People have become so accustomed to associating LCD TVs, which for the record are selling like mad, to Samsung that it sometimes comes as a surprise to know that the company deals with plasma TVs as well! Not that plasma TVs have nothing to offer, but the recent success of the LCD has really overshadowed anything from the plasma format. The time of redemption, however, is upon us, as Samsung is ready with an ultra-new plasma, the Samsung PS50A556.

The design of the deck is rather sleek and is typical of Samsung glossy image. The deck comes with a ‘Full HD‘ 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution, which is real bonus considering its relatively low price, and also have an abundance of connectivity options including three v1.3 HDMIs, a PC port, as well as a USB 2.0 jack that gives you the leverage to playback JPEG photos.

The picture quality of the device is meanwhile optimised by the company’s proprietary DNIE+ processing, so that you can have a high quality image that is replete with fantastic colour combinations, sharpness, contrast and motion. The result is that you experience a commercial cinema like feel with the Samsung PS50A556, as frames are replete with natural hues. The feature is aided in its objective by a Movie Plus mode, which plays is part in improving motion handling.

Moreover, the Filterbright screen adorning the unit is specially crafted to drastically eliminate the majority of onscreen reflections. There are nevertheless issues concerning the operation of the deck, and the image is also a bit of a letdown considering that it is a 1080p screen.

The latest to come out of the Panasonic ranks is the Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ80, which is distinctly different from the usually recognised television categories. On one side are the budget TVs that feature moderate 720p compatibility but are otherwise pretty competent and a good value for money. Then there are the ultra high-end models, with 1080p, full HD, freesat and more features. The Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ80 finds itself somewhere in the middle.

The TV is aimed at people who want quality performance but at a realistic price. The design of the device is nothing to shout about as it is reflects the general trend and is bereft of any unexpected surprises.

The deck comes equipped with a solitary HDMI socket, two HDMI inputs, RCA video and audio connections, in addition to the company’s indigenous SD card slot typical of the company. These options included with the Panasonic TH-46PZ80 are sufficient for fulfilling your normal requirements. You also get to have VGA, Scart and component video inputs that give you a good deal of flexibility.

The SD socket option allows you to view photos taken on a digital camera directly on the TV. The feature is of great help, and works best if your camera can shoot with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Whilst the LCD television format continues to be the most dominate, plasma TVs are not giving up. Spurred on Pioneer and Panasonic, plasma TVs have made a comeback of sorts, and many of the format’s drawbacks have been addressed and corrected. Of course, other companies can also make quality plasma TVs, and LG has proven this with the launch of the LG 50PG6900. It won’t take you long to find out the strategy adopted by the makers as they have kept the price of the model pretty low, and if you take into account the presence of the Freeview+ PVR it is clear that LG is determined to cash in on the market resurrected by Panasonic and Pioneer.

Design wise the deck is adorable enough, with the only distractions being the power button and LG logo. Most other connections and flaps are well hidden from the public gaze. You also don’t get to see any speakers as well. The remote of the deck has an innovative design and is also easy to operate.

The deck depressingly doesn’t have a 1080p panel resolution which will prevent you from enjoying movies and programmes at the HD levels. The 720p resolution is however good enough to deliver a competent picture. The device makes up for the not so impressive resolution by incorporating the built-in Freeview+ recorder, which has 160GB of storage, making it the LG 50PG6900’s main attraction. The amazing storage capability ensures that you can record an unlimited number of your favourite TV programmes. The feature is not without its disadvantage though, as you are most likely to find yourself in a difficult position if the feature happens to break. On the brighter side, the feature helps you to save ower, reduces clutter, and renders recording of programmes ridiculously easy.

There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Borrowing a cue from the phrase, Pioneer has come up with the Kuro KRL-32V. The development is quite significant considering that in recent times LCDs have frequently come under the microscope, with the cynics of the format rightly pointing out that LCDs still have a lot of ground to cover if they hope to match the stunning black levels achieved by plasma TVs. Pioneer, however, in cooperation with the company Sharp, who supplying financial support, is trying to turn around this advantage that plasma televisions possess.

The unique arrangement means that you will find the same panels found in Sharp’s LCD range which is effectively combined with the company’s (Pioneer) own futuristic picture-processing expertise to finally arrive at the ultimate product the Kuro KRL-32V.

The unit also distinctive a distinctive style and has, for the good, has dispensed off with the piano black instead opting for a more stylish gunmetal grey style.

The connectivity of the unit is also rather solid with most of the contemporary connectivity options including an S-Video and composite inputs. A USB socket is there as well, but the depressing point is it is solely for service updates, and consequently of limited utility. The presence of three HDMI inputs on the Pioneer KRL-32V, all 1.3a capable, come as a breath of fresh air. This ensures that you are provided with a series of high quality sound and digital picture. Your fetish for high definition video quality is further assisted by the component and VGA, Xbox 360s features and the like along with a pair of Scart inputs for older hardware.

The deck has also been provided with the capability to comprehensively handle modern picture processing and handling with effortless finesse. It for e.g. is apt at handling 1080p at 24hz, with the TV automatically converting such signals and processing the picture for an elevated experience.

LG’s latest offer to the TV world is the 1080p resolution plasma, LG50PG30 and it’s also one of the least expensive TVs to have come out of its ranks. The unit fares well on the feature count when compared to models like Samsung PN50A550 and the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U, and in addition to many imaginative picture control options, it possesses other impressive traits that uphold its desirability. Nevertheless, it misses on the more important picture quality points, subsequently delivering lighter black levels and less accurate colours as compared to its contemporaries. As far as handling standard-definition sources are concerned, the unit proves its mettle, and in case you like styling, it will better serve your purpose if you insist on 1080p resolution.

The design of the deck is rather subdued, but that doesn’t mean that it looks immodest or something like that. In fact, there are many amongst you who will appreciate its appearance and build quality that closely resembles other LG models like the LG 32LG5700. The frame has sleekly rounded corners and the bottom angles back to facilitate mild visual accent, while the speakers and safely tucked away from public view.

The best part of the deck lies in its 1080p native resolution that ensures that you get to view the most comprehensive high-definition images available today. The screen size however is an issue here as you will at times find it difficult to comprehend the difference between 1080p and lower-resolution displays, just like the company’s own 50PG20.

Picture control options are also an advantage with the deck, despite lacking the 10-point grayscale calibration feature. You will especially drool over the unit’s Expert menu option as it will guide you in adjusting the deck’s color temperature beyond the typical three presets. Then, also included in the deck are a number of other advanced features like gamma, black level and a complete colour management system to play with primary and secondary color points as well as colour decoding.

This one is a real giant by every means and will require a good deal of logistics just to move it around in your home. We are speaking about the latest flat-screen TV revealed by Samsung, the PN63A760 which measures a cool 63 inches diagonally, thereby giving stiff competition to the biggest plasmas from Panasonic, LG, and Pioneer. The massive size of the deck is equally complemented by a multitude of features, and gives you the impression that it will at least match the picture quality of the company’s medium sized models, if not exceed them. The bad thing here is that Samsung has lost the plot in this front as picture quality is hardly inspiring. The company in all likelihood has fallen prey to the latest big screen fascination.

Being a high-end TV, the PN63A760 quite naturally has more options than your regular set. The most impressive among them is the addition of the Smooth” picture mode which more or less has similar functionalities to that of a dejudder video processing feature found in 120 Hz LCD screens. Then there is a native resolution of 1,920×1,080, a customary feature with most LCD and Plasma models these days.

There are numerous interactive features as well, which include an Ethernet port that facilitates TVs to access the Internet to display news, stock ticker information, and local weather. The internet access facility is however, not as extensive as those that are found is the likes of Panasonic of TH-50PZ850U.

Then, there are three adjustable picture modes each of which is independent per input which is a real bonus. Although there is a downside to this Samsung plasma, as there are three more picture presets known as “Entertainment Modes,” that cannot be adjusted and are accessible via a separate key on the remote and the Setup menu.

Whenever you go out to buy a TV, the question that naturally comes to your mind is whether the set is up to the task when it comes to picture quality, clarity, and sharpness. These three aspects invariably distinguish a good TV set from the bad, and even a hint of compromise on any of them may bring down the performance as a whole. The latest from Hitachi, the L47V651 Plasma TV has managed to come out unblemished when put under the microscope, as far as the above conditions are concerned, and in truth is all ready blow you away with its flawless display.

The inclusion of a Full HD 1080 resolution has worked wonders for the unit, and comprehensively matches the 1080i HDTV resolution standard, which provides a 1920 x 1080 panel resolution. That’s not all as it is also provided with the institution to take on the advanced, 1080p resolution standard as well.

Moreover, the L47V651 provides with the best in connectivity with home A/V devices as is demonstrated by the presence of 3 HDMI SimplayHD 1080p compatible inputs. It is worth mentioning that the HDMI is the only of its kind, as it can carry both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in a variety of different formats including 720p, 1080i and even 1080p.

Adding to the unit’s desirability is the inclusion of the company’s much revered LCD technology that enhances black levels, widens viewing angles and enhances image fidelity. While the 50 inch Hitachi P50T01 certainly has a larger display size, the 47 inch L47V651 is definitely not a small device.Moreover, there is also a visible improvement in motion response that is bereft of the obnoxious blurring effects which is a normal phenomenon when LCDs are run at non-native resolutions.

One set that is sure to impress you is the Panasonic TH-50PF11UK, which is every bit a professional model, and thankfully enough of its specifications and build quality makes it a good prospect for home use as well. One beautiful thing about this unique deck is that it retains its minimalist traits that have long been the norm of Panasonic plasmas, and consequently blends unobtrusively into TV show sets and other professional environments.

As a professional monitor, the unit naturally lacks a built-in tuner of any kind, which means that you have to take the help of an external tuner such as a cable or satellite receiver to watch TV. Then, you also have to curb your desire to watch programmes that are broadcast over-the-air, digital or otherwise, as the unit doesn’t have any provision to connect an antenna. Moreover, you will feel handicapped by the fact that the monitor is bereft of speakers and a stand which will ultimately force you to employ temporary arrangements like- optional speakers, third party audio systems, et al.

The connectivity of the deck is full of possibilities and has a resolution of 1080p, which is the highest available today. The deck also has two HDMI inputs, though it is no big deal considering that most current consumer plasmas have three. Moreover, the price of the plasma is quite similar to similarly sized LCDs, such as the Panasonic TH-58PH10BK, There is a component-video input included in the TH-50PF11UK which uses BNC style connectors as well and implies that you have to buy BNC-to-RCA adapters to use it.

There are also an abundance of advanced picture control features including the unique fully-adjustable white balance menu. Then, there are four gamma presets as well as three controls which are best left deactivated or zeroed-out: automatic gain control, black-level expansion, and input level.

The invention of Kuro technology should unequivocally count amongst one of the major milestones in the history of the evolution of consumer TV. Pioneer is the brain behind this cracker of a product that completely redefined our perception of high definition images. Apparently, on the strength of this technology alone, Pioneer managed to capture a large chunk of the market as the rival companies had no answer to this versatile technology. Pioneer’s uninterrupted reign at the summit for a solid couple of years has come under fire, albeit a little bit, with the rival camp catching up with counter products like the LE55A956 by Samsung, apart from a few stunning plasmas from Panasonic. Pioneer, however, also seems unwilling to pass the baton so easily and has come up with the Kuro PDP-LX6090.

The LX6090 has a very solid build quality, and a pretty impressive design that lays the foundation for other good things to come. There is no surprise in the sense that it uses all the usual technical expertise associated with the KURO technology including the unique and crucial Crystal Emissive Layer that enhances the luminance efficiency and stability of the plasma discharge cycle, and the Deep Waffle Rib structure around the plasma cell that adjusts inter pixel light and colour bleed.

As always the image quality is top notch with a host of state-of-the-art technology working in tandem to ensure the same. There is the dedicated 72Hz mode that can be used for superior handling of 24p sources, apart for having a superb colour manipulation feature that virtually brings characters to live. The Pioneer PDP-LX6090 KURO’s skin colours, in particular, are very believable. Another very outstanding specification is that it allows a range of noise reduction options that makes sure a distraction free image. Moreover, this profusion of features means that it can be professionally calibrated by an Imaging Science Foundation engineer.

Connectivity of the unit however happens to be its weak link as it includes only three v1.3 HDMIs as compared to four offered by the likes of LG, Samsung and Philips. You will also feel a little let down by the restricted usability options that you get as can be gauged from the onscreen menu option which are attractive, but the obligation to manually activate the HDMI sockets makes it frustrating.

Your cravings for a movie experience replete with vivid visuals, and rich sound coupled with exciting customization, can now come true with the launch of the Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD Plasma TV. This 50 inch plasma features the contemporary high-definition 1080p resolution and provides for intense black levels that guarantee you, on average, five times the contrast of what was provided by its previous generation of Elite Kuro HDTVs; from already superb models like the Pioneer PDP-LX5080D KURO. Then there is also the new Optimum mode that gives you the ability to adjust the audio and video settings in accordance with your room conditions, so that you can optimise your viewing experience no matter the lighting level.

The unit has an on-board built-in HDTV tuner feature, meant for receiving over-the-air high-definition broadcasts, in addition to an optional set top box cable and satellite programming. A widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, complemented by a number of viewing modes, provides you the perfect platform to watch your movies in an atmosphere reminiscent of commercial cinema. Then the PureCinema Smooth Film Motion technology modes are present as well, and give you an accurate playback of film content without motion judders. The picture quality is further fine tuned by the ASIC video processing and scaling technology.

Black levels are another impressive part of the unit and display a great deal of detail, and the corresponding contrast is also superb. Moreover, the unit has a profusion of after-image reduction functions that negate the impact of artifacts on the overall image quality. The image quality goes through many other steps meant to refine it even further including DRE picture, black level, ACL, enhancer mode, to name a few.