Panasonic Viera VT60 Series

Panasonic Viera VT60 Series

Display

The main reason to own a plasma TV is because you are looking for the very best video quality. The Panasonic Viera VT60 is one of the best-looking TVs on the market. This smart 3D plasma TV has a full 1920 x 1280 HD screen. The contrast ratio is excellent, separating the colors for vibrant video images. Many of the best plasma TVs now include active 3D viewing technology, and this TV is no exception. Even your 3D videos will be in full HD.

Another benefit of plasma TVs over their LED and LCD counterparts is how smooth the picture can look. This plasma TV touts a 3000 focused-field drive. This drive is what sends the electrical pulses to each pixel to make them flash. The faster the drive, the smoother and cleaner the picture will be. This drive is slightly better (by a slim margin) then the competition. This is important because fast-moving video such as live sports and video games, can suffer from motion blurring. The 3000 focused-field drive all but eliminates the motion-blur effect.

Features

The Viera's features are one of the best things about this line of Panasonic TVs. The Panasonic Viera VT60 has them in spades. The built-in Wi-Fi is not standard on all smart TVs – just the best of the best. It is nice because you don't have to connect your TV and router with a long Ethernet cable (an Ethernet port is provided) to access the internet. Just set your TV up on your wireless network and you can be web browsing on your TV in no time. But that's not all. You can use the internet connection to access apps such as Facebook, YouTube and Netflix for your convenience as well. You can do all your internet browsing on your large plasma screen.

This TV is more than just a smart, internet-ready TV. This plasma display is also interactive. You can use the voice interaction feature to navigate your TV's menus. By stating simple voice commands, you can perform operations such as changing the settings on your plasma TV. There is even a text-to-speech function so that your TV can verbalize on-screen content from webpages for you. The Panasonic Viera VT60's facial recognition can recognize different members of your family and automatically log them in to their personalized home screen. This is a timesaver if you all use different apps.

Connections

Home entertainment setups need more than just a plasma TV nowadays. We all have devices that we need to connect to our plasma screens to really immerse ourselves in the home theater experience. Blu-ray players, video game systems, and satellite or cable boxes can all deliver rich HD content now, but with so many different devices, you need a lot of connections to hook them all up. The Viera VT60 has three HDMI inputs that will be your primary connections for most these devices. It also sports both a composite and component port in case you have older, non-HD capable equipment. This plasma TV should have enough features and functionality to complete your home entertainment system.

Help & Support

To become one of the best plasma TV brands, Panasonic does a lot to keep its consumers happy. First, Panasonic offer an average one-year parts and labor warranty, which is on par with the competition. Panasonic also has a variety of different customer service options, in case you run into trouble or just have questions about your big-ticket purchase.

You have two options for personal assistance – the toll-free telephone number or live chat with an operator on your computer. If you don't need immediate assistance or if it is after hours, you can look through Panasonic's FAQ section for an answer, or email your inquiry. Panasonic has interactive ways to speak with a representative and gives you many ways to find help if you need it.

LG 3D LED 55LB7200

LG 3D LED 55LB7200

Display & Audio

A great picture is a necessity in the best 3D TVs. Most passive 3D sets (as compared with active 3D) find slight degradation of picture quality when converting 2D to 3D content. Passive 3D splits the picture in two – a left-eye image and right-eye image – so the glasses can combine the images to make the screen 3D. Highlighted on this LG TV is the IPS Panel. LG is one of the world leader’s in panel manufacturing and many store brand TVs use LG panels in their TVs. The IPS Panel produces a crisp clean picture for this 3D LED TV. Full 1920x1080 high definition looks vibrant and 3D content looks clean without many problems like ghosting. Ghosting is when part of the split image shows up on one side when it should only show up on the other side, almost like seeing a 3D image. Lower-end 3D TVs will have this problem, but this LB series of LG TVs is top-notch and the Cinema 3D technology is one of the best.

Features

The Cinema 3D technology on the LG Smart 3D LED TV is one of the best in the business. It comes with four pairs of 3D glasses, while most others only come with two. The 3D imagery on this screen is vibrant. You can control how much 3D you get on this TV with depth control. With this feature you can heighten or lessen the 3D appearance on the screen. Cinema 3D also includes sounds; the LG speakers “zoom” sound. LG’s 3D Sound Zooming technology, which uses complex algorithms to project sounds at various ‘depths’ to match the depth of multiple 3D visual elements. This adds to an immersive realism for your theater system.

One of the more innovative features is the 3D split screen for gaming. Each player can wear glasses and see only their player on the screen, while hiding the other player. Both players see the full screen, eliminating the need for the traditional split screen.

Another notable feature on this TV is the built-in web features. You can connect your TV to the internet using a hard line or Wi-Fi. This TV has smart TV features that give access to features such as Facebook, YouTube, Netflix and Hulu Plus without the need for extra equipment like a Roku or Apple TV. Clicking and accessing content is easy too with LG’s Magic Remote. The remote can be used like a wand; you can point at the content and click. It is easier than scrolling through and using the direction arrows to click on content. Because the remote has voice recognition, you can use simple voice commands.

Connections

With all the equipment that is available to connect to your TV, you will need enough inputs for all of your devices. Although other top 3D TVs have four HDMI ports, this LG TV only has three. It’s not a deal breaker because three is can still support a good number of high-definition devices like Blu-ray players, satellite boxes and game systems.

This TV sports three USB connections, which is more than most other TVs in our 3D TV review. It also has shared component and composite connections for any older or non-HD devices you would like to connect.

Help & Support

The LG company is one of the largest home entertainment companies in the world. It has a large customer service department that can handle support questions live on the telephone or through live chat on its website. If you would like to email LG instead, the website grants you access to its email support team. The website also has a FAQs section and a large customer knowledgebase in case you want to find answers yourself.

Sharp Aquos Q+

Display & Audio

With a native 1920 x 1080p full-HD picture, the Aquos Q+ series displays stunning visuals and adds a cinematic feel to any content you watch. This TV can also upscale content to 4K resolution. With more and more content moving toward ultra-HD resolution, the Aquos Q+ series is built to withstand the future of television evolution.

This TV also has some booming audio. Most built-in speakers for TVs are barely passable, meaning you do not struggle to hear content from the TV but don't get the full cinematic experience that you could get by adding extra audio peripherals to your set. The Sharp Aquos Q+ includes the industry standard of two 10-watt speakers like many of its competitors. This 3D LED TV also adds a pretty powerful 15-watt subwoofer so the TV can hit deeper bass sounds than most of the other best 3D TVs we reviewed. An extra sound system wouldn't hurt, but this TV has better built-in speakers than we've seen on any other 3D TV.

This TV also comes in some of the biggest sizes you can find. The Q+ is available in an 80-, 70- or 60-inch size. Bigger is not always better, though, and unfortunately, 60 inches is the smallest size, which is not ideal for smaller rooms.

Features

The Sharp Aquos Q+ has active 3D technology. Many pundits believe active 3D to be the better version of 3D. Passive 3D has slightly less degradation in picture quality, but the Q+'s active 3D shutter glasses eliminate the degradation found on most passive 3D TV sets. This Sharp LED TV comes with two pairs of Bluetooth 3D glasses. One slight pitfall is that active 3D glasses tend to be more expensive than their passive 3D colleagues. Extra pairs or replacement glasses cost you a little more.

One of the biggest features besides 3D technology that you may be looking for is smart TV functions. This TV does come with built-in Wi-Fi, and you can connect it to the internet through an Ethernet cable. Streaming video is becoming increasingly popular, and you can connect to Netflix, HuluPlus and other streaming apps through your Sharp TV. There's no need for Apple TV or Roku devices connected to your TV, which clears up space and reduces clutter.

Connections

The best 3D LED TVs have plenty of connection ports for you to attach devices such as 3D Blu-ray players, 3D gaming systems like PlayStation 3, or satellite boxes with service that includes a 3D channel to your TV. The Q+'s four individual HDMI ports are helpful because most 3D devices need a high-definition connection. This TV has component and composite connections for older, non-HD equipment as well.

Help & Support

Since Sharp is one of the most well-known companies in the 3D LED TV market, its customer service includes a toll-free number, live chat, email and an online knowledgebase with a FAQs section. With plenty of Sharp customers worldwide, you can connect with other customers in Sharp forums for help with questions as well.

Verbatim Store 'n' Go V3 Max 32GB

Verbatim Store 'n' Go V3 Max 32GB

The Store 'n' Go comes in three different capacities: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. This USB drive has a hard plastic casing, but there is no loop for connecting it to a lanyard or key chain. This pen drive is for general use and is not suitable for rugged exposure or careless transport.

Unlike many USB drives, the Verbatim USB drive does not come with a data-transfer indicator light, online backup or data restoration. An indicator light is helpful if you want to know if the flash drive device is communicating with the host device. You do have the option of downloading password-protection software to safeguard the device or specific files on the device. The software also protects your files with 256-bit AES encryption. Beware that if you incorrectly type in your password 10 times, the EasyLock software erases all encrypted files stored on the drive.

This USB flash drive is compatible with both PCs and Macs. The V3 Max comes with a generous lifetime warranty, which you can view in detail on the company's website. Support documentation, such as the user manual and instructions for the EasyLock password-protection software, are also available online. However, FAQs and community forum information are rather scant on the site. Verbatim does provide technical support via email, telephone and live chat.

Samsung H 7150

Samsung H 7150

Display & Audio

A quality video display is essential in any TV. The better the display, the better 3D content will look. Most HDTVs will have a 1920 x 1280 resolution, and the Samsung follows suit. The best 3D TVs feature deep black levels. Samsung is known for having amazing picture quality. This is one of the many reasons Samsung is an industry giant in the LED television business, and its 3D TV is no different. This high definition screen produces rich colors and deep black levels that are unrivaled by most other companies. When you purchase a TV from the Samsung H series, you're guaranteed one of the best 3D TVs on the market.

Features

The difference between 3D TVs mostly comes down to one thing: 2D to 3D conversion quality. This is your TV's ability to convert 2D video content into a 3D video. The Samsung H7150 is one of the best at this. It takes an incredible amount of processing power to convert a 3D picture in real time. Samsung is one of the few companies known to include a quad-core processor in its TVs. Faster processing power means better 3D conversion.

There are two different ways to display 3D content – active and passive. With active 3D, the glasses quickly shutter the right eye and left eye. The glasses work wirelessly in conjunction with your TV to coordinate when to shutter on and off, and what left side and right images it wants your brain to detect. Most people think this is the best 3D technology because it’s real time and active with the material on the screen. The downfall of these active 3D glasses is that since they are battery operated, they are more expensive than passive 3D glasses that don’t require a battery. Remember to factor this into your budget, in case you need to buy extra sets of 3D glasses.

Superior 3D conversion is only one features of this 3D TV. One big hit with customers is internet connectivity, which allows you to browse the web and use video streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus. There is no need to connect an extra peripheral like a Roku to watch your favorite shows online anymore. You can stay connected with the built-in Wi-Fi on this TV – fewer wires, less clutter.

Connections

Speaking of wires, you will probably have some extra devices you want to plug into this TV. Peripherals like a cable or satellite box, a video game system, a Blu-ray player and a number of other devices will give you access to 2D and 3D content. Hardware that distributes high-definition content will need to be connected with HDMI cables. The Samsung H7150 has an impressive four HDMI ports, which is the highest number of ports we have seen on a 3D TV.

Older peripheral devices and non-HDMI devices need to be connected through a composite or component connection. This TV has one of each, and the composite connection doubles as a second component connection as well. Sound bars can be connected through optical cables or HDMI, and there is an Ethernet port in case you want a hardline connection. This TV has plenty of connections for several devices.

Help & Support

Samsung has a reputation as an industry leader, and it's a brand you can trust based on high customer satisfaction ratings.

Samsung offers an industry-standard one-year warranty on this device. If you need troubleshooting help or have pre-purchase questions, you can call the 24/7 telephone support number, chat online with an operator or send an email. This company offers online manuals and FAQs sections at your disposal anytime as well.

Samsung F8500 Series

Samsung F8500 Series

Display

If a plasma TV does not have a great picture quality, then nothing else the TV offers matters. Fortunately, the Samsung F8500 plasma TV is one of the best in picture quality when it comes to blackness level, resolution and contrast ratio. In our experience, this Samsung plasma screen is better in brightness than others, and the picture sharpness is just a little crisper.

This has deep black levels, important in plasma TVs. Samsung's Real Black Pro filter gives it a contrast panel deeper than most of its competitors. Samsung doesn't publish a specific contrast ratio like the competition, but without a standardized test for all the best plasma brands, the comparing the actual numbers can be misleading. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and the Samsung F8500's picture quality is hard to top in a side-by-side comparison.

The best Samsung plasma TVs have a 600Hz subfield drive, and the Samsung F8500 is no exception. A subfield drive measurement indicates how often the plasma TV sends electrical pulses to the pixels. The 600Hz subfield drive is top of the class, and motion blur is almost nonexistent, so this TV is great for fast moving images, such as sporting events or video games.

Features

The Samsung F8500 has a multitude of features to go along with its great display. This TV puts the smart in smart TV. You can customize your screens to switch between watching TV, watching on-demand movies and shows or using apps. There's even a panel for your personal photos, music and videos. This Samsung plasma has built-in Wi-Fi, and you can connect to the internet for web browsing or to use apps like Facebook, Twitter, Netflix and YouTube, among many others. Some apps are preloaded, and others you can download from Samsung Apps.

This plasma display is also super interactive. It has S-Recommendation technology that lets you use the voice activation feature to ask your TV to perform specific functions like finding a certain show. Just speak into the remote and S-Recommendation will do the rest for you. Not only that, because of the built in camera on the F8500, you can also use hand gestures to interact and give commands to your smart TV. You can even use the built-in camera with the Skype app to talk to your friends and family.

Connections

For the complete home theater experience, you will need to connect all your devices to your plasma TV. Blu-ray players, game systems like the Playstation 3 and your cable or satellite box are all capable of showing HD content; however, if your TV doesn't have enough HDMI ports to house them all, you may find yourself constantly plugging and unplugging cables. The Samsung F8500 has four HDMI ports, the most we've seen on any plasma TV. It's doubtful you will need more than four ports for all your home theater devices, and with this TV, you won't have to make a decision of what you'd like hooked to your beautiful plasma display.

Older composite and component connections are still be available on this television. It also sports two USB ports, which are great if you need to hook in a peripheral such as a wireless keyboard. If you have flash drives with family photos on them, and would like to share them using your plasma TV, USB ports are great for that too. There's also a LAN port if you don't want to use the built-in Wi-Fi.

Help & Support

In our experiences, Samsung's customer support was very helpful, thorough and friendly. Samsung is one of the best plasma TV brands because it offers a variety of ways to contact the company if you run into a problem. You have the option of chatting with a representative through a toll-free number or with the live chat option. You can also email the support team a question if you don't want to speak with a live operator.

LaCie RuggedKey 3.0 32GB

LaCie RuggedKey 3.0 32GB

The RuggedKey has some definite strengths and weaknesses in its performance. While it averaged a good sequential read speed of 182MBps in our testing, it only managed 36.7MBps for its sequential write speed. That's the slowest write speed on our lineup. This means that, while transferring files to the USB flash drive feels fairly snappy, moving files off of the RuggedKey is much slower.

The RuggedKey's 4K random read and write performance isn't anything to be excited about. At 5.5MBps, the 4K read speed is decent, but its 4K write speed is terrible, averaging a mere 0.1MBps. This is a poor choice if you want to run applications or an operating system off of a flash drive.

LaCie bills the RuggedKey as being secure from the inside out. That's because it is one of the best USB sticks for keeping your data confidential. The included security software offers encryption, and it allows you to create a password-protected folder on the drive to store private information. Additionally, LaCie offers free, secure cloud backup or storage from Wuala. The amount of cloud space you get is equal to the storage capacity of the drive you purchased – if you buy a 16GB USB flash drive, you get 16GB of free storage. Wuala also has a mobile app from which you can access your files.

The thick rubber that protects the drive doubles as its cap, and when it's not connected to a USB port, you slide the drive back in so it is surrounded by the protective casing. This is a great feature for making the flash drive durable, but it's not ideal if you tend to lose caps. The drive itself is metal and comes attached to its own key ring.