Best LCD TV: What Is The Best LCD TV?
Posted by hdtv buying guide on May 23, 2009 under HDTV Buyer Guides, LCD HDTV | 
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The best LCD TV is in the eye of the beholder.
Though many companies produce LCD (liquid crystal display) televisions, there are a few that stand above the crowd.
Sony, Samsung and Sharp are known throughout the industry as leaders in the LCD game. LG is doing some interesting things as well, but quality hasn’t caught up with the big three.
A traditional power, Sony has a number of product lines that range from affordable to very expensive. At the top of the range is the pricey XBR line, which features the pinnacle of Sony’s LCD technology.
Samsung is rapidly turning into the leader in technology and affordability. It’s 52-inch Series 8 model, the Samung LN52A850, retails for $3,299.99 and features internet connectivity and Samsung’s best technology.
The company also has a line of LED (light-emitting diode) LCDs. They’re currently expensive, but they’re also thin, lightweight and energy-efficient. Samsung LED TVs are at the forefront of LED integration.
Sharp, meanwhile, is putting out competitive, cutting-edge televisions in a state-of-the-art facility in China. Its high-end panel design delivers jaw-dropping images at an affordable price.
So which one is the best?
It all depends upon what you’re doing with it. In a smaller room, you can get by with a smaller television — perhaps one that features 720p resolution. In that case, all three manufacturers make high-quality models that will retail for around $600.
If a home theater setup is in the works, it’s a good idea to look at 1080p models. They’ll have higher screen resolution and allow you get the most out of a Blu-ray player.
Sony’s S Series televisions start at $799 for 1080p resolution. From there, picture-enhancing features are added, along with interactivity options.
Samsung has 1080p models in its Series 5 line, starting at $549. Like Sony, Samsung adds connectivity and image-enhancing features as the price rises.
Sharp’s 65U line (denoted by the last three characters of the model number) is the entry point to 1080p. Prices are on par with Sony and Samsung, but the high end doesn’t go as high, price-wise.
For internet connectivity, Samsung packs the most punch into the most affordable package. Starting with its Series 6 televisions, the company offers a wide range of online options.
Onscreen RSS feeds and content from Flickr and Yahoo are just the start. With a DLNA connection, it can stream content from computers within a home network. That means high-definition movies downloaded to a computer can be watched on the best screen in the house.
Sony and Sharp both offer similar features, but neither can match the performance for the price. The Samsung Series 6 televisions start at $1,200 and get even better as the price goes up.
So, which LCD TV is the best? For basic viewing, any television from the Sony, Sharp or Samsung will do. But when connectivity and performance meet with value and bang for the buck, the winner is Samsung.
A good candidate for the best lcd tv at this time is certainly the Samsung LN55A950. This LED powered LCD TV is chock-full of features and has a brilliant display.
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