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Consumer Reports Tests Big Screens Ahead Of Your Super Bowl Party

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Steelers won't be in the Super Bowl this year, but chances are you'll still watch the game.

And because of the Super Bowl - no matter the teams in it - this is the time of year many people think about buying a new TV.

You can save up to 20 percent on some sets, but with so many options, how do you know which is the best deal?

A sports bar is a great place to watch your favorite sporting event.

But 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.

Testers in Consumer Reports' labs size up hundreds of TVs every year.

Also important, 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 Wilcox, of Consumer Reports.

Another consideration, how well the TV can handle fast action.

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," Wilcox said.

And testers evaluate whether the TV's sound is clear and loud enough, without distortion.

The 55-inch Sony Bravia delivers excellent sound, and it gets top marks for ultra high-definition 4K picture quality. It costs $2,800.

"This year's Super Bowl is not being broadcast in 4K, but it's still going to look great on this set. And this TV will have you future-proofed for when more 4K content becomes available," Wilcox said.

If you don't care about ultra high-definition, the 55-inch Panasonic Viera is a Consumer Reports Best Buy for $700.

While you'll see big sales of televisions leading up to the Super Bowl, Consumer Reports says you'll get even better deals in late February and early March as stores clear out older sets to make way for new ones.

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