Not the best black levels (still okay, but definitely worse than some others), but excellent colours. Great for daytime viewing, wouldn't recommend it if it's going to be used primarily in the dark. Better off with a MVA/PVA LCD panel or a Plasma in that case, IMO. Any recommendations in the 600 dollar range? I've looked at a Samsung LN40D630 http://www.samsung.c.../LN40D630M3FXZA but at $650 its starting to stretch the budget a little bit. But if its worlds better I can spare the fifty bucks I guess. When you are talking panel size of 46" or smaller there are not many "junk" tv's out there. It really comes down to what you plan on doing with the tv. If you are viewing tv under normal conditions your first pick will be fine. If you are looking toward theater that is another story. It will be mainly normal viewing but will also use it as a monitor and htpc functions. Then either one will work fine. My personal preference would be the panny, but I am not a sammy fan though. Thank you, I have looked at sony's also but they keep changing their lineup and the one I liked is getting hard to get they are also on the more expensive side. Guess its time to go to the store again and look at the pictures. When is comes to LCD Sony is my choice, HX and XBR are the Sony lines to look at. Wasn't one of those lines, it was a EX500.