Consumer Reports' top televisions for the Super Bowl
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Sales on televisions leading up to the Super Bowl can offer big savings. Consumers can expect to shave about 19 percent off the cost of a TV, according to research firm Market Track.
If it has been a while since you've purchased a new TV, Consumer Reports has tips to help you score the best set for watching sports. Testers in Consumer Reports' labs size up hundreds of TVs every year.
If you're buying a TV for your Super Bowl party at home, Consumer Reports says a screen that's at least 50 inches or larger is a good size for a crowd. Also important is a set that delivers a wide viewing angle.
"When you're watching a big game with a crowd of friends, not everyone is going to get that great seat front and center. One of the issues with some LCD and LED TVs is that the picture can start to look washed out when you view it from an angle," said Jim Willcox with Consumer Reports.
Something else to consider is how well the TV can handle fast action. These patterns help testers evaluate motion.
"Most TVs do fine with motion, but sports is one of the types of content that can really stress a TV's ability to present fast-moving scenes without the image blurring," Willcox said.
Testers also evaluate whether the TV's sound is clear and loud enough, without distortion.
Consumer Reports says the 55-inch Sony Bravia delivers excellent sound, and it gets top marks for its ultra high-definition 4-K picture quality. It costs $2,800.
"This year's Super Bowl is not being broadcast in 4-K, but it's still going to look great on this set. And this TV will have you future-proofed for when more 4-K content becomes available," Willcox.
If you don't care about ultra high-definition, the 55-inch Panasonic Viera is a Consumer Reports Best Buy for $700.
