The Best Television
June 24, 2014 (Last Updated: July 14, 2014)
Geoff Morrison
If I was in the market for an awesome television, I’d get the Samsung F8500 series, either in 51-, 60-, or 64-inch sizes (about $1,800, $2,400, or $3,100, respectively). This is a fantastic looking television, with a punchy brights, deep darks, lifelike and accurate color, excellent detail, and great performance in rooms with lots of light. While pricey, it has one of the best pictures of any TV in recent years according to all the major TV reviewers.
... If stepping down, we recommend the F5300 from Samsung, which costs much less, though it doesn’t have quite the same level of picture quality.
... I, and the vast majority of TV reviewers, would tell you to get a plasma, even now, over any LCD. Why? We’re able to view all TVs in a controlled environment (i.e., not in a brightly-lit store). We’re able to view these TVs side by side. Lastly, we’re able to objectively measure the TVs with test gear. The result? In nearly every case, plasmas just
look better than LCD.
... Why would you want an LCD? Truthfully, most people shouldn’t, if they’re looking for the best picture quality. Ignore the marketing. What you see in a store is not indicative of the performance you’ll see at home. Plasmas are not dim and will work brilliantly as long as your room isn’t all windows and you only watch TV during the day. Even if they are, the F8500 performs better with bright rooms than just about any other plasma.
... if you’re thinking of buying a 50-to-60-inch TV, 4K is just going to be a waste of money, unless you’re sitting really, really close.
... The last and perhaps biggest issue is that all current 4K TVs are just LED LCDs. In other words, all the picture quality negatives found with “normal” LCDs still apply.
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