Top 46- and 47-Inch HDTVs

This $1699 Samsung LCD model lacks some of the specs and design of its younger sibling, the Samsung LN46A650, but otherwise it holds its own next to that model.

In our PC World Test Center tests, the LN46A550 finished in a statistical tie with the LN46A650 in overall performance. In a scene from "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," images on the LN46A550 looked as though they were coming from a mint 35mm print.

Its audio quality is fine for talk shows and sitcoms, but you'll want to buy a surround-sound unit for movie soundtracks. (For more HDTV gear, see "Essential HDTV Accessories.") The set swivels to support odd-angle viewing and to permit easy access to the back.

The LN46A550's icon-based on-screen menus are clear and easy to read, and a brief note at the bottom of the screen explains what each item does. A separate Tools button on the remote control acts the same way that a right-click of a mouse does in Windows, bringing up a handy selection of options appropriate for the current input.

The backlit remote control's large, color-coded buttons give it the look of a child's toy, but they benefit users of all ages. The remote isn't programmable, though, so you can't use it to operate your DVD player or VCR unless that device works with Samsung's proprietary Anynet technology.

The LN46A550 is a well-rounded HDTV that will do everything you want it to. At its price, it stands out as a winner.

The Vizio SV470XVT LCD set produces good (albeit at times dark) images, but it lacks some of the design conveniences of other HDTVs, such as certain LG and Samsung models.

The SV470XVT occasionally struggled to keep moving objects clear. Two jurors noted slight vibrations in the Vatican wall's bricks in our "Mission: Impossible III" Blu-ray test. And though it showed no jaggies in the HD HQV Benchmark test, we saw horrible pixelation in the corners. On the other hand, it outperformed the other new TVs we evaluated on our NASCAR test.

The SV470XVT performed well in my hands-on audio tests. Quiet audio sounded crisp, surround sounds seemed to enfold me, and the soundtrack's organ blast had the requisite oomph. You won't get much better sound unless you invest in a separate surround stereo system.

The SV470XVT was a challenge to set up. Most of the connectors are poorly placed and difficult to reach. But once set up, the TV was easy to use; menu items have on-screen explanations, most of which are simple to understand.

Unfortunately, the set has no abbreviated, quick-access menu for settings that you adjust frequently. Dedicated buttons on the remote provide access to 20 of those options, but collectively they make the remote cumbersome to deal with. The clumsily designed backlighting doesn't help, either.

The SV470XVT comes with picture-in-picture and freeze-frame features, but no multimedia capabilities. The absence of a USB port and of an SD Card slot means that you can't look at your photos or listen to your music through the TV.

Still, this Vizio 47-inch HDTV costs only $1400 and produces images rivaling the best we've seen in this size class.

This 47-inch LCD Vizio HDTV delivers a fantastic picture, and yet Vizio still manages to undercut the competition on price ($1400). On the other hand, it lacks design elegance and such extras as a swiveling stand, and it's difficult to set up and use.

The hard-to-find Input button on the TV's remote brings up a list of available sources, including sources that have nothing plugged into them. Vizio does provide buttons that jump you directly to particular input types (component, HDMI, and so on), but not to specific inputs. Aside from the Input button issue, the remote isn't bad, and backlighting makes it fairly easy to use in the dark. But you can't program it, and it controls only the set itself.

The VO47LF delivers picture-in-picture, a free HDMI cable--and that's about it. But this model tied the Samsung LN46A550 for top image-performance honors. It even garnered some rare Superior marks. The television's sound was excellent (by HDTV standards), with crisp dialogue and decent punch for loud music. Vizio's top-notch documentation helps ease you into the VO47LF experience.

Its great picture and surprisingly affordable price for a large HDTV make Vizio's VO47LF the ultimate bargain.

Panasonic's stylish TH-46PZ800U nicely balances image quality and features. Our panel of judges rated this plasma set's image quality as Good.

In the PC World Test Center, our panel of judges rated the Panasonic's image quality as Good. Like other plasma HDTVs, it supports a wide viewing angle. I was impressed with the level of detail it preserved, such as folds in a dark cloak in our "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" DVD test. But other jurors complained that some colors looked washed out and dull. Since the TH-46PZ800U doesn't ask you, out of the box, whether you'll be using the set as a store demo or in your home, you'll have to optimize the set yourself.

In my hands-on tests, the Panasonic's audio quality was phenomenal when matched against competing sets' built-in speakers. With the unit at two-thirds of maximum volume, I could hear every quiet detail of a movie's soundtrack, and the music carried me with it as it reached a crescendo.

The set handily positions an SD Card slot up front, which you can use to port digital photos to the TV screen. It has no USB port, though, for MP3 playing and photo viewing.

For more, see our "Top 46- and 47-Inch HDTVs" chart, and also read "How to Buy a Flat-Screen HDTV."