Top Picks Flat Panels

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< $2,000
	Samsung UN40EH6000 40-in LED LCD: $850 We liked this affordable 40-incher at it’s original suggested retail of $850, but it’s now online for as little as $600, making it a steal indeed. Full-array LED backlighting avoids the streaky performance we find in most of the edge-lit models that compete at this price, and though it had an annoying tendency to occasionally shut the backlight fully on black screens between scenes or commercials, it wasn’t enough to dissuade reviewer Scott Wilkinson from his highest recommendation, noting that, in the Movie picture mode, “the detail and color are superb, and I loved the dark-scene uniformity of full-array LED backlighting.” (June 2012, HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
	Vizio E601i-A3 60-in LCD: $1,000 Dubbed a great value by reviewer Tom Norton, the E601i-A3 is remarkably thin for the price, offers built-in Wi-Fi with access to popular sites like Hulu Plus, and sports back-panel connections that won’t hinder wall mounting. Video processing is outstanding and the set delivers a high-resolution image with excellent color, “knife-sharp yet natural detail,” and excellent black-level performance. As Norton put it, “What you get here is the sort of flat-screen performance you couldn’t dream of a few years ago—at any price.” (February/March 2013, Read Full Review)
	Samsung PN51E550D1F 51-in 3D Plasma: $1,200 If reviewer Tom Norton were to summarize this TV in two words, they would be “superb value.” In addition to delivering compelling color and resolution, the set puts up a picture with plenty of shadow detail and good black-level performance. Highlights include built-in Wi-Fi for one-click access to Vudu, Hulu Plus, Netflix and other streaming services plus 3D capability, including a 2D-to-3D conversion mode (two pairs of active glasses are included). And when it comes to sprucing up non-HD material, the set’s video processing has you covered. (January 2013, Read Full Review)
	Panasonic Viera TC-P60ST60 3D Plasma: $1,699 Following in the footsteps of a Panasonic 2012 Top Pick, the T-P55ST50 55-inch plasma, the ST60 brings superlative picture quality to a larger 60-inch screen while holding the line on price. Summing up his experience, reviewer Rob Sabin wrote: “With its spectacularly deep blacks, excellent shadow details, and richly saturated colors, Panasonic can chalk up another affordable hit for all us little people with big eyes and small budgets.” Add to that a strong complement of picture controls and respectable 3D performance, and you have a winning combination. (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
	Panasonic Viera TC-P55ST50 55-in 3D Plasma: $1,700 Falling two-steps down from Panasonic’s top-of-the-line VT50 series, the ST50 delivers better than 90% of it’s performance, once again making it the value-darling of the year and a staff favorite recommendation. Said reviewer Tom Norton, “The hardest part of doing this review was finding something to complain about. I wasn’t very successful. With a remarkable price, superb 2D performance, and 3D that can only be bettered by spending a lot more (and often, not even then), this Panasonic is a no-brainer.” (July 2012, Read Full Review)
	Vizio M3D650SV 65-in 3D LCD: $1,870 This set was not without some of the faults we commonly attribute to large-size LED edge-lit televisions—namely, some uneven illumination that may be visible on very dark scenes. And reviewer Scott Wilkinson was bugged by some of its ergonomic quirks. But it’s generally solid performance in a 65-inch LED LCD featuring passive 3D for under $2000 makes this an excellent and recommendable value. (Febuary 2012, HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
$2,000-$3,500
	Sony KDL-55HX850 55-in 3D LCD: $2,600 We generally don’t prefer edge-lit LED backlit LCDs over their fully-array LED backlit brethren, or a good plasma, because edge-lit illumination on very dark scenes can be noticeably streaky. But this late generation 55-inch Sony was the clear exception—it’s edge-light done right. Reviewer Tom Norton admits it’s not a cheapie, “but when you consider its superb black level, crisp color, and near-reference quality 3D, you’d have to spend a lot more to do better…This is the first edge-lit LCD set I could live with without reservations.” (November 2012, Read Full Review)
	Sunbrite Model 4660HD 46-in Outdoor LCD: $2,795 Editor-at-large Darryl Wilkinson installed this weatherproof 46-incher on his back deck for our review and watched it survive blinding rainstorms and other inclement weather without blinking. “You can certainly find a 46-inch LCD TV for much less than the $2,795 cost,” he wrote, “but I challenge you to find another 46-inch HDTV that can provide the same kind of untethered entertainment experience the 4660HD can give you. While it’s definitely not a replacement for a good home theater, it’s a fantastic add-on to your home entertainment ecosystem.” (July 2012, Read Full Review)
	LG 55LM8600 55-in 3D LCD: $2,900 Hailed by reviewer Tom Norton as “one of the best 3D LCD HDTVs TV’s we’ve yet tested,” the 55LM8600 delivers superb 2D resolution with a wider viewing angle than most LCD sets, flawless video processing, a Super Resolution control that brings out subtle enhancements in picture detail, and well-balanced sound—a rarity in today’s TVs. The set also offers a boatload of Web-based apps—from Skype to Netflix to Twitter—and comes with six pairs of 3D glasses to take advantage of a 3D viewing experience that received unusual praise from Norton. (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
	Samsung PN60F8500 3D Plasma: $3,150 Have a soft spot for plasmas? Here’s a 60-incher that will enrich your movie watching experience with crisp, detailed images, superb color, and near reference-quality shadow detail. Catching up on his TV watching with DVR recordings of Game of Thrones and Vikings, reviewer Tom Norton was impressed: “The set’s resolution was impressive, with every oily pore, wrinkled face, dirty fabric, and unwashed strand of hair fully visible in these gritty but superbly photographed shows.” (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
	Sony KDL-55W900A 3D LCD: $3,300 Sony’s newest, top-of-the-line, non-XBR set puts up a luscious image with bright, well-saturated colors, rich black levels, and first-rate resolution. It’s a tad thicker than its predecessor but that’s because the audio system has been overhauled to provide sound that’s noticeably fuller than what you get with most flat-panels these days. That Sony provides four pairs of 3D glasses is good news: Unlike many TVs that have trouble mustering enough brightness, the 55W900A’s 3D performance was "irresistible," according to reviewer Tom Norton. (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
$3,500 >
	Sony XBR-55HX950 55-in 3D LCD: $3,500 It’s not easy to impress veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton, but crammed into the 2-inch-deep space behind the XBR-55HX950’s Gorilla Glass-covered screen lies an electronics package that delivers a picture he found “hard to resist.” With program after program the TV put up images with crisp, clean resolution, impeccable shadow detail and remarkably vibrant and natural color. As Norton put it, “The Sony can show off the best high-definition sources at their jaw-dropping best. And if that’s not enough, you get first-rate video processing and a flurry of Internet features to boot. (February/March 2013, Read Full Review)
	Panasonic TC-P65VT50 65-in 3D Plasma: $3,700 Panasonic has consistently delivered the best “everyman” HDTVs the last few years, and 2012 was no exception: the top-of-the-line VT50 series plasma improves on the performance of 2011’s VT30 models, and is probably the best TV out there short of Sharp’s award-winning (and pricey) Elite series LCDs. Reviewer Tom Norton found the superb blacks and color compared favorably to the Pioneer Elite Kuro models we still use as our reference, and that with the Panasonic, “the distance isn’t far.” (October 2012, Read Full Review)
	Sharp Elite PRO-60X5FD 60-in 3D LED LCD: $6000 We waited years for someone to come out with a TV that could go head-to-head with the old Pioneer Kuro plasmas that left the market prematurely. Sharp did it by teaming up with Pioneer, licensing the Elite name and borrowing some of their technical expertise to create the first fully-array, local-dimming LED LCD TV that can hold a candle to the best plasmas we’ve seen. Simply put, this HDTV is a technical triumph (though Panasonic’s recent VT50 Series has recently closed the gap somewhat and at a much lower price). Spectacular color, super-deep blacks, ultra-bright 3D—short of the narrow viewing window typical of the best LCD sets, it’s nearly impossible to find fault with this tour de force. (January 2012, Read Full Review)
	Samsung UN75ES9000 75-in 3D LCD: $9,000 Combine superb resolution and color with dramatic blacks and state-of-the-art 3D on a 75-inch screen and you’ve got yourself one irresistible TV viewing experience. Veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton heaped rare praise on the ES9000 and its ability to deliver a “totally immersive and compelling” picture 10 feet away. But it was the 3D performance that really floored him: “Avatar looked amazing—from the brightest scenes to the dark forest scenes on Pandora...Despicable Me was truly spectacular. Details often lost in the murk with most 3D sets popped out brilliantly on the Samsung.” (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
	Sony XBR-84X900 3D LCD Ultra HDTV: $25,000 For those with means who simply must have the latest and greatest state-of-the-art TV we offer up the XBR-84X900 with a colossal 84-inch screen that produces an uncanny combination of detail and creamy smoothness. In the words of veteran TV reviewer, Tom Norton: “Visually, the colors were never less than outstanding, with spot-on fleshtones and bright, natural hues in every source I watched.” The set also does a superb job of upscaling standard high-def material, making it nearly indistinguishable from native 4K, and offers 3D viewing that Norton described as “easily the most impressively sharp and detailed 3D I’ve yet experienced from a consumer display.” (HomeTheater.com, Read Full Review)
Worthy of Consideration Though not Top Picks, these models came close and are worth consideration. Read our review for details.
	Samsung PN60E7000FF 60-in 3D Plasma: $2,120 This second-best model in Samsung’s plasma line offered unusually accurate color on 2D viewing out of the box, average 3D performance for a plasma, and Samsung’s excellent user interface and extensive SmartTV options. Only a touch of magenta tint that crept into pure white test patterns and could occasionally be detected in bright, snowy scenes (if you’re looking for it) kept it from our highest honors. Now priced around $400 less than the $2,530 at which we originally reviewed it, it represents an alternative to Panasonic’s plasmas for those seeking an ultrathin TV that more resembles and LED LCD and Samsung’s exclusive user features. (August 2012, Read Full Review)
	Sharp LC-90LE745U 90-in 3D LED LCD: $11,000 With a screen that measures 90-inches diagonal and 6 feet, 8 inches wide, Sharp’s LC-90LE745U brings a projection screen-sized image to spaces with high ambient light, at a price (and relatively light weight of 141 pounds) that was unheard of just a couple of years ago. It’s an outstanding 2D television, and would have earned Top Pick honors were it not for sub-par 3D performance in our early sample. Sharp was said to be working on a fix, but either way, you’ll find no bigger or more impactful HDTV on the market. (October, 2012, Read Full Review)

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