For the Sports / TV Fanatic:

• Samsung UN55B8500 55” LED  (Amazon Link)
  

Over the past few years, Samsung have really come out of the gate and grabbed the bull by the horns with precision in the LCD flat-panel department.  This quality has carried over into LED territory (essentially an enhanced varietal of LCD), prominently with this particular 55” set.  The UN55B8500 comes with 240hz technology integrated in the mix for enhanced motion quality, along with the spectacular LED panel’s capacity for rich black levels – a dynamic contrast ratio upwards of a staggering 7,000,000:1 – and 2-millisecond response time.  On top of that, it also integrated DLNA device communication, internet integration with Media 2.0 and Amazon OnDemand, as well as a hefty amount of aesthetic appeal with its ultra-slim 1.2” width.  It requires a meaty investment, but the quality back it up.

• Sharp Aquos LC60E77UN 60” LCD  (Amazon Link)
  

Far be it for Sharp to allow the LED/LCD market to progress without their foot in the door, resulting in this 60” entry into the market.  Sporting 120hz motion control and 4-millisecond response time within Sharp’s exquisite Advanced TFT Panel, this larger-scaped LCD panel relies on the company’s legacy of fine craftsmanship under to hood to speak for itself – with little in the way of bells and whistles, aside from a PC input to the rear. Though it doesn’t carry the same 240hz tech made available in other pricier panels, the size and build more than make up for that meager boost for sports material.

• LG 55LH90 55” Backlit LED  (Amazon Link)
  

Surprisingly, LG’s entry into the backlit LED tech, the 240hz 55LH90, barrels out of the pack as one of the sleeker, higher-quality entries of the bunch.  The value that quickly comes to light when you look at its product specs is an astonishing 2.7-millisecond response time, that atop its rather striking DeepColor capacity and exquisite 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.  This series of panels, which also includes the lower-tier 42LH90 and 47LH90, impressed with their quality at CEDIA 2009 – and continue to do so on retail shelves.