By Steve Holdgren

Following are the models our electronics category editors JB Burden and Bob Wiley think are great mid-range LED TV choices in terms of the quality/value/price/features equation. We have reviewed these or similar offerings from the manufacturers and we recommend and rated these models based on the following:

1. Mid-Grade Features Set Value Proposition LED Television
2. 2D Picture Quality – Strong Black Levels, contrast, color, clarity,
3. LED TVs without the highest end most expensive features but still the most essential
4. Some Extra Features that make sense and add to value and work well
5. Side Angle- off center viewing quality (a difficult metric for LED TVs)
6. Sound Quality
7. Internet/Smart TV Functionality
8. Appearance and Design Elements

Mid-Value LED TV Buying Guide

Factors to Consider when Purchasing an LED TV (at least a mid-range one)

Resolution

Since almost all mid-range LED Televisions are 1080p resolution this is not really much of a factor any more.

Picture Quality Features to Pass On

In a Mid-Priced LED TV you want good but not over the top picture quality features. You save significant money by not having to have the fanciest most current features. Today those include 960Hz enhanced refresh rate, full array local dimming backlighting rather than edge lit LED, and true 240Hz panels.

Some Picture Quality Features You Want to Keep For Sure

1) Clear Coat Screens
For me, clear coat screens are important. We have in our list here a few TVs that do have a matte screen finish, but we prefer clear coat (otherwise called ultra clear) screen LCD panels due to better light flow in the screen and brightness. Contrast and side angle viewing may also be much better depending on the screen.

2) Video Processing
Processing is important no matter what price level you are choosing from, so we recommend strong processing engines from good manufacturers. This makes a huge difference with 480i or 480p standard definition signals up-converting to the native resolution (1080p) of the panel.

3) 120Hz vs. 240Hz Native Panel
To my eyes 120Hz panel refresh rate speed is probably good enough. Both 120Hz and 240Hz have issues when it comes to some negative unintended consequences. Both are good for fast action programming such as sports. But it’s much more difficult to see the difference between 120Hz to 240hz than the larger step up which is 60Hz to 120Hz. You will see much more judder – jerky motion effects with at 60Hz screen – so we recommend 120Hz for this price category LED TVs.

Other LED TV Features to Take a Pass On (in the Mid-Range Price Category)
Some people could give a hoot about 3D capability and that is why we have included TVs in this list that are not 3D compatible. If 3D is included – active or passive is fine for this category unless you are a 3D connoisseur – in which case you probably want active shutter 3D quality. Super fancy remote controls with QWERTY keyboards or touch pads are nice to have but not extremely necessary. 4K resolution is out of reach in this price range and may not help you that much anyway right now with such limited programming. The highest end appearance packages with the thinnest depths add too much cost and are not included in this categories recommendations (with the exception of the LGs).

Features to Not Take a Pass On

In my mind, the way Internet TV (also called Smart TV) options are expanding you might want that feature more than 3D for now. Built in Wifi is a nice feature to have to access the Internet – not having to purchase a Wifi Dongle or hard wire for the Internet. A full web browser is sometimes reserved for higher end TVs, but it’s a feature I like a lot because you can access and watch programming directly off the Web without having to use only the available Internet TV Apps built in.

Sound Quality

Though much overlooked – sound quality is mucho important if you do not plan on using a home theater system.

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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Top 10 32″- 42″ LCD TVs

The small LCD TV category is still very important to the average North American consumer. We’ve included a solid list of the Best LCD TVs for 2012 based on the following qualitative and value criteria: Solid Picture Quality based on…[more]

Top 10 HDTVs

Our expert TV editors pull together the Top 10 most impressive best quality HDTVs for 2012. 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…[more]

Top 10 Blu-ray Players

Blu-Ray players are becoming increasingly more advanced while not surging to ridiculously high prices. Several new models coming out in 2012 offer smart TV viewing options, with the ability to search for movies, apps, and entertainment sites. We selected 10 of the best Blu-Ray players that showed the greatest technological advances and connectivity options. Other features we considered…[more]

LG UDTV Review

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 1080p resolution…[more]

Best TV Series

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By Steve Holdgren

The Samsung UN55H6400 certainly won’t disappoint the family looking for a quality 55-inch LED screen to fill the living room, especially since this model has some extra features that set it a cut above the H6350 series. These features include the improved Active 3D functionality and a redesigned Smart Touch Remote, which has added voice control. We were pleased with the 3D playback because its picture offers a satisfactory amount of depth and detail. As for regular picture quality, we can’t complain about the 10pt white balance, which provided natural color reproduction that wasn’t oversaturated. We would have preferred a clear coat instead of the semi-matte screen, which tends to reflect lights in the room and keeps the colors from being as bright as they could be. But the bright edge LED lighting provides some balance to counteract this effect.

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

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Sharp LC-60SQ15U LED TV is in the middle of the pack of Sharp’s 2014 offerings. Of the two SQ15 choices, it’s smaller at 60-3/32″ compared to 70″, but it still has a bunch of picture quality features and Smart TV options to make most home TV viewers happy. We were especially pleased with this model’s ability to play 4K content on the 1080p screen. Thanks to the new Quattron+ color technology, this Sharp TV adds more sub-pixels to provide more sharp detail to the picture quality. It also has built-in upscaling to create a higher level of sharpness and detail than typical 1080p screens. Additionally, this Sharp TV has effective Active 3D playback, using comfortable (but pricey) AN-3DG40 Bluetooth 3D Glasses. We rated this model best value, with a price tag of $1,999.

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

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The small LED TV category is still very important to the average North American consumer. We’ve included a solid list of the Best LED TVs for 2012 based on the following qualitative and value criteria:

• 1)Solid Picture Quality based on:
• A) Not too much motion lag
• B) Somewhat decent side angle viewing
• C) Color saturation and realism
• 2)Features Set (Internet, menu, remote, function)
• 3)Plenty of HDMI inputs
• 4)Appearance
• 5)Price/Value per size and quality
• 6) Sound Quality
• 7) Consistent Long Lasting with 1 year warranty

LED/LCD TV Buying Guide / Articles

Budget 32” to 42” LCD TV Buying Guide

What features and performance attributes to look for in a discount small LCD or LED TV

Picture Quality
No matter what, you can never overlook the #1 top feature in a TV and that is picture quality. Black levels, off-center viewing angle contrast, picture brightness, clean image edges. These are all attributes to look for in choosing an LCD TV.

Sound Quality
This often overlooked feature is super important if you will not be using an external surround sound system with your TV. Lately, some of the manufacturers have come around to improving sound quality with new systems and speakers.

Inputs
HDMI inputs and USB inputs are increasingly important in todays TVs. Make sure yours has these in abundance.

Menu/Remote Control Function
This should be easy and simple to use. Two clicks should put you on the picture settings controls or wherever you want to be. It should also be intuitive to use without having to look at the manual.

Consistent Long Lasting Performance
This is another often overlooked category with some of the lesser 2nd and 3rd tier brands. The price might seem right until a year down the road when the TV stops working due to a power supply problem or video board issue.

Parts Availability/ Warranty
The top tier manufacturers stand by their products better and they are easier to have repaired. They also come with a 1 year warranty as opposed to the 90 day warranty some of the lesser brands have. All the TVs in this list have a 1 year warranty. For a good solid TV warranty extension see dtvexpress.com.

Price and Features
When it comes to price, you have to know the features you can live without. Is 3D important – you will pay more. Is a high Hz rate important – you will pay more. Smart TV, same situation. Great HD picture, same. Know what features you really do want and what you can live without if you want to save money.

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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Best LED TV’s

Following are the models our electronics category editors JB Burden and Bob Wiley think are great mid-range LED TV choices in terms of the quality/value/price/features equation. We have reviewed these or similar offerings from the manufacturers and we recommend and rated these models based on the following…[more]

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This simple list shows off some of the best TV shows of the past few years that have a box set available. With the popularity of HBO/Showtime type shows you can get lost in finding the next great TV show (or last great)…. [more]

By Steve Holdgren

The picture quality of the Samsung UN55H7150 is excellent as far as flat panel 1080p LED TVs go. We were pleased to see the split screen Smart TV feature on this model—a step above the H6450 series—that allows for simultaneous TV watching and web browsing, so you can tweet or skype your friends as you watch your favorite program. We were also amazed by the light flow through, thanks to the LED backlight. We recommend an 80% setting on the LED backlight to keep the screen uniform while maintaining enough brightness. Another aspect we liked on this model was the Active 3D viewing quality. We have yet to find more comfortable 3D glasses than the ones for this one. Dual View is another great feature, allowing you to watch two programs at the same time—or toggle between the two easily.

Quick Specs

• 54.6″ diagonal
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4 HDMI, 3 USB
• 2.2 Channel Sound (10W x 2 / Woofer 10W x 2)
• Dimensions without stand (W X H X D): 48.2″ x 27.8″ x 1.3″
• Dimensions with stand: 48.2″ x 29.4″ x 10.5″
• Weight without stand: 32.6 lbs.
• Weight with stand: 36.8 lbs.

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

We rated Vizio E500i-B1 as the LED TV with the best price (around $650). Besides its attractive price point, this Vizio model has some appealing upgrades this year, including full-array LED backlighting—an improvement over the edge-light variety. The screen has sixteen zones of active dimming, which enhances the contrast more so than smaller-size screens. Having more zones is an advantage because their divisions are less visible. The colors are also improved from the backlighting, with less washout and uniformity problems. We also noticed reduced judder and motion blur, thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate and a 180 Clear Action Rate feature. The E series also offers Vizio Internet Apps Plus for the first time.

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

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The LG 65LB7100 is sure to satisfy consumers looking for a really large TV with excellent picture quality—this one measures 65 inches diagonally and is a major improvement over last year’s LA7400 series, especially when it comes to color. The colors on this model come out vibrant and natural-looking. Local dimming also helps improve picture quality features by boosting the overall contrast. We were also excited about the High Dynamic Range and the ISP panel, which has been used to great effect in Panasonic LED TVs before. Other improvements are seen in the side viewing angles and the light flow through. You’ll definitely be impressed with the overall brilliancy of the picture. Another perk is the Magic Remote, which finally has an input button to make life easier.

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

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The Vizio M552i is one of the more affordable HDTVs on the market at $899. That low price tag is due in part to the lack of 3D playback, which may be a dealbreaker if you’ve built up a library of 3D titles. However, this Vizio TV’s other features still make it a valuable contender, with its upgraded picture quality and smart TV features. We were especially pleased to see that this year’s model has full-array backlighting, which enhances the overall picture quality and bumps up the contrast significantly. The Internet Apps Plus feature provides easy access to the top streaming programs like Netflix and Hulu and also lets you connect to the TV via your smartphone or tablet.

Quick Specs

• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 54.64″ diagonal
• 4 HDMI inputs / 1 USB input
• (2) 15 Watt Speakers
• Dimensions with Stand: 48.53” W x 30.18” H x 9.76” D
• Dimensions without Stand: 48.53” W x 27.91” H x 2.12” D
• Weight with Stand: 43.97 lbs
• Weight without Stand: 38.56 lbs

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The Sharp LC-60UQ17 is the smallest of the UQ series sizes at 60-1/32 inches diagonally, with prices beginning at around $2,500. We were pleased by the bright, colorful picture, thanks to the Quattron+ technology that adds more sub-pixels to create sharper details. This TV also has built-in upscaling to produce a sharper picture than most 1080p screens can manage. The Active 3D playback is satisfactory as well; the TV comes with two pairs of glasses. While we prefer last year’s passive 3D, this model’s 3D adds great depth, especially when you sit front and center. A drawback is that the glasses, while comfortable, are $50 a pair. The Sharp LC-60UQ17 also works well in bright rooms. The main flaw we noticed was that the matte finish produces a slightly flat-looking picture.

Quick Specs

• 60-1/32″ Diagonal
• 240Hz Refresh Rate Panel
• AquoMotion 960
• 4 (4K Ready) HDMI inputs
• 15 watt Subwoofer
• Bluetooth Audio

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

If you’re not ready for a 4K TV, then Samsung has a 1080p LED in mind for you: the Samsung UN55H8000. In Samsung’s 2014 collection of 1080p TVs, its curved screen has the best picture quality, hands down. The colors pop out with great clarity and saturation; you’ll only see better color in top 4K and OLED TVs. The greatest aspect of this TV is its true local dimming, which makes the TV stand out when it comes to sharp contrast. The Samsung UN55H8000 also has built-in Wifi and a web browser. It added a touch pad remote that allows you to navigate the Smart TV functions. The Active 3D performance is impressive too, creating sharp pictures with great depth; however, the side viewing angles in 3D is not as impressive.

Quick Specs

• 54.6″ diagonal
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4 HDMI, 3 USB
• Dimensions without stand (W X H X D): 48.5″ x 28.1″ x 3.5″
• Dimensions with stand: 48.5″ x 29.9″ x 9.3″
• Weight without stand: 38.4 lbs.
• Weight with stand: 41.7 lbs.

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The Samsung UN60H7150 has the best value when it comes to 60-inch LED TVs with superior picture quality and features. The 240Hz panel enables fast motion images and pans smoothly. We were impressed with the wide array of features, an improvement on last year’s F7100 series. Frankly, the Samsung UN60H7150 is also one of the best-looking, sleekest models on the market this year. And it has the advantage of providing a flat 1080p picture. The only major downside we saw in this model compared to the H8000 model is its microdimming feature, which wasn’t as effective at increasing contrast. But another great advantage for this Samsung model is the addition of the split screen, powered by a quad-core processor, that allows simultaneous TV watching and web browsing.

Quick Specs

• 60.0″ diagonal
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4 HDMI, 3 USB
• 2.2 Channel Sound (10W x 2 / Woofer 10W x 2)
• Dimensions without stand (W X H X D): 53.6″ x 31.2″ x 1.3″
• Dimensions with stand: 53.6″ x 32.8″ x 10.5″
• Weight without stand: 42.1 lbs.
• Weight with stand: 46.5 lbs.

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The LG 55LB7200 is a major improvement over last year’s LA7400 series, especially when it comes to color. The colors on this model come out vibrant and natural-looking. Local dimming also helps improve picture quality features by boosting the overall contrast. We were also excited about the High Dynamic Range and the ISP panel, which has been used to great effect in Panasonic LED TVs before. Other improvements are seen in the side viewing angles and the light flow through. You’ll definitely be impressed with the overall brilliancy of the picture. Another perk is the Magic Remote, which finally has an input button for convenience.

Quick Specs

• 55 inch diagonal
• 1080p
• 240Hz LED TV
• Passive 3D

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The Samsung UN65HU9000 makes the leap into curved 4K LED TVs, and it’s an impressive leap. This model has all the high-quality features you’d expect, including a Smart Touch remote, 4K upscaling, a quad core plus processor, Active 3D, and four HDMI 2.0 inputs. The screen is curved to help improve side viewing angles and to better immerse you in the viewing experience. We were impressed with the deep, vibrant colors and the crisp contrast, thanks to the powerful LEDs that bring out the black levels and peak whites. While the side angle viewing has improved from earlier Samsung 4K models, there’s still room for more improvement, but we expect Samsung is working on that.

Quick Specs

• 64.5″ Diagonal
• 3840 x 2160
• Active 3D, 4 Glasses included
• Speakers: 10W x 2 / Woofer 10W x 2
• 4 HDMI 2.0 inputs, 3 USB ports
• Without Stand: 57.1″ x 33.4″ x 4.4″
• With Stand: 57.1″ x 35.1″ x 12.9″
• Weight without stand: 59.1 lbs.
• Weight with stand: 68.3 lbs.

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The LG 55EA8800 is an OLED TV, and one that resembles a painting in a picture frame: the screen is the painting while the speakers form the frame around it. This elegant appearance makes this gallery OLED TV stand out with style. We were pleased to see that the price on this model has come down compared to last year’s OLED models. Because OLEDs create their own light, the black levels are excellent on this model, and you don’t have to worry about the viewing angle or ambient brightness either. We didn’t find any faults with the contrast or color deterioration either, thanks to the TV’s RGBW display. And due to the native 120Hz refresh rate, this OLED smooths out fast motions, making your live sports and fast action movies viewing more enjoyable.

Quick Specs

• 54.6″ diagonal
• 1920 x 1080p
• Screen Dimensions: 48.43″ x 28.15″ x 1″
• Dimensions including Frame: 56.30″ x 34.06″ x 2.52″
• 100 watts of speaker power
• 4 HDMI inputs, 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Magic Remote, 4 pairs of 3D glasses included

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

The Sony XBR-65X950B 4K TV has perhaps the best black saturation in LED TVs; you’ll definitely be wowed by the highly saturated color and deep blacks that make the vibrant colors pop out even more. This excellent picture quality is thanks to the Triluminous technology and X-tended Dynamic Range, which makes this Sony model better than the X900B series. The 4K engine is superior at formatting and converting content. Additionally, you won’t have a problem with the side-viewing angles—we didn’t see any contrast issues when viewing the screen off angle. Other features we truly appreciated were the upconversion technology, which makes even YouTube videos at 480p resolution look better, and the Social Viewing feature that lets you connect with remote friends via Skype or Twitter while watching your favorite programs.

Quick Specs

• Screen Size (measured diagonally): 64.5″
• 3D: Active 3D
• TRILUMINOS Display for brilliant color, clarity and detail
• HDMI 2.0
• Price: $3950

Prices

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

By Steve Holdgren

Stepping up the 55 inches and a bit more feature-wise, the 55F6400 is similar to the F6300 listed above but has active 3D playback as well as a few other upgraded features. Swipe browsing on the included touch remote is definitely faster than a 5-way controller. We found it to be about 2x faster than pressing arrow buttons. It’s the only remote included with the UN55F6400. Be aware that there are no numbers and not too many buttons.

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

Prices