New LCD, plasma TV Ratings: Lower prices, more models with Internet access

We just posted our latest LCD and plasma HDTV Ratings, which contain more than 100 tested models, among the most ever. We continue to see many models with excellent picture quality, and a growing number with the ability to directly access online content, including streaming movies services from providers such as Amazon Video On Demand, Blockbuster On Demand, Netflix and Vudu.

Here are some other key trends we found among the models listed in our latest Ratings:

Prices continue to fall. While a few flagship models, loaded with bells and whistles, from the major brands still command significantly higher prices—take, for example, Panasonic's $5,500 ultra-thin 54-inch plasma set—prices on mainstream models continued to decline. Our "Best Buy" models now include a 55-inch Toshiba LCD for $1,800, 42-inch LCDs from Insignia and LG for just $700, and 50- and 42-inch plasma sets from Panasonic at $900 and $700, respectively. And we expect prices to fall even further as we approach the all-important Black Friday kick-off to the holiday selling season.

More TVs can stream content, especially movies. While access to Internet content, especially streaming movies, was once limited to flagship models, most of the major brands have rolled out mainstream sets with this capability, and several companies now offer a choice of more than one streaming-movie provider. More than a third of the sets 37 inches and larger in our Ratings are Internet-capable models.

Viewing angle and sound remain differentiating features. With so many TVs capable of producing a very good or excellent picture, viewing angle and sound scores are becoming key differentiating features among models. Remember that our picture-quality scores are derived while viewing TVs at their optimal viewing angle, so the picture of a TV with a fairly narrow viewing-angle score can deteriorate—sometimes significantly—when viewed off angle. If a TV has a low sound score, you might consider pairing it with an external sound system.

TVs continue to get thinner. While edge LED backlights have helped LCD models slide ever-closer to the 1-inch-thick mark, even plasma is joining the newly svelte crowd. For example, our Ratings include the above-mentioned Panasonic set, just over an inch thick, and several Samsung B850/860 plasma sets that are about 1.5-inches thick. Note that some ultra-slim models achieve their skinny profiles by moving the tuner and connections to a separate media consoles, and can send signals wirelessly to the TV.

Some lesser-known brands can do quite well. Despite their low prices, some secondary, or "budget," brands can perform quite well. For example, in the latest Ratings, we recommended some sets from Insignia (Best Buy's house brand) and Sanyo. However, some brands have been inconsistent performers, so we may recommend a specific model but not another. Reliability could also be a concern; however, our Ratings include information about brand reliability, which is obtained via annual subscriber surveys. While models within a brand may vary, and design or manufacture changes may affect future reliability, choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable model.

Even though we've just posted out TV Ratings, we're already well underway with our tests of 16 new TVs. Keep checking the blog, and we'll let you know when they're posted.  —James K. Willcox