here are a lot of LCD TV models out there. Finding the best one may not be an easy task, however. Don’t stress yourself, we are here to help you! We have compiled a list with the best LCD TVs measuring 37, 40 and 42 inch. Whether you want an LCD HDTV for your bedroom or for your living room, these top rated LCD TVs will offer great picture quality. Some of them offer the best picture quality you can get from an LCD TV in this size class, their high price matching the quality. If you don’t have a big budget to work with, there are some cheaper models that still offer great quality.
A few things worth mentioning:
- All of these models have 1080p resolution. If you have a limited budget, at the bottom of this list we also present 720p models. Though you may not see any difference between 1080p vs 720p from where you’re sitting, the 1080p models are better not just because of the resolution. They actually have better picture quality.
- There is no clear winner. That means, there are more LCD TVs that are the best in each price class. Some excel at something while others are good at something else. It is your task to choose the best based on your personal preferences and what is more important for you.
- You get what you pay for. The more expensive an LCD TV is the better its performances. This is not a rule though, some LCD TV being more expensive just because they have more features, some of which may actually be useless for you.
- Not all have the same size. It seems manufacturers are very flexible when it comes to LCD screen sizes. Some build 42 inch models, while others build 40 inch or even smaller 37 inch LCDs. We can consider them, however, to be in the same size class.
Top of Best LCD HDTV Models - 40 & 42 inch
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Sony KDL-40XBR6
Sony KDL-40XBR6 is one of the best LCD TVs in this size class. It measures 40 inch and comes with a ful-HD 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This LCD TV has great back levels and colors. It also has plenty of connectivity options and handles glare like a champ. Another great thing about it is the price. It is somewhat expensive, though considering the quality you get it is worth the money.
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Samsung LN40A650
Samsung LN40A650 is, in terms of picture quality, comparable with Sony KDL-40XBR6. LN40A650 has 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and superb picture quality. The deep black levels and accurate colors make a great picture. Compared to KDL-40XBR6, it has slightly poorer performances when it comes to light glare. Relativelly expensive, but as you might know, quality has its price.
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Samsung LN40A750
Samsung LN40A750 is one of the LCD TVs that offer a huge feature set. Its picture quality is as great as that of LN40A650, but on top of that you get a lot of extra features. Those fancy features, though cool to have, also increase the price a bit. It is up to you to decide between LN40A750 and LN40A650. As I said, when referring strictly to picture quality, the offer the same performances.
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Samsung LN40A550
Take Samsung LN40A750 or LN40A650, strip out all the fancy features and you get LN40A550. Though it lacks 120Hz it isn’t a big deal. Also, everything else required for a great picture is there. You will get superb black levels and accurate colors, and because of the lack of fancy features it is quite cheap compared to its brothers.
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Sony KDL-40Z4100
The picture quality doesn’t match the one offered by models in Sony’s XBR6 series (KDL-40XBR6). Samsung models presented above are also better in terms of picture quality and especially when it comes to black levels. With all that, Sony KDL-40Z4100 remains a top choice if you want to buy one of the best LCD TVs around. It also has 120Hz refresh rate, which will be useful with 1080p/24 sources.
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Sony KDL-40W4100
The picture quality is not as great as the one found in the LCD TVs at the top of this list. The viewing angle is anything but impressive, a really visible drop in quality being noticed when you watch from one side. Anti-glare performance is good, however. Sony KDL-40W4100 is also one of the cheapest LCD TVs that have 120Hz refresh rate.
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LG 42LG60
The picture quality offered by LG 42LG60, though not the best, is very good. The black levels are good, colors are pretty accurate (though you need to calibrate it) and it has 120Hz refresh rate. Its screen does a good job at resisting light reflections (glare). Considering its performances, the price is a bit high. Just a bit.
Best Cheap LCD TV Models in This Size Class
Basically, if you really want to go cheaper, you can only do that by trading quality for a smaller price. You will have to go for a 720p model, and all of them are inferior in terms of picture quality to any of the models above. One that we recommend is LG 42LG30. If you want 1080p though, a cheaper (but still good) LCD TV is Westinghouse VK-40F580D which even has a bundled DVD player. The Westinghouse VK-40F580D, though a bit more expensive than LG’s 42LG30 offers a better value - it has the DVD player, 1080p resolution and also a better picture quality.
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