Introduction I’m not sure what I was thinking when I requested a review sample of Panasonic’s TH-65PX600U. No, that’s not true. I know exactly what I was thinking: “Hmmmmm, 65-inch 1080p plasma…ooooooooo.” The allure of it managed to push a few relatively important details aside, such as where in my house I would put it and how I planned to get it there. The panel weighs 174.2 pounds – that’s without the speakers or pedestal stand, both of which are optional accessories that cost extra ($600 and $1,200, respectively). Needless to say, this isn’t the type of product you casually throw up on the wall for a short-term viewing period, so I went with the optional stand, which is itself a serious piece of hardware: it weighs about 55 pounds, and its base (48.9 by 16.5 inches) is too large to sit atop my normal gear rack or any other short cabinet in my ...

Introduction Panasonic has just introduced the latest version of its commercial panel line, which many reviewers, me included, believe to deliver superior picture performance over their consumer line. The new 9UK series replaces last year’s 8UK series, and the TH-50PH9UK, the subject of this review, is certainly one of the best values in its category. Plasma panels have plummeted in price in the last year or so, and are now quite competitive with similar screen sizes in the LCD flat panel category. A year and a half to two years ago, most 50-inch plasma panels were in the $8,000 to $10,000 range. Today, this 50-incher can be found in the $3,500 to $4,000 range, depending on accessories, and will give just about any plasma in its size range a run for its money in terms of picture quality and performance. Design Panasonic’s industrial panels are a do-it-yourselfers dream. Simple and basic in design, the 9UK series ...

Introduction As we inch closer to the DTV transition, many television manufacturers are hedging their bets as to which display technology—plasma, LCD or micro-display—will ultimately win our hearts and checkbooks. Some companies have chosen to offer both plasma and LCD flat panels; others can’t even narrow it down that much, bringing out product in every new display category. Pioneer has taken a road less traveled. The company is quite content to put all of its eggs in the plasma basket. (Okay, I’m done with the platitudes.) They no longer manufacture rear-projection TVs of any kind, nor do they offer panels smaller than 42 inches, since that would essentially require them to give LCD a serious look. As I write this, the Pioneer website lists a total of nine TVs on the roster, all plasmas ranging from 42 to 61 inches. If all you do is plasma, then you had better do it well. ...

Introduction Back in the day, which in the world of consumer electronics can mean yesterday, televisions and flat panel displays could cost as much as a car. Today, we have companies like Vizio that are feverishly working to put an end to the notion that you have to pay a lot to get a lot. A few months ago I wrote about another fine Vizio product, the P42HDe plasma display. While P42 had its faults, it was one of the greatest values in all of home theater. I say “was” because the P42, as reviewed in January, has been discontinued to make way for a newer model coming out in March. Shortly, after my unsolicited review of the P42, Vizio contacted me and set me up with their 50-inch high-definition set, the P50HDM. The P50HDM has already found its way onto several ...

Introduction During a recent trip to one of my local AV stores, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of plasma screens available on the market today. Being a die-hard fan of front projection, I’ve resisted the urge to pony up the dough and welcome the flat gas into my home, but this trip was different. As I gazed at the countless options, I noticed two things. The image quality had gotten much better over the years, and the prices have gone way down. Instead of talking my way out of the store, I began daydreaming over the possibilities of having one such plasma in my home. Sure, I didn’t really need another television, but that’s never stopped me before. Not wanting to break the bank, I was immediately drawn to a manufacturer that I had never heard of: Vizio. At ...