Toshiba 26HL66 26-Inch Diagonal TheaterWide 16:9 Integrated HD LCD TV
September 2006 Consumer Reports 26" LCD HDTV Top Rated
I've been spending time seriously researching which LCD HDTV I'm going to buy. My choices are between the Sony 26S2000, Panasonic 26LX600, Samsung LN-S2641D, Sharp 26SH20U and Toshiba 26HL66. <br /> <br />I'm a Sony fan, owned several of their TVs over the years and been pretty happy. I was leaning that way again - my last TV was a wonderful 23\\" Sony LCD HDTV that I gave to a close friend because she didn't have a TV and I wanted a slightly larger model with HDMI anyway. I know most people now pass over the 26\\" and go for the 32\\" but the smaller size suits my small living room which I don't want to make a screening room!  <br /> <br />However the recent Consumer Reports (that I personally respect a lot in the absence of any other thorough independent comparative study I can get my hands on) on the new crop of LCD HDTVs put my Sony preference on hold because the Toshiba is TOP RATED in both the 26\\" and 32\\" categories. I spent some time looking at these models over the weekend and my decision is almost made. The Toshiba picture looks great - better than the Sony (though it's hard to tell in a TV store where everything is on an HD feed).  <br /> <br />So with Consumer Reports ratings and analysis placing the Toshiba ahead by 3 points overall, actual design and price comes more into play - and I have to hand it to the Toshiba! The Sony looks pretty dull and a bit too plastic (I know they all are made of the stuff!) whereas the Toshiba ironically looks pretty cool because it seems to have taken it's styling cues from Sony's highly desirable XBR line! BTW  <br /> <br />I didn't include the XBR in my quest because it's much more than I can afford - though of course I lust after it. But for some $300 less, the Toshiba may well prove to be an excellent top rated XBR substitute. In fact it's the least expensive of all the other models I mentioned in this review.