Introduction A lot of people are ready to sound the death knoll for plasma, asserting that the technology won’t be able to keep pace with LCD, in price or volume, over the long term. Rather than try to compete with LCD in a price war, companies like Pioneer and Hitachi are positioning their plasma HDTVs as higher-end luxury items. Panasonic, meanwhile, has chosen to remain in the mid- and entry-level rings and duke it out with LCD. They landed a good punch when they became the first plasma maker to offer a true 1920 x 1080 resolution at the 42-inch screen size, a category where LCD held a clear advantage. The benefits of 1080p at this screen size are questionable at best – at least in terms of how much resolution the eye can actually see from a normal viewing distance ...

The Basics: Hitachi was one of the first manufacturers to introduce 1080 plasma models to the market in 2007. Some of them, including this 60-inch model, have a 1920 x 1080 resolution; however, the use of a special panel technology called ALiS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) causes these TVs to perform more like a 1080i panel. Only alternate rows can be illuminated at the same time, so you never see the full progressive 1080-line signal on the screen. The Director Series signifies Hitachi’s highest-end models, and this TV is loaded with features. It employs Hitachi’s Reel60 technology, which functions similarly to 120Hz to reduce the appearance of judder and render smoother movement with film sources. The connection panel includes three HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel), two HD-capable component video inputs, both RS-232 and IR blasters for more advanced ...

The Basics: LG offers both plasma and LCD HDTVs, and the 50PY3D was LG’s first 50-inch 1080p plasma. As such, it is priced somewhat higher than several of the company’s 720p 50-inch models. The 50PY3D has a healthy connection panel that includes three HDMI inputs and two component video inputs, all of which accept 1080p/60 and 1080p/24. RS-232 and IR ports allow for integration into a more advanced control system, and there’s a USB port for MP3/JPEG playback. While the video menu does not have an extensive amount of picture adjustments, it does provide direct access to advanced white-balance controls, and it gives you the option to enable LG’s XD processing, with contrast, color and noise settings. The menu also offers several features to counteract the effects of short-term image retention, plus an energy-saving mode that limits light output to reduce power ...

The Basics: Hitachi was one of the first manufacturers to release 42- and 50-inch “1080” plasma models in 2007; however, many of these models do not have full 1920 x 1080 resolution, and all of them use a special panel technology called ALiS (Alternate Lighting of Surfaces) that causes them to perform more like a 1080i panel. The 50-inch P50T501 has a 1280 x 1080 resolution, and only alternate rows can be illuminated at the same time, so you never get a full progressive 1080-line image on the screen.

The Basics: Vizio has established itself as one of the leading providers of reasonably priced LCD and plasma HDTVs. The JV50P is a unique product in the company’s line, as it combines a plasma panel and 5.1-channel audio system to create a more complete home entertainment package for just $1800. The trade-off for that low price is that you don’t get 1080p resolution; this is a 1366 x 768 panel. The JV50P plasma has a healthy connection panel with three HDMI, two component video, and one PC input. The menu includes most of the desirable picture adjustments, such as preset picture modes and color temperature settings. It also includes advanced white-balance controls, which isn’t a given at this price point. There are four aspect ratio options (normal, wide, zoom, panoramic), numerous PIP and POP viewing options, and an image cleaner to ...