Samsung LCD, Panasonic Plasma Tops in Sales

Quality Picture, Reasonable Price Drive Sales

The HDTV market is holding well in spite of intense economic pressure. Samsung LCD HDTVs continue their reign as the most popular and best selling HDTVs, although the excellent Panasonic G10 Series plasma HDTVs hold their own. Sony continues to stuggle to grab market share from rival Samsung, but the well received 52XBR9 is finding favor with some HDTV aficionados. We're partial to the Panasonic G10 plasmas, but don't knock anyone for their preference of the new generation Samsung LCDs. To be fair the gap between plasma and LCD is very narrow and we'd be thrilled to have any of these top-selling sets in our living room.

Here's our picks for the best-of-the-best in the current market:

Samsung LN40B550 40-Inch LCD HDTV $849
Samsung LN46B550 46-Inch LCD HDTV $1059
Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV $1669
Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 240 Hz LCD HDTV $2019
Sony KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 240 Hz LCD HDTV $2007

Panasonic TC-P42G10 42-Inch Plasma HDTV $817
Panasonic TC-P46G10 46-Inch Plasma HDTV $1149
Panasonic TC-P50G10 50-Inch Plasma HDTV $1395
Panasonic TC-P54G10 54-Inch Plasma HDTV $1568

Samsung LCD, Panasonic G10 Top Selling HDTV

Quality Picture, Reasonable Price Drive Sales

The HDTV market is holding well in spite of intense economic pressure. Samsung LCD HDTVs continue their reign as the most popular and best selling HDTVs, although the excellent Panasonic G10 Series plasma HDTVs hold their own. Sony continues to stuggle to grab market share from rival Samsung, but the well received—and pricey—52XBR9 is finding favor with some HDTV aficionados. We're partial to the Panasonic G10 plasmas, but don't knock anyone for their preference of the new generation Samsung LCDs. To be fair the gap between plasma and LCD is very narrow and we'd be thrilled to have any of these top-selling sets in our living room.

Here's our picks for the best-of-the-best in the current market:

Samsung LN40B550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung LN46B550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV
Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV

Panasonic TC-P42G10 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TC-P46G10 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Amazon Top Selling HDTV

Great picture quality, low price, and free shipping make these the best selling HDTVs at Amazon (February 15, 2009):

1. Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch LCD HDTV
2. Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch LCD HDTV
3. Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch LCD HDTV
4. Samsung LN40A650 40-Inch LCD HDTV
5. Sony KDL-46Z4100 46-Inch LCD HDTV
6. Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch LCD HDTV
7. Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch LCD HDTV
8. Samsung LN40A650 40-Inch LCD HDTV

All Amazon Top Selling HDTV

Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD and Plasma HDTVs: Samsung and Panasonic

Samsung & Panasonic Top Rated HDTVs

The two best selling HDTV brands Samsung and Panasonic came out on top in almost every screen size in the latest Consumer Reports ranking of HDTVs. Several models from other manufacturers scored high as well but the top two were consistently highly ranked across various screen sizes. HDTV technology has reached the point where differences between the top ranked sets are minimal, so value shopping does not necessarily mean a sacrifice in image quality. Here are the Consumer Reports top ranked HDTVs and current prices (HDTV-News picks are indicated by Editor's Choice):

Top Ranked LCD HDTV

Samsung 55-inch LN55A950 $3844 Free Shipping

Samsung 52-inch LN52A650 $1817 Free Shipping
Samsung 52-inch LN52A750 $1927 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
Sony 52-inch 52XBR6 $2509 Free Shipping
LG 52-inch 52LG50 $1499 Free Shipping
Toshiba 52-inch 52XV545U $2308 Free Shipping
Sony 52-inch KDL-52W4100 $1897 Free Shipping Editor's Choice

Samsung 46-inch LN46A850 $1776 Free Shipping
Samsung 46-inch LN46A550 $1127 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
Sony 46-inch KDL-46XBR8 $4699 Free Shipping
Sony 46-inch KDL-46Z4100 $1568 Free Shipping

Top Ranked Plasma HDTV

Pioneer 60-inch PDP-6020FD $3701 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
LG 60-inch 60PG30 $2699 Free Shipping

Samsung 58-inch PN58A550 $2380 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
Panasonic 58-inch TH-58PZ850U $3149

Samsung 50-inch PN50A550 $1350 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
Samsung 50-inch PN50A760 $1799
Panasonic 50-inch TH-50PZ800U $1999 Free Shipping Editor's Choice
LG 50-inch 50PG60 $1729 Free Shipping
Samsung 50-inch PN50A450 $999 Free Shipping Editor's Choice

Amazon Top Selling LCD HDTV

Sony is taking a big chunk of the LCD HDTV market away from long time leader Samsung. Boosted by huge price drops the Sony Bravia XBR6 LCD HDTVs shake up the standings. The 52XBR6 leaps up to 3rd, the 40XBR6 up to 6th, and the 46XBR6 up to 7th. Another big mover is the Samsung Series 700 LN52A750, jumping up to 8th.

Great picture quality, low price, and free shipping make these the best selling LCD HDTVs at Amazon (January 2009):

1. Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch LCD HDTV
2. Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch LCD HDTV
3. Sony KDL-52XBR6 52-Inch LCD HDTV
4. Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch LCD HDTV
5. Samsung LN32A450 32-Inch LCD HDTV
6. Sony KDL-40XBR6 40-Inch LCD HDTV
7. Sony KDL-46XBR6 46-Inch LCD HDTV
8. Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch LCD HDTV
9. Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch LCD HDTV
10. Samsung LN40A650 40-Inch LCD HDTV

All Amazon Top Selling LCD HDTV

52" LCD Prices Drop—Again!

Following a trend that started in November prices keep dropping on LCD HDTVs. This is especially true of 52-inch class LCDs. You no longer need to break the bank to take one of these babies home.

The excellent Sharp 52D64U, $1499(!) at TigerDirect, is a Best Buy. The highly regarded Samsung LN52A550, $1654 at Amazon and $1649 at One Call (both with Free Shipping), is also a fine value. The popular Samsung Series 600 LN52A650 recently became Amazon's best selling HDTV.

Sharp LC-52D64U $1499 at Tiger Direct Best Buy
Sony KDL-52V4100 $1749 at J&R
Sony KDL-52V4100 $1799 at OneCall Free Shipping
Sony KDL-52W4100 $1970 at Amazon Free Shipping
Sony KDL-52W4100 $1999 at J&R
Sony KDL-52XBR6 $2417 at Amazon Free Shipping
Sony KDL-52XBR7 $3999 at Amazon 240Hz
Samsung LN52A550 $1654 at Amazon Free Shipping
Samsung LN52A550 $1649 at J&R
Samsung LN52A550 $1649 at OneCall Free Shipping
Samsung LN52A650 $1881 at Amazon Free Shipping
Samsung LN52A650 $1999 at OneCall Free Shipping
Samsung LN52A750 $1947 at Amazon Free Shipping

Consumer Reports Top Rated LCD HDTV

Panasonic TC-32LZ800 32-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-32XBR6 32-Inch LCD HDTV
Samsung LN32A550 32-Inch LCD HDTV
Toshiba 32CV510 32-inch LCD HDTV
Vizio VO32L 32-inch LCD HDTV

Hitachi UT37V702 37-Inch LCD HDTV
Panasonic TC-37LZ85 37-Inch LCD HDTV
Panasonic TC-37LZ800 37-Inch LCD HDTV
Samsung LN37A450 37-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-37XBR6 37-Inch LCD HDTV

Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-40V4100 40-Inch LCD HDTV

LG 42LG70 42-Inch LCD HDTV
Toshiba 42XV540U 42-Inch LCD HDTV

Mitsubishi LT-46148 46-Inch LCD HDTV
Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-46S4100 46-Inch LCD HDTV
Toshiba 46RV530U 46-Inch LCD HDTV
Toshiba 46XV540U 46-Inch LCD HDTV

Vizio VO47L 47-inch LCD HDTV

LG 52LG70 52-Inch LCD HDTV
Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch LCD HDTV
Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch LCD HDTV
Sony KDL-52W4100 52-Inch LCD HDTV

December 2008