New LCD and plasma HDTV Ratings

If you're looking for a new LCD or plasma HDTV, we've got some good news: Our latest TV Ratings (available to subscribers) have just been posted. And while prices varied widely, performance was fairly consistent among all but a handful of brands. In fact, of the 49 models in our latest TV Ratings, all but three delivered very good or excellent HD picture quality.

One thing that is differentiating new TVs is extra features. In the LCD camp, we tested a fair number of sets that include 120Hz technology to reduce motion blur, and even a "240Hz" set—from Toshiba—that combines a 120Hz refresh rate with a scanning, or flashing, backlight to achieve a 240Hz effect.

We also tested six models that use LED backlights, rather than conventional fluorescent lamps. Four of these sets use edge LEDs, which are placed around the perimeter of the frame. The other two use a full-array backlight with local dimming, meaning that individual areas of the backlight can be kept dark while other areas are illuminated. We found benefits and drawbacks to both approaches.

In a nod to the current economic climate, our latest Ratings include several low-priced LCD models from brands such as Auria, Dynex, Insignia, and Sanyo. We found that a few of these sets represent a real option for those on a budget.

In plasma, all of the sets we tested, from brands including LG, Panasonic, and Samsung, now include something called "600Hz sub-field drive." This technology addresses an issue that, frankly, hasn't been a real plasma problem: motion resolution, or blurring during fast-moving scenes. These 600Hz sets speed up the rate at which the individual pixels are flashed onscreen. Using test patterns designed to show off this flaw, we found that this new technology can indeed minimize blurring, but the improvement was more evident in sets from one brand than the others.

We also tested the thinnest plasma we've ever reviewed—a Samsung model just 1.2 inches thick.

Another continuing trend is the growing number of sets of both types that include access to Internet content—in the latest Ratings, 10 sets provide the ability to stream news, financial info, sports results, and entertainment programs from specific content partners. While this feature is still generally reserved for step-up models, we expect to see more manufacturers roll out this functionality across more TV lines in upcoming Ratings. In fact, in recognition that TVs are becoming multi-dimensional, we've added a new "versatility" column to our Ratings to reflect a TV's extra features.

As you may have noticed, we've ramped up the pace of our TV tests, so new Ratings will be posted more often than they have been in the past. In fact, we're already well under way in our tests of a dozen new LCD and plasma models. Among the models currently being tested: Two new 240Hz LCDs, from LG and Toshiba; new LCDs from Vizio; and a pair of new Insignia-brand plasma TVs. So keep checking back regularly for the latest TV Ratings. —James K. Willcox