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 - 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

Samsung 6000 Series LCD HDTV

Samsung LED LCD HDTV—Hot Enough For Summer

These ultra-slim, ultra-sharp, ultra-efficient LCD HDTVs are flat out cool. Great blacks, thanks to LED local dimming, and minimal motion artifacts due to 4 msec repsonse time and 120 Hz image processing. Great connectivity including 4 HDMI inputs and an optical digital audio output. These sets use 40% less energy than a standard LCD set. We love the deep blacks and accurate colors. These sets looks great in a bright room, in particular with high-def material. Available in 40-inch, 46-inch, and 55-inch screens.

Samsung UN40B6000 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV
Samsung UN46B6000 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV
Samsung UN55B6000 55-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV