When looking for a HD ready TV, there are plenty of manufacturers that can supply a whole range of products. Some you may not have heard of while others are well-known names, with Samsung and LG in the latter category.

Samsung Electronics claims it is 'arguably' the world's largest manufacturer of TVs. In fact, it reckons it is the market leader in more than sixty electronic products and by 2005 had become the leading manufacturer of LCD panels, having designed its first one in 1995.

Among Samsung's many products is a wide range of HD ready TVs that are promised to come with the best build quality and best picture quality, with most sets having a glossy black finish. Many TVs in the range are LCD panels and vary in size from small portables through to home theatre giants. This type of display is being superseded to some degree by LED TVs that are slimmer and give better picture quality with deeper blacks and more vibrant colours. Samsung's plasma TVs are especially recommended for sports fans since they are best suited to handle fast paced action.

The company's 50 inch HD ready plasma TV, for example, is claimed to have twice the frame rate of a conventional set. Its 100 Hz Motion Plus technology promises to deliver smooth action scenes at all times and it has plenty of connectors (including three HDMI connectors), dual speakers and a built-in DVB-T freeview tuner.

Samsung's latest venture is into 3D, with the launch of what it claims is the world's first 3D FHD LED. It has, in fact, got a range of 3D TVs with LCD, LED and plasma panels ranging from 40 to 63 inch screen sizes.

LG Electronics was founded in 1958 and it aims to be a global top three electronics and telecommunications company by 2010. It launched its first HD LCD TV in 2007 and its HD TVs promise a superior picture, with four times more detail and ten times the sound quality of DVD.

LG's range of HD ready TVs includes LCD, LED and plasma sets with a broad choice of widescreen sizes and a host of features and prices. All its TVs in the UK come with Digital Freeview that gives access to over forty TV and radio channels plus an eight day programme guide and access to digital interactive services. There's also built-in Bluetooth technology to provide a wireless link for mobile phones, headsets and other devices.

Many of LG's sets have its Intelligent Sensor technology, which can automatically adjust the brightness, sharpness, colour and contrast settings depending on the TV's current environment. This is claimed to reduce eye strain and save up to 69 percent in power consumption. A USB 2.0 port is available to upload audio and pictures.