If you have a large living room, 50 inches isn’t going to cut it. But with larger screen sizes, picture quality and resolution become increasingly important and 1080p resolution is a must. Here are the best massive HDTVs, ranging from 55” to 67”, based on a combination of performance, features, and value. Picture quality factors in black level performance, color accuracy, and grayscale (color temperature) accuracy.
The Samsung UN55B8500 doesn’t come cheap, but it is the best performing LCD TV on the current market and one of the best performing HDTVs ever made. This incredibly slim, stylish LCD TV uses LED backlighting with local-dimming technology to deliver unparalleled black levels and extremely accurate, highly saturated color. There are some flaws in terms of off-angle viewing and screen uniformity, but these won’t detract from the viewing experience if you are sitting in front of the TV.
The physical design of the unit is gorgeous as well – the UNB8500 series is much thinner than most local dimming LED TVs, at just 1.6 inches deep. It is set in a glossy black frame, with a strong brushed metal swiveling stand. Being LED backlit, the unit also runs much cooler than its competitors, and weighs considerably less as well. There are four HDMI inputs, and two USB ports, as well as a component-video connection (allows composite input as well), optical audio jack, and a LAN, Cable, and DVI input.
The UN55B8500 comes with two remotes – the first is a full featured RF remote, which you sync with the TV on first run, allowing you to control the unit without line of sight view. The buttons are backlit, and have many dedicated keys to avoid navigating too many menus. The second remote is a very simple little hockey puck-style remote that only controls channel, volume and power; although not necessary, this can be useful for letting the kids watch TV, or letting guests who are unfamiliar with your setup perform the basic functions.
Other features include Yahoo Widgets, which brings many interactive capabilities to your TV. There are widgets for stocks, weather, news, Facebook, Flickr photos, YouTube, games, Twitter, and more. This HDTV has a network connection and USB ports which can be used for streaming media, and the Ethernet port can also be used to upgrade the TV’s firmware.
Overall, the Samsung UN55B8500 is a feature packed, performance driven powerhouse, leaving almost nothing to be desired in the visual department, and more than enough bells and whistles. There are plenty of connections to allow you to enjoy all of your devices on the beautiful display, and a quality build that is sure to impress.
The LG 55LH90 features LED backlighting with local dimming technology to produce superb picture quality, making this one of the best performing HDTVs on the market. Just like the stand-out Panasonic G10/G15 and V10 series plasmas, this LCD TV comes with THX display certification. When set to the THX mode, the 55LH90 delivers an extremely accurate and realistic picture. And if you’re an experienced calibrator, the set’s expert modes provide a 10-point white balance system and a full color management system for dialing in a picture exactly to your liking. The LG 55LH90 outperforms most LCDs and nearly matches the performance of the best plasmas with its extremely deep black levels, excellent color, and solid video processing. This set also has very good sound quality for a TV, making it an even better value. While it lacks interactive connectivity features found on some of its competitors, this helps to keep the cost down and provide buyers with maximum bang-for-the-buck in terms of performance.
The Panasonic TC-P65S1 allows you to bring a massive flat-screen TV into your living room without breaking the bank. This 1080p plasma TV is an incredibly bargain and has excellent picture quality with deep black levels that bring the picture to life. Connectivity is fairly standard with 3 HDMI inputs, two component-video inputs, composite, S-video, and a PC input. Ideal for any buyer seeking an incredibly large yet affordable HDTV, the Panasonic TC-P65S1 is sure to deliver a truly remarkable home theater experience.
The Samsung UN55B7000 is an impressive LCD TV that offers gorgeous looks, an incredibly thin frame, and very good picture quality. Though some less expensive HDTVs offer better performance, the UN55B7000 still performs well with deep blacks and accurate, well saturated colors. Color temperature and primary colors are very accurate, and there are tons of adjustment options to help obtain an optimal picture. For example, Samsung offers five color temperature presets, gamma control, and white balance control. There’s even a custom mode for adjusting the dejudder processing, which works very well.
As far as connectivity, most users will find it sufficient. There are 4 HDMI inputs, a PC (VGA) input, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and an Ethernet port. Both the USB port and Ethernet ports can be used to upgrade the TV’s firmware, which makes the process very convenient. However, if you have a lot of older devices with analog connections, you may find connectivity limited since there’s only a single component input (which can be converted to accept composite video as well).
Ultimately, your decision to buy this HDTV will come down to what’s most important to you. If design, energy efficiency, and features are top priorities, then the Samsung UB7000 series is nearly impossible to beat. But if you’re looking for the best price/performance ratio, there are better buys out there. Available in 40”, 46” and 55” sizes.
If you’re looking for a massive HDTV at an affordable price, it’s hard to deny the value of Mitsubishi’s DLP offerings. Though DLP HDTVs are drastically down in sales, Mitsubishi still offers a lineup with 60”, 65”, and 73” screen sizes. Available for as little as $1199 online, the 60” WD-60737 offers great performance and a ton of screen-size for the money. While its picture quality doesn’t measure up to the best flat-panel TVs, this set delivers accurate color and relatively deep blacks. It’s also 3D-Ready, which may prove to be an exciting feature in the future.