Samsung UN55B7000

It's not the cheapest LCD TV, but reviews say the 55-inch Samsung UN55B7000, along with the whole B7000 series, offers a great blend of terrific picture quality and rich array of features. These LCD HDTVs use an edge-lit LED backlight in place of the fluorescent one used by most LCD TVs. That allows for blacks that are deep and rich, though they are just edged out by the blacks in some other TVs, such as the super expensive 55-inch Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 (*Est. $4,500).

Color performance from the Samsung UN55B7000 is also excellent, and there's an abundance of picture controls that help get things perfect. Internet connectivity is included, but reviewers and owners are mixed on how useful these features really are. A higher refresh rate (120 Hz) and anti-judder processing are available; these features aim to smooth out images and reduce blur, particularly during fast action or sports scenes. Those features can be turned on and off independently.

Reviewers do note a couple of concerns with the Samsung B7000 series of LCD TVs. For one, off-angle viewing isn't the best, so viewers sitting far to the side won't get the best picture. Styling is stunning, with a thin, 1.2-inch cabinet (without stand), though not everyone is a fan of the red-tinged bezel. Energy efficiency is exemplary (and in general, LCD TVs are more efficient that similar-sized plasma TVs). The Samsung B7000 series of LCD TVs is also available in a 46-inch screen size as the Samsung UN46B7000 (*Est. $2,300) and a 40-inch screen size as the Samsung UN40B7000 (*Est. $1,645) -- those should perform similarly to the 55-inch Samsung UN55B7000. If your budget is smaller, the Samsung LN52B750 (*Est. $2,300) uses a conventional backlight, but still produces a picture that's blessed with rich color and great black levels -- some say even better than the Samsung UN55B7000 -- but some say the screen on the cheaper model is overly reflective.