Best Bargains for a Super Bowl TV
Insignia NS-43D420NA16
The 43-inch Insignia NS-43D420NA16 1080p TV is a bare-bones TV. However, this Best Buy house brand set delivers on the basics: very good high-definition picture quality, plus a wider-than-average viewing angle. It's not a smart TV with built-in access to online content, but then again this Super Bowl TV costs only $270 right now at Best Buy. If you want streaming, you can add a stick-style media device, such as a Chromecast or Roku Stick, for as little as $35.
Vizio E48-C2
Vizio earned its reputation (and market share) by offering TVs at lower prices than the other major brands, and the Vizio 48-inch E48-C2 1080p LED LCD TV follows that strategy. The set, which is in Vizio's entry-level E series, delivers excellent high-definition picture quality and a wider-than-average viewing angle. It has a lot of features for the money, including the company's smart TV service. But its sound was only fair, so if you want to bring the game's bone-crunching action into your living room, consider adding a sound bar speaker.
Philips 55PFL6900
The 55-inch Philips 55PFL6900 UHD LED LCD TV offers very good high-definition picture quality and excellent UHD performance, all at a low price for a 4K set. It also has a wider-than-average viewing angle for an LCD set. The only real downside to this set (the first UHD set we've tested from this brand) is that we did see some noticeable blurring on test patterns, though it might not be as obvious on real-world programs. Shop around, as we've seen this set's price range from $550 to $900. Yes, $550 for a 55-inch 4K TV!
Vizio E60-C3
The Vizio 60-inch E60-C3, a 1080p LED LCD TV, is another winner offered at a great price for a set this size. The TV boasts excellent high-definition picture quality and a lot of features, but its sound was once again only fair. (Vizio sound bars speakers have typically done well in our sound bar speaker Ratings.) If you're looking for a slightly larger set for your Super Bowl TV, the Vizio E65-C3, which sells for about $930, also has excellent HD picture quality.
Sony Bravia KDL-55W800C
The 55-inch Sony KDL-W800C LED LCD TV is a 1080p set, but it's in the company's flagship full HD line, so it's loaded with features. More importantly, it delivers excellent high-definition picture quality. (Its 3D, though, isn't so hot if you care about that feature.) The TV's sound is only average, but you can connect to an optional wireless subwoofer if you're hankering for deeper bass. We've seen this set sell for as little as $580 recently.
LG 60LF6100
The 60-inch LG 60LF6100 1080p LED LCD TV has very good high-definition picture quality, though it lacks the usual wider-than-average viewing angle we see on most LG sets. (This TV is in the model series just below the LF6300-series sets.) Although it doesn't come with LG's cool gesture-based Magic Remote, you can buy the remote control as an option and use it with set.
Vizio M55-C2
Yes, another 4K set for less than $800. The Vizio M55-C2 55-inch LED LCD-based UHD TV delivers excellent high-definition picture quality, plus a full-array LED backlight with zones that can be locally dimmed, meaning that some areas of the screen can be darkened while others remain lit, helping improve contrast. It also does a good job of handling motion blur. Like most Vizio sets, this is a smart TV with a lot of features for the price, making it an ideal Super Bowl TV.
Samsung UN60J6200
The 60-inch Samsung UN60J6200 1080p LED LCD TV, a model in the series just below the J6300 sets, delivers very good high-definition picture quality, and it's among the better sets at reducing motion blur. It's a bit more basic than the JS6300-series sets, and it has only two HDMI inputs, fewer than most sets this size.
Samsung UN60JU6500
The 60-inch Samsung UN60JU6500 UHD LCD TV, in its mainstream UHD series for 2015, delivers excellent high-definition picture quality and UHD performance. It also does a very nice of reducing motion blur in fast-moving scenes. In many ways it's like the JU6700-series sets, except with a flat, rather than curved, screen.
LG 60UF7700
If you're willing to trade a few features—such as 3D, a Harman Kardon sound system, and the fancier super-slim bezel design—in exchange for a lower price, then the 60-inch LG 60UF700 UHD LCD TV might fit the bill. It has very good high-definition picture quality, very good UHD performance, and a wider-than-average viewing angle for an LCD TV.
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