The XBR8 is a 55-inch LCD HDTV has vertically aligned speakers that look as if they are suspended in mid air thanks to the transparent panels in between the speakers and the screen. The main reason that the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 LCD HDTV received so many raving reviews is its quality of its video playbacks. This HDTV model produces one of the deepest black levels we have ever seen on a LCD TV. Its black levels are comparable to those found on plasma TVs. It has highly accurate color, great interface and impressive connectivity (with four HDMI, PC AV input and many more).

One the flip side, some of its flaws includes its highly inflated price tag. Although it has a pretty wide viewing angle, the image quality reduces when viewed away from the center. Despite its excellent image quality, the huge price tag may prevent the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 LCD HDTV from being very popular in the market. It currently costs almost twice as much as other competing models. Even though I am very impressed with its performance, I am not quite sure if it warrants its hefty price. If money if of no object, you should get one of these by all means!

Another possibility, for shoppers who cannot quite afford the high cost of HDTV, there is something else worth thinking about and that is the HDTV-capable set which consists of a HDTV monitor that needs an external receiver which will permit you to see HDTV shows and programs.

Other Things to Think About in Buying a HDTV

These days there is a plethora of electronic outlets that have sprouted in U.S suburbs. As well, there is an overload of information dealing with the latest improvements in HD and Plasma TV in newspapers and magazines. HDTV is simply the next generation of digital TV. HD stands for High Definition, and anyone who has viewed HDTV will tell you the viewing experience is far better, especially seeing athletic events or Hollywood productions. So, if your a TV addict then there is nothing today that can satisfy your cravings more than an HDTV.

Among the other considerations you should pay attention to are audio, connector ports, HD receiver/tuner, and, finally, resolution. With regard to audio, top of the line is Dolby Digital Surround, but there are different types worth a look. The best choice is to try out various audio systems before choosing which is best for you.

Also take into consideration how many connector ports you’ll require. The number you can use will vary from brand to brand and model to model. The best way to go is to be certain that there are enough to furnish all your needs. In most Cases you’ll require connector ports such as Composite Video, A/V, RF, RCA and Component video along with HDMI and VGA.

Next, you need to ensure that your HDTV includes an internal HD receiver which will enhance your viewing experience. Of course, some satellite and cable TV providers will provide these for rent, or even give you a free external HD receiver.

Resolution, The Final Arbiter

Finally, don’t overlook resolution, which, in the final analysis is the most critical. If resolution is not up to standards you will not go home to a significantly better television viewing experience, which is the whole objective in the first place. Otherwise, you could have simply continued with your old television. At the very least there should be a vertical resolution of not less than 1080i and 720p which, of course, is much better than what standard television models provide, that is only a single resolution of 480i.

In time, more and more programming for HDTV will evolve. Already, such channels as Discovery and ESPN have adopted it, and the networks in many metropolitan areas are viewable on HDTV. It’s a good idea to have the equipment in place to take advantage of this truly enhanced way of watching the tube as it continues to grow.

The reason that a plasma television can produce such images in a thin layer is the technology that was actually created about 35 years ago. Plasma technology starts with two thin pieces of glass that are filled with xenon and neon gas. The chamber contains all of the pixels which can reach into the millions. This chamber is filled with electric current and it illuminates the pixels that also fill the chamber. This process creates a brilliant picture that is almost unmatched by any other screen. Plasma screens offer very high resolution that is bright and has a wide viewable range. You can view the screen within a 160 degree range with no loss in quality.

To incorporate most of the advantages of a plasma television, you must make sure that it has the features that are most up to date. The most up to date features of plasma televisions is that they have 1080p resolution. You also need multiple HDMI connections because you will be connecting more than just one HD component. DVD players, cable boxes and game consoles all have HDMI capability that makes the best use of your television. Make certain that your plasma television can handle at least two HDMI connections, or it is out of date. Component video is still a great second option, but it will not create as good results. Remember that your plasma television is a center piece for your technology and it should be capable of everything that you own.

The Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV has a improved 30’000:1 contrast ratio, which is pretty high for a LCD TV. It has a wide 178-degree viewing angle and comes with hidden speakers. The hidden speakers produces amazing audio quality through the SRS TruSurround technology. The power of the hidden speakers is best experienced through a Blu-ray player or a DVD player that uses a HDMI cable.

It is pretty easy to hook up the Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with almost any type of electrical appliances imaginable. It comes with 3 HDMI ports as well as a handy USB 2.0 port to connect to your camera or mp3 player. It also has a VGA input to connect to any laptop or computers.

The images produced are just astounding. They were crisp and clear even in a bright room. I have several windows in my living room but there were no traces of any light reflection on the screen even in the bright afternoon light. It also has a new improved, 5ms response time (an upgrade from the previous 8ms on older models). The remote and menu interface are extremely user friendly and easy to use.

The Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD plasma HDTV comes in a standard upright carton design with glossy black finish. The only thing that made it a difference is the word “Elite” etched to the bottom frame in gold. It’s relatively thinner than previous editions and weighs about 88 pounds. It measures at 57 in x 28.5 in and 3.65 in (H x W x D). In terms of connectivity, it comes with 4 HDMI ports, a PC input, Ehternet and other standard connectors. On the side, you will find a USB port and a headphone jack.

In terms of performance Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD plasma HDTV produces the deepest black levels ever seen on any large HDTV displays. Unlike many other plasma TV models, this model as a very effective anti-glare screen that significantly reduces the reflection of lights in the background. The colors were very vivid and accurate, producing very realistic images. Watching Blu-ray and DVD movies on this machine was just an amazing experience.

The superb picture quality of the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD plasma HDTV comes at a price. Costing around $3250 a piece (at the time of writing) it is currently one of the most expensive models around. Fortunately, unlike many other hyped up HDTV models in the market, with this model, you get what you pay for. The performance of this model is so impressive that many experts have used it as a benchmark for reviewing other HDTVs. If you are a fan good image quality (and have the extra cash to spare), the Elite Kuro will make an excellent buy.

Design: The TC-P50G10 measures at 48 x 15.8 x 32.1 inches and weighs at 75 lbs. As this is considered a high-end model, the manufacturers took some effort to give a more refined style to this TV. For a 50-inch model, this Panasonic plasma HDTV has a relatively thin frame around the screen, creating the illusion of a wider screen. It has a glossy black surface with a hint of silver lining at the bottom of the screen. The plasma HDTV is supported on a circular stand that looks really nice.

Features & Performance: Two of the main highlights in the TC-P50G10 model is the THX display certification and the VieraCast features. When on the THX mode, the images of the videos look really good, with very sharp details and realistic colors. The black-level performance was also very great, producing rich, dark blacks in dark movie scenes. This Panasonic plasma HDTV also includes VieraCast features that allow you to access various online contents when the plasma is connected to the internet. You will be able to view YouTube and Picassa contents, as well as news and info snippets of the weather, stock market, etc. It can also video content from Amazon Video on Demand after a free software update.

Overall: Many expert reviewers in the market agree that the Panasonic TC-P50G10 Plasma HDTV is currently arguably the best plasma HDTV of 2009. It is the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for a serious, no-nonsense plasma TV that produces superb video playbacks.

Samsung UN55B8000

This LED-lit Samsung HDTV is one of the latest offered by Samsung, as well as one of the slimmest. Indeed, the UN55B8000 is razor-thin at 1.2 inches, although its picture quality is more eye-catching, with popping colors and blacks that are amazingly pure for an LCD television. Unlike many LCD TVs, it offers fluid frame transition, as well, because of its Auto Motion Plus 240Hz technology. It also carries a bunch of cool features, such as a sidebar for internet widgets, DLNA connectivity and an extensive Content Library while offering four HDMI inputs and a USB interface for you to share your digital pictures and videos with ease.

Samsung UN46B7000

Like the UN55B8000, the Samsung UN46B7000 has an LED backlight, which contributes to the fact that it is light, cool and extremely energy-efficient. It also has accurate colors and deep black levels, while its dejudder processing and 120Hz refresh rate combine to create sharp and clear pictures all throughout, even during fast motion sequences. In terms of connectivity, it offers four HDMI inputs, a PC input so you can use the screen as a computer monitor, two USB slots for sharing your photos and an ethernet port to connect to your network.

Samsung LN46A950

The Samsung LN46A950 is also a good choice for an LCD HDTV. With its LED backlight, it reproduces black levels that are amazingly deep for an LCD television, as well as extremely accurate colors. Other features include solid video processing, a lot of pre-loaded interactive content, four HDMI inputs, a PC input and an ethernet connection to stream photos and videos from your network. It also has a lot of picture controls, which allows you to calibrate the picture quality of this HDTV to perfection.

Samsung LN52B750

The LN52B750 may lack an S-video input and more importantly, an LED backlight but it still is a great choice for an LCD HDTV. In fact, its black levels are impressively deep for an LCD TV. Its motion sequences are clear, too, due to its very good dejudder processing. Like other Samsung HDTVs, it offers built-in content and Yahoo widgets, and still provides solid connectivity with four HDMI inputs and a PC input.

Samsung PN50B850

If you would rather own a Plasma HDTV, this Samsung HDTV is a great choice, with many innovative features of its own. It has a FilterBright panel to minimize glare and reflections, a Real Movie Mode for playing 24p signals and a 600Hz Subfield Motion drive for clear fast-moving scenes. The best thing about the PN50B850, though, is that it is Wi-Fi ready. All you have to do is buy the Samsung Linstick and you’re all set to receive wireless signals. You can also wire it to your network via an ethernet connection or connect your computer to its PC input. It also offers four HDMI inputs and two USB slots.

Samsung PN50A760

This Samsung HDTV is also a good choice for a Plasma HDTV. Like the PN50B850, it also has a FilterBright panel to reduce distractions, as well as DLNA connectivity for network streaming. It has its own great features, though, such as advanced contour distortion reduction, which delivers sharp images on curvy surfaces even during fast moving scenes; day and night settings for optimal picture quality all the time, and InfoLink feature, which allows you to access the latest news, weather and other important information with the push of a button.

Samsung HL61A750

Finally, if you would rather get a rear-projection HDTV, you might want to keep an eye out for this Samsung HDTV, which delivers outstandingly accurate color temperatures and infinite black levels for superior picture quality. It has a good range of connectivity options, too, such as three HDMI inputs and a PC input, although it lacks a USB interface, an ethernet port or an SD card slot. It is comparatively inexpensive, too.

Discover the features to look for when choosing your flat-panel
Plasma display TV set in this Plasma Television Buying Guide.

What to look for when buying a Plasma Television

As with all big screen TVs, the choice of a plasma television is
in reality a function of finding the right trade-off between
screen size and supported features for your available budget.

This budget issue is even more important when it comes to plasma
TVs. It is true that we are seeing more and more of the
so-called cheap plasma TVs in the sub-$2000 price tag, yet as
one starts stretching the screen size over and above the 42-inch
entry-level mark, price increases drastically.

Before you start shopping around for your plasma display,
it is important that you make a prioritized list of the features
that are most important to your needs; this should include:

Screen Size

Display resolution

Support for HDTV

Connectivity

Appearance

When evaluating your options, keep in mind that plasma’s are
expensive – hence the end approach is a trade-off between the
desired features and price in order to match your budget.

Ultimately, it is your budget that will drive your
purchase – hence you may have to scale-back accordingly.

Always start with Screen Size

Plasma TV screens range in size from typically 37-inches to the
latest 70-inch and 80-inch big screen giants.

Screen size is a big factor in plasma pricing and is the
most important feature you need to decide on. You can always
find smaller screens in the 37-inch to 42-inch domain, for
$2,000 to $3,000. Some bare-bones models from major manufactures
like Panasonic and Samsung, are even selling at slight less than
$2,000.

Therefore, the best way to start choosing your plasma TV is to
select the screen size you want, and then evaluate your options.

This is not an issue where if you can afford it, buy it! Here
there is a very important aspect to take into consideration when
deciding on your Plasma TV screen size – you need to choose one
that fits your room. This does not simply mean a screen size
that will fit your wall or available cabinet space only. Even
more important is the need to match the chosen screen size with
your available viewing distance. (More on this can be found in
our detailed article on TV Viewing Distance and Screen Placement
at

http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/TV-viewing-distance.h

tml.)

Many argue that TV viewing distance is a matter of personal
preference. To a certain extent, this is true, but there are a
few guidelines worth considering if you want to enjoy the best
possible viewing experience. In essence, a 42″ EDTV plasma
television would require 10 feet between you and your screen -
you may get close to 9 feet for a HDTV plasma TV of the same
screen size. However, try not to get closer than this as you may
start seeing the pixel build-up structure on the screen – which
can be extremely annoying.

Display Resolution and Support for HDTV

The native resolution of a plasma display is another
important factor to take into consideration when choosing your
plasma TV.

Although generally, picture quality from a plasma TV is very
good irrespective of the set resolution, yet higher resolution
plasmas will be able to display certain video content better.

This becomes an issue especially when watching an HDTV signal on
your Plasma TV. A 720p HDTV signal supports a resolution of 1280
pixels by 720 lines while 1080i/p supports 1920 pixels by 1080
lines.

This means that to be considered true HD, the plasma display
must have a native resolution of at least 1024×720. Normally
HDTV plasma displays in this category will support a resolution
of 1024 x 768 though some come with a higher resolution of at
least 1280 x 768 or 1366 x 768. These higher resolutions will
enable the respective sets to display a full 720p HDTV image
without any re-scaling.

Plasma TV sets with a lower resolution will still be able to
display a high definition video signal if they have the
necessary electronics – by re-scaling the image. This re-scaling
process means disposing of some of the information in order to
fit the set native resolution. These plasmas tend to have a
resolution of 852×480 and are referred as EDTV plasma TVs.

This resolution is actually what progressive scan DVDs and
Digital Television are in and looks as good as any plasma with a
higher resolution when displaying these signals. The only
visible difference between plasmas with a resolution of 1024×720
(or higher) and 852×480, is when watching true HD material.

A few words about Digital Television and HDTV: While HDTV
offers a clearer picture than regular television, yet not all
setups allow you to take full advantage of HDTV. It all depends
on the quality of your HD source. If your source is a compressed
signal e.g. TiVo, then you cannot take full advantage of the
quality supported by HDTV. It is also important to remember that
HD still represents a small portion of all available TV content.

Connectivity and Features

Inputs: A plasma TV should include the inputs you need to
plug in the various video components. These should include
composite, S-Video, component video, DVI, HDMI, and RGB.
Preferably, look for a model that would also provide you with a
set of front or side-panel A/V inputs for convenient camcorder
or video game hookup.

RGB is a standard 15-pin computer input. Composite video is a
single line video output that is typical on VCRs,
cable/satellite receivers, and DVD players. The next step up in
quality is S-video. This can be found on DVD players and most
cable/satellite boxes. Component video, which is of a higher
quality than S-Video, divides the video signal into red, green,
and blue; it is mainly found on progressive scan DVDs and some
newer cable/satellite boxes.

DVI and HDMI are purely digital connections; the main difference
between the two is that HDMI carries also the audio on the same
interconnect used for the video. Both interfaces are capable of
supporting up to 1080 lines of picture resolution. In order
words, they both can handle HDTV.

Additional Features: Supported connectivity and
additional features all add up to the final product price. If
you can afford to add a little more to your available budget,
you can normally find models with additional features that
support a wider range of video inputs, better control options,
and support for HDTV.

A Final Advice

Keep in mind that price does not equate to performance. It may
mean a bigger screen size but not necessary a better picture.
Hence, if you are still uncertain as to the best way to go, your
primary consideration here should always be – how good the
picture will look on your big screen plasma TV.

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