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Best Reviewed Plasma TVs

Best Reviewed:

Big Screen Plasma - Panasonic VIERA TH-58PZ800U (around $2, 750)

Reports say that Panasonic's PZ800U plasma TVs (including the 58-inch Panasonic VIERA TH-58PZ800U) deliver some of the best images of any plasma TV available today. This set is noteworthy for earning THX display certification and including a calibrated THX Movie Mode that automatically adjusts critical picture settings to deliver a movie theater-level viewing experience at home. Reports add that colors in the THX mode are among the most accurate of any display using any technology, and black levels are nearly the deepest available, combine to produce first-class images. If you want a 58-inch screen, but are on a tighter budget, the Samsung PN58A550 (around $2, 450) bears consideration. Blacks aren't quite as deep, but color performance, video processing and noise reduction all add up to fine picture quality. Ease of use is another plus.

The Good:

• Has THX mode, making picture adjustments easy
• Good black levels
• Very accurate colors
• Four HDMI inputs

The Bad:

• Only a so-so performer when THX mode is not used
• Some plasma TVs produce deeper black levels
• 24p mode introduces flicker

50 inch Plasma - Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD (around $2, 500)

While the 50-inch Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD falls a very tiny hair short of the revered Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-111FD (around $5, 000) in some ways, it delivers an image that's nearly every bit as good for about half the price. Even those who find some misses in technical perfection say that the TVs rich colors and deep blacks - the deepest of any TV - make them largely irrelevant in the face of what everyone says is a breathtaking image. Tons of features and one of the best anti-reflective screens for a plasma TV round out its advantages. For those with a smaller budget, the 50-inch Panasonic TH-50PZ800U (around $2, 050) offers black levels that nearly match those of the PDP-5020FD, with the bonus of THX certification and a special mode that recreates the experience of watching a movie in a theater. And if you aren't too picky, the 50-inch Samsung PN50A550 (around $1, 450) is an excellent value, though it does have a glare-prone screen.

The Good:

• Best black levels of any TV
• Rich colors
• Tons of features
• Great anti-reflective screen

The Bad:

• Expensive
• Color accuracy is not technically perfect
• Some common picture controls are missing

Budget 50 inch Plasma - Samsung PN50A550 (around $1, 450)

Though some other highly rated plasma TVs have deeper blacks, most critics and users say that the 50-inch Samsung PN50A550 has one of the best overall pictures of any HDTV. Although the blacks are not the best available and the anti-reflective screen is a step behind the competition, those shortfalls are largely trumped by outstanding color accuracy and much better than average video processing. If you want great colors AND super-deep blacks, the Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ800U (around $2, 050) tells a compelling story. However, that THX Display certified TV is also notably more expensive. If you demand deep blacks and can live with colors that look great, but are a little less accurate, the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U (around $2, 000) might be worth considering as well. A 58-inch version, the Samsung PN58A550 (around $2, 450) is also available, and experts say it should perform comparably.

The Good:

• Very good overall picture quality
• Accurate colors
• Good processing with few picture flaws
• Inexpensive for a 50-inch plasma TV

The Bad:

• Black levels not as good as Panasonic or Pioneer
• Screen glare can be a problem
• Blacks sometimes wash out

42 inch Plasma - Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX80U (around $725)

While some budget plasma TVs are less expensive, the 42-inch Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX80U delivers a great picture for its price. The 720p resolution falls short of the 1080p resolution offered by more expensive plasma TVs, but it is still high resolution, and experts say that at normal seating distances, the benefits of 1080p can't really be seen in a 42-inch screen anyway. Some picture flaws are noted, but those are more than offset by the overall quality and great black levels. If you want the same picture quality and relative value as the TH-42PX80U but in a larger screen size, experts say that the 50-inch Panasonic VIERA TH-50PX80U (around $1, 000) should perform similarly.

The Good:

• Excellent value
• Great picture quality, particularly with black levels
• Can display photos through SD card slot
• Includes features to minimize temporary image retention

The Bad:

• Doesn't have the highest resolution (though still high-def)
• Color accuracy and noise reduction falls short of best plasma TVs
• Fewer image adjustments than competition
• Screen glare can be a problem

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