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 - 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

Best HDTVs of 2009

The mid-year market looks great with HDTV sales up 15% month-over-month and prices as low as they've ever been. Notably the incredible Sony 52-inch 52XBR9 is now priced less than the top-of-the-line 52-inch sets from Samsung. We think it's a great deal. Also, supplies of the so-called worlds best HDTV, the incomparable Pioneer PDP-6020FD, are lasting longer than anyone predicted. This great set from Pioneer is still available. A bit pricey, it always has been, it's worth the money. It's still the best HDTV money can buy.

Big screen buyers should check out the excellent Panasonic P54G10 54-inch plasma HDTV. This top rated set is the best value big screen HDTV by far. Highly recommended!



The appropriately labelled World's Best HDTV, the Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD and PDP-6020FD, are still available, albeit at high prices.

With sales picking up we expect a pause in price drops. That means now is a great time to buy.

Samsung LN40B550 40-Inch LCD HDTV $849

Panasonic TC-P42G10 42-Inch HDTV $817

Samsung LN46B550 46-Inch LCD HDTV $1059
Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV $1699
Panasonic TC-P46G10 46-Inch HDTV $1107

Panasonic TC-P50G10 50-Inch HDTV $1044 Awesome Deal!
Pioneer PDP-5020FD 50-Inch Plasma HDTV $3499, limited supplies

Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 240Hz LCD HDTV $2019
Sony KDL-52XBR9 52-Inch 240 Hz LCD HDTV $1889

Panasonic TC-P54G10 54-Inch HDTV $1568 Awesome Deal!

Pioneer PDP-6020FD 60-Inch Plasma HDTV $3999, limited supplies

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