Top 10 Plasma TVs (USA)

Plasma high-definition TVs are currently one of the most sought after items in the consumer electronics market. Unlike the bulky tube predecessors, plasmas come in much slimmer bodies and gargantuan screens. To aid new and old consumers on the best plasma TVs available in the market today, below is our top 10 plasma TV’s list we’ve compiled based on popularity and reviews.

Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD

Definitely high-end but worth it, the KURO line of Pioneer product boasts of the true black - not ‘dark gray or bluish black’ black- in HDTV’s today. With the largest screen in the KURO line, infused with bright, breathtaking colors, and built with anti-reflective screen, the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD makes TV watching a truly new experience. Stark and clean black rectangle frame with removable speakers at the bottom makes this awesome plasma TV perfect for hardcore videophiles.

Samsung PN50A760

Even though LCD TVs are currently outshining plasma TVs in the world of HDTV, plasma TVs are still a good choice. In fact, plasma TVs still have better black colors and have wider viewing angles compared to LCD TVs. One product that shines pretty bright is the Samsung PN50A760.

Panasonic TC-P50G10

Many new models of HDTVs today are similar to the lower numbered models with just a few added touches. Some may have a new look. Others may have a new feature, while those with ground breaking technology usually come with a hefty price tag. The Panasonic TC-P50G10, though, comes with so many new features that make it stand out on its own. In addition, these new features come with a price tag that many people would find agreeable.

Panasonic TH-50PZ700U

One of the highest rated HDTV’s that came out last year, the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U boasts of the deepest rendering of blacks when it was released (though now surpassed by newer plasmas). Superb picture quality and razor-sharp details, along with accurate colors and excellent de-interlacing capability, make this HDTV a great choice for discriminating buyers who are willing to pay for performance. Downsides of this flat-panel HDTV include limited connectivity and adjustability, and no picture-in-picture capability.

Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD

Kid brother of the topnotch KURO PDP-6020FD, this smaller version surely doesn’t disappoint. The KURO PDP-5020FD also boasts of the deepest black in all HDTV’s in the spectrum, though the same inaccuracies in the primary colors persist in this version. The pricey-ness persists too, but with accurate color decoding, great anti-reflective screen and multiple connectivity options- including streaming files over home networks, the price is well worth it, particularly for hardcore videophiles.

 

Pioneer PDP-6010FD

When the KURO PDP-6010FD was released last year, it promptly went up the top in terms of popularity and good reviews. And this is for good reason: massive screen size, superb black depth with impressive shadow details, 1080p native resolution, minimal picture noise, smooth video processing, stylish minimalist design and full connectivity options. Even with the advent of newer TVs in its class, the PDP-6010FD remains one of the most sought plasma HDTVs around more than a year after its release.

Panasonic TH-50PX600U

A fine performing HDTV, with an impressive black rendering and high quality sound output. This is one of the earlier plasmas and it was considered one of the best during its time, but undoubtedly, newer releases from the same company (like TH-50PZ700U) and competitors have overshadowed it. Still, its superb high-definition outputs vis-à-vis black and primary colors, and image sharpness make it a good HDTV even today. The fact that its price is lower than the higher-end products that are coming out adds to its attractiveness.

Samsung PN50A650

Main plasma TV in Samsung’s arsenal, the PN50A650 has black levels that are better than most HDTV’s and superb color accuracy. The manufacturer has two versions of this TV, the PN50A650 is the Touch of Color version while PN50A550 is in plain black frame. The PN50A650 has a subtle touch of red in its frame, an excellent anti-glare filter, nicely rounded corners, hidden speakers and stylish swivel stand - making it the perfect HDTV set for smaller rooms. The redesigned remotes of Samsung TVs also make TV viewing a lot better experience.

Samsung PN50A550

A member of Samsung’s plasma family, this HDTV is just a notch lower than the higher-end flagship model - the PN50A650. Thus, it is basically the same product, with just a couple of features missing: Infolink connectivity and the new 2008 chassis. The audio system is also less powerful in this set, and the number of HDMI ports is reduced to just three. But since there is no remarkable difference indicated vis-à-vis black depth, color accuracy, video decoding and other image clarity parameters, expect this set to basically perform as well as its more expensive cousin.

Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ85U

At the top of the Panasonic plasma tier, the Viera TH-46PZ85U created some buzz when it was released early 2008. With an impressive black-level performance that is unparalleled at the time, this and a slew of other HDTVs enabled Panasonic to corner a large chunk of the plasma market. Other nice features that added to its appeal include the excellent anti-reflective screen that minimizes ambient light, excellent picture quality, modern styling using a glossy black bezel, and superb standard-definition video processing. Downsides of this set are high cost, poor noise reduction and over-saturation of some primary colors.

LG 60PG60

One of the few HDTVs with official THX display certification, LG 60PG60 is also the largest one with that distinction released this year. Sporting essentially the same specs as its 50-in brother, the LG 50PG60: excellent video processing, bountiful features and connectivity options, and sleek, modern design. The downsides are also the same - less than natural blacks, less than average color decoding and inability to tweak the THX mode. Still, with its massive size and great picture clarity, the LG 60PG60 performs well enough to be included in this list.

Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U

Reviews say that this HDTV set delivers a great bang for the buck and it certainly do. Relatively inexpensive, the Viera TH-42PX80U is the prime entry-level gadget for those with limited budget. And cheap doesn’t necessarily mean mediocre - this HDTV offers incomparable shades of black in its price range, accurate initial color temperature, multiple connectivity options and a beautiful exterior. However, the TV set lacks VGA port, has poor noise reduction, and it has some problems in colour decoding, particularly red and green.

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With the planned adoption of digital only television broadcasts in the US by 2009 (2011 in Canada), consumers necessarily must switch to digital televisions or put in place devices or connections (such as cable or off-the-air tuners) to be able to receive digital television signals. For this reason, consumers who still have not switched to HDTVs must now start looking at these new gadgets, for sooner or later, these will inevitably become part of everyone’s life.