The best high-def TVs of 2007

Tech.co.uk, John Archer, 30 Dec 2007 -- 2007 really has been a watershed year for TVs. Prices have plummeted so quickly it's hard to keep up; sizes have increased so fast; and flat TV technology has improved so much that it's enough to make you dizzy.

With so much going on, it's fair to say that any TV that manages to stand out from the crowd like the following five (presented in no particular order) really has to be something special.

[InMyOpinion]

Pioneer & Samsung.

[ddldave]

the usual

pioneer, panasonic, and samsung for plasma. sony, samsung, and sharp for lcd.

[Antan]

For anyone in the market for 32" lcd`s, look no further than these 2. Probably the two best 32" available. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for. Both 100hz, and the Sony even has V1.3 hdmi.

Sony KDL-32D3000.

Philips 32PFL9632D.

[Meus Renaissance]

I have the 32'D3000 in my bedroom, excellent screen

[San anto]

kdl range own, ive got the 32S3000
currently the highest selling tv on amazon uk

[Imallvol7]

they should rename that TV's for people who have to much money and like to spend it on crap they think is awesome. The Sony KDS-A3000 series should be on that list.

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't mean crap. Kinda confused as to why i wrote that. I meant pictures that are equal to or only slightly better than other cheaper tv's.

[Mikey_Gee]

If you think that all the sets on this list are crap, you really have to revisit what you consider quality.

The Sony SXRD models are nice, but to call this entire list crap is really out there.

My main two WANTS are the new 52" XBR5 and Samsung 52" LED LCD (85 series I think) ... AWSOME HD sets. I had a 58" plasma that cost me $6000 and brought it back a week later since I seen (maybe not purmanent burn in) image retention that took a while to go away from playing games on. Even though I was PROMISSED it not longer happened.

Sharp Aquos are also killer sets. Only problem is they are tormented with banding issues. I had a D62 and a D92 I had to return because Of it.

MicroDisplay or LCD for me -- ALL THE WAY

A great resource for this sort of stuff is the AVS (audio visual science) forums. Look em up !! Great place with little to no retarded fanboyism. Mature adults ... nice to have for normal chats and questions.

[Guwapo77]

Hey man, I'm kinda surprised to hear that about the plasma you bought. After all the news I've been hearing/reading about plasmas no longer retaining the image on screen. I'm glad I stuck it out and bought the XBR3... but I already want the XBR5 52" *sobs* Once that gets down to about $2k I'm all over that.

OLED can't come soon enough...

[gogators]

I think your thinking about the Samsung 81f series LCD with the backlit LED screen. I have the 52 inch version, and it's worth every extra penny. Best TV I have purchased to date.

[Mikey_Gee]

But I will for sure tell you that my next will be one of those Sammy LED LCD's

I have seen one at my local shop and had to go home to change shirts since I drooled down the front of the one I was wearing while watching the set.

[Jeebus]

a 73" 1080p in the living room, a 32"1080i in my room, and a 57"1080i in another room

The 73" is a real conversation piece and absolutely awesome for parties.

New Year's party is going to be nice

[GITPWNED]

SAMSUNG LCD

[Rice]

I'm happy with my decent Prima lcd television. Got it for cheap :)

[mintaro]

prima?

[Cartesian3D]

thx for the news .. anyway I will search for it more.. but really a useful news.. thx the-round_peg

[Nytr8]

LE46F86BD

100Hz, Motion Plus, 1080p, Super Clear Panel.

its hard to explain how good this panel actually is, the only way is to see sony, lg, philips, samsung,, sharp all playing at the same time and you will immediatelly be stunned at the black levels and combined vividness of the samsung. All the other top models are very impressive, especially the sony BUT, the reflective panel on the sam. is undeniabily the victor.
That panel stops the backlight of the lcd wash through on dark scenes and makes the blacks shiny instead of matt. You see the bulb shine through on every panel regardless of how good the image may be except the samsung, most people assume its a plasma but then get surprised with how vivid and bright the colours are.

Hope that helps :p

[mintaro]

samsung lcd all the way, got to say really good buy

[Nytr8]

Picture quality:- Samsung LE52F96BD
Build Quality:- Pioneer LX508

My personal opinion and the majority of the guys at work agree that the new LED backlight, super clear panel (reflective coating on the lcd that drastically deepens the black levels) and ridicolous contrast levels give the samsung the edge over the LX508.

We have almost all of the current models from Samsung, Pioneer, Panasonic, LG, Philips and Sony actually powered and on display. We demo Sky HD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD and standard terestrial tv.

It seems pioneer have gotten obsessed with black levels and as a result the LX508 is way to dark. Yeah we have fully calibrated our flagship models on the floor so they can display at their best. You end up having to faff about with the settings when demo'ing different sources, which would drive me mad at home.

With the Samsung, if you turn off all the stupid settings and image enhancers and just activate the led backlight, the image quality is disturbingly impressive, to the point where i didn't quite know what to say.
Optimus Prime transforming via HD-DVD made my jaw drop hard, it was almost like he was coming out of the screen. The LX508 is gorgeous but it didn't slap me in the face like the samsung did. (again, way too dark. and with brightness and contrast increased still nowhere as vibrant as the LED)

The pioneer has a much better build quality and has a very sleek frame that gives the impression that the screen is huge, the samsung is abit tacky, cheap moulded plastic that doesn't have smooth reflections, the speakers are situated on the side with a questionable plastic strip which directs the sound down either side which increases the frame which gives the illusion that the actual viewable screen is smaller. But once you start watching actual content you dont pay attention to such things.

Terestrial and standard definition I would say the LX508 handles better than the samsung, the Samsung can produce odd flesh tones with some content but if you callibrate the screen you can produce a natural colour. Pioneer has a better scailer for standard deffinition and is better callibrated out of the box.

The samsung wins with HD content overall and a huge majority of our customers agree when we demo them with the same content (Transformers/HD-DVD, Casino Royale/Blu-Ray BBC HD via Sky, Ice Age 2/Blu-Ray etc.

If you arn't gonna use it for much HD content then save some cash and opt for the LE52M87BD which is still mighty impressive but no LED, although the LX508 is way better than this.

phew, sorry for going on for so long, hope any of this info helps anyone.

[Figboy]

40" LCD Samsung, 720p, and once me and my fiance move into our new apartment at some point during the new year, i'll upgrade to a larger set (not sure how big yet), and move the 40" into the bedroom.

HDTVs are awesome, period. i can't imagine gaming and watching movies without them.

[Crazyglues]

I just got a Pioneer KURO PDP-6010FD 60" 1080p Plasma HDTV because it turns out Santa is a Girl, and she loves me.... LoL

The thing is just unreal, it's the best Plasma ever hands down... don't take my word for it, just check it out at Best buy and bring a tissue to catch the drool coming from your mouth as you watch it... (I forgot to bring my tissue and it gets a little embarrassing as the drool hits the floor and the sales people realize they just sold another one.)

I just completed Uncharted for the second time and turns out when your playing for the third time you get some cool things like this option to put on the Naughty dog T-shirt, or your wet suit or mercenaries gear.

Which is all just too cool - check the pictures of the Naughty dog T-shirt pretty cool... and then you add a 60 inch plasma and rumble and heaven is one of the words that comes to mind...

[subcell]

Resolution and blacks = Pioneer KUROs (for Plasma) and Sharp AQUOS D92s (for LCDs) 2007

Quality built = Samsung LNTs 2007 and Sony BRAVIA XBR4

Deception of the year = LG, Toshiba

[Skynetone]

Samsung 40" HD LCD Television

[snakeater3]

i have a 32 incher (erm lcd not what u girls think ;) ) philips pixel plus...and for me....its quite good....i also invested in a sony 5.1 dts system for crisp audio quality ...the only downside is that i dont play that much often as i would like to , with these frikkin uni assignments and exams....dont u think we work too hard ppl? gaming 24/7 is the way to go !! (kidding) :D