Best looking HDTV out there - not picture, but rather the bezel
By Matt Burns 
posted Jul 25th 2006 10:41AM
posted Jul 25th 2006 10:41AM
We have a question for all of you. When you are shopping for a HDTV, how much does the overall aesthetics of the set matter to you. We aren't talking about the picture here but rather the bezel. (the plastic casing around the screen) Seriously, is this a big thing for you or do you just care about the image quality. That's fine if you do, but why? This thing is going sharing the same living room as you so the looks must matter some.
So this brings us to our main question. What HDTV looks the best - when it is turned off that is? Personally, I like Panasonic's new rear-projection LCD/DLPs. I think they look nice and clean but still like a TV. So what HDTV have you seen lately, or of the past, that just looks great?
I'm a fan of the Sharp Aquos line of LCDs. While on the pedestals, the set look like art pieces and should not be hung on walls.
I love the way the Pioneer 4270 plasma looks - although I think the UK 436RXE looks better with its rounded edges (hopefully that design cue will come across the pond). For me, you could wrap just about anything in a black piano gloss finish and I'll buy it. The room where I watch it in doesn't create any distracting reflections off the bezel, so the glossy goodness isn't a problem, at least for me. I find I'm generally pretty focused with what's going on the screen anyway, and besides, uncless you plan on shining a flashlight at the bezel, that problem with gloss finishes is overrated.
I really like the look of the Sony SXRDs. I know a lot of people hate the dumbo ears but cabinet space isn't an issue for me and the side speakers make the set look even larger than what it really is.
I own two flat panel LCD tv's and I must admit that the aesthetics played a big part in my decision making. Both of them are hanging on the wall with all wires running behind the wall. I like a tv with a thin bezel and I will not buy a flat panel unless the speakers are either removable or built into a thin bezel. Minimilism is key for me. I can't stand big hunkin' speakers on a tv when I won't be using them anyway.
Picture quality, size/technology, and connectivity should be the main issues when selecting a tv, but you want to have a set that you are proud to have in your home, even when it's turned off. Within budget of course!
sony lcd xbr2 and 3 coming out in september - making the LCDs look a lot like sony's xbr plasma with the glass surround but with 1080 p - i'm waiting for those to come out.
I love the look of the Pioneer Plasma's w/ the piano gloss black and I like the look of the Sharp Aquos. I have a 50" Pioneer Plasma and a 32" Sharp LCD. The reason I bought both of these is a combination of their beautiful look and excellent performance w/ many types of sources.
The look I (and my wife) like the best is when I s down my projector and roll my screen up into the ceiling. Now that is a clean look.
I'm so glad someone finally asked the question. My main intent when selecting a plasma screen was to find one that had outstanding picture quality and good looking bezel. I didn't want silver with inferior speakers attached or built in. I was looking for a monitor (no speakers) and the color had to be black. The only answer: Pioneer Elite PRO-810HD 43". Of course, there are others now that have taken it's place, but I think there is still one Elite model.
Sony Bravias are beautiful to look at, definately aesthetics play a huge role in my future hdtv purchase.
I look at the bezel as a deciding factor but the picture or picture capabilities once the display has been through an ISF calibration. With all that said, I own the Samsung HLR series DLP display, but I like the newer HLS DLP displays and Samsung plasma displays with the piano black finished bezels.
Sony's new BRAVIA XBR2 and XBR3 LCDs. Hands down.
pioneer (any of them) - without speakers ofcourse.
fujitsu
hitachi ( i love their lack of plastic, and use of brushed metal)
and i love samsungs new black or white plastic bezels .
I like the thin black bezel on my Samsung DLP and the shiny metal buttons. The look of HP's is pretty good too.
Picture is very important, but if the quality is the same or very close then form factor becomes very important.
Samsung DLP with speakers on the bottom, thin black bezel around the screen...for main system.
For a plasma I'm likeing the speakers on the side, ala hitachi.