Price Update - Consumer Reports Top Rated Plasma 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 Plasma HDTV

42 inch Panasonic TC-P42S1 $709 Best Buy!
42 inch Panasonic TC P42G15 $884

46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10 $1074 $100 price drop!
46 inch Panasonic TC P46G15 $1139

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

54 inch Panasonic TC-P54S1 $1213 Best Buy! $200 price drop!
54 inch Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1599 Best Buy!

58 inch Samsung PN58B650 $1816 Best Buy! $150 price drop!
58 inch Samsung PN58B860 $2196 $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

Price Drops on Top Rated Big Screen HDTVs

Here are four incredible deals on big screen HDTVs 52-inches and larger. The 52-inch Sony 52V5100 is an outstanding set, close to the great 52XBR9 in image quality, but priced much lower. A great value at $1385 delivered. Panasonic also has three top-notch big screen plasmas on the list, each one at the top of its class. We've loved the new generation Panasonic plasmas from day one and are pleased to see prices continue to drop. The 58-inch TC-P58S1 is an exceptional bargain at $1765 delivered. Customer ratings for all four set are off the charts. Check it out!

52" LCD Sony 52V5100 $1385 at Amazon
54" Plasma Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 at Amazon
58" Plasma Panasonic TC-P58S1 $1765 at Amazon
65" Plasma Panasonic TC-P65S1 $2418 at Amazon

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

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

Great Value in Top Rated Big Screen HDTVs

Here are four incredible deals on big screen HDTVs 52-inches and larger. The 52-inch Sony 52V5100 is an outstanding set, close to the great 52XBR9 in image quality, but priced much lower. A great value at $1385 delivered. Panasonic also has three top-notch big screen plasmas on the list, each one at the top of its class. We've loved the new generation Panasonic plasmas from day one and are pleased to see prices continue to drop. The 58-inch TC-P58S1 is an exceptional bargain at $1765 delivered. Customer ratings for all four set are off the charts. Check it out!

52" LCD Sony 52V5100 $1385 at Amazon
54" Plasma Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 at Amazon
58" Plasma Panasonic TC-P58S1 $1765 at Amazon
65" Plasma Panasonic TC-P65S1 $2418 at Amazon

54-inch Panasonic Plasma P54G10 $1619

We found an awesome deal on the outstanding Panasonic TC-P54G10 at Amazon:

54" Plasma Panasonic TC-P54G10 $1619 at Amazon

Panasonic G10 Series Plasma HDTV

Best Value HDTV?

The 2009 G10 Series plasma HDTV is the midrange in Panasonic's lineup, but the image quality is top notch, and the prices are reasonable. Power consumption is reduced, these sets are Energy Star compliant, and black levels are much improved. The G10 models are also THX certified—great picture quality right out of the box is practically guaranteed. Blu-ray disc source material via HDMI is particularly impressive.

The G10 Series sets out-perform many higher priced sets, including last year's highly regarded 800U series, and are terrific bargains. The G10s are available in 42-inch, 46-inch, 50-inch, and 54-inch screen sizes, one of which is just perfect for your home theater!

Panasonic TC-P42G10 42-Inch HDTV $916 at Amazon
Panasonic TC-P46G10 46-Inch HDTV $1130 at Amazon
Panasonic TC-P50G10 50-Inch HDTV $1044 at Amazon Hot Deal!
Panasonic TC-P54G10 54-Inch HDTV $1568 at Amazon

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