LG has recently come out with a massive looking television set, the 52 inch LG5000 LCD. The nice thing about the unit is that it is packaged quite smartly and is also reasonably cheap for the wide array of high-end features it offers. The price factor clearly hovers above all others as it is a common phenomenon to find the price of TV sets going through the roof once you cross the 46- and 47-inch LCD TVs barrier.

An adorable aspect about the unit is that going by its appearance you can hardly conceive its actual price. Instead with swift bodywork, it is a picture of elegance. Moreover the deck has no unnecessary excesses to trouble you, apparently believing in a minimalist stance.

Then, as a customer it comes as a welcome relief that the aggressive pricing has not dented the overall performance and utility of the LG 52LG5000. You should especially love the connectivity of the unit as it provides you an extensive range of features starting from three v1.3 HDMIs, a digital audio output, a PC port to an RS-232C port which gives you the option to integrate the TV into a wider AV system.

The screen resolution capability of the unit stands at a contemporary ‘full HD’ 1920×1080 pixels, which is well complemented by a very high contrast ratio of 50,000:1, which can be effectively achieved by dimming the backlight output during dark scenes.

Moreover, despite having only 100Hz processing system, there was very little motion blur that was observed, especially when all the TV’s OTT noise reduction routines are deactivated. The audio part is also a major plus of the unit as the sound reproduction is pretty true to the source, while at the same time delivering that scintillating experience.

People have become so accustomed to associating LCD TVs, which for the record are selling like mad, to Samsung that it sometimes comes as a surprise to know that the company deals with plasma TVs as well! Not that plasma TVs have nothing to offer, but the recent success of the LCD has really overshadowed anything from the plasma format. The time of redemption, however, is upon us, as Samsung is ready with an ultra-new plasma, the Samsung PS50A556.

The design of the deck is rather sleek and is typical of Samsung glossy image. The deck comes with a ‘Full HD‘ 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution, which is real bonus considering its relatively low price, and also have an abundance of connectivity options including three v1.3 HDMIs, a PC port, as well as a USB 2.0 jack that gives you the leverage to playback JPEG photos.

The picture quality of the device is meanwhile optimised by the company’s proprietary DNIE+ processing, so that you can have a high quality image that is replete with fantastic colour combinations, sharpness, contrast and motion. The result is that you experience a commercial cinema like feel with the Samsung PS50A556, as frames are replete with natural hues. The feature is aided in its objective by a Movie Plus mode, which plays is part in improving motion handling.

Moreover, the Filterbright screen adorning the unit is specially crafted to drastically eliminate the majority of onscreen reflections. There are nevertheless issues concerning the operation of the deck, and the image is also a bit of a letdown considering that it is a 1080p screen.

The latest offer from Panasonic, the Viera TX-32LXD80, seeks to drive home the point that sometimes medium sized TVs, like the aforementioned one, are preferable over those large screen giants. Just think of a smaller front room where a gargantuan TV would look out of place, while the Viera TX-32LXD80 would seamlessly blend in with the size and arrangement of the room.

The Viera TX-32LXD80 you will be surprised to know has an upscaling capability of only 720p, but that is not a problem as it is more than cancelled out by the much acclaimed IPS-Alpha panel technology that gives you the tempting option of a much wider viewing angle. The main selling point of the Panasonic TX-32LXD80 is that despite being a budget player there is no hint of compromises at all. Moreover, skeptics of the set’s 1,366×768-pixel resolution should do well to realize that 1080p resolutions are more or less lost on smaller screens, as unlike in larger screens.

Then the lower resolution notwithstanding, the picture quality looks remarkably sharp, and crisp with a lovely bit of detail. The picture quality is further enhanced by the company’s brilliant home build V-Real 3 picture processing technology that facilitates the smooth flow of images apart from bestowing them with a great deal of vivid looking colours. Movie buffs should particularly love the fact that the deck is provided with the discretion to play 24p movies form your Blu-ray player.

Those who liked the performance delivered by Sony’s Bravia KDL-46Z4500 LCD TV, but were put off by its high price, now have something to look forward to in the form of the Sony Bravia KDL-52W4500. The unit is much more affordable than any similar models on the block, and you should love the fact that it features many contemporary and user friendly features. Together with these exciting features, the LCD TV is the ideal platform and cornerstone of any home cinema experience.

The design of the deck is also typical of the company, but boasts of a distinctive ‘window’ that runs across the screen. Connectivity of the Sony KDL-52W4500 is impressive as it comes equipped with a number of unconventional multimedia jacks. These include an Ethernet port that gives you the liberty to connect the deck to your computer so that you can enjoy JPEG and MP3 files. Then, there is a USB jack as well so that you can play similar sort of files from the USB storage devices. Further, the Digital Media Port incorporated in the device gives you the discretion to play to play AV files from a portable media player assisted by a compatible adaptor.

You don’t get the radical 200Hz feature of the Z4500 models, but do get more than you can handle in the form of Sony’s MotionFlow 100Hz engine. It comprehensively elevates the usual refresh rate so that you can enjoy pictures that are more smooth and lively than is normally the case with LCD technology.

The images are also delightfully bright, and you will really love the vibrant and wonderfully blending colours. The colours in addition are replete with natural hues and are for major part is in sync with the ongoing action.

Anyone who wants gadgets that are aesthetically beautiful and come with a good array of accompanying features, need look no further than the Samsung LE40A856. The device boasts a thin profile and is equipped with a small bezel that is actually more compact than it appears. The most amazing part of the package is the manner in which Samsung has managed to fit the unit with everything that a modern TV has to offer.

The monitor of the device is just 85mm thick and you get o have four HDMI sockets, three on the back, while the fourth is given on the side. Then, the device incorporates a pair of Scart inputs, component, VGA and S-video in as well, apart from a USB socket that enhances the level of flexibility and convenience on your front.

The front of the unit is pretty clean without any signs of any visible buttons or connections, albeit unless you touch the surrounding area. The design and build quality of the Samsung LE-40A856 means that you can virtually put the deck at just about anywhere with the guarantee that it will elevate the style quotient of the room.

The device comes equipped with the intuitive InfoLive technology, a simple RSS-style reader that gives the T the discretion to effectively utilize its built-in Ethernet connection to go online so that you can collect important information from yahoo. Information may be something related to the stock market, weather and news updates, which though is limited in nature go a long way in giving you a fast first-hand information peek at what’s is hip and happening on the subject. Another selling point of the device is the much improved WiseLink Pro that will enable you to scroll through photos and MP3s stored on USB devices.

One of the grudges that customers have against Philips is that most of their products are overpriced, which prevents potential customers from approaching them. This resentment in particular applies to the much revered 9703 range, which is far too expensive for most people to afford. There is good news of late though, as Philips seeks to address this dilemma with the launch of an exclusive new range, the 7603 which by every account is a much better value for the money. The Philips Cineos 42 PFL 7603D is a part of this range and is all set to carve out a niche for itself.

The design of the device is both novel and an aesthetic one, while its unique configuration endows it with some distinct technical advantages, especially the audio output. The Philips 42PFL7603D comes integrated with a USB interface like most modern televisions, which facilitates you to entertain yourself with music and photos that can be sourced from the memory sticks. One glaring drawback however hinders your moment of enjoyment as there is no video support on this particular model.

Then you also get to have the in-demand Ambilight which is a two-sided version, but is not as interactive as the three-sided version. Nevertheless the feature provides you with a similar set of options such as the ability to manipulate the response speed, the extent of illumination, and the liberty to choose a solitary color to throw on the wall.

The Freeview option is another important addition but its performance lacks the punch that you would have loved. The feature actually ends up irritating you with its macro blocking which is a part-and-parcel with low-bitrate digital TV. Nevertheless supported by a good incoming signal the 7603 manages to produce a decent picture quality.

The latest offer from Panasonic, the Tau FX 29FX20CDS3 CRT TV, has an outstanding picture quality, a trait which alone makes it a keeper. The picture quality easily supersedes those meted out by its rivals. The temptation to buy the unit will start increasing the moment you discover that this excellent picture quality can be all yours at a very reasonable price, and is a great value for money.

Despite weighing a high 43 kg, the deck is designed in a rather aesthetic manner and should look good on your living room. The build quality is compact as well thereby ensuring longevity.

Even if you ignore the picture quality, the Tau FX 29FX20CDS3 has a number of other good virtues that are sufficient to entrap you. The set up and connectivity of the deck is rather simple and uncomplicated and have the basic minimum features that you will normally need including- Composite Video Input and Component Video Inputs. The depressing thing for customers is however that they will be handicapped to a certain extent since there are no USB or HDMI inputs, like with modern day Panasonic LCD TVs, such as the Panasonic TX-32LZD95F. Meanwhile, the availability of only a solitary Component Video Input option means that you are provided with the liberty to connect only one device via the Component Video cable.

The performance of the deck matches up to the likes of Sony and Samsung, when it comes to Picture Quality at least in the CRT world. Another versatile aspect of the deck is its stunning high-definition image reproduction, pictures that are crystal clear, vivid and with a great deal of detail. Similarly, the audio quality is also superb and you can also enjoy the experience of a comprehensive sound.

The Philips 42PFL9803 has fixed one of the major drawbacks of the LCD format, namely the backlight, which until now has been the bane of this otherwise no-nonsense format. The backlight problem usually remains in the background for the most part, but once you try to reproduce black, or for that matter something dark, it plays a repelling effect on the final output with images appearing drained out and lifeless. Philips has attended to the problem by using an array of more than 1,000 LEDs behind the LCD panel to illuminate the picture.

The design of the unit is quite an appealing one and comes decorated in a brushed aluminium one. The front of the Philips 42PFL9803D is kept simple and uncomplicated and is bereft of any hidden buttons. The front nevertheless has a large Philips logo and a thin LED strip beneath the screen that it reminds you when the TV is on.

Connectivity of the unit is one of its most impressive facets and is equipped with no less than four HDMI inputs. A VGA connection is there as well that facilitates you to source data from your media centre PC or Xbox 360, along with a pair of Scart sockets that enable you to connect the deck to much older standard-definition images.

Adding to your flexibility is the presence of an S-video input and composite video in, which are essential components when you are connecting the deck to a camcorder or digital camera.

The deck being a premium Philips TV has on-board the customary Ambilight feature. The two-sided Ambilight Spectra 2 that has been included in the deck however compares poorly against the three-sided Spectra 3 system included on the 9703 range. Philips has also included its indigenously build Perfect Pixel HD engine, which does a more than decent job in processing the vast amount of picture information in video signals and present it on-screen in the best possible way.

There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Borrowing a cue from the phrase, Pioneer has come up with the Kuro KRL-32V. The development is quite significant considering that in recent times LCDs have frequently come under the microscope, with the cynics of the format rightly pointing out that LCDs still have a lot of ground to cover if they hope to match the stunning black levels achieved by plasma TVs. Pioneer, however, in cooperation with the company Sharp, who supplying financial support, is trying to turn around this advantage that plasma televisions possess.

The unique arrangement means that you will find the same panels found in Sharp’s LCD range which is effectively combined with the company’s (Pioneer) own futuristic picture-processing expertise to finally arrive at the ultimate product the Kuro KRL-32V.

The unit also distinctive a distinctive style and has, for the good, has dispensed off with the piano black instead opting for a more stylish gunmetal grey style.

The connectivity of the unit is also rather solid with most of the contemporary connectivity options including an S-Video and composite inputs. A USB socket is there as well, but the depressing point is it is solely for service updates, and consequently of limited utility. The presence of three HDMI inputs on the Pioneer KRL-32V, all 1.3a capable, come as a breath of fresh air. This ensures that you are provided with a series of high quality sound and digital picture. Your fetish for high definition video quality is further assisted by the component and VGA, Xbox 360s features and the like along with a pair of Scart inputs for older hardware.

The deck has also been provided with the capability to comprehensively handle modern picture processing and handling with effortless finesse. It for e.g. is apt at handling 1080p at 24hz, with the TV automatically converting such signals and processing the picture for an elevated experience.

Moving away from the company’s trademark obsession with aesthetically beautiful ‘touch of colour’ LCD TVs, Samsung is all set to make a splash in the mid-range market with the launch of the 32-inch LE32A558. Apart from being decently priced, the unit has been equipped with a sufficient array of impressive features to give you a viable solution for a tight budget. Design wise the unit is no match to the company’s high-end models, and is rather subdued with only a basic black finish coating. The high point of the unit is the presence of three v1.3 HDMI inputs, a D-Sub PC jack, as well as a USB port that allows you to play JPEG and MP3 files straight into the TV.

Considering its price tag it is also a luxury to have a ‘Full HD’ resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels, and a contrast ration that has been rumored to be around 15,000:1. The Samsung LE32A558’s specifications compare favourably with other models that belong to the higher echelons such as the A656 range. The LE32A558 in addition comes fitted with the provision of the contemporary Movie Plus and DNIe processing functionalities, which play a vital role in improving the picture quality. The latter feature lands fluidity to fast action sequences, and also boosts almost everything beginning from colors to sharpness.

The above features are only a tip of the iceberg, as you can enjoy quality entertainment facilitated by out of the box features like edge- enhancement processing, gamma adjustment, backlight adjustment, white-balance adjustment, skin-tone adjustment, noise reduction, and many more.

Image quality is naturally refined to almost high-definition levels by the host of features, and you will get mesmerized by the clarity and detail that accompany each particular frame. Colour combination looks natural and vibrant as well.

The unit on the down side has poor black levels, and its motion reproduction is also not at par with today’s expectations. You will also feel disillusioned with the unit’s color preset levels which are slow to respond, and are unimaginatively structured.