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Best-performing edge-lit LED-based LCD TVs
David Katzmaier
Senior editor September 14, 2011
Just about every LED TV on the market these days uses edge lighting, where the LEDs are mounted along the edge of the screen and their light funneled toward the middle. While it results in thin, sleek frames, this technique can also compromise picture quality, delivering an unevenly lit screen, lighter black levels, or both, among other issues.
The three TVs below mostly avoid those problems. Each can conjure up a deep black and maintain uniformity better than most of their thin competitors. As a result, all three scored a "7: Very Good" in Performance. We've ranked them left to right in order of overall picture-quality edge, so to speak.
Between the three, the Sony, with its best-in-class black levels and uniformity, is worth the extra cash to 2D videophiles; the LG is the best bright-room performer with the best color; and the Samsung manages deep blacks and very good color without local dimming's blooming. All have their strengths and weaknesses, as detailed in the reviews.
The products listed below represent one screen size in one series of TVs from each maker. Click through to the reviews for more size options.
Related links: Best LED TVs; LED TVs compared: Local dimming, edge-lit, and full array; Is LCD and LED LCD HDTV uniformity a problem?
| Product name | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,299.00 to $1,390.26 | $1,699.94 | $1,149.00 |
| CNET editors' rating | |||
| Average user rating | |||
| Release date | May 01, 2011 | April 01, 2011 | March 15, 2011 |
| The Bottom Line | Albeit expensive and plagued by issues in 3D, the beautifully styled Sony KDL-NX720 has better picture quality than most other edge-lit LED-based LCD TVs. | 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. | Solid overall 2D and 3D picture quality, as well as a wealth of features and beautiful looks, mark the Samsung UND6400 as one of the better edge-lit LED-based LCD TVs we've tested. |
| Features | |||
| PC interface | VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) | VGA (HD-15) |
| Widescreen modes | Wide Zoom Full Normal Auto Wide Conventional 4:3 Zoom | Cinema Zoom 16:9 Conventional 4:3 Just Scan Original | Info unavailable |
| Internet streaming services | Skype Bravia Internet Video and Qriocity | Smart TV NetCast | Info unavailable |
| Addtional features | Alternate Audio Sound Enhancer Invisible Speaker System Sound Booster Auto mute Audio Return Channel (ARC) S-Master Digital Amplifier Clear Phase Speaker | Auto Volume Leveller (AVL) Clear Voice II technology | Auto Volume Leveller (AVL) Bottom mounted |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Total output power | Info unavailable | 20 Watt | 20 Watt |
| LED backlight type | Edge-lit | Edge Light with local dimming | Edge Light w/ local dimming |
| Display format | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Image aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Refresh rate | 240 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| HDMI ports qty | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Diagonal size | 46 in | 47 in | 46 in |
| LCD backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology | LED Backlight technology |
| Technology | 3D LED-LCD | 3D LED-LCD | 3D LED-LCD |
| Speaker(s) | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in 1 x Subwoofer - Built-in | 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt | 2 x Main channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt |
| Supported DTV resolutions | 1080/60p 720/60p 1080/60i 480/60p 1080/24p 480/60i | 1080/30p 1080/60p 1080/24p | Info unavailable |
| TV tuner presence | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic contrast ratio | Infinite | 8000000:1 | 5000000:1 |
| Video interface | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component Composite | HDMI Component Composite |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 42.75 in x 10.125 in x 27.375 in - With stand | 44.1 in x 1.2 in x 26.9 in - Without stand | 41.7 in x 1.2 in x 24.5 in - Without stand |
| Connectivity protocols | Built-in Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi ready, adapter included | Bluetooth |
| Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen | Widescreen |
| Weight | 44.3 lbs | 40.8 lbs | 29.8 lbs |
| Input/Output connections | 2 x (RCA phono x 2) 1 x Composite video / component video input (RCA phono x 3) 1 x 1 x Composite video input (RCA phono) 1 x Digital audio output (optical) 1 x Network (RJ-45) 2 x 2 x HDMI (19 pin HDMI Type A) 1 x VGA input (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) 1 x Audio line-in (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) 2 x (4 pin USB Type A) - Side | 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 3 x USB (19 pin HDMI Type A) - Rear (RCA phono x 3) - Rear (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) (4 pin USB Type A) (RCA phono x 2) (15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)) (RCA phono) (Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm) (TOSLINK) |
| Manufacturer warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty |
| Digital TV tuner | ATSC QAM | ATSC QAM | ATSC QAM |
| HDCP compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sound output mode | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| Surround mode | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sound effects | S-FORCE Front Surround 3D | Infinite 3D Surround | SRS TheaterSound HD |
| 3D technology | Yes | Yes | Yes Passive-3D compatible |
| Product type | LED-LCD | LED-LCD | LED-LCD |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices | | | |
I've come to DISLIKE the sensor control for the disc drawer; I've inadvertently activated it too many times by merely walking too close to it while passing by the Shorty's current resting spot. I've had better luck with the sensor for the power switch, however, rarely accidentally activating that. I understand the corporate reasons for not including Blu-Ray but it's still a loss in value to the end user. As for the losses in exclusive titles; it really seems that Microsoft isn't willing to fork out the sort of $$$ it takes to keep developers from jumping ship. I'm guessing the crossover to PCs isn't generating the sort of secondary revenue that Redmond/developers were hoping for?
Xbox Live still has it over PSN and frankly I never could find much fault for its $50/yr fee anyways...I guess I'm just not THAT cheap. Plus for me, the Wi-Fi unit in my Chubby stopped working really early on in its life, forcing me to CAT5 it in order to get online. I use my 360 Shorty more than my PS3 Chubby these days, but I suspect that's more out of the Shorty's newness than for anything else. The new 360 is a lot quieter than before, and definitely more silent than the Chubby, but occasional discs will still spin up a noisy racket (whine). As for cross-platform titles...I've gotten to the point--and age--where I tend to wait for user reviews before buying a new game title, particularly with cross-platform video games. Where one platform rates a game higher than on another, I go for that version (thank you, Amazon, for the providing that info). Sometimes it's 360, sometimes it's PS3.
In the end, I think it comes down to two things: having Blu-Ray vs having a better online experience AND the ability to play legacy game titles. After just having replayed Halo for the original Xbox on the Shorty, it's hard to find fault with allowing the old game titles to work on the newest 360 when the new PS3 Slim similarly is woefully lobotomized, but swapping discs with Mass Effect 2 DOES point out the inconvenience (and wastefulness) of not having a larger cap optical drive when the tech is clearly available. The larger hard drive (250GB vs 160GB with the PS3 Slim's recent update) just isn't nearly enough to offset the hardware advantage of having BD capability. But I think I still the value Xbox Live and the legacy games from the original Xbox is enough to give the advantage to the Shorty, but only just. Microsoft really would have had the clearly better console if it only had the BD drive.
Xbox users remain #anon and have system easier to create games for.
who is winner now?
IMHO, you need to own both! There are way too many amazing exclusives and Xbox Live Arcade games you can't get on the PS3, and for the past 2 years, the PS3's game library has grown immensely that you simply cannot pass up on those games either because they aren't on the 360.
If you're a kid and your parents aren't very rich, here's one way to convince'em to buy both! Get a 360, then convince your parents to buy a PS3 for Blu-Ray Movies and Avatar in 3D!!! Then show them how much a Blu-Ray player really costs and once they realize the prices are pretty much the same thing, they will get a $300 PS3 rather than some $200 to $400 Blu-Ray player.
For the record I have both and totally agree that currently the PS3 is a better value with the built in BD player, but it's pretty obvious that we're slowly transitioning to a future where "on demand" content will be the norm. M$ is simply trying to leverage that reality against not having a costly BD drive in their system.
Sony and the Movie Studios want to prevent this but Microsoft understand that its going to happen.
Blu-Ray is a Sony owned technology. Other companies are allowed to use it and make their own Blu-Ray players but they have to pay for the license from Sony. Paying Sony to use one of their technologies is probably something Michrosoft does not want to do. Including a Blu-Ray player in the 360 would most likely cause the price to increase, even for the arcade bundle, to compensate for the fees they have to pay to license the technology not to mention the cost to build and implement the hardware itself and to adapt all current 360 hardware to play nice with the Blu-Ray player and adapt all future software to actually use it.
It's not really just a simple matter of sticking a Blu-Ray drive in the console methinks.
Just a thought. I totally agree that Microsoft should try a bit harder at getting more HD content onto the console via video streaming etc, but I can say that I honestly don't see BluRay coming to Xbox any time soon.
both have been out for enough time that i think we should just let them be who they are and quit fighting about it. beside, do you really want a 360 that acts just like a PS3 and vice versa? what's the point then? But since most of the 'great' games are war/blood and guts/shoot em up types, i guess calling this a console 'war' is fitting.
first one to drop below 150 with a hard drive gets my money.
Heck remember when the nintendo was the only game in town and we were excited to get a stupid power glove to wear that made no sense
Rage, the game waited for next year, by ID is said to have more content in the version for PS3. Any way, it would be that or have to change lots of discs in the Xbox 360 version.
Not sure if mentioned but the size of the power supply is MUCH smaller then the old one on the original Xbox.....and now i can hear EVERYTHING and not the slim running when the disc is spinning. Again....a fanboy of a PSCRAP, and a blinders on review, IMO.
Overall they are almost on par with each other. Blue Tooth does give the PS3 an edge if you use accessories.
As for the hard drive, you can put a TB hard drive in the PS3 if you desire, how large a HD can you purchase for your XBox? And how much does MS charge for it?
If Sony was going to upgrade the network connections in the PS3, I would ask for a Gigabit wired connection before I would ask to have the wireless upgraded.
Wireless N was a nice move for X360, no doubt. But other than that, exactly what does the X360 have on the PS3? Noise level is still high with the X360 slim; even though improved, there is still a heating issue; $50 per year may not be much for online game play, unless you have three or four people who want their own account; and the PS3 has the processing and graphics superiority. And all that game advantage the X360 had? Yeah, that's inevitably moving away as PS3 gets better proprietary games and more 3rd party development.
None if this means the X360 is bad -- it's not. In fact, it's a great gaming console. But pull your head out of your rectum for a moment and open your eyes. The PS3 is taking over.
Oh yeah, how are all those controller batteries doing for you?
the xbox live community is truly magnificently simple and robust. however, it does cost you. personally, think ps3's online service, and the slightly more mature community, is extremely valuable at 0.00 annually.
If you already own a Blu Ray player and want the better system for games, then go with the 360. Either way you can't wrong.
Yes the PS3 has a Bluray player, but i have no desire to 1) actually pay for a movie when i can download it off of th Net and 2) pay the retarded amount of $25 PER movie!
So clearly the Bluray drive is of no importance to me and even if the Xbox had a bluray drive, it would still be better
Can't go wrong with either, although I prefer PS just cuz of blu-ray (i prefer buying blu-ray n dvds over online streaming or renting), but both are equally good in my opinion
Same with slim.
And, you DO realize that the PS3 games come on Blu-ray right? Some of those games may require more than one DVD if not for blu-ray. Blu-ray is also more scratch resistant than DVD.
I have about 700 movies on DVD/Blu-ray at home, at least 100-150 of them are Blu-ray. Yes, I do watch them over (that's the entire point behind purchasing them instead of renting them). Like a good book, I like to watch a good movie several times. Over the years I may watch a movie over and over and over. I bet I have watched the first Star Wars movie 50 times. How much would that have cost to rent? At at least $2 per rental I would say $100, since I bought the disc and it only cost about $12 (CDN) I have actually saved $88. That is just one example of a DVD. I also have lots of movies on blu-ray I will watch over and over.
Sorry to have to tell you this but 90% of blu-ray movies do not cost anywhere close to the price of a new game (where did you get that idea from?). At best, you may find some TV series that are expensive for a season, or some IMAX shows (documentaries mostly) but they are also available at high prices on DVD. I concede there are SOME companies who actually believe their new blu-ray movie releases are worth over $25. I don't purchase those movies because their prices are a rip-off, however that's not blu-rays fault. I also have lots of games on my PS3 that I play a few times a week. Most of my gaming is on a real gaming system (a computer) and not on a toy gaming system (a console).
When you see someone with hundreds of movies on DVD, how about asking them how often they watch them instead of just assuming you already know?
The lack of built in wifi and bluray drive made the decision simple, along with my preference for PS3s bluetooth set up for accessories and lack of a gigantic power brick. Even though there are a few XBox only games that I'd like to play, my reality is that I don't choose to spend my free time on games very often. I like having the ability to play games, which is why I went for the PS3 over a dedicated BluRay player, but it's the third or fourth most used feature on my console behind the BluRay/DVD player, NetFlix, and serving audio to my A/V system.
Although I know a lot of other home theater users swear by their PS3s, my priorities probably make me an atypical console customer. Still, I definitely concur with the both overall conclusions of this shootout. First, that the PS3 is still, just slightly, the better system and second, that both systems are pretty amazing values.