2011's Best... HD TVs
New telly for Chrimble? Here are our faves
Xmas Gift Guide If there’s one thing we’re not short of for this annual review, it’s good TVs. Large and small, thin and thinner, the things are legion.
To streamline the list, all our 2011's Best… TVs finalists embrace one key feature: net connectivity. Whether they connect to the net over integrated Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet line, these tellies open up the gates to a wide range of increasingly high-quality IPTV – be it with HD-enabled YouTube clients, streaming VOD services or bespoke entertainment channels.
The majority also support 3D, although this has largely become just another feature, a bit like Teletext without the cheap holidays.
Toshiba Regza 47VL863
With low cost passive 3D and Toshiba's bespoke net-connected Places portal, this stylish set has what it takes to stand out from the crowd. The former is inexpensive yet effective while the latter offers the streaming content basics - BBC iPlayer and YouTube - plus some pay-per-view.
Ultimately, what really warrants the 47VL863’s inclusion in this elite squad is the power and elegance of its picture processing technology. Toshiba is virtually unique in its ability to squeeze fine detail from HD sources without creating additional, unwanted image artefacts in the process. Consequently, this is a fine buy for both movie and sports fans, and it’s not often you can say that.
LG 42LW650T
LG changed the game when it introduced the first of its passive ‘Cinema 3D’ screens early in 2011. Finally the average family had an affordable route into three-dimensional viewing. Not only was there no longer a need to pay through the nose just to put glasses on your nose, the viewing experience proved surprisingly comfortable.
Not that this 42-incher is all about goofy specs. LG’s net connected Smart portal is rich in streaming IPTV content, and this set is also an adept media streamer from both USB and Nas/PCs. Picture quality is top drawer – provided you keep away from the Eco mode.
Next page: Samsung UE55D8000
COMMENTS
All a bit expensive...
How about an article/review of 37", 42" HD TV's for under £500. Lots of them in the shops and that price point is very attractive in the current economic climate. But are any of them any good???
R.
Agreed; these are high-end tvs for the 1%, don't forget us 99% poor people.
Surely Carlsberg, if they made TVs, would be the best in the world... ;-)
Panasonic Viera TX-P42ST30
If you don't need in built FreeSat or indeed feel the need to spend more money on getting it professionally calibrated go for the Panasonic Viera TX-P42ST30
It has the same Infinite Black Filter, supports the same 3D (glasses required) as the GT. I can't imagine anyone apart the very serious would change much apart from brightness, colour, contrast etc. And to be fair to Panasonic the defaults are spot on.
The ST loses a couple of features, and doesn't support recording PVR style to a external USB hdd like the GT/VT, but in truth who has not got a dedicated PVR or sky+/ virgin box that is spending that amount on a TV ?
It has the same menus.. is actually slightly faster for gaming. Check the specs.
Best of all it is also around £500. Probably the best value 42 plasma you can buy at the moment. I've no idea why Panasonic are not promoting it more ......
Sony products are currently boycotted by any self respecting geek.
So their inclusion lowers the street cred of the whole review.
