HDTV Reviews

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HDTV Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best HDTV. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best HDTV, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for HDTV. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and HDTV prices.

HDTV Reviews Reviewed

Review Ratings

Citation

CS Credibility Rating

HDTV Ratings
Comments on Reviews

1.  CNet.com Top HDTVs overall

David Katzmaier


Nov. 15, 2007
reviews rating As new models come out, CNet.com's electronics editors are constantly updating their ratings. All current major technologies are covered, including plasma TV, LCD TV, rear-projection TV, tube-based HDTVs and front projectors -- and most technologies also get their own lists of top sets. Editors list pros and cons of each model, along with detailed ratings and calibrated performance measurements. Numerical ratings are provided to help readers compare TVs. The editors are very stingy when it comes to handing out Editors’ Choice awards, so those that qualify are true standouts.
2.  Consumer Reports TV Decision Guide

Editors of Consumer Reports


Not Dated
reviews rating Consumer Reports' TV Decision Guide serves as the jumping-off spot for all of the magazine's coverage, from technology articles to ratings of plasma, LCD flat-panel, rear-projection and both analog and high-definition tube-based TVs. While this is an excellent buyer's guide, you must be a paid subscriber to the website in order to read it and the accompanying reviews.
HDTV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating HDTV Ratings
Comments on Reviews
3.  The Perfect Vision TPV groups the best HDTV’s of 2007

Charlie Robb


Oct. 10, 2007
reviews rating The Perfect Vision reports on all types of HDTVs in extensive individual reviews and occasional multi-set roundups. The reviews typically go into great detail, and objective ratings in performance and practical areas are assigned. This article lists the highest regarded HDTVs in all technologies. Listed sets include those that are considered to be top performers as well as HDTVs that are outstanding values. Links lead to each set's full review.
4.  Sound & Vision Magazine HDTVs and Projectors

Editors of Sound & Vision magazine


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Sound and Vision magazine publishes detailed single-TV reviews and occasional multi-set roundups. Reviews include the results of comprehensive testing. The very best products earn a Sound & Vision Certified and Recommended award. Sound & Vision also offers a list called Sound & Vision's Best - which is a list of what the editors consider to be the best gear to buy right now. However, that list had not been updated in several months at the time of our last visit.
5.  Ultimate AV Magazine Buyer's Guides

Editors of Ultimate AV magazine


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating The editors at Ultimate AV magazine review HDTVs in highly detailed, single-product reports that are packed with lots of information for the technically inclined. Top-performing sets are named Ultimate Choices. Those that are just a notch short -- but are still outstanding choices in their own right -- are dubbed Premier Choices. HDTVs that offer the most value are named Budget Choices. Lists are maintained for flat panel, front projection and rear projection TVs. One negative is that the lists sometimes fall out of date and include a few too many discontinued models.
6.  Home Theater Magazine Buyer's Guides

Editors of Home Theater Magazine


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Home Theater magazine looks at flat-panel (LCD and plasma) HDTVs, RPTVs and front projectors in multi-set face-offs, long single-product reports and short reports. While the multi-set face-offs and long individual product reports are informative and offer lots of technical details and numerical grades, the short reports don't provide much beyond first impressions. This buyer's guide includes separate lists naming the editors' top picks in flat panel, rear-projection and front-projection HDTVs. Information includes a capsule report on why each set qualifies for the list, key specifications and links to the full reviews. Flat panel recommendations include budget (under $2,500) and high-end choices.
HDTV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating HDTV Ratings
Comments on Reviews
7.  PC Magazine HDTVs

Editors of PC Magazine


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating PC Magazine runs occasional single-product reviews and multi-TV roundups, with the best sets earning an Editors' Choice rating. In addition, all sets get an overall editors' rating, which makes it easy to see how TVs stack up to one another. Though not quite as detailed as some of the more highly rated review sources, PC Magazine does a pretty thorough job discussing the technical side of things. One shortcoming is that this list includes a number of TVs that have not yet been reviewed.
8.  Sound & Vision Magazine DLP vs. LCoS

Rob Sabin


Apr. 2006
reviews rating In this head-to-head match-up of today's most popular rear-projector technologies, three experts test a representative DLP rear-projection TV and an LCoS RPTV. Picture detail, color (accuracy, saturation and grayscale tracking), picture uniformity and contrast are all examined. In the end, the LCoS set is named the overall winner. Sound & Vision also offers an older technology match-up between DLP and LCD rear projectors, in which it says DLP is the winner by a narrow margin. This article is now outdated, but some of the general information is still applicable.
9.  Sound & Vision Magazine Resource Center: HDTV

Editors of Sound & Vision magazine


Not Dated
reviews rating Sound & Vision magazine provides this resource that explains HDTV concepts in good detail. Among the topics discussed are HDTV technologies, important specifications and what they mean, shopping tips, how to set up your new HDTV and where to get programming.
10.  PC World More HDTV for Your Money

Roy Santos


Oct. 25, 2006
reviews rating This article examines the three most popular HD display formats -- LCD, DLP rear-projection and plasma. In addition to looking at the advantages and disadvantages of each, attention is paid to the rapidly falling prices of all technologies and how some historic drawbacks have now been largely eliminated. The author concludes that the best technology to choose is the one that looks best to those who will view it regularly. On the whole, PC World’s coverage of individual HDTVs is more limited, and their updates are less frequent than others.
11.  Projector Central.com Highly Rated Home Theater Projectors

Editors of ProjectorCentral.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating If you are in the market for a front projector, it's hard to beat ProjectorCentral.com for both reviews and information. This site covers lots of home entertainment and other projectors in detailed single-product reviews that often compare the reviewed product to similar projectors. In addition, the site conducts occasional multi-projector roundups. Top-scoring projectors make their way to a "Highly Rated" list of models. In addition to reviews, there are a number of interesting articles and buyers' guides.
12.  ProjectorReviews.com Home Theater Projectors Reviews

Art Feierman


Nov. 19, 2007
reviews rating Like ProjectorCentral, ProjectorReviews.com does numerous single- and multi-product reviews of digital front projectors. Top-scoring projectors are awarded the site's “Hot Product Award.” In addition, most articles include a discussion comparing the reviewed projector to its competition. This site is also loaded with articles covering the ins and outs of front projectors. Two articles naming the best projectors overall -- Best 1080p Home Theater Projectors and The Hottest Home Theater Projectors -- are now out of date.
13.  Audioholics.com Audioholics Featured Reviews

Editors of Audioholics.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Audioholics.com concentrates on high-end gear. Reviews are pages long and include lots of technical details, test results and photos. HDTVs are occasionally compared to on another, and all receive ratings in a variety of performance areas. Although home theater projectors get their own category, all other HDTV technologies are grouped together and updated less frequently. That, along with the fact that there’s no easy way to see which HDTVs rate best, makes this a better place to visit after you’ve narrowed down your choices somewhat.
14.  HDTV Solutions.com HDTV: Plasma, LCD, DLP Reviews & Commentary

Editors of HDTVSolutions.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating HDTV Solutions reviews plasma and LCD TVs in complete and fairly detailed single-set profiles. While this is the sister site of Projector Central, it is not quite as useful. HDTVs are not compared directly to each other, and while factors such as performance, value and more receive ratings, there's no overall grade or list of top-rated models. This makes it more difficult to determine which HDTVs the editors deem to be the very best.
15.  HDTVExpert.com News, Reviews and How Tos

Peter Putman


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating HDTVExpert.com is the creation of Peter Putman, HDTV author, editor and consultant. The site is written blog-style, which makes it a little difficult to use. In addition, HDTVs are covered only in single-product reviews and are rarely compared to one another. Still, a visit is worthwhile, as the reviews are both technically detailed and easy to read. The site is also packed with tutorials and other information designed to help readers better understand the world of HDTV.
HDTV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating HDTV Ratings
Comments on Reviews
16.  I4U News.com Home Entertainment Reviews

Editors of I4U News


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating I4U News is a self-described technology lifestyle magazine and shopping guide. Reviewers don’t delve too deeply into details, but they do an okay job of tackling things from a user’s point of view. Ratings are provided, and Editors’ Choice selections are made, but the standards don’t appear to be overly stringent.
17.  AVSForum.com Display Devices

Contributors to AVSForum.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating AVSForum.com is a very active, user-to-user discussion community that includes forums dedicated to just about every HDTV technology. Like all such discussion sites, there's lots of information here, and it takes a while to weed through it all. HDTVs from popular manufacturers often get their own "official" thread that includes reviews, as well as discussions of specifications, features, problems, fixes and more. The site also features industry news, press releases and other tidbits.
18.  CircuitCity.com Televisions

Contributors to CircuitCity.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating CircuitCity.com allows users to leave comments for TVs and other electronics. Many HDTVs get lots of feedback, making this one of the better user-review sites on the Internet. Naturally, since these reviews are not written by professionals, their quality and usefulness can vary greatly, but the number of reviews makes it easy to spot overall trends regarding which sets make their owners the happiest.
19.  Amazon.com HDTVs

Contributors to Amazon.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Amazon.com also invites owners to rate and review their TVs. While this may be a worthwhile stop when you've got your choice narrowed down, if you head for this site without doing so, you'll be surfing forever trying to figure out which are better rated than others -- there are hundreds of TVs listed (including many that are discontinued or otherwise no longer available) in a half dozen categories. Amazon recently started posting the number of reviews each HDTV has received alongside the rating on this landing page, which does make things a little easier. Another nice innovation is a box listing the most helpful (as voted on by readers) favorable and unfavorable review. All-in-all, Amazon.com is a good spot for seeing owner feedback and to affirm conclusions of professional reviewers.
20.  Epinions Televisions

Contributors to Epinions


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Epinions offers the same advantages and drawbacks as the owner-written commentary found at other sites. It's an interesting place to check when you have narrowed your choice to a couple of models, but HDTVs, especially current models, rarely get more than a handful of reviews. On the other hand, many reviews are more detailed than those on similar sites.
21.  Consumer Guide.com Televisions Expert Reviews, Prices, and Information

Editors of ConsumerGuide.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating In the past, Consumer Guide offered little of value when it came to product recommendations. Now, following a partnership with HowStuffWorks.com, the site is much improved. You still won't find much in the way of formal lab testing, but critical user-eye-views of picture quality, ease-of-use and more are provided in recent reviews. Most other professional reviewers still offer more, but Consumer Guide is a decent place to get a second opinion on an HDTV you are considering. One negative is that there are still too many long-discontinued sets listed on the site.

HDTV Reviews