Price Update - Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD HDTV

Most sets on our Consumer Reports Top Rated HDTV list dropped $100-$300 before Christmas and another $100 to $250 on Christmas day. Since then a few sets have dropped even further. Here is a price update for Feb 20, 2010:

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2499
40 inch Samsung UN40B6000 $1199 $100 price drop!
40 inch Samsung UN40B7000 $1327 $80 price drop!

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $789 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH40 $811 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH50 $829 Best Buy!

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR8 $1996 $100 price drop!
46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1709
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1299 $300 price drop!
46 inch Samsung UN46B7000 $1699 $100 price drop!
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $1699 $200 price drop!
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $848 Best Buy! $100 price drop!
46 inch Toshiba 46SV670U $1296$150 price drop!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $989 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46Z5100 $1287 $200 price drop!

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1234 Best Buy! $60 price drop!
52 inch Samsung LN52B750 $1612 $80 price drop!
52 inch Sony KDL-52XBR9 $1999

55 inch LG 55LH90 $1989 $800 price drop!
55 inchToshiba 55ZV650U $1387 Best Buy! $200 price drop!

After Christmas Sale - Consumer Reports Top Rated Plasma/LCD HDTV

Most sets on our Consumer Reports Top Rated HDTV list dropped $100-$300 on Sunday November 22, just in time for the biggest sale of the year, Black Friday week. Many dropped another $100 to $250 on Christmas day, just in time for the annual post-Christmas HDTV sale. Here is a price update for Dec 25, 2009:

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2499
40 inch Samsung UN40B6000 $1299 $100 price drop!
40 inch Samsung UN40B7000 $1399 $180 price drop!

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $889 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH40 $811 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH50 $872 Best Buy!

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR8 $1996 $100 price drop!
46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1788
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1599 $150 price drop!
46 inch Samsung UN46B7000 $1799 $165 price drop!
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $1899 $250 price drop!
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $848 Best Buy! $100 price drop!
46 inch Toshiba 46SV670U $1468 $150 price drop!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $989 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46Z5100 $1478

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1299 Best Buy! $100 price drop!
52 inch Samsung LN52B750 $1699 $130 price drop!
52 inch Sony KDL-52XBR9 $1999

55 inch LG 55LH90 $2724
55 inchToshiba 55ZV650U $1587 Best Buy! $50 price drop!

Top Rated Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $760 Best Buy!
42 inch Panasonic TC P42G15 $884

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1118
46 inch Panasonic TC P46G15 $1178

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1  $1179
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1099 Best Buy!

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54S1 $1366 Best Buy!
54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1599 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $1849 Best Buy! $100 price drop!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2379

Black Friday Sale - HDTV Blowout

Black Friday Deals at Amazon.com run all week. Check out Amazon's Black Friday page here.

In past holiday seasons we've noted that some of the lowest prices didn't last too long. Quantities were limited and those who snapped up deals early got the lowest prices. Inventories are much lower this year than last. Don't shop around too long. If you see the set you want at a good price grab it. Better to lock in a good price early rather than agonize over spending several hundred dollars more later as stocks dwindle and prices jump.

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2199

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $889

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1726
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1569
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $1959
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $899 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $989 Best Buy!

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1262 Best Buy!

Top Rated Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $747 Best Buy!

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1023

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1 $979 Awesome Deal!
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1044 Best Buy!

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $1939 Best Buy!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2379

Black Friday Sale - Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD, Plasma HDTV

Most sets on our Consumer Reports Top Rated HDTV list dropped $100-$300 on Sunday November 22, just in time for the biggest sale of the year, Black Friday week. If you see the set you want at an attractive price don't procrastinate. Stocks are likely limited and early shoppers usually get the best deals.  Many of the lowest prices will disappear as early as mid-day Black Friday. Here's the updated list:

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2499
40 inch Samsung UN40B6000 $1399
40 inch Samsung UN40B7000 $1579

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $889 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH40 $811 Best Buy!
42 inch LG 42LH50 $879 Best Buy!

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR8 $2099
46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1788
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1749
46 inch Samsung UN46B7000 $1864
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $2148
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $949 Best Buy!
46 inch Toshiba 46SV670U $1592
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $989 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46Z5100 $1478

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1394 Best Buy!
52 inch Samsung LN52B750 $1829
52 inch Sony KDL-52XBR9 $1999

55 inch LG 55LH90 $2724
55 inchToshiba 55ZV650U $1631 Best Buy!

Top Rated Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $760 Best Buy!
42 inch Panasonic TC P42G15 $884

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1138
46 inch Panasonic TC P46G15 $1178

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1  $1179
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1099 Best Buy!

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54S1 $1366 Best Buy!
54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1599 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $1939 Best Buy!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2379

Black Friday Sale - HDTVs Are Hot

Black Friday Deals at Amazon.com begin early this year. Check out Amazon's Black Friday page here.

In past holiday seasons we've noted that some of the lowest prices didn't last too long. Quantities were limited and those who snapped up deals early got the lowest prices. Don't shop around too long. If you see the set you want at a good price grab it. Better to lock in a good price early rather than agonize over spending several hundred dollars more later as stocks dwindle and prices jump.

No need to wait though. We find many great deals on some of our top rated sets (below):

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2199

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $889

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1726
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1669
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $2148
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $949 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $989 Best Buy!

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1262 Best Buy!

Top Rated Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $747 Best Buy!

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1023

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1 $979 Awesome Deal!
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1044 Best Buy!

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $1939 Best Buy!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2379

Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD, Plasma HDTV

Consumer Reports still has a preference for plasma, but LCD screens that incorporate LEDs and local dimming technology to produce deeper blacks and improved contrast ratios are climbing the ratings charts. However LEDs and local dimming have boosted the price of the top LCD sets, while new generation plasma prices are dropping.

Top Rated LCD HDTV

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2199

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $932

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1726
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $1669
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $2289
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $999 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $1148

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1262 Best Buy!

Top Rated Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $768 Best Buy!

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1023

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1 $979 Awesome Deal!
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1044 Best Buy!

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $2139 Best Buy!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2579

Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD & Plasma HDTV

Consumer Reports still has a preference for plasma, but LCD screens that incorporate LEDs and local dimming technology to produce deeper blacks and improved contrast ratios are climbing the ratings charts. However LEDs and local dimming have boosted the price of the top LCD sets, while new generation plasma prices are dropping.

Top Rated LCD

40 inch Sony KLV-40ZX1M $2482

42 inch Toshiba 42ZV650U $1019

46 inch Sony KDL-46XBR9 $1857
46 inch Samsung UN46B6000 $2429
46 inch Samsung UN46B8000 $2789
46 inch Toshiba 46XV645U $1119 Best Buy!
46 inch Sony KDL-46V5100 $1277

52 inch Toshiba 52XV645U $1449 Best Buy!

55 inch Samsung LN55A950 $3698

Top Rated Plasma

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $874 Best Buy!

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1169 Best Buy!

50 inch Panasonic TC-P50S1 $1185 Best Buy!
50 inch Panasonic TC-P50G10 $1399

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1479 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $2299 Best Buy!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2899

Best LCD HDTVs of 2009

We Can See Clearly Now

The 2009 LCD HDTV roll out is underway and we like it. Deeper blacks, higher refresh rates, and motion blur reduction, previously expensive adders, are standard features in many new 2009 sets. Here are a few that offer outstanding picture quality, most at reasonable cost:

Sony KDL-32XBR9 32-Inch 120Hz LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-40S5100 40-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-46V5100 46-Inch 120Hz LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-52V5100 52-Inch 120Hz LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV

Samsung LN40B650 40-Inch 120Hz LCD HDTV
Samsung LN46B650 46-Inch 120Hz LCD HDTV
Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV
Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV