LCD TV Reviews

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

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LCD TV Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	LCD TV Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. CNet.com	Best Flat Panel LCD HDTVs David Katzmaier Mar. 6, 2008		CNet's reviews tend to be very critical, so only a few sets earn a high rating. While some other publications conduct more detailed testing and sometimes have longer and more technical reports, CNet has an advantage in that it tests a larger number of televisions than others. That gives editors a good basis for comparison. The same team of reviewers generally reviews LCD TVs, so there's a consistency in the testing and ratings process. The 46-inch Sony KDL-46XBR4 and 46-inch Samsung LN-T4681F share top honors overall. Both are outstanding performers -- considerably better than typical LCD TVs -- but both are expensive.
2. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	LCD TVs Editors of Consumer Reports Feb. 2008		Consumer Reports' editors rate a whopping 76 LCD TVs in a wide range of sizes and resolutions; more than a third -- 28 in all -- are recommended, so this report isn't very critical. Although many models are tested, individual sets get only a few lines of commentary, providing far less detail than most other review resources. Though some LCD TVs are already discontinued, the magazine updates its ratings on a regular basis, and those ratings are created through competent testing, so it remains a good source for LCD TV reviews and information. CNet does a better job at explaining why some TVs get higher ratings than others, however.

LCD TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	LCD TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. Sound & Vision Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	HDTVs & Projectors Archives Editors of Sound & Vision magazine As of Apr. 2008		Sound & Vision magazine tests LCD TVs in highly detailed single-set reports; however the magazine evaluates far fewer TVs than the reviewers we rate higher. Each review packs lots of important information, and the results of a battery of bench tests are provided for those who are interested. The best-performing sets earn a Sound & Vision Certified and Recommended award. Among recent award winners, the Samsung LN-T4681F, which uses an LED backlight, is a dramatic leap forward for LCD TVs in the areas of black level and picture contrast. The Sony BRAVIA KDL-52XBR5 is the best performing, and most feature-rich LCD TV from the company to date, but it is very expensive.
4. Playback Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	8 46- & 47-inch LCD TVs That Deserve Your Attention Scott Wilkinson Feb. 2008		This article in Playback magazine looks at eight "mid-sized" LCD TVs. Four of the TVs are freshly covered, but the information for the others is reprinted from earlier reviews in The Perfect Vision, which was absorbed by Playback in January. Discussion is minimal, replaced instead with charts and tables, though a "bottom line" comment attempts to put everything into context. We do appreciate the clear explanation of what the magazine looks for when evaluating LCD TVs. A list of recommended user settings is also helpful. Navigation is a nuisance and a few models are already discontinued. LCD TVs are not directly compared, but three do well enough to earn a Playback Recommended tag.

LCD TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	LCD TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

5. Ultimate AV Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Flat Panel Displays Editors of Ultimate AV magazine As of Apr. 2008		UltimateAV magazine's reviewers put all sorts of home theater equipment through their paces, including LCD TVs. The single TV reports are detailed, with plenty of information for the technically inclined, including bench-test results. However, relatively few LCD TVs are reviewed. Scott Wilkinson, formerly of The Perfect Vision, has joined the staff here. He says that the Samsung LN-T4671F is a "fine LCD TV," but notes some artifacts generated by the set's Auto Motion Plus feature and some signal processing issues with SD DVDs. He notes some issues with the black levels on the Sony KDL-52XBR4, but adds few LCD TVs with conventional backlights do better. While not perfect, the Samsung LN-T5281F is called "the best flat panel LCD I've yet reviewed," by critic Thomas J. Norton. The site includes a buyer's guide, but it is currently too dated to be of any value.
6. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	HDTVs and Monitors Editors of PC Magazine As of Apr. 2008		PC Magazine reviews looks at LCD TVs in single product reviews and occasional roundups. Some reviewed LCD TVs are evaluated as computer monitors rather than TVs, even though they are HDTV-capable and include at least one built-in tuner. Most recently, editor Robert Heron says the Sharp AQUOS LC-32GP3U is expensive, but is an HDTV that also delivers the features and performance console game players will want. The Sony BRAVIA KDL-46V3000 rates fairly poorly because of excessive smearing in scenes with lots of motion. The reviews here tend to be very critical and none of the HDTVs rated recently do particularly well.
7. AudioVideo Revolution	Untitled Editors of Audio Video Revolution As of Apr. 2008		Reviews here run the range from barely adequate to truly outstanding. Some of the reports are disappointingly brief. A few carry a disclaimer saying the site has not actually reviewed the TV, but others include specific praise and criticism that makes it clear that someone has given the TV more than a casual once-over -- though there are no real clues as to how much actual testing has been done. On the other hand, some reviews are extensive and highly detailed. TVs are not rated and comparisons are not made with any consistency, so these reviews are uneven.
8. HDTV Solutions.com	HDTV: Plasma, LCD, DLP Reviews & Commentary Editors of HDTVSolutions.com As of Apr. 2008		HDTV Solutions is the sister site to Projector Central, one of the better reviewers of front projection HDTVs. We don't rate this site as highly here because the effort is a bit less consistent, and fewer LCD TVs are reviewed overall. Still, the reviews are generally well done and testing is performed. Ratings are provided, but don't differ enough to shed much light. However, top performers are honored with a Highly Recommended award. Among current TVs only the Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR4 qualifies. More recently, the Vizio VO47LF is called solid performing and well priced. The ViewSonic N4285p is criticized for its narrow viewing angle, but otherwise praised.
9. Amazon.com	Flat Panel LCD TVs Contributors to Amazon.com As of Apr. 2008		Amazon.com invites owners to share their experiences with potential buyers. Many of the TVs offered get enough user ratings to help visitors get a handle on which ones most buyers consider best. The site is now among the easiest to use and includes both the ratings and number of reviews each LCD TV has received right on the main navigation pages. A box comparing the most helpful positive and negative user reviews is also useful, as a breakdown of how many users assigned what rating (five-star, four-star, etc.) to a TV. Lots of TVs are listed here, but many are discontinued. Still, if you have a good idea of which sets interest you, the user information is often helpful and sometimes surprisingly detailed.
10. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	Big-Screen LCD HDTVs: Abusive Lab Test Erik Sofge Aug. 2007		Popular Mechanics eschews the rigorous testing favored by the reviewers above and instead, uses viewing tests by a panel of three judges to evaluate three LCD TVs. Performance with both movies and games is examined. Definitive conclusions are reached, but discussion falls far short of what's provided by most other reviewers. In the end, the Samsung LN-T4665F just nips the HP LC4776N because of its "crisp details."
11. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top 10 40- and 42-inch HDTVs Lincoln Spector Sept. 20, 2007		PC World tests and rates LCD TVs using the same equipment and source material, and the highest-scoring sets make it to this list. Unfortunately, both LCD and plasma TVs are intermingled, and the brief descriptions on this page (links are also provided to full reviews) don't always make it clear which is which. In addition, the ratings don't always seem to relate to the test results or the review. For example, though picture quality is described as only a little better than average, the Samsung LN-T4061F captures the top spot on the list.
12. Sound & Vision Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Plasma vs. LCD: Round II Rob Sabin Feb. 2008		In this head-to-head matchup between "the best plasma and LCD sets we could find," Sound & Vision's Rob Sabin pits the top-shelf Pioneer Elite Kuro PDP-5010FD against the Samsung LN-T4681F. Both TV's are routinely touted by experts as the best of each technology in rendering deep, rich blacks. That aspect of performance is compared, as is viewing angle, contrast, picture detail and picture uniformity. Performance is adequately discussed, and the results of a battery of tests are published and explained. The Samsung LN-T4681F does well, but falls short compared to the Pioneer Kuro, which sets a "new gold standard" for TV of any technology. Two other Sound & Vision editors also weigh in, and concur.
13. Home Theater Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	The 2008 HDTV Technology Face Off Editors of Home Theater Magazine Mar. 2008		Home Theater magazine pits six LCD, plasma and rear-projection TVs against each other to see if they can learn which is best. High points and low points of each tested TV are discussed, and an overall conclusion is reached. In addition to viewing tests, all sets are subjected to bench testing, and those results are published and discussed. Each judge provides a brief postmortem to wrap things up; these provided color, but not all provide much additional insight. Neither LCD TV tested -- the JVC LT-47X898 and Sharp LC-52D64U -- scores particularly well. Plasma sets win out overall. Home Theater also publishes single product reviews, but none have been published recently.
14. HDTVExpert.com	Sharp LC-32GP3U Aquos LCD HDTV Peter Putman Mar. 6, 2008		This single product report on the Sharp AQUOS LC-32GP3U is clearly aimed at the technically sophisticated, but the article is of great value to anyone considering this gaming oriented HDTV. Though some of the test results might fall under the "more information than I really needed" category for many, Peter Putman does a nice job of pulling everything together and providing a straightforward recommendation.
15. HDGuru.com	Exclusive-First Review of the Samsung LN-T4081F LED Driven LCD Flat Panel Gary Merson Oct. 2007		Long-time consumer-electronics veteran Gary Merson reviews the smallest member of the Samsung 81F family. The review is long on details for the technically sophisticated, including the results of a battery of bench and viewing tests. In the end, Merson concludes that the Samsung LN-T4081F -- and all the sets in the 81F series -- set a new benchmark for comparing other LCD TVs.

LCD TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	LCD TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

16. AVSForum.com	LCD Flat Panel Displays Contributors to AVSForum.com As of Apr. 2008		This user-to-user discussion site provides lots of information about everything and anything related to home entertainment, including a forum for LCD flat panel televisions. Sets typically get their own "official" thread that offers discussions of specifications, features, problems, fixes and more, including reviews. Some of the threads span thousands of posts, so be prepared to spend a little time when investigating a particular TV set. The site also features industry news, press releases and more.
17. BestBuy.com	LCD Flat-Panel Televisions Contributors to BestBuy.com As of Apr. 2008		Like Amazon.com, Best Buy's website allows users to comment on products that they own. Navigation is similarly easy, with the overall rating and number of reviews right on the main navigation page, and only currently available TVs are listed. However, the product page lacks the review comparison or ratings breakdown found at Amazon.com. One nice feature is a top line summation of how many customers would recommend the reviewed LCD TV to a friend.
18. CircuitCity.com	LCD & Plasma TVs Contributors to CircuitCity.com As of Apr. 2008		Circuit City's website has some advantages and disadvantages compared to either Amazon.com or Best Buy. On the downside, navigation takes an extra step as you need to click through to individual product pages to see if a rating is based on 5 reviews or 100 ratings. The site also lacks the review comparisons found at Amazon.com. On the plus side, reviewers are asked to supply sub-ratings for picture quality, sound quality, features and value, which makes it easier to see what users like and dislike about an LCD TV. In addition, many TVs get more user feedback here than at other consumer review sites. The quality and usefulness of the individual reports can vary quite a bit.
19. Walmart.com	Electronics: LCD Contributors to Walmart.com As of Apr. 2008		Though few of the top performing LCD TVs can be found here, the Wal-Mart website is a good source for user reviews of more budget-friendly options. The overall rating is shown on the main navigation page, but, like Circuit City, you need to click through to see how many reviews a particular LCD TV has received. Reviewers are asked to leave ratings on picture quality, sound quality, value and more, and also provide a little information about themselves and how long they've used the TV. Some reviews include some discussion, while others only leave ratings. Many of the LCD TVs have lots of feedback -- over 200 reviews and ratings in some cases.
20. engadgetHD.com	Engadget HD Review: LN-T4671F 120Hz HDTV Ben Drawbaugh Oct. 10, 2007		This single-product review of the Samsung LN-T4671F notes several flaws, including an uneven backlight and a 120Hz artifact in which a fast-moving object, such as a football, is displayed as multiple images. In the end, the reviewer says he likes the TV, but questions whether it is worth its premium price.
21. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	The Really Big Picture: 50- and 52-Inch HDTVs Greg Adler Feb. 2008		This report on 50- and 52-inch HDTVs might be interesting to read if it weren't so frustratingly flawed. Like the PC World review above, LCD and plasma TVs are intermingled, and you can't tell which is which without clicking through to an introductory paragraph. Though relatively recent, the report includes discontinued models. Some of the comments are contradictory, and seem to run counter to the assessments of others.
22. About.com	LCD Product Reviews Matthew Torres Not Dated		Matthew Torres, About.com's TV/Video guide, is doing a good job in transforming this site into a worthwhile spot to learn about LCD TVs. While the depth doesn't approach that of higher-rated resources, the reviews are to the point and easy to read. More impressively, some of the most recent reviews include the results of a battery of standard tests. Torres addresses each TV's strong and weak points, and tries to place each negative into context by addressing if it really is an issue for most users. One significant negative is that relatively few sets are reviewed and many of those are already discontinued, so this site isn't very up to date. Among current sets, the Syntax-Brillian Olevia 537H scores well. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com are owned by the same parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)
23. LCDTV Buying Guide.com	LCD TV Reviews: Flat Panel Television Editors of LCDTVBuyingGuide.com As of Apr. 2008		While this website isn't very slick and seems a little too commercially oriented, the reviews themselves appear to be objective and competently done. An interesting feature in the most recent reviews is the inclusion of optimal video settings derived either after a professional calibration or using a top-quality amateur calibration reference such as the Digital Video Essentials DVD. A feature that lets users compare the ratings of reviewed LCD TVs has also been newly added. A negative is that the site has not been updated in quite some time and most of the reviewed TVs are discontinued, though some are still available from retailers.
24. Consumer Guide.com	LCD TVs Reviews and Prices Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Apr. 2008		Reviews at ConsumerGuide.com rely on manufacturer-supplied information, and there's no sign of any formal testing, but each set is put through its paces from a typical consumer's point of view. No current LCD TV rates high enough in the editors' eyes to earn a Best Buy designation -- a startling break from tradition for this website -- and the only current HDTV to earn a Budget Buy

LCD TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	LCD TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

25. Epinions	Flat Panel Televisions Contributors to Epinions As of Apr. 2008		Epinions offers the same advantages and drawbacks as the owner-written commentaries found at Amazon.com and similar sites. However, current models don't get nearly as many reviews, making this a far less useful resource. Still, it can be worth a quick visit as the reviews that are posted tend to be more in-depth than those at the retailer sites.