Best LED for the money?

^^^I'd suggest you check out this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1234663

Specifically, scroll down to the video of CR's 3D tv tests. The two Samsung model, like the Sammys you're considering, are edge-lit LED sets. The last half of the video illustrates the clouding and off-angle viewing problems most of these suffer from.

Backlit LED or CCFL backlit sets don't seem to suffer as much from clouding as the edge lit models, though the off-angle problem may still exist on many models.

The Samsung B8500 model is local-dimming and back lit, should be much better than the edge lit sets and is very highly regarded.

If your gaming includes a lot of FPS games or others particularly affected by processing lag in a tv set go for a Sharp or LG in an LCD or for even faster response a Panny plasma.

I think the 55LH90 is a pretty good value if you aren't too bothered by its appearance. Something like the 55LE8500 might be quite a bit better, but it's also much more expensive.

If you play a lot of games go with the LH90, it has very low input lag.

Check Sears.com for pricing on the Sharp LC52LE700UN. I own one. Hard to beat the price point. I like mine. I got my local Sears to make good on the web price after I had already purchased the unit 2 weeks earlier at the local Sears. They gave me 600 back.

if gaming is important to you and you want a LED local dimming set the LG LG90 will perform the best due to lower input lag.

the XBR8 will have the best picture and the B8500 will beat the LH90 as well

otherwise your talking about edge lit LED models and there is not much advantage to those vs standard CCFL LCD's in fact the LED models have some disadvantages like a lower color gamut for example

As Schmeg pointed out the Sharp LC52LE700UN LED is by far the cheapest 52" out if you buy from Sears.

I think you'll be really happy with that set. That's one of the best consumer displays that I've come across. Congratulations on the new TV!

toshiba. sv670, if you can still get one

Smart move!
That's the one I got too; I really don't think you will find a better picture on the market.

For me the biggest advantage of the lh90 was the matte screen. All of the samsungs and the toshiba 670 are very reflective. Cnet gave the lh90 very good review but one thing that didnt make much sense to me if im remembering the review correctly was that he knocked it for off axis viewing. I have looked at the lh90 a lot over the last couple of weeks and compared it to just about everything else and the lh90 ive seen had excellent off axis viewing. There is very little wash out at all even at extreme angles. Most of the other lgs seem to be about the same including the lh40. lh50, lh55 etc.. I have also seen the toshiba 650 series which looks very similiar to the lgs from the side, probably due to it also using an ips panel?

I know to many off axis viewing isnt as important as other things but if it is i would go with the lg.