Don Lindich: LCD TVs can be excellent, too

Q You seem to prefer plasma TVs. But when I shop and compare, I'm always drawn to the LCD models because they are so bright and sharp. Are there situations where you prefer LCD, and is there anything you recommend?

G. BRINKS, Sacramento, Calif

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A Although I prefer plasma, LCD TVs can be excellent, as well. LCD TVs produce a bright, pixel-sharp image that some prefer, especially for playing video games or for watching in rooms with lots of ambient light. You are better off with an excellent LCD TV than a mediocre plasma model. In smaller sizes (less than 42 inches), LCD models are your only choice.

Samsung is the LCD TV leader, with cutting-edge technology, excellent picture quality and a wide variety of models at all prices. You would also do well to check out Toshiba, which has some of the nicest-looking LCD TVs and prices often significantly lower than Samsung's, especially in larger screen sizes and for LED models.

Speaking of LED models, "LED TV" is something of a misnomer. The "LED TVs" you see sold in stores are simply LCD TVs that use an LED backlight instead of a fluorescent backlight. LED light sources create precise, pure light that produces better color and deeper blacks than ordinary LCD TVs. The difference in picture quality can be astounding. In fact, some of the most beautiful images I have seen on a flat-panel TV were on Samsung LED-LCD sets.

What keeps me from buying one of these TVs is problems with moving subjects. I have not put a Samsung LED-LCD through a comprehensive test yet, but when watching demo material in stores, I often see fuzziness on the edge of moving subjects that a TV salesman I know refers to as a "swarm of mosquitoes." These moving image artifacts come from this particular set's video processing and not the LED light source. Not all LCDs or LED-LCDs have this problem.

LED-LCD TVs are typically much more expensive than plasma or LCD sets of similar size. There are exceptions, notably some recently introduced small HDTVs that use LED technology. Best Buy recently introduced two LED-LCD televisions under its Insignia house brand, and both are excellent. The 19-inch Insignia NS-19E430A10 lists for $249 and the 22-inch NS-22E430A10 for $299. I consider the latter to be one of the best buys going (pun unintended) if you are looking for a small television.