TVs

Once again, we're presenting 3D TVs in a separate table rather than in the LCD and plasma Ratings. Though they're in a separate chart, 3D TVs are in fact standard HDTVs that add the capability to display 3D. But many are top performers worth considering just for 2D use if you find them at a good price.

Models are broken out by display type (plasma and LCD) and ordered by overall score. The score is based mostly on regular HD picture quality (since you'll be watching that for much of the time at this point), as well as the 3D effect. In our latest Ratings, we've expanded our 3D effect evaluations to include 3D resolution and viewing angle, as well ghosting.

Perhaps the biggest news is that the first "passive" 3D TVs, which use inexpensive, lightweight 3D glasses like those you get in movie theaters, have now arrived. Our Ratings include mostly active 3D sets, but we now have two passive models, LG's 47-inch 47LW5600, and Vizio's 65-inch XVT3D650SV. In general, our exclusive tests found that the best TVs can do a great job with 3D, though other models don't hit that high mark. In general, the plasma TVs did better than the LCDs in our 3D tests, largely because they have less ghosting, or double images visible through the special glasses needed to see 3D images. Thus, we recommend all the plasma TVs we tested.

But we've noticed improvements in ghosting with some newer active LCD 3D sets, and so far the passive LCD 3D sets we've tested have had only minimal ghosting. Because of the way passive 3D technology works, using a polarized screen, these sets had other issues, including a loss of vertical resolution in the 3D mode and some interlace-like artifacts. But both passive 3D TVs we've tested come with four sets of glasses, a big plus. Almost all the TVs, regardless of type, did very well with regular HD programs and would be fine for regular viewing.

Aside from performance, consider the need to wear special glasses to view 3D, which some might find uncomfortable or annoying. Some active 3D TVs (or TV/Blu-ray player bundles) come with a pair or two. Otherwise you'll have to buy them separately, typically for $50 to $150 a pair. As we've mentioned, it appears that most passive 3D TVs will include four sets of polarized glasses, with extras priced between $10 and $30. Before buying a TV, you should try the glasses to judge the comfort.

Remember that 3D requires not just a TV and glasses, but also 3D content. New 3D-capable Blu-ray players start at about $150 or even less. And there are now three full-time 3D channels, which air on some TV services (such as DirecTV). There are also periodic video-on-demand broadcasts of sporting events and movies offered by TV service providers.

Right now, 3D TVs make the most sense for those already looking for a new TV, especially a high-performing model, or who want to future-proof their purchase. Otherwise, just wait. Although prices have already fallen considerably for the least expensive models, in coming months you'll have more models to choose from, likely at even lower prices, and more 3D to watch.

Several trends are apparent in the LCD TVs in the Ratings. Nearly half of the 40-inch and larger LCD sets in our TV Ratings TVs provide access to online content, from services such as Amazon Video On Demand, Netflix, Pandora and Picasa. A growing number allow you to connect wirelessly to a home network, a convenience if you don't have a nearby Ethernet jack.

We continue to see more LCDs with 120Hz or 240Hz technology, especially in the larger screen sizes. A higher frame rate can minimize motion blur when implemented well. That's often paired with an anti-judder feature, which can smooth the jerkiness of film-based content, but some viewers complain that the effect imparts a "shot-with-video-camera" look to movies. A few new sets let viewers control motion blur reduction and image smoothing separately, a plus. We note that on the model page for those TVs.

A growing number of sets--about half the LCD TVs with screens 32 inches and larger--use LED backlights instead of the more typical fluorescent lamps. Only a few sets have full-array LED backlights with local dimming, which means some areas of images can be dimmed while others remain illuminated. While this can improve black levels, objects against a very dark background may exhibit a "halo," and dimming portions of the image can introduce unwanted lack of shadow uniformity.

More LCD TVs use edge LED backlights mounted around the perimeter of the screen, with diffusers to distribute light across the back of the panel. This allows for a very slim panel design and reduced energy usage. These TVs automatically dim the LED backlight to lower brightness on scenes with very dark content. This can improve the depth of black level but also dims the overall image, and it can be distracting if not done in perfect sync with changes in image brightness. Some new edge-lit models allow a type of local dimming.

Many new LCD TVs have 3D capability--but you won't see these models in the LCD Ratings table. They're listed in the 3D Ratings. Many of these 3D TVs offer excellent 2D performance, so you might consider them even if you're not currently interested in the 3D feature. You'll often find such sets on sale, so check prices online and at your local retailer.

Most of the TVs in the Ratings have very good or excellent picture quality, so there are plenty of good choices available. However, viewing angle continues to be a limiting factor for LCDs. With most, the picture can look hazy or the colors can shift as you move off to the sides. This can be a concern if a set isn't always watched from dead center. A few models in our Ratings, notably some sets from Dynex, LG, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sony and Vizio, have fairly wide viewing angles, but none have the unlimited viewing angle of a plasma TV. We recently changed the way we present our viewing angle evaluations, which are now characterized as narrow, moderate, wide, or unlimited.

We also modified the way we calculate overall scores to better reflect the way consumers use TVs. For example, our survey data showed us that few consumers attach external sound systems, so we're now putting more emphasis on the TV's sound. As a result, you might notice changes in the overall score of TVs that appeared in previous Ratings.

Below are high-scoring TVs that stand out for the reasons noted.

Our latest tests of front projectors turned up a number of impressive performers offering a lot of bang for the buck. For less than $1,500 you can now buy a projector that produces a 100-inch-plus high-definition picture that rivals the quality you'd get with a flat-panel TV half that size. And for as little as $1,000, maybe even less, you can enjoy a very good picture with full HD 1080p resolution on a giant screen.

That's a notable shift from the past, when most lower-priced projectors were 720p models. In our current Ratings, all the projectors except one--a 720p model from Optoma that costs just $650--have 1080p resolution. The movement to 1080p is especially important given the size of projected images, which make the most of the sharp detail.

The top-rated Mitsubishi's HC4000, a DLP projector, offers excellent high-def and standard-def picture quality for just $1,300. The two other recommended projectors--both LCD-based models--are the $2,200 Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 9700 UB, with excellent picture quality, and the $2,000 Panasonic PT-AE4000U, which was very good.

These recommended projectors offer a winning combination of performance, features, and price. (See Ratings and Recommendations for more details on each of those models.) But almost any of the projectors we tested could be a decent choice, particularly if you find them at a very good price. Most produced satisfying, reasonably bright, detailed high-definition images, though they varied in their ability to produce deep black levels, high contrast, and accurate colors. (We used a 110-inch Da-Lite matte-finished screen for our tests.)

All of the projectors in the current Ratings are either LCD or DLP models; projectors using LCoS technology, typically from JVC and Sony, have traditionally done very well in our Ratings. The DLP models all use a single-chip design with a spinning color wheel, so they are subject to the so-called rainbow effect. Some viewers might perceive momentary flashes of color when viewing certain image content, which can be annoying, but others might not discern them so readily. Neither LCD nor LCoS projectors are susceptible to rainbows.

For our "SD Picture quality" tests we recently modified our test procedure to use 480i signals, a more common standard definition format than 480p. Models that mention SD quality were tested with 480i. Previously tested models that mention DVD picture quality were tested with 480p signals. Our HD picture quality tests use 1080i signals.

Perhaps the biggest news in our latest TV Ratings is the growing number of 3D-capable plasma sets, which are now listed in a separate 3D Ratings chart. Since many of these 3D sets offer top 2D performance--and often include other step-up features, such as access to online content--it's worth considering these models even if you're not currently interested in using the 3D feature.

Although LCD TVs still outsell plasma TVs by a wide margin--in part because there are no plasma TV smaller than 42 inches--plasma has been making a comeback. One reason is that you no longer have to pay a large premium for 1080p resolution. Another is that in larger screen sizes (50 inches and above), plasma TVs often cost less than similarly sized and featured LCD sets. And plasmas have a lot to recommend them, including unlimited viewing angles, generally superior black levels, and the ability to handle fast motion with virtually no visible blurring, all meaningful advantages over LCDs.

Given the overall high quality, it's hard to go too far wrong with any of the TVs in the Ratings, many of which have 1080p (or full HD) resolution, which is becoming increasingly common with plasma screens. But 720p resolution can also provide very good picture quality, as our test results indicate.

We recently changed the way we present our viewing angle evaluations, which are now characterized as narrow, moderate, wide, or unlimited. All the plasma sets we've ever tested have unlimited viewing angles.

We also modified the way we calculate overall scores to better reflect the way consumers use TVs. For example, our survey data showed us that few consumers attach external sound systems, so we're now putting more emphasis on the TV's sound. As a result, you might notice changes in the overall score of TVs that appeared in previous Ratings.

Below are high-scoring TVs that stand out for the reasons noted.