LED LCD high-definition televisions come in a wide range of sizes. The quality of many of the new LED LCD TVs is very good to excellent. Choose a good LED LCD HDTV carefully and you will enjoy a cinematic experience like you never experienced before.

Best LED LCD TVs – What to look for

Your first step is to decide what size LCD TV best fits the room where it will be viewed. A screen that is too large for the viewing distance will not give a good experience. TV images look better and more natural when you are seated at least 5 feet from a 40-to-47-inch set displaying good-quality HD content — and at least of 6 feet from a 50-inch or larger TV.

Brand names. The field of LCD TV electronics is changing rapidly, Brands that were tops a few years ago may not be the top brands today. Check the specifications. Look for 1080p, LED backlighting for controlled dimming, contrast ratio, and other features.

LED backlighting. Manufacturers have come out with several methods of providing the internal light that powers the screen and produces the color. Local dimming LED (light-emitting diode) LCDs provide excellent results. Each group of LEDs lights only a small portion of the screen allowing finer-grain control of blacks and colors. The larger the number of “dimming zones,” the better the result.

Internet-connected HDTV. Streaming content over the Internet represents the future for TV content. Make sure your new HDTV can access Internet content as seamlessly and easily as possible.

3D capability. First generation mass consumer LCDs are now available with 3D but they are somewhat more costly. You will generally have to use special glasses. And 3D content is very limited at present.

In-store comparison shopping. On one of your shopping trips, look at the HDTVs on display. You can begin to get a sense of brand names, sizes, and picture quality. But be careful! Here’s what to watch out for:

• Lighting and picture quality. TV sets are sometimes adjusted for the bright fluorescent lights of the sales floor to give the image more contrast. When viewed in darkness of your home living room, the contrast may be quite different. Keep in mind that you want high contrast, good color, and sharp resolution. A matte screen surface will prevent most of the distracting reflections that are inherent in shiny screens on many TVs.
• Brands sold by retailer. Not all LCD brands are sold by department stores, TV and appliance stores, or even large electronic stores. Brands sold by any particular retailer depend on manufacturers’ preferred sales channels and retailers’ buying policies. For example, one of the best new LCD brands is VIZIO, which has chosen to use discount channels like Costco and Sams as its primary in-store channels. VIZIOs may not be seen in many department stores and small stores.
• Special sales. You may find good sales in stores, but be careful. Retailers may be pushing last year’s models before the new models come out. You may be o.k. with that, or you may want the features on new models.
• Salesperson pitches. Listen to salespersons but be aware that their personal or store preferences may color their comments.

Budget. Once you get an idea of the features you are looking for and decide on your budget, begin to narrow down your choices.

Online comparison shopping. You can literally go from store to store online. Compare brands. Check prices, Read buyer’s reviews. Comments by people who bought and used the products can be revealing. Remember shipping costs, which will add to the cost of a big-screen TV purchased online, or look for a free-shipping offer.

Consumer reports. You can purchase print magazines that provide information on LED dimming and reviews of LED LCD TVs. You can also check out ConsumerReports.org, for expert product reviews, and CNET which provide expert reviews of consumer electronic equipment.

Product reviews. Other expert online authors offer their own review and opinions on best LCD TVs.

Price. Look for the best value for your money. You know your budget, You know the features you would like to have. Look for big sales. Look for online coupons. Choose wisely.

Consider VIZIO. They make top-quality, feature-rich LED LCD HDTVs and sell them at value prices. Consider buying your VIZIO from Costco or Amazon.

VIZIO is now #1 in LED Backlit HDTVs in North America. For a large-screen LED LCD HDTV, the 55-inch VIZIO XVT553SV HDTV has been getting highly favorable reviews. It provides the best value for your money. I believe it is the best new LED LCD HDTV available today. It comes with Internet Apps so you can easily view Internet streaming movies, TV shows, music, the latest news, sports and weather. For a list of available apps, visit VIZIO Internet Apps.