4 HDTVs ready for the red carpet

At CNET, the scores on our HDTV reviews (reviews.cnet.com) are composed of three subratings: design, features and performance. To the chagrin of black-level and color-obsessed videophiles, we actually place a fair amount of weight (30 percent) on design because, frankly, normal people do care what their TVs look like when turned off. If you care a lot, then this list is for you. It contains four of the highest-rated HDTVs that CNET has reviewed in the past year in the design subcategory performance and features be damned.

LG 47SL80 CNET rating: 3 stars out of 5 (Good).

Good: Minimalist look with thin bezel; 1.8-inch depth and edge-to-edge glass; accurate color; extensive picture controls including unique Picture Wizard; solid connectivity with four HDMI ports and one PC input; energy-efficient.

Bad: Reproduces light black levels; does not separate antiblur and antijudder processing; benefits of 240Hz difficult to discern; glossy screen reflects ambient light; below average off-angle viewing.

Cost: $1,340 to $1,900.

Bottom line: The LG SL80 series' style-first philosophy will appeal to buyers seeking a sleek LCD TV and who don't mind sacrificing some performance.

Panasonic TC-P54Z1 CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent).

Bad: Extremely expensive; less accurate primary and secondary colors in non-THX modes; minor video processing issues; somewhat limited picture controls; uses more power than comparable TVs.

Cost: $4,100 to $4,798.

Bottom line: Panasonic's flagship plasma sails far beyond most buyers' price range, but the yacht enthusiasts who can afford it will enjoy superb picture quality and style in a wireless package.

Samsung PN50B850 CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent).

Good: Striking design with 1.2-inch-thick panel; reproduces deep black levels; accurate color with superb saturation, properly handles 1080p/24 sources; extensive feature set with Yahoo widgets, network streaming and built-in content; solid connectivity with four HDMI and one PC input.

Cost: $2,200.

Bottom line: With picture quality that matches its less expensive brother but not the best of the stiff competition, the main appeal of the Samsung PNB850/860 series is based on its sleek, ultrathin panel.

Sony Bravia KLV-40ZX1M CNET rating: 3 stars out of 5 (Good).

Good: Ultrathin panel creates a high-tech design; hidden cords; relatively accurate color; numerous picture controls; energy-efficient.

Bad: Extremely expensive; subpar black-level performance and color saturation; uneven screen uniformity; scant connectivity with just one HDMI input.