Before you rush out to the store

The TV's in this video I've never heard of before.

Flat panel TVs be sure you know what you’re buying.

This is some info I got from CR webpage. It won't let me copy and past their chart. This is the best I could do. If anyone knows how I can do it let me know.

CR Quick Recommendations Plasma TVs

Thirteen of the plasma TVs in the Ratings had excellent picture quality across the board. Eight are 1080p sets, which can display very sharp images and all the detail in a 1080p signal. That fine detail is most evident in high-quality HD content displayed on sets 50 inches or larger viewed up close. But 720p TVs from Panasonic, Pioneer, and Samsung also had excellent picture quality and would suit many viewers.

Don't rule out sets with very good picture quality. With much TV content, only more discerning viewers are likely to fully appreciate the differences between sets scoring very good and excellent. You can see the differences more in a high-def movie played on a Blu-ray player.

The Ratings list models, within sizes, by overall performance. Quick Picks also considers features and price, which may have dropped since press time. Also consider siblings of Quick Picks-say, a 50-inch version of a 42-inch set we tested. (Model names in a series usually differ only in the digits representing screen size, such as TH-58PZ750U and TH-50PZ750U.) The performance of TVs in the same series has generally been comparable in our tests.

Quick Picks

Best of the biggest screens:

• Panasonic TH-58PZ750U , $5000
• Pioneer PDP-6010FD , $6500

The top-rated 1080p Panasonic had rich, vibrant colors, and deep blacks. It displayed the finest detail on its 58-inch screen. The 60-inch Pioneer had best-in-class black levels and contrast, excellent sound, and a subwoofer line out. It also had four HDMI inputs but only one component-video jack, which could be an issue if you have older A/V equipment that requires this input. The Pioneer is among the few new sets that are CableCard-ready, but it lacks separate RGB adjustments, surprising at its premium price.

Despite its fine picture quality, the 60-inch LG 60PY3D isn't a Quick Pick because bright images left a temporary impression on the screen that was most visible when a dark scene followed. It does have nice features, including iPod-like touch-sensitive controls and a display that indicates which video input you're watching. Its warranty covers 24 months, not the more typical 12 months.

A jumbo 720p screen for less:

• Vizio Maximvs VM60PHDTV10A , $2000, CR Best Buy

For the most bang for the buck, consider the 60-inch Vizio. Picture quality was very good, though a step below the best sets, partly because blacks could be deeper. Graininess was visible with the component-video input but not the HDMI. It has four HDMI inputs. The well-priced Maxent MX-58HPT51 isn't a Quick Pick because it displayed video noise with the component input; when used with the HDMI input, there were more jagged edges in 1080i images than on better sets.

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Best 50-inch sets:

• Pioneer Elite PRO-110FD , $6000
• Panasonic TH-50PZ700U , $3000
• Panasonic TH-50PZ77U , $2300
• Panasonic TH-50PZ750U , $3500
• Panasonic TH-50PX75U , $1800, CR Best Buy
• Samsung HP-T5064 , $1600

These six sets had excellent picture quality. The 1080p Pioneer Elite Kuro could be the best TV we've ever tested, but its price is double that of other excellent sets of the same type. The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U closely matches the performance of the older TH-50PZ700U, but costs $700 less and has an anti-glare screen. The PZ700U has a more elaborate speaker system. Its higher-priced sibling (TH-50PZ750U) offers comparable image quality plus a convenient front-panel HDMI input and more picture controls for fine-tuning color. The Panasonic TH-50PX75U is a lower-priced 720p model that also does just about everything right, and with typical cable and satellite programming you might not see a significant difference in picture quality.

The 720p Samsung had excellent picture quality, with bright, colorful images, solid blacks, and satisfying detail. But this set and its 42-inch siblings, Samsung HP-T4254 and Samsung HP-T4264, had a quirk visible in test patterns displaying steady motion: a hiccup every few seconds. It's less obvious in normal viewing but you might see it in a scrolling news ticker. The 1080p LG 50PY3D, like its 60-inch sibling, gets high marks for picture quality but had the same issue with bright images as LG 60PY3D.

Other fine 720p, 50-inch sets:

• Pioneer PDP-5080HD , $2500
• LG 50PC5D , $1500
• Insignia NS-PDP50 , $1300, CR Best Buy
• Vizio P50HDTV , $1200

The Pioneer did very well, especially with deep blacks, but it's pricey. It has four HDMI inputs. The LG's picture quality was very good, though a bit grainy. We didn't notice the same issue with bright images as on the other LG sets mentioned previously. It has a 24-month warranty. The Insignia-Best Buy's house brand-offers very good overall picture quality and excellent DVD performance at a low price. Likewise, the Vizio is low-priced for a set this size, offering very good picture quality despite minor loss of detail and some graininess. Its pricier sibling (Vizio JV50P) adds Dolby Digital 5.1 and wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer for sound comparable to that of a basic home-theater system.

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Best 42-inch sets:

• Panasonic TH-42PZ77U , $1800
• Pioneer Elite PRO-950HD , $2700
• Panasonic TH-42PX77U , $1300, CR Best Buy
• Panasonic TH-42PZ700U , $1900

All four had top picture quality with all types of program types. Like its bigger sibling, the Panasonic TH-42PZ77U has an anti-glare screen, and is well-priced for a 1080p set. The pricey 720p Pioneer has loads of features and settings, and four HDMI inputs. The Panasonic TH-42PZ700U is another 1080p model with fine picture detail, while the TH-42PX77U is a low-priced 720p model with an excellent picture quality and enough detail to be satisfying in this screen size.
Other fine 42-inch sets:

• Samsung HP-T4254 , $1250
• LG 42PC5D , $1000

Both 720p sets had very good HD picture quality, just a notch below that of their 50-inch siblings. The Samsung had the same quirk as Samsung HP-T5064. The LG has a 24-month warranty and a relatively low price. We didn't see the same issue with bright images as on the other LG models, LG 60PY3D and LG 50PY3D.

CR Quick Recommendations Projection TVs

Rear-projection TVs still offer the biggest screens for the price. 1080p resolution has become standard in RPTVs 50 inches and larger for less than the cost of a comparable plasma. All tested models have 1080p resolution except the 37-inch Sony. That model, unusually small for a rear-projection set, is intended as a replacement for a similar-sized CRT TV. While it is a reasonable choice, there are equally fine 37-inch LCD flat-panel TVs and 42-inch plasma sets for similar prices. All tested models are 12 to 21 inches deep, much slimmer than older sets.

With most rear-projection sets, you have to replace the bulb every 5,000 hours or so, which costs $200 to $300 if you do it yourself. A few tested models have LED backlights, which eliminate the need to replace bulbs. LED illumination has the potential to reduce the rainbow effect-annoying flashes of color visible to some viewers-that affects DLP sets, but it hasn't completely eliminated it on sets we've seen.

The Ratings list models, within sizes, by overall performance. Quick Picks also considers features and price, which may have dropped since press time. Also consider siblings of Quick Picks, say, a 61-inch version of a 56-inch set we tested. (Model names in a series usually differ only in the digits representing screen size, such as PT-61LCZ70 and PT-56LCZ70.) The performance of TVs in the same series has generally been comparable in our tests.

Quick Picks

Best of the biggest:

• Sony KDS-60A3000 , $2200
• Samsung HL-T6189S , $2500
• Mitsubishi WD-65734 , $2500

All the tested TVs in the largest-size category are worth considering. The top-rated Sony KDS-60A3000, a 60-inch LCoS set, had excellent picture quality on all types of programs. The Samsung DLP set has a slim profile and displayed excellent HD. It has a long-lasting LED backlight, which eliminates bulb replacement costs over the life of the TV. The 65-inch Mitsubishi is a DLP-based model with four HDMI inputs. It performed very well with all content.

Fine 55- to 58-inch sets:

• Samsung HL-T5687S , $2300
• Sony KDS-55A3000 , $2000
• Samsung HL-S5687W , $1900
• Mitsubishi WD-57733 , $1800

The Samsung HL-T5687S, a 56-inch DLP set with LED illumination and a slim profile, had excellent picture quality with HD and DVD content, and was very good with SD programs. The other Samsung HL-S5687W is less expensive partly because it uses the typical bulb (a gas-discharge lamp) and has one less HDMI input. It had excellent picture quality with HD content and was very good with DVDs and SD programs. The Sony, a 55-inch LCoS set, had excellent picture quality with all types of programming, better than the JVC HD-58S998, another LCoS set that costs considerably more. The Mitsubishi is a DLP-based, 57-inch model that performed very well with all types of programs.

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A fine 50-inch set:

• Samsung HL-S5087W , $1300

This 1080p DLP set had very good picture quality on all types of programs. Among the smaller sets of this type, it costs about half as much as a well-rated 50-inch 1080p plasma.

CR Quick Recommendations LCD TVs

Our latest Ratings feature more top-notch TVs than ever. A number of models, including several 720p sets, had excellent picture quality with HD and standard-def programming as well as DVDs.

Still, don't rule out sets with very good picture quality. With much TV content, only more discerning viewers are likely to fully appreciate the differences between sets scoring very good and excellent. You can see the differences more in a high-def movie played on a Blu-ray or HD DVD player.

Viewing angle has been an inherent weakness of LCD technology; the picture quality looks its best only if you view the screen from close to the center. A viewing angle score of good indicates some deterioration--the picture may dim or look washed out-as you move away from the center. A score of very good indicates only slight change in picture quality, while excellent reflects virtually no viewing problems from any angle.

The Ratings list models, within sizes, by overall performance. Quick Picks also considers features and price, which may have dropped since press time. Also consider siblings of Quick Picks-say, a 47-inch version of a 40-inch set we tested. (Model names in a series usually differ only in the digits representing screen size, such as 57LX177 and 52LX177.) Performance of TVs in the same series has generally been comparable in our tests.

Quick Picks

Best big-screen 1080p sets:

• Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR4 , $3500
• Sharp Aquos LC-52D64U , $2900, CR Best Buy
• Samsung LN-T5281F , $4500

You can't go wrong with any of the models we tested in this largest size category; all did very well. The sets highlighted here stood out for one reason or another. Although pricey, the Sony XBR4 is among the best LCD TVs you can buy today. Its higher-priced sibling, the XBR5, offers similarly fine performance but has a different bezel and an 18-month warranty rather than the XBR4's more typical 12-month coverage. Both have a 120Hz frame refresh rate, which reduces motion blur for smoother action. The Sharp had excellent HD and DVD picture quality at a relatively low price, but its viewing angle is narrower than with most of the tested models. The Samsung had excellent picture quality, with top-notch black levels. It's among the highest-priced sets of its type, partly because it's one of the first LCD TVs to use LED backlighting, which allows for a wider range of colors and more consistent brightness on all parts of the screen. It has a 120Hz frame refresh rate, which reduces motion blur for smoother action.

Value-priced big TVs:

• Vizio Gallevia GV52L , $1800, CR Best Buy
• Westinghouse TX-52F480S , $2000, CR Best Buy

For the most bang for the buck, check out the Vizio and Westinghouse. Picture quality is a noticeable step below the best sets, but still decent, and it's hard to beat the price. Their smaller siblings (47-inch, 42-inch, 37-inch, 32-inch) offer similar performance at a comparatively low price for the screen size.

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High-scoring but high-priced 46- and 47-inch 1080p sets:

• Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR4 , $3100
• LG Opus 47LBX , $2800
• Samsung LN-T4669F , $3000

In this category too, performance was generally high, with many fine choices for all budgets. These three models, among the higher-priced in this group, are top choices, especially if you watch a lot of sports and action movies. All have outstanding picture quality and a 120Hz frame refresh rate, which reduces motion blur for smoother action. The Sony XBR4, is among the best LCD TVs we've tested. Its higher-priced sibling, the XBR5, offers similarly fine performance but has a different bezel and an 18-month warranty rather than the XBR4's more typical 12-month coverage. The LG is another top-notch performer, and it has excellent sound. The Samsung LN-T4669F had excellent picture quality and excellent sound.

Other very good 46-inch models at lower prices:

• Samsung LN-T4661F , $1900
• Mitsubishi LT-46133 , $1825
• Sony Bravia KDL-46S3000 , $1800
• Toshiba REGZA 46RF350U , $1800

These models don't have a 120Hz refresh rate but the slight difference in motion handling shouldn't be a major concern for most viewers. They offer fine picture quality at a great price for the size.

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Value-priced 47-inch sets:

• Vizio Gallevia GV47LF , $1200
• Westinghouse TX-47F430S , $1500

Like their larger siblings, these sets offer a lot of bang for the buck.
Best 40- and 42-inch sets:

• Samsung LN-T4069F , $1800
• Samsung LN-T4053H , $1200, CR Best Buy
• Sony Bravia KDL-40V3000 , $1700
• Samsung LN-T4061F , $1500
• Mitsubishi LT-40134 , $1700
• Toshiba REGZA 42HL67 , $1300

Many of the models in this size category are worthy choices with fine picture quality. Among those that stand out: The 40-inch Samsung LN-T4053H has 720p resolution, sufficient for this screen size, and it costs much less than most comparable models with 1080p resolution. It had deeper blacks than many LCD sets. Its pricier 1080p siblings, the LN-T4069F and LN-T4061F, did slightly better with HD; the LN-T4069F has a 120Hz frame refresh rate, which reduces motion blur for smoother action. The Sony 1080p set had an excellent, detailed picture and great color. Its 720p sibling, the Sony Bravia KDL-40S3000 did almost as well and costs less. The 40-inch Mitsubishi was very good all-around. The Toshiba stands out for its excellent, detailed picture and low price. It had a very good viewing angle.

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Good values in 37-inch sets:

• Olevia 537H , $900
• Insignia NS-LCD37 , $750
• Vizio VW37LHDTV , $770

All these 720p sets offer very good picture quality--a step below the best, but fine values for the price. The Vizio had a very good viewing angle.
Best 32-inch sets:

• Sony Bravia KDL-32XBR4 , $1350
• Sony Bravia KDL-32S3000 , $1050
• Panasonic TC-32LX700 , $950
• Samsung LN-T3242H , $900
• Sony Bravia KDL-32ML130 , $770, CR Best Buy

These 720p sets had excellent picture quality with all content. All three Sony sets displayed the finest detail and great color. The pricey XBR4 has more features and one more HDMI input than its lower-priced siblings, but the KDL-32ML130 offers great performance at a low price for a Sony. The Panasonic had a very wide viewing angle--among the best we've seen on an LCD TV--plus a 120Hz frame refresh rate, which reduces motion blur for smoother action. The Sony Bravia KDL-32XBR4 had a very good viewing angle. The Samsung had great color. Like their 37-inch siblings, the Olevia 532H ($650) and Vizio VW32LHDTV ($600) offer decent performance and good value.

Seasoned Gamers: Before you rush out to the store - Seasoned Gamers

Before you rush out to the store Be sure you know what you’re buying

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