Types Of TVs from Consumer Reports

TV Buying Guide

High-definition TVs come in all shapes and sizes. You'll find everything from flat-panel LCD displays and plasma TVs that can be mounted on a wall to jumbo rear-projection sets, the familiar picture-tube TVs, and front projectors that can give you a cinema-like experience at home.

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Types

High-definition TVs come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of HD sets now available are flat-panel LCD displays and plasma TVs that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a stand. Rear-projection sets and the familiar picture-tube TVs are becoming much less common.

LCD TVs

Good choice if if you want a thin, lightweight TV that comes in a wide range of sizes and is well suited for viewing in a bright room.

Common screen sizes. 23 to 55 inches. Manufacturers have showcased sets larger than 100 inches. No matter how large the screen, most LCD TVs are only 4 or 5 inches thick, and some new ultra-slim sets are even thinner.

Typical selling prices. About $500 to $1,000 for a 32-inch model, $650 to $1,200 for a 37-inch set, $700 to $1,800 for a 40- to 42-inch set, $900 to $3,000 for a 46- to 47-inch set, and $1,300 to $4,000 for a 52-inch set.

Pros: Thin and light. Most LCD TVs with screens up to 40 inches or so weigh less than 50 pounds. Can be wall-mounted. LCDs tend to be brighter than plasma screens, and reflections and glare are much less of an issue, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lighted rooms. There’s also a wide selection of 1080p LCD TV sets. There’s no risk of burn-in of static images. LCDs use somewhat less power than plasma sets. Our reliability data show that most major brands have had a very low rate of repairs in the first few years.
Cons: LCD TVs haven’t caught up with plasma TVs in terms of viewing angle and the ability to display the deepest blacks. On most LCD sets, the image can lose contrast, look washed out, or lose color accuracy as you angle away from the center of the screen. Most LCD TVs can't display deepest black, and fast-moving images might blur. But the best new sets—typically higher-priced models—have less difficulty in those areas than in the past. Uneven backlight brightness has been an issue with LCD TVs, but the use of LED backlighting instead of fluorescent lights in some new sets potentially enables them to more evenly distribute light across the back of the panel for more consistent brightness on all parts of the screen. LEDs also use less energy than conventional backlights.

Plasma TVs

Good choice if you want a thin TV with a screen 42 inches or larger.

Common screen sizes. 42 to 58 inches, with more 60-inch-plus models arriving.

Typical selling prices. $800 to $1,500 for a 42-inch set, $1,000 to $4,000 for a 50-inch model, $2,600 to $4,500 for a 58-inch set, $3,400 to $6,500 for a 60-inch model. Most models are 6 inches or less in depth, and some new ultra-slim plasma TVs are even thinner.

Pros: It's hard to beat the best plasma TV sets for accurate colors, deep blacks, and great contrast. And a virtually unlimited viewing angle means no one in the room has a bad view. For screens 50 inches and larger, plasma TVs cost less than similarly sized LCD models. You'll find many more 1080p sets than last year. Our reliability data show that most major brands have had a very low rate of repairs in the first few years.
Cons: Plasma TVs are fairly heavy. Some 42-inch sets weigh about 100 pounds, though others are 20 or 30 pounds lighter. The reflections from a plasma TV's shiny screen (similar to what you might have seen with a picture-tube TV) can be annoying in a bright room, though an antireflective coating can minimize them. Static images displayed for extended periods—such as stock tickers or video games—can burn in temporarily, and could become permanent if you consistently leave the same pattern onscreen over a long period. But that seems to have been more of a problem with earlier plasma TVs. Screensaver-type features on new plasmas greatly minimize the likelihood of burn-in. In our tests, we've seen temporary impressions that have disappeared after a short while; we haven't seen any evidence of permanent burn-in in normal home use.

Picture-tube TVs

Good choice if you want a small, low-priced standard-definition TV, but increasingly hard to find.

Common screen sizes. Most models are 13 to 27 inches.

Typical selling prices. About $300 for a 27-inch digital SDTV. Less than $200 for a 20-inch digital set.

Pros: Modestly priced. According to many years of reliability data, most picture-tube TVs have had a very low rate of repairs.
Cons: Picture-tube TVs are heavy and bulky. Limited selection of screen sizes and brands, now that most major brands have stopped making tube sets. Many retailers have greatly reduced or eliminated their inventory of such sets.

Rear-projection TVs

Good choice if you want the most screen for the money, but increasingly hard to find. Only Mitsubishi continues to produce new sets, and no new models were announced for 2009.

Common screen sizes. 50 to 73 inches.

Typical selling prices. $1,000 to $2,000 for a 50-inch microdisplay DLP set, $1,200 to $1,600 for a 56- to 61-inch model; $2,100 to $4,600 for a 65- to 73-inch model.

Pros: The top rear-projection TVs offer exceptionally good picture quality, and most have 1080p resolution. A few sets have 3D capability, an innovative feature. A few sets use LED backlights, which are designed to last much longer than conventional lights.
Cons: Only Mitsubishi continued to make rear-projection TVs, though Samsung will sell existing inventory for a period of time. That greatly reduces the number of choices available. With most DLP sets, you might be bothered by the "rainbow effect"—a flash of color some viewers see when moving their eyes across the edges of bright objects on a dark background. LED backlights are designed to reduce that problem. Conventional bulbs ($200 to $400 each) used in microdisplay rear-projection TVs require periodic replacement. Manufacturers claim that life for bulbs is about 5,000 hours, though some new bulbs are guaranteed for five years. Our surveys show that microdisplays have needed more repairs than flat panels in the first three years, but the majority of microdisplays have been trouble free.

Front projectors

Good choice if you want a theater-like experience at home, with the largest picture available.

Common screen sizes. The projector has a 9x12-inch or larger footprint. You must buy a screen (typically 70 to 200 inches) separately.

Typical selling prices. $1,000 and up for an HD projector; several hundred dollars for the projection screen.

Pros: A big, beautiful picture that can be adjusted to a wide range of sizes by adjusting the zoom control or moving the projector closer to or farther from the screen. Top models produce excellent images. More 1080p units are coming out at lower prices. Projectors and screens can be stored when not in use.
Cons: Projectors generally don't include a TV tuner or speakers, so you must add both. You need a dark room to enjoy good picture quality, so projectors are not practical for daytime viewing. Might be better for occasional movie nights than for everyday use. Finding the optimal position for the projector and screen in a furnished room can be tricky. Most single-chip DLP units are subject to the "rainbow effect"—a flash of color some viewers see when their eyes move along the edges of bright objects on a dark background. Bulbs must be replaced every 2,000 to 3,000 hours (claimed life), and cost $350 or more. We have no data on reliability.

Other Considerations

Other important considerations in choosing a TV are screen size and resolution.

Screen size:
Deciding what size TV to buy is one of the more enjoyable aspects of buying a new set. Most consumers tend to go bigger when replacing their old TV, and there’s a good reason to do so with high-definition programming. A big screen makes HD content especially compelling, creating more of a theater experience. It also enables you to fully appreciate the fine, sharp detail.