Best plasma TVs
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
9.1 Spectacular (reviewed 9/30/08)
The Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD represents the pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality.
Read review of the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD
Panasonic TH-50PZ800U
8.7 Excellent (reviewed 5/23/08)
With the accuracy of its THX mode and great black-level performance, the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U is one of the best-performing HDTVs available.
Read review of the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U
Pioneer PDP-5020FD
8.4 Excellent (reviewed 7/18/08)
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.
Read review of the Pioneer PDP-5020FD
Panasonic TH-50PX850U
8.3 Excellent (reviewed 7/1/08)
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.
Read review of the Panasonic TH-50PX850U
Samsung PN50A650
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 8/27/08)
Although its black levels aren't the deepest, accurate color and a red frame still distinguish the Samsung PN50A650 from the pack.
Read review of the Samsung PN50A650
Samsung PN50A550
8.0 Excellent (reviewed 4/14/08)
Accurate color helps set apart the excellent picture quality of the Samsung PN50A550 50-inch plasma TV.
Read review of the Samsung PN50A550
Panasonic TH-46PZ85U
7.7 Very good (reviewed 4/17/08)
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.
Read review of the Panasonic TH-46PZ85U
LG 60PG60
7.6 Very good (reviewed 9/23/08)
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.
Read review of the LG 60PG60
LG 50PG60
7.6 Very good (reviewed 6/12/08)
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.
Read review of the LG 50PG60
Panasonic TH-42PX80U
7.3 Very good (reviewed 4/30/08)
Panasonic's TH-42PX80U 42-inch plasma sets the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level plasma TVs.
Read review of the Panasonic TH-42PX80U
Samsung PN63A760
7.2 Very good (reviewed 10/31/08)
The Samsung PN63A760 brings a huge feature set and enormously different styling, but its picture quality fell short of the tough competition.
Read review of the Samsung PN63A760