TV Reviews

Our favorite small-screen LCD in 2007 was Samsung’s LN-T3253H, and this year’s version, the LN32A450, is another picture-quality winner. This LCD delivers solid black level performance and accurate color, along with a commendable feature set compared with the rest of the 32-inch LCD pack. No, it’s not as inexpensive as the Insignia NS-LCD32-09 or the Vizio VX32L, but if picture quality is a priority and you can afford to splurge just a little, the Samsung LN32A450 deserves a place near the top of your list. Read full Samsung LN32A450 Review »

As the number of flat-panel HDTVs climbs, and the choices become ever more overwhelming, manufacturers look for more ways to differentiate their models. With the RF350U series, represented by the 40-inch 40RF350U, Toshiba chose compact external design as its differentiator, making for a sleek, trim look. Read full Toshiba 40RF350U Review »

Perhaps the best value in big-screen HDTVs right now is in microdisplays, more commonly known as rear-projection TVs (RPTVs). As the category shrinks because of ever more popular and large flat-screen models using plasma and LCD technology, RPTV prices continue to drop. Read full Mitsubishi WD-65833 Review »

Sony has a real winner with the new KDS-A3000 series, represented here by the 55-inch KDS-55A3000, the middle of three sizes. We liked Sony’s LCoS-based SXRD technology when it was first introduced a couple of years ago, and the company has followed up by significantly improving performance. While not perfect, the KDS-55A3000 is the most color-accurate RPTV money can buy today. Its weakest point is in its video processing, which has been the case with Sony for years, but in this TV’s instance, that’s hardly a deal-breaker. As far as overall picture quality is concerned, the 1080p resolution A3000 series tops our list among rear-projection HDTVs, and its excellent value proposition seals the deal. Read full Sony KDS-55A3000 Review »

Samsung’s LN-T4671F is the third HDTV we’ve reviewed to incorporate video processing that smooths out judder, or the inherent choppiness and stutter during motion that can show up most noticeably on film-based video. Although we’re still ambivalent about its effect on most Hollywood films, we really like how it treats material that includes slow pans and other steady camera movement. No matter what, once you’ve seen de-judder in action, it changes the way you perceive all kinds of video. Samsung’s first attempt at the processing has a mild case of the hiccups, but you can turn it off (provided you have the latest firmware), and in most other areas of picture quality we liked what we saw from the Samsung LN-T4671F. Read full Samsung LN-T4671F Review »