If you're shopping for a new HDTV but haven't budgeted for a speaker system or simply want to de-clutter your living room, these LCD TVs will get the job done. While they can't match the sound quality or replicate the experience of a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, they offer superior audio performance to other LCD TVs on the market.
The JVC LT-42P300 LCD TV distinguishes itself from the competition with its integrated iPod/iPhone dock that lets you playback music, movies, and pictures directly on the TV. The dock also charges your iPod so that you’ll never run out of power while it’s in use. Additionally, the TV’s intuitive menu system lets you easily browse to the music or video that you want to playback. As expected from a television with built-in iPod support, sound quality is very good. Picture quality is very good as well, especially for the price – black levels are deep, colors are accurate, and the screen has good uniformity. If you’re looking for an affordable LCD TV that offers great performance and lets you playback media from your iPod or iPhone, the JVC LT-42P300 is your best bet.
The LG 55LH90 is not only one of the best performing LCD TVs in terms of picture quality, but it also delivers much better sound quality than competing TVs. The invisible speaker system, which offers 10Wx2 output, is also very sleek. While there have been some complaints of a lip sync issue, that problem was addressed in a recent firmware update. And if you do decide to upgrade to a full surround sound system, there’s an optical digital audio output in the rear.
However, what makes this LCD TV truly shine is its outstanding picture quality. Using LED backlighting with local dimming technology, the LG 55LH90 performs on par with the best LCD TVs on the market, offering incredibly deep black levels, excellent color, and solid video processing. Just like the critically-acclaimed 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. If you’re looking for an LCD TV that offers superb video performance and very good sound quality at a reasonable price, the LG 55LH90 should be at the top of your list.
The Sony KBL-52XBR9 combines great picture quality with sleek styling and very good sound quality, making it an excellent choice for buyers that haven’t yet invested in a dedicated home theater speaker system. There are four speakers which output 20 watts total. The set also comes equipped with automatic volume control to reduce a rise in volume during commercials and a digital audio output (optical) if you upgrade to a dedicated 5.1 system in the future. Picture quality is up there with the best non-LED LCD TVs with deep black levels and accurate colors. The KDL-52XBR9 also offers interactive connectivity, providing access to Yahoo! Widgets and Amazon Video on Demand, allowing you to download movies directly to your TV for instant playback. With great picture quality, very good sound quality, and a ton of features, the Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 is easy to recommend.