Sony KDL-52XBR9 LCD 52"

Sony KDL-52XBR9 LCD 52"

The Sony KDL-52XBR9 has a lot to offer for a 52 inch LCD TV. Its colors are quite rich and true and the all important blacks are on the mid range for LCD TVs. This LCD TV is also packed with internet apps for a little extra fun when there is nothing on TV. This is a fun TV for users who are enthusiastic about web based programming. The only notable drawback of the KDL-52XBR9 is its rather high price. At 52-inches, measured diagonally, it’s more expensive than some top rated 55-inch sets. Nonetheless, the performance will be worth the additional investment for many consumers.

Features:

Sony’s XBR series HDTVs are among the best of their LCD TVs. They are about mid range when talking LCD TVs that employ CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light) technology to illuminate the pixels. To do any better in lighting you have to make the jump to LED backlit sets which come at a notably higher price or choose a Plasma TV which can produce even sharper pictures but, due to the possibility of image burn in, present some special issues, especially for sports fans and gamers. In addition to the 52-inch model that’s specifically addressed in this review, Sony XBR9 series TVs also come in 46- and 40-inch versions which are identical with the notable exception of the screen size.

The KDL-52XBR9 offers quite a few options when connected to the internet, over twenty free and premium web options are available. They include Amazon Video On Demand which allows for downloading movies on a rental or purchase basis. Sony Music and Sony Pictures are also accessible. Free offerings include YouTube, Sports Illustrated, Slacker and Epicurious.com.

Further interactive features include the TV Guide Program Guide and Yahoo Widgets which are rebranded as BRAVIA Widgets. They’re little programs that provide access to content such as news, weather and stock reports and can be positioned and sized according to individual preferences. When connected to a home network, content from any networked computer can also be displayed on the big screen.

Display:

The primary reason for buying any high definition TV is superior image quality. The display found on the Sony KDL-52XBR9 features full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution (1080p) in the standard 16:9 widescreen ratio. It presents almost true colors and does a good job of producing the bright whites and blackest blacks. Some of the higher ends TVs such as the LG 55LD650 or the Samsung LN55C650 do a slightly better job in this area. Sony’s Live Color Creation technology does however provide Wide Color Gamut CCFL backlighting to enhance greens and reds enhancing overall color quality.

The set also features the BRAVIA Engine 3 digital processor which reduces video noise, or interference, and sharpens image details. The 240Hz refresh rate that Sony calls Motionflow is a welcome surprise for a mid range LCD TV. It’s particularly important in producing smooth, natural looking movement while significantly reducing motion blur, particularly in fast action sequences that are typical of sport, adventure movies and video games.

Connections:

There are seven distinct HD connection interfaces including 4 versatile and user friendly HDMI slots. They permit the easiest and highest quality connection for Blu-ray players and gaming consoles as well as other HDMI equipped components and provide up to 1080p/60p reproduction, the best currently available. Three of the four HDMI interfaces are located facing the side of the back panel rather than its back. That facilitates access without moving the TV but it could be a bit trying when it comes to concealing cables. Fortunately, the side of the panel is far enough from the perimeter of the screen that, with judicious use of cable ties, this shouldn’t be a problem. The side panel also has a USB port, S-Video and composite inputs and an input for PCs.

Help & Support:

Probably the biggest reason Sony does so well when it comes to electronics is due to the fact that they know how to help their customers. With just about any type of help and support you could ask for, Sony truly delivers in this area.

Summary:

The Sony KDL-52XBR9 is a standard performer among LCD TVs. It falls short of the standards set by Plasma TVs, particularly with regard to extreme black levels, but does a good overall job. For users who like interactive content, this TV is about as good as it gets. This is a decent LCD TV and is worth a second look for consumers interested in an 52 inch LCD TV rather than the 55 inch TVs on our site.

Samsung LN55C650 LCD 55"

Samsung LN55C650 LCD 55"

Samsung has always provided its customers with some of the best-looking products on the market. The Samsung LN55C650 has received our mark approval and has been awarded with the TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award for being one of the most stylish designs and also provides its customers with one of the best pictures on an LCD TV today, save a few minor issues. The red tint of color around the edge of this TV allows it to stick out a little more no matter what room you choose to use it in. Samsung has also included a swivel stand that's ideal for viewing the screen from any seat in the room. While LG has implemented a few features in their top-of-the-line LCD TV model, the Samsung LN55C650 is more than worthy of a second look.

Features:

Samsung understands more than most the about importance of having a TV that is more than just a screen to watch movies or TV shows on. The Samsung LN55C650 comes with what is known as the Samsung Apps feature. This is very similar to the NetCast feature found on the LG 55LD650, but offers an even larger selection of apps to customize your viewing experience. You will find everything from sports, games, videos, social networking apps and much more. By simply connecting to the internet you will have access to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, ESPN, Pandora, Twitter and other social networking apps. If you are looking for an LCD TV that will provide endless entertainment there is nothing better than the Samsung LN55C650.

Much like some of Samsung's newer LED models, the LN55C650 is Wi-Fi ready, which means you'll never have to deal with stringing internet cables all over the house again. If you have a wireless router set up in the house, it takes just a few minutes to connect to the internet and start streaming your favorite shows, music or other apps. Along with the internet, the Samsung LN55C650 can also connect directly to your computer, turning your LCD TV into a giant monitor. This is extremely nice for viewing slide shows, playing games, watching movies or anything else you have stored on your computer.

At just over 3 inches thick, the Samsung LN55C650 is one of the thinnest LCD TVs on the market today. This is extremely nice for those who don’t want to spend the money for an expensive LED TV but still want a TV they can hang on the wall. With an easy-to-install wall mount, your new TV can be ready to mount and not worry about (the wall mount is not included). Samsung has always been the leader when it comes to thin design and has once again shown what can be done.

Display:

We all know that the picture quality is hands-down the most important thing to look at when purchasing a new TV. The Samsung LN55C650 has all the standard display features for an LCD TV. They are not the top of the line, but at the same time are not at the bottom end of the scale either. The overall picture looks great in just about any room in the house but will fade slightly in well-lit areas. This seems to be quite common for most LCD TVs.

Action movies and sporting events have always been very popular reasons to buy a big screen LCD TV, and they've become even more popular with the invention of HDTV. The Samsung LN55C650 gives its sport enthusiast a very good taste of what is actually going on in the game. While the response time of 4ms is somewhat less than that of other TVs, it still gives you an almost crystal-clear picture every time. We were somewhat disappointed that the refresh rate was only 120Hz for such a high-end LCD TV. The 150,000:1 contrast ratio was also a little surprising to see but overall didn’t really seem to affect the picture quality enough to notice in most situations.

When push comes to shove the Samsung LN55C650 LCD TV does fall slightly behind the LG 55LD650 if you compare the overall picture quality and features. That being said, the slight changes are only noticeable when viewing from the side and when there is a lot of very dark and very light colors in the same picture.

 Connections:

The connections for this LCD TV are located on the rear and side panels and include all of your basic inputs. There are four HDMI inputs, which is pretty standard for LCD TVs. There is also a set of component inputs and two USB ports for connecting a camera or camcorder. If you do not have Wi-Fi there is always an Ethernet port located on the rear panel for connecting to the internet.

Help & Support:

An electronics company wouldn’t be complete unless it offered at least a few different ways for its customers to get help along the way. Samsung has obviously been around for quite some time and understands the importance of helping their customers. On their site you will find a page that contains an email address, phone number, FAQs and even the ability to get in direct contact with the company via live chat. All of these are quick and easy ways to get answers you may have about the one-year warranty, purchase process or anything else that might be bothering you with your LCD TV. The only thing they are missing is an online manual, not a must if you have the one that comes with your TV.

Summary:

Knowing that the LCD TV you're purchasing was made by a reliable company and that it is going to do its job well are both huge bonuses for Samsung. The Samsung LN55C650 looks amazing and produces a more than reasonable picture; there is some blurring and off-tone coloring at times, but overall the picture quality will make most buyers very happy.

Samsung LN55B650 55"

Samsung LN55B650 55"

Samsung is one of the leading DHTVs manufactures in the world right now and one of their mid range products available is the Samsung LN55B650. It’s a 55 inch LCD TV with high definition and an easy to use system, just what you’d want for entertainment. While all that sounds very nice, the TV does lack some major features to bring it to the top of our list.

The 650 Series is available from 65” down to 37” without losing any of the quality. There are a few smaller models but they only get up to 720p HD. The 55” monster we are reviewing though has full 1080p HD which has now become the standard in LCD TVs. It also includes a 120Hz refresh rate which tries to remove blur when watching quick movements in your favorite action flicks or sporting events. The major issue we ran into is the fact that this TV did not accomplish this task quite as well as some of the high end LCD TVS. The 100,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and you get is about average but is nothing amazing when compared to the 200,000:1 ratio on our top ranked TV.

The LNB650 series has a very unique design. It has your typical piano black finish which is ideal for most rooms. However, Samsung decided to add a “Touch of Color” found in many other models from Samsung. These LCD TVs have been accented with red which seems a bit odd considering there aren’t very many, if any, other home theater devices that are red. However, if black and red is the designer look you want then this is your LCD TV. On a side note, the remote is designed very well. It has large back-lit buttons that are easy to differentiate and use. It does have a high gloss finish however and if you combine that with the fact that it’s black, you get fingerprints boldly distracting you after every time you touch the screen. If that doesn’t bother you though, then there are no worries.

This TV also comes with 4 HDMI ports so you can get the HD performance from your Blu-Ray player, HD cable or satellite receiver, your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, as well as an AV receiver. If you haven’t made the upgrade to HDMI yet there are also composite and component ports that you can utilize. Aside from those you have USB and PC input (D-sub) that you can plug into and also an Ethernet port so you can take advantage of Samsungs Media 2.0 to access content via Yahoo and Flickr (Wi-Fi is available with an adapter for wireless access to the internet). Plug in a flash drive to one of the USB ports or remotely access your PC’s media files like music, video and photos and enjoy them on your LNB650 in HD through the built-in DLNA. This internet and PC connectivity is an added addition to the similar B640 series.

When it comes to support, Samsung has always provided its customers with a good set of options. You will be able to contact them via email, over the phone or by simply using their live chat feature. The one thing that is missing from their site is an online manual in case you lose the one that came with your LCD TV. While for most this may not be an issue, some may need it down the road.

Summary:

All in all this Energy Star qualified LCD TV is a great choice for anyone looking for mid range HDTV. There are cheaper TVs available out there but the Samsung LN55B650 is pleasing to the eye. If you’re willing to spend a few hundred extra dollars and can live with a few minor drawbacks, this LCD TV may work for you.

LG 55LH40 LCD 55"

LG 55LH40 LCD 55"

Since the conversion of Lucky Goldstar to Life is Good, LG has become a competitive company in many areas. HDTVs is one of those areas and one of their basic LCD TVs is the LG 55LH40. This LCD TV is a step down from the 55LH55 but it costs a few hundred dollars less for almost the same quality. There is also a 55LH50 series but the only difference really, is the included widgets.

The LG 55LH40 is a 55” LCD TV with full 1080p high definition. The 55” is the biggest in the LH40 series but is also available in a variety of sizes down to 32”. LG has integrated the 120Hz refresh rate into the system for that smoother motion that some people really love. However, the motion is… different then some people are used to or like and some have had the issue of juddering motion while it is in use, but it is easy to turn off if you wish to do so.

This LCD TV only has a 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. That probably falls somewhere on the low end of the scale since 150,000:1 and 100,000:1 are both pretty common in LCD’s. The lower dynamic contrast ratio will be an issue for those planning on using this TV in a theater room or other low light settings. You will notice that the blacks are washed out and that the picture in general is not as clear.

 

One of the biggest differences between the 55LH40 and other LCD TVs is that it has a 3ms response time. The response times measure how long it takes for a pixel to go from black to white and back to black. The faster the response time the better the picture and performance of your TV is and there aren’t many TVs that out do LG in this area.

Some of the more unique features on the 55LH40 are the AV Mode II, Invisible Speaker System and Clear Voice II. AV Mode II is basically 3 preset audio and video settings. The first is Cinema Mode which is set for D65 to give your movies more of a film like feel to them. D65 is defined as the standard daylight illuminant. The Second is Sport Mode which enhances primary colors giving the games a more intense tone. Lastly there is Games mode which enhances the black levels.

The Invisible Speaker System is just that, invisible speakers. The speakers have been concealed within the frame of the TV and engineered for better acoustics to deliver the sound more evenly throughout the room. Along with that is Clear Voice II which basically amplifies dialogue. There is a range of six different positions that you can set so that you get the dialogue just how you want it. No more blowing your ear drums out because you have to turn up the volume enough to hear the dialogue over the background noise.

The connections on this LCD TV are very basic, you will find 4 HDMI ports, component and composite inputs, a USB port and of course a PC input for connecting your TV to your computer. Overall we were pleased with the setup of the connections and found it easy to get things up and going.

Help and support on LGs site is good enough for most but they do lack a FAQs section which is a big drawback for those looking to get quick answers without spending the time trying to contact someone. They do offer live chat and a phone number so the lack of a FAQs section isn’t quite so hard to deal with.

Summary:

If you’re looking for a great “bang for buck” TV, the LG 55LH40 isn’t a bad way to go. It may not have some of the features that the later models have, like internet widgets and such, but it’s got decent picture quality and screen size for just less than the competition.