(Nov 17, 2008)
David Katzmaier
Senior Editor
Your wife or significant other doesn't want to fill the living room with a boxy rear-projector, yet you still want a big picture. Welcome to the perfect compromise: an inches-thick flat plasma display. These panels can handle all your video needs, including HDTV, DVD, standard-def TV and often computers too. Plasma TVs are still more-expensive than rear-projection sets, but they're getting more affordable all the time and usually cost less than flat-panel LCDs at similar screen sizes. And can you really put a price on domestic bliss?
Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD
The Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD represents the pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality.
Price: $3,795.00 - $4,999.98 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 30, 2008
Outstanding
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Panasonic TH-50PZ800U
With the accuracy of its THX mode and great black-level performance, the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U is one of the best-performing HDTVs available.
Price: $1,763.99 - $2,499.99 (check prices)
Review date: May 23, 2008
Excellent
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Pioneer PDP-5020FD
Best-in-class black levels and excellent all-around performance places the Pioneer PDP-5020FD near the top of the picture quality heap, but it will cost you.
Price: $2,149.00 - $4,000.00 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 18, 2008
Excellent
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Panasonic TH-50PX850U
The Panasonic TH-50PZ850U's color accuracy issues prevent it from topping the high-end plasma TV heap, but excellent picture quality and unique interactive features maintain its appeal.
Price: $2,008.18 - $2,999.97 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 1, 2008
Excellent
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Samsung PN50A650
Although its black levels aren't the deepest, accurate color and a red frame still distinguish the Samsung PN50A650 from the pack.
Price: $1,495.95 - $2,299.99 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 27, 2008
Excellent
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Samsung PN50A550
Accurate color helps set apart the excellent picture quality of the Samsung PN50A550 50-inch plasma TV.
Price: $1,179.95 - $2,199.99 (check prices)
Review date: Apr 14, 2008
Excellent
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Panasonic TH-46PZ85U
A couple of issues keep its picture out of the top tier, but excellent black-level performance still makes the Panasonic TH-46PZ85U plasma TV stand out from the pack.
Price: $1,219.99 - $1,899.99 (check prices)
Review date: Apr 17, 2008
Very good
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LG 60PG60
Although its THX mode isn't as accurate as we'd like to see, the massive LG 60PG60 60-inch plasma TV still delivers a good picture.
Price: $2,783.13 - $3,799.98 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 23, 2008
Very good
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LG 50PG60
Although its THX mode isn't as accurate as we'd like to see, the LG 50PG60 50-inch plasma TV still delivers a good picture.
Price: $1,699.97 - $2,499.98 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 12, 2008
Very good
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Panasonic TH-42PX80U
Panasonic's TH-42PX80U 42-inch plasma sets the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level plasma TVs.
Price: $674.99 - $999.99 (check prices)
Review date: Apr 30, 2008
Very good
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Samsung PN63A760
The Samsung PN63A760 brings a huge feature set and enormously different styling, but its picture quality fell short of the tough competition.
Price: $4,398.00 - $5,499.00 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 31, 2008
Very good
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