What's the best 1080p LCD HDTV?

We can't answer that question yet, mainly because we haven't seen the latest models from Samsung, but for now, at least, Sony's XBR4 series is the best 1080p LCD we've reviewed. The KDL-46XBR4 gets the job done with 120Hz processing, great black levels and color, and more features than you can possibly imagine

[xhi4]

In Australia, it's Sony's 52 Inch XBR Bravia. It's the new model....and it's absolutely crazy how good it looks. I just wish they'd bring the new Rear Projection 70 inch Bravia to Australia, not just America....it's so slim :( *silently cries*

[Mikey_Gee]

I was NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL with last years Sony LCD XBR sets .... HOWEVER, I seen this bad azz at my local shop ... WOW !!!

I know it still has an 8ms response which MAY be a problem with fast past sports shows, but I would love to try it for my console.

I have a 61" Samsung 1080p DLP (I am still a HUGE FAN OF REAR PROJECTION .. I mean mine is only 18" thick), but if/when I add a 1080p LCD to my home, as of right now, the XBR4 (52" version of course)is at the top of my investigative search.

[EZCheez]

And as far as specs go it's right on par with those TVs. It has a 4ms response time and a 10,000/1 contrast ratio. I also love the dual HDMI ports. All in all, I love my tv. My wife has to leave the room sometimes to give the tv and me some private time.

The only thing that suck about it is the remote. It's not very responsive but I don't even use it. One other negative about it was that it didn't have a PC input which I really wanted. But when I got Linux on my PS3 that problem vanished.

[Mikey_Gee]

but after a 52" D92 and 52" D62 BOTH WITH BAD BANDING ISSUES .. sharp is out of my want list. This SET is at least worth seeing. Especially running a HD movie (BR or HD-DVD) to see what it can REALLY do.

But in regards to response time, the Sharps are leaders. Still not sure why Sony still has the 8ms ... kind of stupid really. Especially for such a kick azz TV the XBR4's turned out to be.

Also just to say Sharp Aquos is to blanket ... Aquos has many model versions.

Plus this set has
- MUCH BETTER contrast ratio
- version 1.3 HDMI (x3)
- 120 Hz (depending on your Aquos Model, you might have 120hz. The D92 has it and I think D82 has it as well)
- 10 bit panel (rather than 8)

I was NOT a Sony LCD fan till the new XBR4's. Truth be told, till the XBR4, I put Sony at the back of the pack when sitting with Sharp (even with bands .... sony had Cloud issues) and Sammy.

[EZCheez]

But there is only one 46" Aquos and that's the one I have. I specified that on top.

And when I was looking into getting the tv, I did notice one of the major complaints of the tv was about the banding. It seemed half and half when it came to people whose set had it and those that didn't. I wieghed the options and went for it. Mine has no banding issues and I love it.

[Mikey_Gee]

Don't get me wrong .. bang for your buck the Sharps are AWSOME ... and I was SUPER bummed with the bands since outside of that the Aquos (both D62 & D92) were georgeous. But the bands were noticable in many types of media when watching (games and TV)

"IF" (and I wish it were the case) my 52" Aquos (either model) had ZERO to very little banding, it would still be sitting in my house right now.

I guess my point was that Sony has stepped in up in regards to the XBR4 models. By no means was I crapping on your TV .... the AQUOS sets are still very very nice.

Cheers.

PS
As I said ... I will keep my DLP since I really do love it. By the time it needs to be retired, GOD ONLY KNOWS what will be the buzzword in the HDTV world.

[Bonsai1214]

sony's xbr series is the best LCD money can buy. the design is great, and the technology behind it is amazing as well..

but to be honest, there is a huge difference between 50 inches and 60 inches. i didn't even notice until my dad was like, "we'll buy the 60 inch sxrd" and i was like, i don't think its worth the extra 10 inches.. but when it came, i was like, "omg, wtf. its huge"

oh, mikey gee, 2.5ms response time ftw :-p

[DaTrooF]

the samsung LN-T5281F?

[FirstknighT]

The 81 series is the best LCD on the market, BUT WAAAAY expensive. I know the 40 inch Samsung is around $3000.

[Bathyj]

I have a 40" X series Bravia and its gorgeous. I just wish my cable TV was in HD. Bloody 576p crap. Anyway PS3 and BR's look awesome with HDMI. I wish XB had released HDMI from the start, or at least before my first 2 broke. Weren't people saying it does 1080p through component? I dont think so, 1080i only as far as I can tell but come to think of it I have looked at the XB set up since I got this TV. Maybe it will upscale to 1080p.

[GoLeafsGo]

I've heard NOTHING but great things about it, and after seeing the Aquos 46" in action, the LNT4665 became my final choice.

Honestly, how people can stand an Aquos is beyond me.
I thought it was all fine and dandy based on specs, but once I saw it in action, it was HORRIBLE.

Sadly, I have no time for gaming lately, so I'm holding off my LNT4665 purchase until around Christmas.

It sucks being a university undergrad >_<!

[SafeRat]

I have this TV! Well, the British version of the XBR5 anyway: KDL40X3500.

:D

[socomnick]

I though samsung made sony tvs. The screens ?

[THE TERMINATOR]

I have that TV but it is a 40" and is known as KDL40X2000 because its a U.K version and it kicks ass.

[kss]

i live in isreal that sony lcd costs about 5450 us dollars

[Rybnik]

I totally agree with Cnet about the Bravia XBR4's, I saw one in the Sony Styles store in San Francisco. That TV puts almost everything else (aside from ultra high end plasma) to shame.

Anyone got the new 81 series Samsung with the LED backlighting that Cnet is referring to?? I am highly intrigued about that one as there seems to be a lot of hype around it.

[Tyrael]

very niiiiice, how much?

[boi]

well I have a Samsung LE32R88BD 32" HDTV in my bedroom (uk) and quility is pretty:D and ofcourse it wont be as good as the 40+ inch ones lol but for a 32" its good

It's true what people says...once in HD you won't want to go back :D I love using my Ps3 and Elite with the hdmi cable on both ofcourse...its sweet

[THESWAT]

sony is the bomb ni99a the bomb!!

[ELite_Ghost]

there is the samsung LNT4681 which has 25000:1 ratio compared to the sony with 18000:1 contrast and there is also a sharp aquos LC46D92U which has all that but is only 2000$ on ebay

[Lord Anubis]

there's a big difference between native contrast ratio (sony) and Dynamic Contrast ratio which is what Samsung gives you.

[ITR]

"The human eye, at any particular instant, can perceive contrast ratio over a range of 400:1 to 10,000:1 according to numerous references. However, the human eye is a dynamic organ and can adjust, both chemically and via iris movement, over some 30 minutes in steady light conditions to perceive higher contrast ratios of up to between 1,000,000:1and 10,000,000:1. One can think of the eye as an adaptive detector. Age is a factor influencing what contrast ratio might be perceived by the particular individual."

Sorry dynamic contrast does matter.

[Maddens Raiders]

Repeat after me:

"Bravia XBR series for LCD/1080P tellys"

"Mitsubishi for DLP/1080P tellys"

You will never go wrong people......

[Lord Anubis]

sorry but I have to disagree with you. XBR2 60" rear projection has been the best for a while and now its newer model the 60A3000 takes the crown again. Mitsubishi is a good brand. I would buy either Sony or Mitsubishi for rear projection.

[FirstknighT]

Never buy a Mitsubishi. Well atleast for me since I am sensitive to the rainbow effect. I have to agree if your on the market for a rear projection....I would also go with the Sony 3000. The Samsung 62' LED DLP is good too but suffers from hot spots.

[Keyser]

I have the 60" rear projection XBR2 and its off the chain! The new XBR4s are awesome. I spent 8 months looking for a food tv and went with Sony though it was a ocean of tv's to choose from. Sony has some of the best tv's out there bar none.

[Makroyale]

The Pioneer Kuro line IS the best TV you can buy right now...

http://www.hometheatermag.c...

110-FD is the best model, but you can save a little cash and buy the 6010FD for about $4800 (the hardware is the same).

5080 is non 1080p so I don't recommend it
http://reviews.cnet.com/fla...

[kewlkat007]

"Samsung LNT4671F 46" 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV"

Best TV I ever own. Upgraded from a 27 inch CRT 1080i TV.

Now I'm in the market for a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player. I keep hearing from the AVS forums Planet Earth on the is TV with "AUOTO MOTION PLUS" looks like your right there with the animals.

You learn alot from the AVS forums, 50% of these guys have HD-DVD and a BLu-Ray player, looking at their setups. If only the PS3 was cheaper. I did see one on Craigs.

[EZCheez]

When you mount the TV in your living room? I have a Sharp 46" 1080p and what sucks is if I am not watching anything hi-def, I have to turn the sharpness all the way down to avoid all the pixelation. You'll probably have to do the same thing. It's really the only hassle of owning nice tv's is that you have to deal with crappy 480i cable and movies.

The PS3 is awesome on it though and I'm really starting to use it as a blu-ray player now. I'm not wasting my money on anymore DVD's. You should look on E-Bay for a cheap PS3. That's what my friend is doing and that's what i'm doing for a 360. Or you could just pick up the 40GbB.

[FirstknighT]

If we're talking LCDs than Samsungs 81 series is the best LCD on the market right now. It's the only LCD that equals the color and viewing angles of a plasma. But currently way to expensive. For best picture quality Plasmas are still the way to go. Burn in is a non existant with the new plasmas. I myself have a 42' inch 720p Samsung Plasma and it only cost me a $1100.

LCDs still suffer from HD blurring that make me a lil dizzy when playing games. Plasmas have lil to zero blurring. Plasmas are perfect for gaming!

[EZCheez]

$1100 is a really good deal for that because at the size of both of our tv's, the difference between 720p and 1080p is nonexistant. I don't get the blurring that you're talking about though. You just have to get one with a good response time.

[FirstknighT]

Yeah well they're trying to get rid of 720p tvs because of all the hoopla of 1080p. HD Blurring is when you slowly pan right to left and everything loses detail. It's pretty bad when playing any FPS. Just slowly look around and could see the textures get really blurry. I'm very sensitive to that and gets me sick. Plasmas have lil to zero blurring.

Plasmas still beat out LCD's. As long as you don't mind "babysitting" them for the first 200 hours which is a pain but worth it.

[MRMagoo123]

There was a news thing here in australia that said there thinking bout banning plasmas here cos they use too much power i think lcds are best for gaming newho and they last longer than plasmas

[FirstknighT]

I read that article. It talks about banning both plasmas and lcd's. Plasmas made in 2007 last 60,000 hours which is the same as lcds.

[AngryTypingGuy]

I love my 40" LCD 1080P Samsung. Samsungs have a "game mode" so you don't have a ghosting effect. If you're looking to get an HDTV, head on over to Best Buy's website. Under the HDTV section, they have a lot of info. to educate you on the differences between LCD, Plasma, DLP, etc. Make sure you do your research to ensure you get the TV that you really want.