LCD HDTV Buy Now

Sharp = more bang for your buck when it comes to quality

Sony is definitely the most overpriced brand out there but I’d say that if you have the extra cash to spend on a TV then go for Sony

My advice to you is Panasonic. Panasonic’s products are really high quality and reliable. I feel that Panasonic as a brand is far more advanced in quality.

Well, it kind of like asking Ford or Chevy. You’ll get a lot of opinions. I wouldn’t choose LG but I think your other choices are all good. Sharp Aquos is my favorite for LCD but it’s more opinion than fact.

Panasonic – makes amazing LCDs of 37″ or smaller. Their colors and blacks are really tremendous; and their pricing is very competitive. For 42″ or larger though, you should jump ship to the Panasonic Plasma line. In those sizes you will notice the advantages of Plasma, and get a far better viewing experience going that route.

Samsung – typically considered the top dog in LCD manufacturing right now. They make the world’s best panels. They make damn fine image processors as well. They should be in your consideration for an LCD of any size. I prefer the 4/5 series if under 37″ and the 6″ series if you break 42″. And if you’re going to cross above 50″, I recommend going Plasma (Panasonic first, but Samsung makes decent Plasmas too) or going LED LCD from Samsung. That will cost a lot, but you need the benefits the technology provides at those sizes.

Sony – tried, tested, and true. They over charge compared to competitors, but the quality is still there. You will get a good set from Sony that should last you for years to come. I like their L series in the 37″ or smaller sizes. If you start going into their larger sizes then I would go with V, W, Z, or XBR series, and maybe just W, Z, and XBR. The V is okay, but I like some of the performance boosts from the other lines.

Sharp – they make really good panels. So much so that Sony buys its panels from Sharp now. The ones used in the Aquos line are also used by Sony. Sony just adds its own image processor on top. I think Sharp’s image processors are very strong as well. But I think they are just barely a nudge below Sony/Samsung. But can often be a fair bit cheaper. So I think there can be more ‘bang for the buck’ in Sharp, but for outright quality you might need to sneak up to Samsung/Sony (for an LCD that is).

LG – I would consider a solid manufacturer. I think they make sets that people tend to be really happy with. Their prices are extremely competitive, which helps their reputation a lot. Outright image quality though, even their best sets, I think are more inline with say Sharp versus Panasonic (Plasma), Samsung (LCD), or Sony (LCD). But again, because of the price, they can offer a strong ‘bang for the dollar’ option for many people.