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No-gloss zone: Matte-screen LCD TVs compared
David Katzmaier
Senior editor May 6, 2010 (updated on: August 23, 2011)
Much like birds building nests, people seem to like shiny objects. The truism holds, apparently, for laptop and LCD TV screens as well. Samsung was among the first TV makers to popularize the shiny, glossy screen with its LNA650 series, and we complained about it, albeit to no avail. The company expanded its gloss-coated reach to encompass most of its LCD screens, and many other makers followed suit.
The sole picture-quality advantage of glossy screens we've observed, at least when done correctly, is that they can in some cases preserve black-level performance--dark areas stay darker--in bright rooms with overhead lighting (think Best Buy) somewhat better than their matte cousins. In our book, that plus doesn't outweigh the big minus of a glossy screen: bright objects reflected therein, such as windows opposite the screen, lamps, or even lighter furniture and clothing worn by viewers, appear brighter, sharper, and more distracting than they do when reflected in a matte screen.
That's why, for bright-room viewing or situations where ambient light is difficult to control, we prefer LCD screens with a matte finish. If you do, too, check out the matte LCDs below.
Unfortunately no plasma TV since 2008 has had a matte screen, and while new antireflective materials might help, none handles glare as well as matte LCDs. Even less fortunately, the flagship (read: best-performing) LCDs from many makers, especially Sony and Samsung, sport glossy screens, so you might have to choose between superior bright-room (matte) and dark-room (glossy) performance. Hey, at least neither company charges extra for matte like Apple does.
The products listed below (except for the Sharp LC-70LE732U series) represent one screen size in one series of TVs from each maker. Click through to the reviews for more size options.
Related: How to rid your HDTV of reflections; Glossy screens on the rise--whether you like it or not; Down with reflective screens; Best LCD TVs
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Check Prices | $1,499.94 | $1,575.00 to $2,864.32 | $1,389.18 | $1,050.00 | $899.00 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating |  | |||||
| Release date | August 15, 2010 | April 01, 2011 | July 27, 2011 | March 01, 2011 | ||
| The Bottom Line | The Vizio XVT3SV series' excellent picture quality, thoughtful design, scads of features, and reasonable price combine to make it the best value among high-end LED-based LCD TVs today. | While passive 3D has its flaws, the LG LW5600's 2D picture quality is very good for an edge-lit LED-based LCD TV, especially in bright rooms. | For people craving a colossal flat-screen TV who don't want a plasma or a projector, the 70-inch Sharp LC-70LE73U series LED-based LCD offers very good picture quality, especially in bright rooms. | Although its attractive features, design, and passive 3D have merit, the picture quality issues of the Toshiba TL515U LED-based LCD TV lessen its appeal in the face of the stiff competition. | The picture quality of Sony's KDL-EX720 shows some flaws but its efficiency, design, and well-stocked feature list will win plenty of converts. | Although it's blessed with a solid feature set, the picture quality of Sharp LC-LE830U series falls short of most LED-based LCD TVs we've tested. |
| Features | ||||||
| Addtional features | SRS TruVolume | Auto Volume Leveller (AVL) Clear Voice II technology | Quattron Quad Pixel Technology AQUOS Advantage X-GEN panel AQUOS LINK UltraBrilliant LED System Vyper Drive Digital Still Picture Display Quad Pixel Plus | Audyssey EQ Invisible Speaker System | Alternate Audio Sound Enhancer Invisible Speaker System Sound Booster Auto mute S-Master Digital Amplifier | Bass & treble control Balance control Auto volume adjustment |
| Supported DTV resolutions | 720p 480p 1080p 1080i 480i | 1080/30p 1080/60p 1080/24p | 1080p | Info unavailable | 1080/60p 720/60p 1080/60i 480/60p 1080/24p 480/60i | 1080/60p 1080/24p 1080/60i 720/60p 480/60p 480/60i |
| Input/Output connections | 5 x HDMI input (19 pin HDMI Type A) 1 x Antenna (F connector) - Rear 1 x Composite video/audio input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Component video input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Audio input (RCA phono x 2) - Rear 1 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) - Rear 1 x Ethernet (RJ-45) - Rear 3 x USB (4 pin USB Type A) 1 x SPDIF output (TOSLINK) - Rear 1 x Audio output (RCA phono x 2) - Rear | 1 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) - Rear 1 x Serial - Rear 4 x HDMI input (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Side 2 x Composite video/audio input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Headphones (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Rear 1 x Audio line-in (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Rear 1 x Digital audio output (optical) (TOSLINK) - Rear 2 x USB 2.0 (4 pin USB Type A) - Side 2 x Component video input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Network (RJ-45) - Rear 1 x Audio line-in (RCA phono x 2) - Rear | 4 x HDMI input (19 pin HDMI Type A) 1 x HD component input (RCA phono x 3) 1 x Composite video input (RCA phono) Audio line-in (RCA phono x 2) 1 x Serial 1 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) 1 x Network (RJ-45) USB (4 pin USB Type A) | 4 x HDMI w/CEC + InstaPort 2 x USB (19 pin HDMI Type A) (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) (RJ-45) (4 pin USB Type A) | 2 x Audio line-in (RCA phono x 2) - Rear 1 x Composite video / component video input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Composite video input (RCA phono) - Rear 1 x Digital audio output (optical) (TOSLINK) - Rear 1 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) - Side 1 x Audio line-in (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Rear 3 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Rear 2 x USB 2.0 (4 pin USB Type A) - Side 1 x Network (RJ-45) - Rear 1 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Side 1 x Audio line-out / headphones (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Side | 4 x 1 x Serial (9 pin D-Sub) - Rear 2 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) - Rear 1 x Composite video/audio input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 1 x Component video input (RCA phono x 3) - Rear 2 x Audio line-in (RCA phono x 2) - Rear 1 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Rear 1 x USB (4 pin USB Type A) - Rear Audio line-out (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Rear USB (4 pin USB Type A) - Rear Network (RJ-45) - Rear Digital audio output (optical) (TOSLINK) - Rear Audio line-in (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) - Rear |
| Total output power | 30 Watt | 20 Watt | 20 Watt | Info unavailable | 20 Watt | 35 Watt |
| Weight | 77.2 lbs | 40.8 lbs | 121.3 lbs | 49.6 lbs | 31.3 lbs | 83.8 lbs |
| Image aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Info unavailable | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Digital TV tuner | ATSC QAM | ATSC QAM | ATSC QAM | Info unavailable | ATSC QAM | ATSC QAM |
| Diagonal size | 55 in | 47 in | 70 in | 47 in | 46 in | 60 in |
| Technology | TFT active matrix | 3D LED-LCD | LED-LCD | 3D LED-LCD | 3D LED-LCD | LED-LCD |
| HDMI ports qty | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Speaker(s) | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 15 Watt | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt | 2 x Right/left channel speaker 1 x Subwoofer - Built-in - 10 Watt - Built-in - 15 Watt |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Sound output mode | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| Product type | LED-LCD | LED-LCD | LED-LCD | LED-LCD | LED-LCD | LED-LCD |
| Internet streaming services | Info unavailable | Smart TV NetCast | AQUOS Net Netflix | Net TV | BRAVIA Internet Video | Netflix CinemaNow Vudu Blockbuster Napster |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 52.4 in x 13 in x 35.2 in - With stand | 44.1 in x 1.2 in x 26.9 in - Without stand | 63.4 in x 14.2 in x 39.8 in - With stand | 44.3 in x 11.3 in x 29.5 in - With stand | 42.5 in x 1.7 in x 26 in - Without stand | 54.3 in x 14.4 in x 35 in - With stand |
| Manufacturer warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | Info unavailable | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty |
| LED backlight type | Full array | Edge Light with local dimming | Full array | Edge Light with local dimming | Edge Light | Edge-lit |
| Refresh rate | 240 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 240 Hz | 240 Hz | 120 Hz |
| HDCP compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Info unavailable | Yes | Yes |
| Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen |
| Display format | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| LCD backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology |
| Connectivity protocols | IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) IEEE 802.11n | Wi-Fi ready, adapter included | Built-in Wi-Fi | Ethernet Built-in Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi ready, adapter sold separately | Ethernet Built-in Wi-Fi |
| TV tuner presence | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PC interface | VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) | HDMI VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) |
| Video interface | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component Composite |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices | | | | |||
Also, Apple has nothing to do with this TV article, so your comment seems out of place.
I've been eyeing the passive 3D LG sets. How easy are matte screens to clean, how susceptible are they to damage? Will the pattern retarder be an issue?
Bought after looking at many websites, and various reviews here on CNET. Thank You DK.
For both tv and computers i do not want glossy surfaces or screens.The glossy trend in recent years just puzzles me as the glossy surfaces are just plain annoying.
My old lcd died and my warranty paid for replacement value which is the good. The bad is that in 2012 it is rare to find a tv without glossy reflective surfaces,the screens are less matte with some reflections of lamps and windows,and the rear speakers produce a muffled audio. my old tv provided a no gloss zone with better sound. not so with my new one.