Gadget of the Year 08 - Full HD TVs

After HD Ready TVs, we have now turned on to the main event — the Full HD, large screen TVs. This year all the brands did release some mammoth flagships, and this article was a result of a difficult clash of titans. As usual we have the overall best winner, then a runner up, and last but not least a value winner.

Full HD TV of the Year - Pioneer Plasma PDP-LX 608G.

There is absolutely no doubt about this one. The PDP-LX 608G released officially in India this year itself, and was reviewed by us not too long ago. It’s actually no surprise, at least for me, that a plasma has won the title, in the realm of LCDs. It’s a known fact that LCDs are selling more than plasmas, but in the large screen segment, this TV was just in its own league. Black levels so deep that I still remember my I Am Legend DVD playing on it. There are spring clip style speaker outs on the back panel; 2 channels for a stereo output directly to two speakers. The plasma panel is an 8th generation Kuro panel and screen size is 60-inches. Native resolution of 1920x1080, and contrast ratio is 20,000:1. There are a plethora of features in the menu—this is one of the main reasons why I liked the TV so much. You can calibrate it in detail, and once you are done, the image quality is simply awesome. The price is, of course, very high at 4 and a half lakhs, but this TV falls in the luxury segment where price is no bar.

Runner Up - Sony Bravia KLV-46X350A

There has to be a Sony Bravia when you are giving any sort of accolade to flat screen TVs. These LCDs have consistently proved worthy, in all market segments. This is from their high end X series, a sturdy 46-incher with a distinct bezel design. This sturdy looking LCD has native contrast at 2200:1, which is nice. 1920x1080 pixels make up the panel, while brightness is at 550 cd/m2. There are a lot of features such as 100Hz motion conversion, Wide Color Gamut support, 24P true cinema etc. Image quality is really something to commend, with a very vibrant image from the LCD panel. The accuracy is superb, and I would say that the cleanliness in the image is even better than the Pioneer listed as the winner. Colors are also quite neutral and accurate; all in all it’s a true high-end performing TV.

Best Value - Samsung 5 Series LA40A550P1.

Even in the last HD ready TV feature, Samsung won the best value prize, for the simple reason that this brand has become a favorite amongst the masses with a budget. It is one of the simplest looking TVs, with a slim and smooth bezel and broad oval stand. It has a very unpretentious, sober look. With the price of the unit coming down to below 60,000, this TV definitely gets kudos for value. Feature wise again this TV has a brilliant set, comprising of Samsung’s acclaimed DNIe and other stuff. The menu has intricate control for calibrating the unit, another plus point I liked a lot. The image has decent dynamic levels of black, accurate enough colors and motion. Games look nice on them due to the colors of Samsung TVs being so accurate in saturation. No blooming reds and other patchiness.