Sony KDL-46XBR8

Reviewers heap praise on the Sony XBR8 series of LCD TVs, which includes the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8, though almost everyone balks at their price. Still, if you can afford the very best in picture quality, these TVs are superior to all other LCD TVs and most plasma TVs as well. The Sony XBR8s use an LED backlight and local dimming to produce black levels that are the deepest of any TV short of the now discontinued Pioneer Kuro plasma TVs. Colors are also first-rate, and there are loads of picture controls for those who like to tinker. A faster refresh rate (120 Hz) to reduce motion blur and anti-judder circuitry for smooth playback of movies are among the many appealing features.

The wide-spaced speakers provide sound that's above average, but some people don't like the fact that they can't be detached and make the TV appear wider. Energy efficiency isn't terrible, but it's far surpassed by most current LCD TVs, such as the 46-inch Samsung UN46B7000 (*Est. $2,300). That Samsung LCD TV also sports an LED backlight, though its black levels are just a hair lighter. If you have a more modest budget, the Samsung LN46B750 (*Est. $1,650) uses a conventional backlight but still delivers great colors, deep blacks and an even faster (240 Hz) refresh rate. Sony also offers the XBR8 in a 55-inch screen size as the Sony Bravia KDL-55XBR8 (*Est. $4,500).

Reviews of Sony's XBR8 series of TVs are plentiful, led by PCMag.com, which offers an in-depth and testing-based report of the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8. ConsumerReports.org also includes the TV in its latest round of tests. Other reviewers -- including CNET, Sound & Vision and Playback magazine -- provide nicely detailed reports of the 55-inch version of the TV, which should perform similarly. A small handful of user reviews are available at Amazon.com.