Plasma TV is the starting point for a superior home-theater experience, and it’s more affordable than ever. Pacific Media Associates, a California-based price-tracking firm, reports that the average in-store price of plasma TVs has dropped 22% over the past year. That makes plasma TVs competitive with higher-end LCDTVs, and it has also brought larger plasma screen sizes into the reach of consumers. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy a plasma TV, then it’s time to start shopping (see also HDTV Buying Guide, HDTV Front Projector Buying Guide, LCD TV Buying Guide, Rear Projection TV Buying Guide).
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Plasma TVs offer larger screen sizes and a higher picture quality than LCDTVs. The brighter picture of a plasma TV is viewable from a wide angle and can be watched in a brighter room. Plasma TVs look their best from a longer distance than cathode or rear-projection sets.
Image Burn
Static images from video games and TV broadcasts can be permanently etched into the pixels of a plasma TV. If a video game console will be used with the television, it’s best to avoid a plasma set.
Say Yes to 1080p
Although this high-resolution HDTV format isn’t in use yet, it’s a wise investment if you want to get the most out of your plasma TV investment in the coming years.
Additional Features
Extra HDMI inputs are a must, and a built-in QAM cable tuner may reduce the number of remotes you need to use your plasma TV. Don’t pay more for advanced sound if you’re using a surround-sound system at home, and only pay extra for picture-in-picture if you need the feature.
Leave Installation to the Pros
Plasma TVs are heavy and their screens are fragile. Unless you’re an experienced builder, have your plasma TV professionally installed on a load-bearing exterior wall with a VESA-compliant mount.
We recommend the Panasonic TH-42PX77U 42-Inch Plasma Television. For less than $2,500, you�ll enjoy native 1080i resolution. Deep blacks provide excellent shadow detail during dark scenes, while brilliant whites allow this plasma to render bright scenes with vivid realism. This widescreen TV features a 16:9 ratio similar to movie theater screens, providing a theater-like experience at home.The ...
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We recommend the Panasonic TH-42PX77U 42-Inch Plasma Television. For less than $2,500, you�ll enjoy native 1080i resolution. Deep blacks provide excellent shadow detail during dark scenes, while brilliant whites allow this plasma to render bright scenes with vivid realism. This widescreen TV features a 16:9 ratio similar to movie theater screens, providing a theater-like experience at home.The 42-inch screen is coated with an antiglare compound that really helps attenuate ambient light, giving it similar reflective properties to an LCD.
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CNET - “Antiglare screen reduces reflections; produces deep blacks with excellent shadow detail; accurate initial color temperature; slick styling. Deep black levels and a new antiglare screen make the 50-inch Panasonic TH-50PX77U Plasma TV one of the top choices among plasma HDTVs.” Source: CNET.com
HDTV Lounge - “The Pioneer PDP-5080HD Plasma TV is the mid size 50-inch Kuro which offers a 1366×768 pixel resolution for 720p and 1080i HD and uses Pioneer’s very latest technology for very impressive black levels and colors along with ASIC video processing for both optimal HD and SD image quality.” Source: HDTVlounge.net
PC World - User reviews at PC World rank the Samsung 50-inch Widescreen HP-T5064 Plasma HDTV “superior”, saying “straight out of the box the picture quality was great. The menu structure for picture adjustments was easy to use and simple to manage,” and “I spent hours and hours on-line researching Best Plasma TV's for the money and Samsung HP-T5064 came out first….no question it’s one of the best in its class.” Source: PC World
hot buzzWhat's the latest in the world of plasma televisions?
Panasonic, the best-selling brand of plasma televisions by Matushita, aims to reduce the power consumption of its plasma sets by about 20 percent per year, says Hiro Wada at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Germany – September 2007 Source: Reuters
Plasma TV prices are coming down, and in the range of $1,000 to $1,500, you’ll find sets up to 42” in size. The best values in this range are smaller plasma TVs with built-in ATSC tuners and 1080i native resolution. Good Pick: Vizio P42 Plasma HDTV
You can get plasma TVs up to 60” in the range from $1,500 to $3,000, but again you’ll find the most feature-rich plasma TVs have smaller screens. Plasma TVs in this price range should have a built-in ATSC tuner and multiple HDMI or Composite Video inputs, with HDMI preferable in the long run. Look for high contrast ratios and 1080i native resolution. Good Pick: Panasonic TH-50PX600U
The biggest of the big plasma TVs await at prices over $3,000. While you can get a 60-inch plasma TV for less, high-end models will provide a sharper picture, 1080p resolution for those who demand it, and sophisticated filters to correct edges and reduce digital artifacts. These are the plasma TVs that fill the dreams of videophiles. Good Pick: Pioneer PDP-6070HD
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
ATSC Tuner
A built-in tuner that can receive digital television signals over the air.
Comb Filter
A physical or software filter that reduces objectionable color patterns that can cause strobing or color bleed.
Contrast Ratio
The difference between the brightest white and darkest black pixels in a plasma TV display. A higher contrast ratio delivers a sharper picture.
EDTV
Enhanced definition television. This is the 480p display format used on some plasma TVs. Although the picture is superior to standard display television (SDTV, which appears as a 480i picture), it’s not considered “true” high-definition television (HDTV).
HDMI Inputs
High-Definition Multimedia Interface is the new standard for connecting high-definition components. It uses a single cable package and can carry more data than other types of connectors.
NTSC Tuner
An analog television tuner that allows a plasma TV to receive standard broadcast television signals.
QAM Tuner
A built-in tuner that can decode cable signals. This tuner will not provide free cable channels, but it may allow you to bypass the cable box and control channels directly from the plasma TV’s remote.
As Plasma tv prices continue to drop going full 1080p is now an affordable option. Both the Panasonic Pro and Pioneer PDP series displays are great options. They offer the deepest blacks and best overall value in the 42-50in space.
