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

Quality Picture, Low Price, Free Shipping 720p HDTV

Great Bargains on 720p HDTV Still Available

1080p is all the rage but there are a few 720p sets on the market that represent great value for the bargain hunting HDTV buyer. At 50 inches and below 720p is perfectly adequate. From a normal viewing distance your eye cannot distinguish the extra pixels. All things being equal a 720p image is just as sharp as a 1080p image. Prices on 720p set have dropped as retailers clear stock to make room for new 1080p models. Here are our 720p HDTV recommendations, all with free shipping:

Panasonic TH-42PX80U 42-Inch 720p Plasma $764 Free Shipping
LG 42PG20 42-Inch 720p Plasma $799 Free Shipping
Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma $806 Free Shipping
Samsung PN50A450 50-Inch 720p Plasma $917 Free Shipping

Amazon Top Selling Plasma HDTV

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

1. Panasonic TH-42PX80U 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
2. Panasonic TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
3. Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
4. Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
5. Samsung PN50A450 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
6. Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50-inch Plasma HDTV
7. Panasonic TH-46PZ85U 46-Inch Plasma HDTV
8. Panasonic TH-58PZ800U 58-Inch Plasma HDTV
9. Samsung PN50A650 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
10. Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch Plasma HDTV

All Amazon Top Selling Plasma HDTVs

Consumer Reports Top Rated Plasma HDTV

Panasonic TH-42PX80U 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TH-42PZ800U 42-Inch Plasma HDTV

Panasonic TH-46PZ80U 46-Inch Plasma HDTV

LG 50PG60 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50-inch Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Panasonic TH-50PZ850U 50-inch Plasma HDTV
Pioneer PDP-5020FD 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Pioneer PRO-111FD 50-inch Plasma HDTV
Samsung PN50A450 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Samsung PN50A650 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Vizio JV50P 50-inch Plasma HDTV

Samsung PN58A550 58-Inch Plasma HDTV

Pioneer PDP-6020FD 60-Inch Plasma HDTV

December 2008

Great Low Prices on 720p HDTV

Buyers Passing Up Great Deals on 720p Sets

At 50 inches and below 720p is just fine. On a 50-inch (or smaller) display at normal viewing distance your eye cannot distinguish the extra pixels. All other things being equal 720p and 1080p look the same. The new standard is 1080p and soon 720p displays will be a relic of the past. But for now there are terrific deals on 720p sets. Why pay extra for pixels you can't see. Check out the great prices on these top rated sets (Amazon continues to have the lowest prices for most sets for an Authorized online retailer):

32" LCD Panasonic TC-32LX85 $513 at Amazon
42" Plasma Panasonic TH-42PX80U $649 at J&R
42" Plasma Samsung PN42A450 $781 at Amazon
42" LCD Toshiba 42AV500U $799 at Amazon
50" Plasma Samsung PN50A450 $959 at Amazon
50" Plasma Panasonic TH-50PX80U $999 at Amazon

HDTV Gift Guide

Some Holiday HDTV Gift Ideas

Sony S350 Blu-Ray Player. Standard DVDs look great on an HDTV with an upscaling DVD player, but even for a casual movie watcher Blu-Ray quality makes a substantial difference. Well-mastered Blu-Ray movies are astonishingly crisp when displayed on a good HDTV. The S350 is a great player and the price is currently about 30-40% below what is was just three months ago. Our top pick for best value in a Blu-Ray player.

If you can't quite afford the world's greatest HDTV (Pioneer 50-inch PDP-5020FD/60-inch PDP-6020FD) then go for the 50-inch Panasonic TH-50PZ850U, CNet's second highest rated HDTV (the Pioneer PDP-5020FD and PDP-6020FD are tops). The 50PZ850 plasma has fantastic image quality and is a great value. On the other hand if you need a 50-inch set and have only about a thousand bucks to spare consider the Samsung PN50A450 plasma HDTV. At 50-inches and below there are terrific bargains in 720p sets, and we like the PN50A450 best. Even to a professional there is no advantage in 1080p over 720p for a 50-inch screen at normal viewing distance. Your eyes cannot distinguish the extra pixels. Save some cash and go for the lower resolution.

The newest sets from Sony are—no surprise—generating rave reviews. Home Theater Magazine and PC World are particularly fond of the 46-inch KDL-46XBR6 and 52-inch KDL-52XBR6. We won't argue, especially since both sets are currently available at deep discounts, more than a thousand bucks below MSRP.