HDTV advice

Agree. I was lazy about it and spent $29 each for two of Best Buy's least expensive, but I'd guess Radio Shack has them for much less.

 

Several HD channels on DirecTV are in 1080i. There is are a few 1080p PPV channels as well.

 

Radio Shack's prices aren't much better. Try monoprice.com, and keep an eye on buy.com -- I recently bought a four-pack of 6-foot HDMI cables for something like 10 bucks.

I just got a Blu-ray player today; so far, I'm pretty blown away.

 

I'm going to bump this thread...

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Video_Conferencing/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=A3139068

Any thoughts on that TV? Dell seems to be running some good deals.

 

The wife and I were given a 42" Vizio LCD for Christmas and yeah, the color and everything is crazy vivid and clear. Movies don't even look cinematic, it's that clear. It's wild. And it's got a bit of a blur with sports, yeah, but not really enough to kill any love for watching them.

The only thing that sucks about it is playing Halo. It definitely changes the game play a lot, and I'm not sure why. It lags or something. (But Modern Warfare 2 works fine.)

 

I have a 42" Insignia (didn't know it was the Best Buy house brand when I went to buy it) and I love it. The picture looks great, sports look incredible. Sneed is right, movies don't look cinematic, they look really clear.

The only video games I play are Madden, NCAA FB and NBA 2K and they all look fantastic.

 

My understanding, and it's based on little other than my reading up on the subject, is that LCD sets are best when they're 37 inches or less. Plasma is apparently the way to go if the set is larger than 37 inches. Is that right?

 

Try this:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Mzu8qWAUzhk/learn/learningcenter/home/tv_flatpanel.html

Refresh rate is a key when going LCD, I'd recommend at least 120hz, especially if you watch a lot of sports (or play lots of video games).

 

There's some good advice on this thread, but there's also some not-so-good. Here's Consumer Report's buying guide. Lengthy, but absolutely worth reading.


Getting started

Buying a TV involves many choices, some of which may be brand new to you. This TV buying guide organizes the process into clear, logical steps that will help you make a smart decision.
Budget
Of course, your budget will affect all of your decisions. It's possible to find good TVs selling for a few hundred dollars, while others go for several thousand, and there are many sets that fall in between those extremes. Screen size, features, brands, and more affect the price. We can help you to get the most bang for your buck, no matter how much or how little you want to spend.

TV type

If you're like most buyers, you've probably settled on a slim, flat-panel TV, but you might not know whether to buy an LCD or plasma set. Though they look very similar on the outside, they use different technologies and the pictures have different characteristics. While LCDs outsell plasmas by a wide margin, don't automatically assume LCDs are the way to go—plasma TVs have a lot to recommend them, especially in certain circumstances. Flat panels have largely pushed rear-projection and picture-tube TVs to the sidelines; few of those sets are now being introduced. Front projectors are a great choice for home theaters but less practical for everyday use.

Screen size

Deciding what size TV to buy is one of the more enjoyable aspects of buying a new set. Most consumers tend to go bigger when replacing their old TV, because it enables you to fully appreciate the fine, sharp detail of HD content, making it more compelling and creating more of a theater experience. Note that you can't compare the screen size of a more square TV with a widescreen, so don't think a move from a 27-inch tube set to a 32-inch widescreen will give you an appreciably bigger picture. It won't; content will be perceived as the same size, though wider.

For the most part, we recommend at least a 37-inch screen for a primary TV that you'll watch often. We believe that most consumers would be happier with a 40-to-42-inch TV, budget and room size permitting, and a 46-inch or bigger set is often preferable. Screens of about 26 to 32 inches are good for casual viewing in bedrooms, and even smaller screen sizes suit kitchens.

Remember to factor in viewing distance when deciding how big a screen will work in your room. TV programming tends to look better and more natural if you can sit at least 5 feet from a 40- to 47-inch set displaying good-quality HD content and a minimum of 6 feet from a 50-inch or larger TV. With less distance, you might notice the picture elements (pixels or lines) that make up the images (sometimes referred to as the "screen-door effect"), graininess, or video noise—what you might consider "snow" or specks. If you watch mostly standard-definition programming, which is less detailed and often lower quality, allow more distance between you and the TV.

Screen resolution

Resolution means the number of pixels, or picture elements, a screen contains. A 720p set displays 1024x768, 1280x720, or 1366x768 pixels. A set with 1080p resolution, sometimes advertised as "full HD," displays 1920x1080 pixels. The first number in each case indicates the horizontal rows of pixels from the top of the screen to the bottom; the second number indicates the vertical columns of pixels from left to right. Most new LCD and plasma TVs with screens 40 inches and up now have 1080p resolution, and the price difference between 720p and 1080p sets is shrinking.

A 1080p set has the potential to display finer detail than a 720p set, but resolution alone doesn't determine picture quality. Factors such as brightness, contrast, and color also come into play. You can best appreciate the finer detail of a 1080p screen on a 50-inch or larger TV, though you might see subtle improvements on a 40- to 47-inch screen, especially when viewed up close. In smaller sizes, the benefits of 1080p are less obvious. One exception: If you plan to use your TV as a computer display, 1080p resolution is a plus. The higher resolution will let you see more content onscreen with greater clarity and finer detail than on a 720p set. (You might have to connect your computer to the TV via an HDMI input to take full advantage of the 1080p resolution and avoid cutting off outer edges of the image—otherwise known as overscan.)

What you're watching matters too. To fully enjoy the benefits of a 1080p TV, you need top-quality high-def content. You can get that from a Blu-ray disc, which contains true 1080p content. A 1080p set will convert current HD signal formats (720p and 1080i) to match its native screen resolution. If the quality of the programming is good and the TV does the job well, the picture quality can be outstanding. In fact, most 1080p HD sets can derive true 1080p performance from most film-based movies. But the quality of HD content varies considerably (especially on cable), so it might not fully exploit the potential of a 1080p display.

Other issues
Other considerations include features and brand. We'll lead you through those choices and more, helping you to make the best choice for your specific needs and preferences.

Once you're in a store or shopping online, you'll have to judge the picture quality and decide whether to buy an extended warranty, how much to spend on cables, how to get the best price, and more. Our shopping tips will make you a savvy consumer and help you to save money and avoid hassles. What you'll watch on your new TV is an issue that will affect your enjoyment of your set, so you might be thinking of upgrading your TV service or switching to a new provider. See what cable, satellite, and phone companies have to offer before making a decision.

(cont)

 

Types

High-definition TVs come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of HD sets now available are flat-panel LCD displays and plasma TVs that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a stand. Rear-projection sets and the familiar picture-tube TVs are becoming much less common. (With few new models being introduced, we no longer test sets in those two categories.)

LCD TVs

Good choice if if you want a thin, lightweight TV that comes in a wide range of sizes and is well suited for viewing in a bright room.

Common screen sizes. 23 to 60 inches. Manufacturers have showcased sets larger than 100 inches. No matter how large the screen, most LCD TVs are only 4 or 5 inches thick, and some new ultra-slim sets are even thinner.

Typical selling prices. About $500 to $1,000 for a 32-inch model, $650 to $1,200 for a 37-inch set, $700 to $1,800 for a 40- to 42-inch set, $900 to $3,000 for a 46- to 47-inch set, and $1,300 to $4,000 for a 52-inch set. (With prices continually dropping and special promotions, you'll probably see some TVs selling for less than the prices indicated.)

Key points. There are many more companies selling LCD than plasma TVs, and in a wider range of sizes. LCD televisions still cost more than most comparably sized plasma sets, but the gap is narrowing. Many LCD sets with 40-inch or larger screens (and a few smaller models) have 1080p resolution.

LCDs tend to be brighter than plasma screens, and reflections and glare are much less of an issue, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lit rooms. There's no risk of burn-in of static images, which can be a concern with plasma TVs, although it is less of a problem than it was in the past.

Advances in technology have also addressed problems that have plagued LCD technology. LCD TVs have had trouble displaying deep blacks, a problem caused partly by backlighting leaking through in dark scenes. Some new models have minimized this problem by using full-frame LED backlights (instead of fluorescents) and so-called local-dimming technology. The backlight can be dimmed behind a dark scene, enhancing the depth of black, while remaining bright elsewhere. TVs with edge-lit LED backlights around the perimeter of the screen don't offer local dimming, but this design can allow for extremely thin profiles. In addition, the use of 120Hz and 240Hz technology on some new TVs, an increase from the usual 60Hz refresh rates, has improved their ability to display fast-moving scenes without blurring.

But LCD TVs haven't caught up with plasma TVs in terms of viewing angle. With most LCD sets, the picture looks its best only from a fairly narrow sweet spot right in front of the screen. The image can lose contrast, look washed out, or lose color accuracy as you angle away from the center of the screen.
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Plasma TVs

Good choice if you want a thin TV with a screen 42 inches or larger.

Common screen sizes. 42 to 58 inches, with more 60-inch-plus models arriving. Most models are 6 inches or less in depth, and some new ultra-slim plasma TVs are even thinner.

Typical selling prices. $600 to $1,500 for a 42-inch set, $1,000 to $4,000 for a 50-inch model, $2,600 to $4,500 for a 58-inch set, $3,400 to $6,500 for a 60-inch model. Most models are 6 inches or less in depth, and some new ultra-slim plasma TVs are even thinner. (With prices continually dropping and special promotions, you'll probably see some TVs selling for less than the prices indicated.)

Key points. You'll find more sizes, including 46-inch and 54-inch models, as manufacturers try to compete more directly with LCD sets. There are also many more 1080p sets than in the past, including 42-inch models. It's hard to beat the best plasma TV sets for accurate colors, deep blacks, and great contrast. And a virtually unlimited viewing angle means no one in the room has a bad view.

You see the same picture quality from anywhere in a room. New plasmas use much less energy than older models and in general are now comparable to LCDs for power consumption. The reflections from a plasma TV's shiny screen (similar to what you might have seen with a picture-tube TV) can be annoying in a bright room, though an antireflective coating can minimize them. Static images displayed for extended periods—such as stock tickers or video games—can burn in temporarily, and could become permanent if you consistently leave the same pattern onscreen over a long period. But that seems to have been more of a problem with earlier plasma TVs. Screensaver-type features on new plasmas greatly minimize the likelihood of burn-in. In our tests, we've seen temporary impressions that have disappeared after a short while; we haven't seen any evidence of permanent burn-in in normal home use.
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Front projectors

Good choice if you want a theater-like experience at home, with the largest picture available.

Common screen sizes. The projector has a 9x12-inch or larger footprint. You must buy a screen (typically 70 to 200 inches) separately.

Typical selling prices. $1,000 and up for an HD projector; several hundred dollars for the projection screen.

Key points. You can get top picture quality from a projector, especially one of the rising number of 1080p models available. With a front projector, you're not locked into a specific screen size. You can use it with a screen or other smooth surface of your choice, and vary the picture size from about 50 inches to about 200 inches by moving the projector closer to the screen or farther back, and using the zoom control. Projectors and screens can be stored when not in use.

Technically display devices rather than TVs, projectors require additional gear to provide you with entertainment. To get TV programming, you must connect an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box. For movies, you can hook up a standard or high-def DVD player. You generally have to provide an amplifier or A/V receiver and speakers, because most projectors don't have built-in audio capability. When speakers are included, they're generally not of the highest quality, so you'd probably want to use a sound system anyway.

Despite their advantages, front projectors aren't the best choice for typical, everyday viewing. The picture from a projector looks best in a dark room, because any light that falls on the screen reduces contrast and washes out the picture. Your best bet is a room with blackout window shades. Even at night, you have to keep light from nearby lamps from hitting the display surface.

Also, the need to add a screen, speakers, and a TV tuner increases the cost and complexity of set-up. Finding the optimal position for the projector and screen in a furnished room can be tricky. If you mount the projector, be sure to place it at the distance recommended by the manufacturer, angled to prevent the rectangular shape of the image from being distorted. Projectors with a vertical and/or horizontal lens shift will give you more placement flexibility; those without a lens shift have to be mounted or placed so that their image is centered on the screen to avoid using the keystone adjustment, which can distort the picture.

In our tests, we used a 110-inch screen ($400) with a matte-white viewing surface 4½ feet high by 8 feet wide. Screens with more reflective finishes designed to enhance brightness (called gain) might have a narrower viewing angle than a matte screen. Other so-called dark screens are designed to enhance contrast by improving black-level performance, but they do take a small hit in overall brightness. Freestanding screens can be folded and stored when not in use, and some wall- or ceiling-mounted screens can be manually or electronically retracted.

In general, projectors using LCD technology haven't been as good as DLP models at reproducing true black, but recent improvements have enabled some LCD projectors to do quite well. LCoS projectors, from companies such as Sony and JVC, are becoming more common as prices fall, and some are outstanding.

When watching a DLP front projector or rear-projection set, you may experience a "rainbow effect." This is a flash of color some viewers notice mainly when they move their eyes across bright objects on a dark background. The rainbow effect isn't obvious to some viewers, but once noticed, it can be annoying. Many newer DLP projectors now use faster-spinning color wheels, which can reduce the effect. Take a video with high-contrast scenes to the store so that you can see whether it's a problem. All DLP projectors using a single chip (including all DLP models in the Ratings online) are affected. Only the most expensive DLP units avoid the problem by using three chips to produce red, green, and blue and eliminating the spinning color wheel.

Note that a projector's bulb typically needs replacement every 2,000 to 3,000 hours or so. We have no data on reliability.

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Features

Features can help to ensure your satisfaction with a TV long after you park it in your living room. Many features, such as the inputs and outputs, are common to all TV types, while some are relevant only to a particular type of TV; that's indicated below. Here are some of the more important TV features to consider.

Connections
One of the most critical considerations with any TV is the number and type of inputs it has for hooking up devices to your TV. Most new TVs have two component-video and at least two HDMI inputs, which should be adequate for most current uses; you might want more of those HD-capable inputs to future-proof your set. Both types are capable of carrying high-definition signals from devices such as cable and satellite boxes and DVRs. You can use the RF (antenna/cable) input to feed high-def TV signals, either from an off-air antenna to a set with an ATSC tuner or from a cable to a set with a QAM tuner. S-video and composite-video inputs are generally used for connecting older gear such as a VCR or sometimes a DVD player. If you want to hook up a videogame system or digital camcorder occasionally, look for a TV with front- or side-panel inputs, which are more accessible than those on the rear of the set. (See Video connections for more information.)

Aspect-ratio adjustments
Most widescreen (16:9) sets have stretch and zoom modes that expand or compress an image to fill the screen better. That helps to reduce or eliminate the dark bands that can appear on the sides or top and bottom of images if you watch content that isn't formatted for a wide screen, including most standard-definition TV programs and even some HD content. The tradeoff is that the picture is distorted or cut off a bit in the process of being stretched or zoomed.

Film-mode
This improves the appearance of movies converted from film to video. That includes most theatrical releases on DVD and many movies shown on TV. This feature (also called 3:2 pull-down, motion compensation, or brand-specific names such as CineMotion and Film Mode) helps to compensate for the difference in frame rates between film (24 frames per second) and video (30 frames per second), which can create jerkiness and jagged edges on moving images. Since most TVs and progressive-scan DVD players also have a film-mode feature, experiment to see which device does the best job of making the images look smoother.

TV settings and modes
All TVs have menus with settings that enable you to adjust the picture, sound, and more. Since most TVs are sold with their settings optimized for retail showrooms rather than homes, we suggest adjusting the TV's settings once you get home to get the best viewing experience. Many TVs have pre-set picture modes that are already optimized for certain types of content (such as movies, sports, or games); other TVs require you to make adjustments one by one. With more sources for video available all the time, it's handy to have a feature that allows you to customize settings for each input, such as the one you routinely use for your cable box or the DVD player. For example, you might want sharpness set to its lowest level when watching high-quality DVDs routed through the HDMI input, but a higher sharpness setting to improve the appearance of standard-definition programs coming in through the component-video input. (For more information, see Fine-tuning your HDTV.)

CableCard slots
Available on a small number of TVs, a CableCard slot lets you use a card, rented to you by the cable company for a few dollars a month, instead of a cable box. When the card is inserted, the TV can receive scrambled digital-cable content, including high-definition programming. That eliminates the need for an extra piece of equipment and cables, but there is a downside: Most current CableCards are one-way, so they don't provide an interactive program guide or video-on-demand, and pay-per-view ordering via the remote control. The first two-way cards are starting to show up on a few sets.

Picture-in-picture (PIP)
This lets you watch two channels at once--one in a small window, the other as a full-screen image. It's useful if you want to browse the onscreen guide while keeping an eye on the program you're watching or keep track of a sports event while another program is playing. A single-tuner TV requires another device, such as a DVD recorder, DVR or cable box, to display two programs at once; dual-tuner TV models are able to display two programs simultaneously on their own. On some TVs, PIP is disabled when the HDMI input is used.

Illuminated remote
Some remotes use some type of illumination--either backlighted keys or glow-in-the dark keys--to make it easier to use in a darkened room. Backlighting is preferred, since glow-in-the-dark keys fade quickly. In some cases, only a few of the most-used keys are illuminated.

Speakers
Most TVs include built-in speakers; monitors, which don't include an ATSC tuner (see below), often don't come with speakers. Front projectors generally don't include speakers either. On most sets, speakers are built-in at the bottom of a TV, along the sides, or occasionally on the rear of the set. Some models have detachable speakers, allowing you to remove them and place them elsewhere. The location of the speakers can affect the width of the set and could determine whether it will fit into a niche in an entertainment center. A recent trend with flat-panel TVs has been toward "invisible" speakers that are integrated within the screen bezel and barely visible to the eye. Some TVs have audio outputs that will allow you to connect external speakers or a powered subwoofer.

Digital tuner
Since March 2007, all new TVs imported into the U.S. (or shipped across state lines) have been required to include a digital (ATSC) tuner. That enables them to receive free digital TV signals, including high-def programming, via an over-the-air antenna. You'll need such a tuner to receive any broadcast TV, because all broadcasts since June 12, 2009, no longer support transmission of analog signals.

Internet enabled
Some new LCD and plasma TVs can access the Internet directly, through a broadband connection, without using a computer. They don't function as full-fledged browsers; connection is limited and varies by brand and model. Some of these Internet-enabled TVs offer only simple RSS news feeds but others can bring you movies from Netflix, Blockbuster, or Amazon on Demand, music from services such as Pandora, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr photos, and more. (Some Blu-ray players also offer this feature, so you can buy a TV without it and use the player for Internet connectivity.)

120Hz and 240Hz technology (LCD)
This helps to reduce a problem that affects most LCD TVs: a tendency to blur during scenes with fast motion, such as sports programs or a fast-moving ticker across the bottom of a financial program. That's because LCD response times (how long it takes for the TV to "refresh" its picture) have typically been slower than that of other TV technologies. To address this, some new sets double or quadruple the number of frames per second-120 or 240 rather than the typical 60-by inserting additional video frames (or black frames). Some companies combine 120Hz with a scanning backlight to create a quasi-240Hz effect. Because there is less time between frames, motion appears smoother. Many companies are giving this technology proprietary names; Sony, for example, calls it Motionflow and JVC's is dubbed Clear Motion Drive.

LED backlighting (LCD)
LCD displays use lights in the back of the display to illuminate the screen. These are typically fluorescent bulbs, but some new sets use LED (light-emitting diode) backlights instead. Some have full-array LEDs divided into zones that can darken or brighten independently, a feature called local dimming. Thus the backlight can be dimmed behind a dark scene, enhancing black levels, while remaining bright in other parts of the picture. Other LCD TVs have LEDs around the perimeter of the screen--a design called edge-lit--enabling a very thin profile, but not allowing local dimming. LEDs can reduce power consumption.

Anti-glare screens (plasma)
Like old-fashioned picture-tube TVs, which have reflective glass screens, most plasma TVs have shiny screens that show reflections from windows and lamps, most noticeably in brightly lit rooms. A few LCD TVs have shiny screens too. If you weren't bothered by reflections on a tube set, this shouldn't be a major issue for you. Some plasma sets have screens with anti-glare surfaces, which can help to reduce reflectivity. Otherwise you can close window blinds or dim lighting to minimize any glare issues.

Anti-burn-in features (plasma)
Many plasma TVs now come with features to prevent burn-in, such as screensavers and motion-adaptive (also called pixel-shifting) technology, which shifts the picture almost imperceptibly every few seconds. This helps prevent static images such as a station logo or the bars on the sides of an image from permanently etching into the TV's phosphor coating, leaving faint but persistent, ghostlike images on the screen. Burn-in might have been more of a problem with earlier plasma sets. We haven't seen any evidence of burn-in when testing TVs in our labs over the course of a few months, and we have heard no anecdotal reports of permanent burn-in from staffers or readers who have used plasma TVs long-term at home. Temporary image sticking is more likely to occur. In this case, static images that remain on the screen for a matter of hours--or on a few sets we've seen, in minutes--may leave a subtle impression that's noticeable on a black screen, though hard to detect with typical video. These impressions disappear when you play random video scenes. Some models include a feature that essentially blasts the screen with a white image for a period of time to remove ghosting images.

Keystone correction (front projectors)
Front projectors, which project an image onto a screen or wall, also have some unique features. One, called keystone correction, helps the image retain its proper geometry when you tilt the projector up or down to raise or lower the image on the screen. Though this can help you center the image, tilting the projector can cause the sides of the image to angle away from 90 degrees, resulting in keystoning, or an image that looks like a trapezoid rather than a rectangle. Most projectors have some form of keystone correction--vertical, horizontal, or both--that can correct for this distortion. But using this feature can cause resolution to suffer, depending on the amount of correction applied to the image.

Lens-shift mechanism (front projectors)
To avoid having to use a keystone adjustment, many projectors include an optical lens-shift mechanism, which lets you move the image horizontally or vertically without tilting the projector so you can get a straight, geometrically correct picture even if the projector can't be centered directly in front of the screen. Some projectors have a vertical lens shift, others have both vertical and horizontal lens shift, and still others--primarily lower-cost DLP models--don't have any lens shift at all, which can make projector placement more difficult.

Manual or dynamic iris (front projectors)
To help improve the depth of black levels, many projectors include a manual or dynamic iris, which acts as a brightness adjustment by varying (typically reducing) the amount of light sent to the lens. While a manual iris lets you reduce overall light output to improve black-level performance, it applies that light reduction across the entire picture, so whites won't be quite as bright. A dynamic iris, which is controlled by a motor, has circuitry that closes the iris during darker scenes and opens it up again for brighter scenes, effectively boosting contrast. It must be able to react accurately and quickly or the process will be noticeable, an effect known as "breathing", in which you become aware that the feature is active as you see the image brightening and dimming on scenes.


(cont)

 

Brands

There are literally scores of brands of TVs, some very well-known, others much less familiar. Some manufacturers offer sets of various types, while others are known mostly for one type of TV. Here's a rundown of some of the major brands you'll encounter, listed in alphabetical order. Information on the performance history and reliability history of major brands is available to subscribers.

Epson

Sells front projectors.
Epson is a leading front-projector brand known for offering 720p and 1080p models at low prices. In 2009, the company introduced its lowest-priced 1080p front projector at $1,599. It uses 3LCD technology exclusively.

Funai

Sells LCD TVs.
Funai might not be a household name because it's the company behind other brands, mainly lower-priced labels such as Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic, that tend to be sold at mass-market stores, such as Walmart. Funai recently acquired the rights to two longtime TV brands, Philips and Magnavox, in the U.S. and Canada (Philips will no longer be making and selling its own sets here). It's possible that Funai will use those brands, particularly Philips, to gain entry into retailers that don't carry its other brands.

Hitachi

Sells plasma and LCD TVs.
Hitachi, at one time a leading rear-projection TV manufacturer, now focuses exclusively on flat-panel HDTVs. It previously had a limited LCD line, but it is making a strong push into LCDs with a line of ultrathin 1.5-inch-deep LCD TVs. The company has been strong in plasmas, sometimes offering unusual sizes (such as a 55-inch screen) and resolutions (1024x1080), but it did not introduce any new plasma TVs in 2009.

Insignia

Offers LCD and plasma TVs.
Insignia, Best Buy's electronics house brand, is exclusively sold by the retailer. Insignia TVs, which are made overseas by contract manufacturers, are positioned as a "value" line offering more features for the price than better-known makes.

JVC

Sells LCD TVs and front projectors.
The company's LCD sets are typically positioned in the mid-to-upper price range. JVC recently signed a deal with Funai to jointly develop and produce LCD TVs. It recently exited the LCoS rear-projector microdisplay business, but continues to make LCoS-based front projectors for the consumer and professional markets. JVC is merging with Kenwood, a consumer electronics company known largely for car audio products.

LG Electronics

Sells plasma and LCD TVs.
LG is a growing force in the plasma and LCD categories. Often, the company offers the largest screen sizes available for each type. The company's newer TVs have had a strong design focus. LG sets typically sell in the mid- and upper price brackets.

Mitsubishi

Sells LCD and rear-projection microdisplay TVs and front projectors.
In LCD, Mitsubishi is positioning its sets as a premium line with step-up features (all models are 120Hz, 1080p sets, for example) and ultra-slim bezels for select dealers. The company's flagship line is the Diamond series. Mitsubishi is the only major brand still actively selling rear-projection microdisplay (DLP) TVs. It is promoting models with 3D technology and has introduced the first set (dubbed Laser Vue) using a laser as a backlight. In the front projector market, it has competitively priced 3LCD-based high-definition (720p and 1080p) models.

Optoma

Sells front projectors.
While it doesn't offer any regular TV sets, Optoma is a big brand in the front-projector market. It has aggressively lowered prices for high-definition front projectors. In 2009, it introduced one of the first 1080p models under $1,000. Its projectors all use DLP technology. Optoma also sells an ultra-large (80 to 100 inches) DLP-based rear-projection TV series, called BigVision, through custom installers. This requires installation of an in-wall projector to project images on the rear of an in-wall display screen.

Panasonic

Sells LCD and plasma TVs and LCD-based front projectors.
Panasonic is the market leader in plasma TVs, with an extensive line of sets ranging from 42 inches to 65 inches. Plasma sets are usually competitively priced and are widely available, including at Costco. The company also offers an assortment of LCD TVs. Its apparent strategy is to offer LCDs in smaller (37 inches or less) screen sizes that won't compete with its plasma TV lines. Panasonic also sells 3LCD front projectors.

Philips

Sells LCD TVs.
Philips, which exited the plasma business to focus on LCD models, recently announced that it will be licensing its Philips and Magnavox brands to Funai for use in the U.S. and Canadian markets. As a result, Philips- and Magnavox-brand LCD TVs will be made and sold by Funai, which also controls the Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic brands. Philips had used the Magnavox brand for its entry-level products aimed at mass-market retailers.

Pioneer

Sells plasma TVs.
Plasma stalwart Pioneer has consistently targeted consumers willing to pay more for a "prestige" label, particularly with its higher-priced Elite series. The company offers a line of performance-oriented Kuro plasmas, which are typically priced much higher than its competition. The company recently announced that it would no longer make its own plasma panels but would instead source them from Panasonic (though it will continue to apply its other proprietary technologies to the TVs). In addition, a recent investment in the company by Sharp could result in the first Pioneer-branded LCDs.

Polaroid

Sells LCD TVs.
Polaroid is a value brand that is often among the lowest-priced sets of its type and size. Polaroid's TV presence in the U.S. has expanded thanks to increased shelf space at Walmart. Polaroid TVs are made overseas, primarily in China and Taiwan, by contract manufacturers. The Polaroid brand was acquired in 2005 by a former U.S. licensee, Petters Group, which had previously used the brand for TVs and DVD players.

Samsung

Sells plasma and LCD TVs and front projectors.
Samsung is a top-tier manufacturer and often an innovator, as with its use of LED backlighting in LCD TVs. Samsung has value-priced and premium lines.

Sanyo

Makes LCD TVs and front projectors.
Sanyo's focus is on LCDs TVs and front projectors. Its flat-panel TVs are sold through Walmart, typically at lower prices than sets from first-tier manufacturers. In front projectors, the company's 3LCD consumer models compete with entry-level HD models from companies such as Epson, Panasonic, and Optoma.

Sharp

Sells LCD TV and projectors.
Sharp is a force in LCDs and has been at it longer than almost any other manufacturer. The company sells its TVs under the Aquos brand. It has one of the most advanced LCD panel manufacturing plants in the world and is often an innovator. Like many other major brands, Sharp segments its lines into several different series. Some of Sharp's biggest, most innovative sets are expensive; others are competitively priced. The company recently took a stake in Pioneer; the benefits to Sharp are likely to be audio related.

Sony

Sells LCD TVs and front projectors.
Sony is a powerhouse LCD TV manufacturer with one of the most extensive product lines of LCD sets, which are sold under the Bravia name. There are several distinct Bravia lines with varying levels of features and quality; most are mid- to high-priced, and its flagship XBR-series models are generally among the most expensive of their type. Sony recently started offering a low-priced line for mass merchants such as Target and Walmart. Sony has exited the rear-projection microdisplay business (LCoS), but continues to make front projectors for the consumer and professional markets.

Toshiba

Sells LCD TVs.
Toshiba, which sells LCDs under the Regza label, has some sets that emphasize value, with features comparable to those of other major brands, but generally at lower prices. Its Cinema Series models are higher priced and loaded with features. The company, which makes LCD TVs in a large range of sizes, has a new line with very thin bezels, allowing a larger screen size to be used in a smaller physical space.

Vizio

Sells LCD TVs.
From its humble start just a few years ago as a warehouse-only brand, Vizio has emerged to become a top-tier TV brand whose sets are now also available in Walmart and Sears stores. Vizio TVs, which are made overseas by contract manufacturers, are generally sold at very low prices compared with more established names, but the company has introduced some new models that have higher prices and some step-up features that compete with much more expensive brands and models.

Westinghouse

Sells LCD TVs.
Westinghouse Digital, which licensed the venerable brand from Westinghouse Electric, has emerged as a lower-priced alternative to more established LCD brands. It competes with other discount brands in pricing and features.


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