Best HDTVs

Top 10 Rated HDTVs 2013

By Steve Holdgren

Our expert TV editors pull together the Top 10 most impressive best quality HDTVs for 2013. Editors noted several factors in helping them decide which HDTVs to include in the list including:

1. Black Level Depth
2. Side Angle Viewing Quality
3. Clarity and Clearness of Images on Screen
4. 3D Viewing Quality
5. Sound Quality from the TV
6. Internet/Smart TV Options
7. Remote Control and Menu Features and Functions
8. Contrast and Brightness ability in high light rooms
9. Cinema style quality in low light rooms
10. Extra Useful Features
11. Quality as first objective regardless of price (for this list)

LG UDTV 4K

LG has introduced a new macdaddy, spanking hot $22,000 84 inch UDTV (ultra high definition TV) that will be shipped fall of 2012. It will not only be one of the larges TVs on the market but is also the highest definition at 3,820 X 2,160. The abreviation for this resolution is 4K to differentiate it from 1080 or let you know that it is 4 times the…[more]

HDTV Buying Guide

How to Choose the Best Quality HDTV

The list of HDTVs we have compiled here is specifically top quality regardless of price. So keep that in mind for this list and check out our other HDTV lists if you are looking for value or price considerations as well. This list is for those that want the very best of what is out there.

What to look for to get the (Very) Best Quality HDTV

1) Black Levels and Contrast Ratio
Black levels and Contrast are widely considered the most important picture quality elements, however the number of gray scales in between must also be considered. Contrast specifications from the manufacturers can be misleading because they list “dynamic” contrast figures, which are basically worthless manipulated contrast numbers. Native contrast is what you want and to go even further, a D6500K calibrated contrast ratio would be the best figure to go by – but good luck getting it. You can however determine how deep black levels are by checking the blacks on the screen next to the thin black inner glass strip that surrounds the screen using the standard picture setting.

2) Room Light Considerations
Think about the room light in which you will be watching the HDTV most of the time. If there is lots of sunlight streaming in through windows then you will want an HDTV with lots of powerful lighting ability – think LED and think local dimming LED to be more specific. Those strong LED lights shining through the panel will help neutralize the in-room light and still make the picture pop. If the in-room lighting is low light or controlled light conditions, you have the best viewing conditions and can think of many options. Plasma HDTVs are still considered the best by many for their smoother more film-like picture quality in this situation.

3) Sound Quality
Most large expensive TVs these days are accompanied in the household by a home theater surround system. However, if you will be using the speakers that are built in the HDTV do not overlook this important consideration. Many manufacturers take for granted sound quality and do not emphasize quality enough so it’s important to check it out.

4) Processing Quality and Speed
Plasma HDTVs have generally never had a problem with processing speed but some LED and LCD HDTVs do and it causes some lag time in fast moving images. This is one reason the LED HDTVs in this list focus on this aspect of the TV. Processing quality refers to the video chip engine used in the HDTV to present the smoothest images possible free of annoying motion artifacts. A very good HDTV video engine will eliminate all kinds of viewing artifacts that will show up on lesser HDTVs picture.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering…. See more about Steve

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