LCD TVs: Bargain, Luxe, and Just Right

For this month's chart we tested three new LCD television sets: the $1799 Samsung LN-S3251D, the $2700 Sony Bravia KDL-V32XBR1, and the $1000 Vizio L32HDTV. Vizio's bare-bones bargain and Sony's full-featured (and full-priced) model yielded comparable image quality. The big winner, Samsung's LN-S3251D, sailed through our image-quality tests to take home the Best Buy prize.

The LN-S3251D reminded us of the previously evaluated Samsung LN-R328W, our image-quality champion back in February. But the new set did even better, winning the performance triple crown with excellent scores in our tests of high-definition, standard, and DVD display. It particularly wowed our jury with saturated colors and strong contrast--both of which stood up to our bright-lights test. We would be even more impressed if the set had a CableCard slot; for this image quality, though, it may be worth the hassle of adding a set-top box. The first-rate screen isn't the unit's only claim to beauty, either: Its sleek, shiny black cabinet looks very swanky.

Our test jury cited realistic flesh tones on DVD playback as a high point of the Vizio L32HDTV's performance. On both standard- and high-def TV content, the Vizio's picture was generally pleasing, although some jurors found it dark at default settings. An intuitive remote and unusually clear and detailed documentation make the unit easy to set up and use. The Vizio forgoes a CableCard slot and offers fewer inputs than other LCD TVs we've tested, and its plastic finishes lack the elegance of the Sony and Samsung models, but it's by far the least expensive set here.

Sony's Bravia KDL-V32XBR1 demonstrated strength on standard-def TV content and on its ability to retain color and contrast under bright lights. In other image-quality tests, it showed good, but not great, pictures, trailing the Vizio model in most categories. The Sony has its charms, though: Its TruSurround XT sound delivered stirring bass through its built-in speakers, and its remote control has a thumbscrew-secured battery compartment. This handsome model offers a Memory Stick slot, which allows you to browse images or start a slide show from a digital camera or USB device. And unlike the other two newly tested TVs on the chart, the Sony includes a convenient CableCard slot.

For more information about the high-definition LCD television sets that are reviewed here, including testing details, click here.

Find the Very Latest TV Charts

Click on the links below for the latest online LCD TV rankings or a comprehensive list of all TVs we've tested.

• Most current Top 32-inch LCD TVs chart
• All TVs

Top LCD TVs Chart From the June 2006 Issue of PC World Magazine