Best LED-LCD TV Brand?

[sskclickgeneral]

I've been thinking about upgrading from my 32" Sony Bravia. Although I've been pleased with Sony, I wanted to know if the other brands are better quality? Which one is the best brand: Sony, Samsung, or Panasonic

I would like to stick with LED-LCD, anywhere from 45"-55" range, I have no desire for 3D (although I would get one if it improved picture quality on 2D).

Thanks alot for the advice, as I don't know a great deal about tvs, only the standard stuff really.

[fairchild]

For LED/LCD you really want a good panel with full array with local dimming backlight. The best ones in 2010 were actually LG's from what I read, especially the LG Infinia 55LE8500.

I know Sony and some other companies made some LED's with full array local dimming, here is a link with all the 2010 ones:

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-t...=505465_121787

You can compare some reviews there.

[ZoetMB]

There's no such thing as a "best brand". All of the major manufacturers (Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp) make good quality sets. You have to compare on a model-by-model basis. All of the major manufacturers make some relatively junky sets on the low end and some remarkable sets on the high end.

You also have to decide what's important to you. Are you mainly watching TV (for let's say, Sports) or are you mainly watching movies? When you watch a movie, are you just looking for a bright, clean picture or are you absolutely anal about getting the highest quality color reproduction with perfect flesh tones, the deepest blacks and a presentation that exactly replicates what the director had in mind?

When you walk into an electronics store and see all sets on the wall in "TV store demo mode" with the contrast and brightness turned all the way up, do you think this looks good? Do you think when Blu-ray movies look like "soap operas", that's a good thing or a bad thing? When you see film grain, does that bother you?

If it's the former, you need a fairly high end set and probably a plasma. if it's the latter and/or if you mainly watch TV, then almost any set will do.

Personally, I'd stay away from brands like Westinghouse, Emerson, Magnavox and Sylvania, which are defunct American TV manufacturers whose names are now licensed to Funai, a Chinese maker of generic sets. In addition, the Philips sets sold in the United States are not manufactured by Philips - they are also a brand license that is also manufactured by Funai. I'd also stay away from Insignia, which is the Best Buy house brand and Vizio, which is mainly sold by big box stores like Wal Mart, Costco, etc.

All IMO, of course.

[Dwayne]

Originally Posted by sskclickgeneral

I've been thinking about upgrading from my 32" Sony Bravia. Although I've been pleased with Sony, I wanted to know if the other brands are better quality? Which one is the best brand: Sony, Samsung, or Panasonic

I would like to stick with LED-LCD, anywhere from 45"-55" range, I have no desire for 3D (although I would get one if it improved picture quality on 2D).

Thanks alot for the advice, as I don't know a great deal about tvs, only the standard stuff really.

CAREFULL with LED. Not all are FULL ARRAY WITH BACKLIGHTING which is A MUST for a good LED HDTV. They are all EDGE LIT but if they do not say FULL ARRAY WITH LOCAL DIMMING AND BACKLIGHTING THEN DO NOT BUY!!!!!!

[Caleb]

The thing that sucks is that local dimming rarely comes in bedroom sizes like 37-40 inches.

[DVDFreaker]

Get a Samsung

[jlieu]

Originally Posted by DVDFreaker

Get a Samsung

No, get a Sony.

[SkillzthatKillz]

how much are you looking to spend? what do you normally use the tv for? movies, cable/satellite, gaming, etc. and as has been mentioned in this thread already, do you prefer a really bright, colorful picture or do you prefer it to be really close to what you might get in a movie theater? once you let us know this info we can go from there

[raygendreau]

A good 3D TV is a good 2D TV and these days there isn't much of a premium for 3D. My approach to TV buying is: Reduce your choice to 3 brands. From your original post, you seem to have already done that. (Sony, Samsung, Panasonic). Those would be my 3 brand choices as well.

Next, use the CNET, BEST BUY and CRUTCHFIELD websites to whittle the selections down to 4 or 5 sets. All 3 sites have filters to help you do that.

Next, read the reviews for the sets on the sites. Select one set from each brand.

Next, go to Best Buy or a retailer of your choice that carry the models of interest. Give them all a thorough workout with remote in hand. Take a few days to do this. I would also suggest a review of the owner's manual of the three sets you are evaluating. (PDF's are available on Crutchfield.com)

Once you have made your final selection, place your order on Amazon.com to save money on taxes and shipping.

I predict that you will wind up buying another Sony.

[Steel Panther]

I have a Sharp Aquos and I can't complain. It's an excellent set. I was also looking at a Toshiba. But, my feelings on Sharp is this... If you had 2 Ham Sandwiches, and they were identical in every way, except 1 (the sony) had pickles on it -- but it cost $20 more... how badly do you want those pickles?

I'm sure that'll ruffle a few feathers, and its not meant to - its my honest opinion about them.

[DVDFreaker]

Originally Posted by Steel Panther

I have a Sharp Aquos and I can't complain. It's an excellent set. I was also looking at a Toshiba. But, my feelings on Sharp is this... If you had 2 Ham Sandwiches, and they were identical in every way, except 1 (the sony) had pickles on it -- but it cost $20 more... how badly do you want those pickles?

I'm sure that'll ruffle a few feathers, and its not meant to - its my honest opinion about them.

I would buy the Sony because I love pickles to death!

[electric turd]

Dynex is the best EVER!!!!!

[Caleb]

Originally Posted by electric turd

Dynex is the best EVER!!!!!

[Show spoiler]

[electric turd]

Originally Posted by Caleb

[Show spoiler]

Not serious

[sskclickgeneral]

Originally Posted by SkillzthatKillz

how much are you looking to spend? what do you normally use the tv for? movies, cable/satellite, gaming, etc. and as has been mentioned in this thread already, do you prefer a really bright, colorful picture or do you prefer it to be really close to what you might get in a movie theater? once you let us know this info we can go from there

my bad, haven't had access to a computer in a while. I'd use it 90% for bd's, 9% TV (cable) and 1% Games (PS3). I'd like to try to keep it under $15000, but I'd be willing to go up to $2000 if its really worth it. I usually prefer very vibrant picture and currently have mine set to Vivid.

Thanks alot guys, sorry I haven't responded

[sskclickgeneral]

Originally Posted by Dwayne

CAREFULL with LED. Not all are FULL ARRAY WITH BACKLIGHTING which is A MUST for a good LED HDTV. They are all EDGE LIT but if they do not say FULL ARRAY WITH LOCAL DIMMING AND BACKLIGHTING THEN DO NOT BUY!!!!!!

sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable about much of the lighting. I really only know about the very basic stuff. How much of an impact does that have on the pq?

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by sskclickgeneral

sorry, I'm not very knowledgeable about much of the lighting. I really only know about the very basic stuff. How much of an impact does that have on the pq?

Not being a d!ck, but if you aren't knowledgeable enough to know the difference between edge lit and full array LED backlighting, why do you even have your mind made up on an LED-LCD? For the $$, a good plasma will outshine any comparably priced LED/LCD. Not needing 3D, I'd recommend you look at a Panasonic 54G25 or an LG PK750 or 950 series (though you'd have to choose from either a 50" or 60", nothing in between). Food for thought.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by DVDFreaker

Get a Samsung

Get a Plasma!

[brocktj4]

Hey guys! I was thinking getting this to replace my Vizio:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sharp+-+...2#BVRRWidgetID

[Kino-Chan fan]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Personally, I'd stay away from brands like Westinghouse, Emerson, Magnavox and Sylvania, which are defunct American TV manufacturers whose names are now licensed to Funai, a Chinese maker of generic sets. In addition, the Philips sets sold in the United States are not manufactured by Philips - they are also a brand license that is also manufactured by Funai. I'd also stay away from Insignia, which is the Best Buy house brand and Vizio, which is mainly sold by big box stores like Wal Mart, Costco, etc.

All IMO, of course.

Wait... Funai is from China?