2013 Flagship TV Shootout

[Smokey]

Every year, televisioninfo.com does falgship TV face off where they put top of line TV against each to see which one will be crown the TV of the year.

This years contenders are:

Samsung UN55F8000BF ($2,829.99): Samsung's flagship LCD is a direct descendent of last year's ES8000; the 2013 variant is a quad-core equipped, replete with motion and voice commands, a built-in camera, and one of the slickest TV designs to date.

Sony Bravia KDL-55W900A ($3,299.99): While Sony's true flagship is the UHD X900A, the W900A is the company's top-of-the-line 1080p product this year. Sony has married a unique, attractive design with a high-quality picture to bolster this TV's allure. Our tests further revealed perfectly saturated colors, a decent black level, and impressive motion performance.

Samsung PN60F8500 ($3,149.00): Samsung's F8500 is a perfect poster child for plasma superiority; yet it also hedges out a special place in our hearts as one of the brightest plasma displays ever made. With a black level out-of-reach of LCDs, plenty of brightness, and all of the smarts of its LCD counterpart, the F8500 offers the best of both worlds.

Panasonic Viera TC-P65ZT60 65 inches ($4,099.99): Panasonic's ZT60 is a heavy, home theater-bound beast with a meat-and-potatoes sort of design. The ZT60 flaunts the largest contrast ratio we've ever tested, a fathomless black level, and a full array of specialist controls.

The Winner:

The winner of the 2013 Flagship Shootout is the Panasonic ZT60.


The four thousand dollar ZT60 is a big investment, but offers the absolute best picture quality on the market right now. Its black level is the deepest, its contrast ratio the highest, and its colors the purest right out of the box. With proper calibration, it's practically a gift from TV heaven.

For more detail of how each TV performed:

2013 Flagship TV Shootout - TelevisionInfo.com

[blackraven]

I have seen the Samsung 8500 series plasma and the Panny ZT side by side and the SS had a nicer picture and smoother motion. The SS had it beat but they were pretty darn close. You could not go wrong with either on. The Panny VT series is close behind. Both TV's pale in comparison to the new Sony 4K TV which has amazing realism, depth and color. You can get right up on it and not make out the pixels. If a 4K TV ever comes down to the $2K price range I will be the first to buy one. Right now the Sony 4K sells for about $4500 and blows the SS and Panny out of the water.

By the way, those prices listed are way inflated, for example the un55f8000 can be had for $1,765

[Smokey]

Both TV's pale in comparison to the new Sony 4K TV which has amazing realism, depth and color.

It be also interesting to know how these flagship TVs stack up against new OLED LCD that hitting the market right now. If I had a choice, I go with OLED rather than 4k TV

[blackraven]

It be also interesting to know how these flagship TVs stack up against new OLED LCD that hitting the market right now. If I had a choice, I go with OLED rather than 4k TV

I haven't seen an OLED TV but I can't imagine any better picture than the Sony 4K. You should take a trip to Best Buy just to see it. By the way, the price of the 55" has come down to $3900.

[Feanor]

I haven't seen an OLED TV but I can't imagine any better picture than the Sony 4K. You should take a trip to Best Buy just to see it. By the way, the price of the 55" has come down to $3900.

Wow, that's heavy bread for a TV. Far more that I can imagine ever paying.

Around here XS Cargo this week is advertising Samsung 55" LEDs (refurbished) for $699.98 -- more my speed.

[Smokey]

I haven't seen an OLED TV but I can't imagine any better picture than the Sony 4K.

I agree that Sony 4k will yeild superiour picture if fed true 4k source, but it be interesting to see how it compete with OLED TV other than having higher resolution. OLED supposedly (at least on the paper) will address all of shortcomings of LCD TVs which Sony 4K LCD might still be suffering from.

Ofcourse our converstion will be mute if [promised] OLED technology fall to deliver

Around here XS Cargo this week is advertising Samsung 55" LEDs (refurbished) for $699.98 -- more my speed.

TLC brand which is well established Chinese TV manufacture seem to be making headway into western market with TVs that have gotten good reviews. With much lower price than Samsung or LG LCD TVs. So you want to consider that option also.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I have seen the Samsung 8500 series plasma and the Panny ZT side by side and the SS had a nicer picture and smoother motion. The SS had it beat but they were pretty darn close. You could not go wrong with either on. The Panny VT series is close behind. Both TV's pale in comparison to the new Sony 4K TV which has amazing realism, depth and color. You can get right up on it and not make out the pixels. If a 4K TV ever comes down to the $2K price range I will be the first to buy one. Right now the Sony 4K sells for about $4500 and blows the SS and Panny out of the water.

By the way, those prices listed are way inflated, for example the un55f8000 can be had for $1,765

CNET tested Panasonic ZT60 and said it was the best set they ever tested. That includes beating the Sammy's with a black level of .0012 versus the Sammy's .0017. Both are really good sets, and I am trying to make up my mind which to get in the near future.

Without software, or a software pipeline, I am not sold on any 4K set just yet. When they start rolling out 4K content, I am looking hard at the Sony right now.

[blackraven]

CNET tested Panasonic ZT60 and said it was the best set they ever tested. That includes beating the Sammy's with a black level of .0012 versus the Sammy's .0017. Both are really good sets, and I am trying to make up my mind which to get in the near future.

Without software, or a software pipeline, I am not sold on any 4K set just yet. When they start rolling out 4K content, I am looking hard at the Sony right now.

Both are excellent and its a coin flip. The SS is brighter and would be better for a bright room. Motion just looked a bit smoother in the SS. I would be fine with either on. The Panny VT model is also excellent and just a notch below both the SS and VT but not by much.

As far as 4K goes, the picture is not to be believed but it is as you say, where is the 4K content and is there bandwidth to support its wide spread use.

[topspeed]

Both are excellent and its a coin flip. The SS is brighter and would be better for a bright room. Motion just looked a bit smoother in the SS.

That is the exact reason I went with the Sammy. I've got huge windows not only down the length of the side wall but also behind me. It's essentially the opposite of an ideal home theater viewing environment. It came down to the Sammys retina searing brightness that was simply a better fit for my room. The Sony was fantastic as well although I felt the Sammy was slightly better at motion blur and let's face it, the zero bezel is sexy as hell. As for the voice and gesture controls, they're both crap, but the 3D is surprisingly effective if tiresome after awhile.