HDTV BUYING TIPS

Wondering if you should step up and buy a new TV this holiday season? Take our 30 second quiz:.

• Do you have a pre-HD analog set? (If you answered yes, skip ahead—you’re way overdue for a technology makeover.)
• Is that once-luxurious fill-in-the-blank-inch screen starting to look small? (If it’s 40 inches or less…it is small!)
• Do you have trouble telling “walkers” from survivors on Walking Dead?
• Are you a movie maniac who longs for something closer to a true theatrical experience?
• Do you wish you could watch the latest viral videos on a big screen instead of your puny iPad?
• Do dream about owning a TV with cutting-edge tech?

If you answered yes to one or more questions, it’s time to find that perfect set—and with Black Friday deals already well underway, there’s no better time than now. The TVs recommended below have been thoroughly vetted by Sound & Vision’s expert reviewers. Want more detail? Just click on the model number to see the full review. (For ideas on what to do with your old TV, see “Old Electronics Get New Life”.)

Happy shopping.

S&V’s TOP TV PICKS AT A GLANCE

Vizio 55-inch E550i-B2 LED/LCD HDTV: $730 (currently selling for $650 or less)

Summary: Impressive performance for the price but you’ll have to forego 3D.
Plus: Backlit local dimming for superior blacks • Good color • Remarkable value
Minus: Wobbly stand • Occasionally buzzy sound

Vizio 60-Inch M602i-B3 LED/LCD HDTV: $1,250 (currently selling for $1,000 or less)

Summary: Excellent performance at a very reasonable price but you’ll have to forego 3D.
Plus: Great black levels and screen uniformity • Mostly accurate color • Good set of streaming options • Low-glare screen
Minus: No gamma presets or adjustments

LG 55EC9300 55-Inch 3D OLED HDTV: $3,500

Summary: Vibrant OLED picture quality at a price that’s finally affordable.
Plus: Blacks, contrast, and shadow detail to die for • Lightweight
Minus: Not 4K • Cinema mode soft in default settings

Sony 55-Inch XBR-55X900B LCD/LED Ultra HD TV: $4,000 (currently selling for $2,800)

Summary: All-around champ that excels in picture quality.
Plus: Exceptional blacks and shadow detail • Excellent color and resolution • Impressive sound with optional subwoofer
Minus: Price • Small screen for 4K

Samsung 55-Inch UN55HU8550F 3D LCD/LED 4K/Ultra HD TV: $4,000 (currently selling for $1,500)

Summary: A superb performer with 1080p and 4K content.
Plus: Excellent color • Top-class detail—in both 4K and Full HD • Great blacks and shadow detail
Minus: Typical LCD image fade when viewed off-center

See our TV Top Picks list for more suggestions.