Pioneer PDP-70HD - First Take

The PDP-70HD series consists of three plasma TVs: the 42-inch PDP-4270HD, the 50-inch PDP-5070HD, and the 60-inch PDP-6070HD. The two larger sets share the same native resolution of 1,365x768, while the smaller PDP-4270HD has a native resolution of 1,024x768. While all the sets are considered true HDTVs, only the two larger sets can display every detail of 720p material. We've completed a full review of the PDP-5070HD, which performed excellently and earned our Editors' Choice award.

Since we haven't reviewed either the PDP-4270HD or the PDP-6070HD, we can't comment on their individual performance, but we believe the performance of the PDP-5070HD is a good indicator. In terms of connectivity, all three sets share similar features, with two HDMI inputs, three component-video inputs (two rear, one side), and an analog VGA-style PC input. All three sets also feature a built-in HDTV tuner and a CableCard slot, so you can receive both over-the-air HDTV and digital cable without an external set-top box. The PDP-4270HD, PDP-5070HD, and PDP-6070HD are all currently available with list prices of $3,500, $4,500, and $7,000, respectively.