Sony KDL-46EX500

The 46-inch Sony KDL-46EX500 draws respect from reviewers for delivering solid picture quality and a reasonable price. To be sure, the picture quality -- especially the black levels -- can't quite live up to the best LED sets (LCD TVs with LED backlights) but are not bad for a set with a conventional backlight, but is still pretty good in its own right. Color accuracy, while not perfect, is also very good but some say you might want to do a little tweaking out of the box to get things dialed in to your satisfaction. Screen uniformity and blooming -- issues and artifacts that plague some LED backlit TVs -- are not a problem here at all. The matte screen stands up well in even well-lit rooms. Some experts say off-angle viewing could be better, but others chime in that it's actually pretty good in that regard for an LCD TV.

What you won't find here is much in the way of features. At this price, it is no surprise that 3D and Internet features are off the table. You will find an enhanced refresh rate, but its 120 Hz as opposed to the even faster -- though perhaps pointlessly so -- 240 Hz found in high-end TVs. The USB port does let you view or play back media (photos, movies and music) stored on a thumb drive or other device. If you want something more feature-rich, the 47-inch 47LE8500 (Discontinued) includes Internet connectivity and a 240 Hz refresh rate. It's also got a full matrix LED backlight for rich blacks and delivers overall picture quality that sits at the head of the class. The KDL-EX500 series is available in a wealth of other screen sizes. Those are the 60-inch KDL-60EX500 (*Est. $2,250), 55-inch KDL-55EX500, 40-inch KDL-40EX500 and 32-inch KDL-32EX500.

Experts have begun to weigh in on the 46-inch Sony KDL-46EX500. The most helpful report is at CNET, where experts rate it among the best budget-priced LCD TVs. The report at LCDTVBuyingGuide.com is heavy on numbers and measurements, but should appeal to the technically obsessed. ConsumerReports.org includes the 40-inch version of the TV, but the conclusions should also apply to the Sony KDL-46EX500. See BestBuy.com for lots of owner feedback.