Reviews say these are better for viewing web pages than widescreen monitors


Samsung SyncMaster 226BW (Around $320)


Best 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor. Widescreen monitors allow you to view multiple open windows or applications side-by-side more comfortably, and they are very handy for working with wide spreadsheets. But be aware that you’ll be scrolling more to view web pages since the screen isn’t as tall as a 4:3 monitor. Reviewers agree that the Samsung SyncMaster 226BW is the best monitor in this size group. The Windows and Mac compatible Samsung LCD monitor has excellent image quality; reviewers have no criticisms of its performance. Gaming performance is a particular strength of the 226BW. Experts say that widescreen LCD monitors are cheaper for manufacturers to produce, so you can often find a 22-inch widescreen monitor for the same price as a good quality 19-inch standard monitors


BenQ FP241W (Around $730)

Best 24-inch LCD monitor; widescreen. Reviews say the widescreen BenQ FP241W monitor excels in nearly every area. Photos and graphics look vivid and accurate, and text is easy to read. Native resolution is 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. The BenQ FP241W has full HD video capabilities. It can pivot, swivel, and tilt. The monitor is loaded with connectors (including an HDMI port) and features, such as a webcam. Reviewers are very impressed by all you get for the price, and think the BenQ FP241W is a great value. It is PC and Mac compatible.