When you turn off your flat-panel TV, it becomes a black hole in the wall. Here’s how to hide it away when you’re not watching.

My friend Steve just bought a large flat-panel TV and mounted it to the wall. He assumed his wife would love the sleek look, but she’s not happy with the way the TV becomes a “piece of black glass that’s just hanging there” when it’s not in use. It seems like she wishes the TV would just go away when they’re not watching it. Luckily for Steve, it doesn’t take any magic at all to make that happen.

With claims of decreased motion blur, better detail, world peace, and smoother motion, LCD manufacturers are drastically increasing refresh rates. But why?

First it was 120 Hz. Now it’s 240 Hz. Already manufacturers are talking about 480 Hz. I mean, 60 Hz is so 20th century. Are there really any advantages to these faster refresh rates? If so, how do they work?

Our 10 Best Gear Awards

The best gear of the year.

Plasma Poseur

Within minutes of setting up Samsung’s top-line 46” LCD HDTV (they also offer a 55” version), I knew that this was no ordinary LCD flat-panel, as the picture quality, with just a few picture control adjustments, looked startlingly un-LCD-like and much more reminiscent of what I’m used to seeing with better plasma sets.

Using local dimming LEDs, Sony KDL-46XBR8 gives a run at the title of best flat-panel ever. But does it take the crown?

The promise of local dimming LEDs is a simple one: significantly increase the contrast ratio of LCDs.
Using said technology, this Sony KDL-46XBR8 can create a near absolute black. So dark in fact, its contrast ratio is not measurable by standard test equipment. It can be called infinite. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

When less is more

Established just five years ago, NuVision has steadily expanded their line of premium flat panel HDTVs and are now offering this, their first LED-powered model, the 55-inch NVU55FX5LS (40- and 46-inch models are also available).

240 IS GO! Samsung lights up the sides and slides into 240 Hz with the svelte UN46B8000.

This thing is gorgeous, and I haven’t even turned it on yet. Über-thin—I think it’s two dimensional.

Amazingly, the attractiveness of this set is only one of its claims to fame.

Mitsubishi takes a different approach to TV audio.

Many attribute the emergence of the sound bar as a surround sound alternative to the popularity of flat-panel TVs, as consumers clamored for sleek audio packages to suit their sleek new TVs.

Given that the two genres are intricately linked, it’s surprising that we’re just now seeing the first instance of a high-end TV manufacturer incorporating a five-in-one sound bar into a TV. The manufacturer is Mitsubishi, and the TV is the new 52-inch, 1080p LT-52149.