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Cheap LCD TV, Best Cheap LCD Televisions
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Cheap LCD TVs Buying Guide
Most of us have a long and passionate affair with TVs. This relationship hit dizzying new heights with the recent introduction of high-definition television (HDTV) and its vibrant, crystal-sharp images. But trading up to a slim, flat, good-sized HDTV was costly -- until now. These days the LCD TV market is flooded with dozens upon dozens of models from many manufacturers, and prices have plunged. As a result, you can buy a good quality 30-inch to 37-inch high-def TV set for less than $550 and a 40-inch to 42-inch model for $600-$800.
Back to top »What to Look for: Cheap LCD TVs Features
High-definition LCD TVs aren't just for watching TV shows, of course. Video games come to life on an LCD TV and they're great for DVD and Blu-ray movies. When you're shopping for a cheap LCD television, though, there are quite a few key factors to keep in mind. The specifications for these inexpensive sets are littered with jargon that can be confusing to the uninitiated, so let's start by learning which features are important and why.
Discount LCD TVs Screen Resolution/Refresh Rates.
Perhaps the most important feature you'll need to consider when shopping for a cheap LCD TV is its resolution. An LCD TV's resolution is determined by the number of pixels it displays -- the more pixels, the better the picture quality. The screen resolution is given as the number of pixels wide (or columns) by the number of pixels high (or rows); for example 1,920 pixels wide by 1,080 pixels high. Manufacturers usually provide only the last of the two numbers to indicate a model's resolution, so you'll see reference to numbers such as 1080, 720, or 480.This number is almost always followed by the letter "p" or "i". This letter refers to one of two ways that the TV refreshes (or redraws) a frame onscreen, which it does several times per second (more on that in a moment). "P" stands for progressive scan, which means that every pixel in the image is refreshed each time the TV redraws the action onscreen. "I" stands for interlaced, which means the image is redrawn twice -- first all the even-numbered lines in the image, then the odd ones. Progressive is the better of the two options, because interlaced resolutions may suffer from screen flicker, which is clearly not desirable.
Any budget LCD television should support resolutions of 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. A handful of cheap LCD TVs, including the Vizio VOJ32 (starting at $468, Amazon
Refresh rates go hand-in-hand with screen resolutions and are another technical detail you should be familiar with. A TV's refresh rate refers to the number of times per second the TV redraws the image onscreen, measured in Hz. All low-cost LCD TVs support a refresh rate of 60Hz, although more expensive TVs, such as Samsung's LN32B650
(starting at $800, Amazon),
Crutchfield's TV buying guide notes that inexpensive TVs with lower refresh rates may suffer from motion blur. If you're watching a fast-paced football game, for example, you may notice a bit of blurring as the players run around the field. TVs with 120Hz refresh rates shouldn't have that problem, but you'll pay more for this higher rate. Even though your budget TV only has a 60Hz refresh rate, you normally won't see any blurring while watching regular TV programming. Indeed, LCD TV reviews by consumers on Best Buy about the LG 32LH30-UA report little if any motion blur.
Cheap LCD TVs Contrast Ratio.
An LCD's contrast ratio refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest color values the screen can display at once, and is written as a ratio -- 600:1, for example. The larger this number, the better. But one drawback of cheap LCD televisions, according to PC World's LCD TV buying guide, is that they don't display dark color values very well -- an assessment echoed by Cnet, which notes that a bluish tinge in very dark areas of the display is common among entry-level LCDs. This isn't due to cheap manufacturing practices, it's simply an inherent limitation of LCD TV technology.Even so, a budget LCD TV's contrast ratio is the feature that TV manufacturers love to manipulate the most. For example, you'll almost certainly see bargain LCD TVs tout their dynamic contrast ratio, which will likely be a pretty big number, perhaps 5,000:1 or even more. (LG's 32LH30-UA 32-inch TV boasts a dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000:1 and the Panasonic Viera TC-32LX14 features a 12,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.) But a TV's dynamic contrast ratio is not the same as the static contrast ratio. We won't go into the complex distinctions between the two, but know that the static contrast ratio is the more accurate indicator of a TV's true ability to display extremes in light and dark. So be wary of claims about budget LCD TVs with huge dynamic contrast ratios. Look for a TV with a static contrast ratio starting at 1000:1, such as the Vizio VOJ32 (1,500:1 static contrast ratio).
Cheap LCD Televisions Size.
You might think that the bigger the TV, the better, regardless of the size of the room in which you're putting the set. That's actually not the case. Budget LCD TVs have minimum and maximum recommended viewing distances based on the size of the TV. Cnet's TV buying guide puts that distance at roughly 1.5 times the TV's diagonal length; for example, the recommended minimum viewing distance for a 34-inch set is 4.3 feet and the maximum is 8.5 feet (perfect for a bedroom or small living room). If you sit too close to the TV, the image will begin to appear distorted and grainy. But sit too far away and you'll start to lose that immersive "widescreen feel," which is why you're buying an HDTV in the first place.Another size factor is a TV's aspect ratio, which is the ratio of the TV's width to its height. Old tube-type TVs have an aspect ratio of 4:3. If you've ever watched a widescreen movie on such a TV, you noticed the black bars above and below the image, which are necessary to preserve the widescreen effect. Cheap LCD TVs are already widescreen displays and have an aspect ratio of 16:9, which is much closer to the typical aspect ratio of feature films, so you shouldn't see any black bars when watching a widescreen DVD on your inexpensive LCD TV. (The only exception is if the DVD displays a wider than normal aspect ratio, such as 2:35:1, but most films don't.) However, standard definition programming (there is some left) is still displayed in the old 4:3 aspect ratio, so you'll see black bars to the right and left of the picture when watching such shows.
Discount LCD TVs Inputs/Outputs.
The whole point of buying a widescreen HDTV, even a budget model, is to get great picture quality. In order to do that, you need to use high-quality inputs when transferring video signals to your TV from other devices, such as a DVD player, Blu-ray player, or console game system. Most TVs have several types of inputs and outputs of varying quality. The highest quality input supported by budget LCD TVs is the HDMI input. An HDMI input supports both high-definition video and audio signals. Ideally, your inexpensive LCD TV will have three HDMI connectors -- as do the Vizio VOJ32, LG 32LH30-UA, Toshiba 37RV525R, and Panasonic Viera TC-32LX14 -- but many cheap LCD TVs, such as the Olevia 237T (starting at $435, Amazon
) and the Proscan 37LB45Q
(starting at $450) only have one or two HDMI connections. If you have a Blu-ray player, you'll definitely want to connect it to your TV using an HDMI cable to experience the highest video quality that the player has to offer.
After HDMI, the next highest quality video input is a component input. Component inputs should be color-coded red, green, and blue on the back of your TV, although some manufacturers skip the color coding -- as did Viore with its LC37VF55 37-inch LCD TV (starting at $498, Amazon
Budget LCD TVs may also have S-video and composite inputs with which you can connect your TV to older devices, such as a VCR. The video quality of these inputs is pretty low, however, so avoid connecting newer equipment to your TV using these inputs if you can. Many inexpensive LCD TVs, including the Toshiba 37RV525R, also have one or more additional audio outputs so you can connect your TV to an external stereo system to create a home theater or simply to improve the sound.
Low-cost LCD TVs Additional Features.
By far the most valuable aspect of a budget LCD TV is its picture quality, but we found in user reviews of budget LCD TVs that audio quality and remote control are also important to consumers.Cheap LCD TVs are notorious for bad audio quality. There's not a lot of room in a thin TV case to fit high-quality speakers, and in any case, higher-quality speakers would increase the overall cost of the TV. So this is one area where manufacturers tend to skimp a bit. Many budget LCD TVs have a pair of small 10-watt speakers (give or take a couple watts) that tend to sound tinny, and at higher volumes the sound can become pretty distorted; some consumer reviews suggest connecting external speakers to improve the audio. We did find one low-priced LCD television, the Panasonic TC-32LX14, that includes a pair of 20w speakers; several Costco customers note on their LCD TV reviews how much better the speakers sound compared to typical LCD TV speakers.
As far as remote controls go, you want one that's easy to use and can control the TV from odd angles and from the maximum viewing distance. Some cheap LCD TVs have a rather narrow range through which they can pick up signals from the remote control; according to cheap LCD TVs reviews by users on the Circuit City site, the Sceptre X370BV-FHD (starting at $480, Amazon
Note that if you plan to use a "universal" remote control or your cable company's remote to control your TV, you may run into problems. Some of the cheaper, lesser-known brands of LCD TVs aren't compatible with some cable or universal remote controls. For example, we came across a Viore LC37VF55 37-inch TV (starting at $498, Amazon
What to Expect: Cheap LCD Televisions Performance
Manufacturers are so busy introducing new cheap LCD TVs that expert reviewers can barely keep up, so we've focused our research on consumer reviews. We found that budget shoppers looking for a low-priced LCD TV have pretty high expectations for their inexpensive sets. Buyers generally express satisfaction with the picture quality of their cheap TVs, although there are plenty of exceptions. And, even when users are satisfied with the picture quality they often find other things to nitpick, such as the audio quality or design of the remote control. In a few cases, shoppers experience some pretty serious problems with their inexpensive LCD TVs.
Low-priced LCD TVs Picture Quality.
Many shoppers are able to find good deals on inexpensive 1080p LCD TVs and subsequently rave about the picture quality, regardless whether they're watching a TV show or movie, streaming video, or downloading from a camcorder or digital camera.For example, more than 200 LCD TV reviews by Walmart customers give ringing endorsements for the Vizio VOJ32 32-inch, with its 1080p resolution; customers are impressed with the deep blacks, vibrant whites and colors, generally "stunning" picture quality, and value-to-price ratio. Rich colors, sharp images, and multiple menu options for tweaking the display to your personal liking make many owners of the LG 32LH30-UA happy viewers, according to LCD television reviews on Best Buy and Amazon. They note the pleasure of watching sports and Blu-ray movies and the fun of gaming with the LG 32LH30-UA, as well as its service as a computer monitor; one consumer also writes on Newegg.com that you can view the screen from almost any angle without any distortion. The Toshiba 37RV525R likewise garners positive assessments from LCD reviewers on Buzzillions and Amazon who like the blacks, the bright images, and the matte screen; a Best Buy customer says this model scores with gamers. Another budget model, the Panasonic Viera TC-32LX14, likewise earns points with users for good color and contrast, clear picture, and all the necessary detail for gaming and sporting events -- even with its 720p resolution -- according to posts on the company website, on Associated Content.com, and on Lcdtvbuyingguide.com.
In the bargain 40- and 42-inch market segment, several models stand out. Vizio�s 42-inch SV420M (starting at $797) has a 120Hz refresh rate that distinguishes it from most budget units. And owners notice the difference; 42- inch LCD reviews on the Walmart site mention the smooth, clear images and absence of pixilation when watching fast-paced content like sports or movies. Picture quality on the 40-inch RCA L40FHD41 TV (starting at $598) satisfies Walmart shoppers but gets a hedged endorsement from Televisioninfo.com, which says this model is a good deal for value-conscious shoppers despite picture quality that doesn�t quite match what you get at double the price with a Samsung.
But you don't necessarily need a cheap TV with 1080p to enjoy the high-def view. One customer posting an LCD TV review on Target, for example, says the 32-inch Vizio VW32LHDTV40A with 720p (starting at $430, Amazon
For all the glowing comments about budget LCD TVs, some shoppers encounter irritating and infuriating problems with their sets. Numerous Walmart customers, for example, complain in their LCD television reviews that Emerson's LC320EMX 32-inch LCD TV (starting at $348, Amazon
Cheap LCD TVs Miscellaneous Features.
Aside from the obvious concern about picture quality, owners of budget LCD TVs have opinions about, and experience with, a variety of other important features. As with many electronics, there were several cases where little things caught customers' attention, usually not for the better. For example, some Walmart customers note that Olevia's 237T 37-inch TV (starting at $478, Amazon) has a blue LED for the on/off switch that stays on even when the TV is off, which can be a nuisance, especially if the TV is in a bedroom. An LCD review on Newegg.com notes that it can be difficult to manually add or delete channels on the Panasonic Viera TC-L32C12 (starting at $399, Amazon
) and another user at the same site says the set could use another HDMI and component input. Although many Best Buy customers appreciate the low, low price of the Dynex DX-L42-10A 42-inch LCD TV (starting at $500), several note the set�s sound is not good at all, even by LCD TV standards.
Consumers do have positive things to say about seemingly trivial matters. A Walmart shopper mentions that Vizio's VO37LHDTV20A 37-inch model at (starting at $528, Amazon
Our final word.
It's more challenging to find a good quality budget LCD TV than it is to shop for other types of electronics simply because of the huge number of brands and models out there. But if you know which features to look for, finding a great deal on a TV is much easier. Warm up your DVD player and your PS3. You're about to take TV watching to a whole new level. Back to top »
Best Cheap LCD TVs
Vizio VOJ32 (32 inch)
With a 1080p resolution and plenty of HDMI ports to keep you connected to all your high-def devices, Vizio's 32-inch VOJ32 receives glowing reviews from consumers, who also appreciate its bargain price.
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LG 32LH30-UA (32 inch)
Consumers rave about how gorgeous Blu-ray movies and games look on the LG 32LH30-UA, with its 1080p resolution and 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio; a bit pricey for a 32-inch budget model and no comment from LG on the set's static contrast ratio.
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Vizio SV420M (42 Inch)
Vizio's 42-inch SV420M has a 120Hz refresh rate, which is uncommon on models in this price range, four HDMI inputs rather than the usual three, and two component inputs; customers report very good video quality.
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Panasonic TC-L42U12 (42 inch)
A 42-inch, 1080p Panasonic set with three HDMI ports, two component inputs, a PC input, and a 15,000:1 contrast ratio; buyers give a thumbs up for its picture quality and have few, if any, complaints.
Cheap Deals| $699 at Best Buy |
Good Cheap LCD TVs
Toshiba 37RV525R (37 inch)
This 37-inch model from Toshiba doesn't cost much more than a 32-inch budget set and features 1080p resolution, three HDMI ports, two component inputs, and a PC input in case you'd like to tackle those spreadsheets in high-def; users like the easy set up, matte screen, and bright image.
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Panasonic Viera TC-32LX14 (32 inch)
A 32-inch model from Panasonic with only 720p resolution, which is high enough for satisfied consumers who praise the clear picture and bright color; this set has three HDMI ports and is price-competitive with off-brand models.
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Dynex DX-L42-10A (42 inch)
A rock-bottom price on this set from Best Buy and good picture quality considering its low cost; some customers grumble about sound quality but that's hardly unusual among budget LCD TVs.
Cheap Deals|
$599 at Best Buy |
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Cheap photo frame
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Don't Bother Cheap LCD TVs
Emerson LC320EMX (32 inch)
The price for this model from Emerson may seem like a huge bargain, but numerous consumers complain about quality issues, with several noting the set stopped working within one to two years and others griping about picture quality and lack of compatibility with universal remotes.
Sceptre X370BV-FHD (37 inch)
Although some users like the picture quality of this TV from Sceptre, many complain about dead pixels and other reliability problems.
Toshiba Regza 40XV645U (40 inch)
Looks good on paper, with three HDMI inputs, two component inputs, and a 120Hz refresh rate, but expert reviews note this 1080p TV has mediocre color reproduction and a tendency to produce undesirable color artifacts.
Products Mentioned in This Review
Emerson LC320EMX (32 inch)Sceptre X370BV-FHD (37 inch)
Toshiba Regza 40XV645U (40 inch)
Sceptre X400BV-FHD (40 inch)
Toshiba 37RV525R (37 inch)
Panasonic Viera TC-32LX14 (32 inch)
Dynex DX-L42-10A (42 inch)
RCA L40FHD41 (40 inch)
Vizio VOJ32 (32 inch)
LG 32LH30-UA (32 inch)
Vizio SV420M (42 Inch)
Panasonic TC-L42U12 (42 inch)
