Buyer’s Guide: 5 Gold-Standard Plasma HDTVs

November 1st, 2008 -- by David Birch-Jones
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As we enter the second decade of HDTV, a rewind back to the early first years shows just how much progress set-makers have made. Back in the day, large-screen HDTVs primarily took the form of hulking CRT-driven rear projection sets, and early LCD and plasma flat panel HD models carried truly astronomical price tags, well into the five figures range for the larger plasma sizes. Just four years ago, a 50-inch720p plasma sold in the $8,000–$10,000 range; today comparably sized (and superior-performing) 1080p plasma models can be had for far less, topping out at around $4k–$5k for premium models.

What’s especially notable about a couple of these models is that they are priced similarly to comparably-sized LCD flat panel offerings, eliminating the once-huge price disparities between the two technologies for the first time. In our previous issue (Playback 13), we tested a true price-performance champion that, incredibly, shattered the the $2,000 price barrier—VIZIO’s VP-505VXT—and that earned our Playback Recommended award.

For this issue, we’ve rounded up five additional 1080p plasma models from major brands, one of which carries THX Video certification and another with audio tweaked by legendary designer Mark Levinson.

Hitachi P50X902

This is Hitachi’s top-tier model and is loaded with features, including a deluxe motorized swivel stand. The set features a fairly generous input complement, with a total of five HD connections, and the cabinetry is equipped with a softly gray-tinted acrylic outer bezel that adds some dimensionality to the set’s look when it’s turned off.

Consider this HDTV if: You are going to have it profesionally calibrated, as post-calibration it will reward you with a very good picture. This is Hitachi’s top-line model and is loaded with features, including the motorized swivel base.

Look elsewhere if: You plan on wall-mounting the set, as the motorized base is a feature of Hitachi’s mid- and top-tier lines and definitely adds cost to the product. Consider instead Hitachi’s P50S602, which is substantially less and a tremendous value given what comparable 50-inch plasma models cost just a few years ago.

Hitachi has sub-branded the P50X902 as one of its Directors Series models, implying critical picture performance. However, the set’s out-of-the-box performance is anything but, with a harsh, very bluish picture that is designed to make the TV look impressive in a bright store environment. At setup however, there’s a choice between home
and retail modes, and once the home mode is selected, the picture quality improves appreciably.

Further picture control adjustments produced improvements to a point, but one problem is that the set’s RGB drive controls come factory set to maximum levels (100 percent) and can’t be adjusted upward (as would be necessary to achieve an optimal calibrated picture). The RGB drive limitation hampered my ability to bring the set’s grayscale
performance into the top-class range, but with user settings adjusted as recommended below the Hitachi still garnered a good score.

Features

• The most noticeable differentiation between this top-line Hitachi and other models in its class is the motorized swivel stand, a feature missing from the firm’s entry-level model and one that adds some extra cost. Frankly, given the Hitachi’s excellent wide viewing angle, I’m not sure the feature is even needed at all, but it’s fun to show off to guests.
• With test patterns, the Hitachi returns an excellent score, especially in terms of deinterlacing performance with both standard and high definition sources.
• In addition to myriad picture processing options, the Hitachi includes Day and Night picture memories, a plus that allows a higher brightness for daytime viewing if the set is situated in a well-lit environment.
• While not nearly at the design and functionality level of the best remote controls offered with sets in this class, the Hitachi’s remote is still a cut above the norm, and features backlighting.

Connectivity

• Three HDMI and two component video inputs should suffice for most users, and the side input connector panel includes all video types for easy hookup of a game console or camcorder. The set lacks a dedicated RGB PC input, a curious omission in a top-line set like this.

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display

• A very good design overall, with clearly visible labeling and slider bar adjustments. Activating various adjustments is accompanied by a moving slider bar motion that might be irksome to fussy users. Other than that, the Hitachi’s menu system is quite easy to use.

Remote Control

• Fairly large white buttons with clear labeling are aided by the backlighting feature. Hitachi has chosen a deep blue for the backlighting color, however, which is the worst color choice as blue is high in chroma but low in luminance, and the remote lacks a dedicated backlight button. It also lacks direct input buttons, although the Hitachi is far from alone in that department.

PERFORMANCE

DVD	Detail	Color	Blacks	Shadow Detail	Artifacts/Noise
(Blu-ray) Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City	This two-disc live concert set is an excellent test for HD picture detail. The menu features a montage of crisply detailed  images of this classic Art Deco concert hall’s many ornate features and is sharp as a tack on the Hitachi.	Do pay attention to the recommended settings, especially the Color Space, as the set’s default color characteristics are exceedingly over-emphasized out-of-the-box. Once dialed in however, the Hitachi’s color rendition is natural and accurate.	Here is where plasma excels, with the concert’s various shots of the audience showing excellent deep black reproduction. Close-ups of the two musicians reveal fine detail in their black attire as well as their acoustic guitars’ black fretwork and the grand piano’s deep gloss black cabinetry.	The lighting design for the show has both musicians mostly lit from above, and the Hitachi clearly shows the occasional backstage shots of the assistants with very good shadow detail.	None noted.
(HDTV) AST Dew Tour NBC	Shot with 1080i resolution, quick action sport shows like this are another great test for  picture detail, which the Hitachi shows off to maximum advantage.	Outdoor scenes in broad daylight that’s accented with additional stadium lighting look natural and colorful. Close-up shots of the various participants reveal natural-looking flesh tones.	Indoor action in a Portland, Oregon, stadium shows an abundance of black details, as the surrounding stage is covered with deep black scrim, with which the Hitachi does very well.	Quick pans reveal blackclad cameramen in various unlit locations, and the Hitachi easily shows detail in the unlit crowd shots.	None noted.

Bottom Line: More than many sets, the Hitachi could use a full calibration, as its factory default settings are way off the mark, with picture quality that is harsh, overly cartoonish, and lacking fine detail. Once user controls are set per our recommendations, however, the Hitachi turns from an ugly duckling into quite the swan. While some of the set’s available adjustments are of dubious benefit, others can and do help put the Hitachi’s picture quality right up there with the better sets out there. PB

LG 50PG30

Like other large TV makers, LG offers tiers of models, with different feature packages over a range of price points. The 50PG30 is from their step-above entry level line, but it shares similar good looks with its pricier siblings in their more expensive tiers, and it is well equipped from a connectivity standpoint and comes with a non-motorized swivel stand that’sremovable for wall-mounting.

LG is taking a stab at upscale home theater system packages and has enlisted the aid of famed audio designer Mr. Mark Levinson to assist them with loudspeaker designs; the company and also had him help its engineers tweak the sound of some of its flat panel sets, including the 50PG30 model.

Consider this HDTV if: You like a vivid picture with colors that pop. The LG’s color palette is definitely cranked up, and no amount of tweaking or calibration seemed to be able tame it (I personally prefer a color gamut that more closely matches that of the HDTV standard, to get as close as possible to the original studio image).

Look elsewhere if: You’re looking for a set that can be dialed in to produce an accurate color palette that doesn’t over-emphasize colors. Better choices can be had for a similar cost or even lower, such as the VIZIO VP505XVT.

Features

• While I applaud any and all efforts to improve sound quality, especially in an HDTV that, like the majority of HDTVs that are sold, will likely never be hooked up to an external audio system, I couldn’t detect any significant improvements from the LG in the audio department. Perhaps the sound quality was significantly worse before Mr. Levinson’s talents were tapped, but the LG offered run-of-the-mill audio performance. Our standard advice applies here as elsewhere: just about any good external audio system will bump up an HDTV’s audio experience a whole lot. Your options here are somewhat limited however, as the LG only has an optical digital output, and doesn’t provide line-level analog or speaker output connections.
• The LG does come with a nonmotorized swivel stand (which can be detached for wallmounting).

Connectivity

• Two HD component inputs and three HDMI inputs should be more than enough for most folks. One of the HDMI inputs is on the left side rear panel, with an inset that’s seems deep enough to conceal cables if that third input isn’t to be used as an occasional temporary camcorder or game console hookup. Composite, S-video, and RGB PC video connections round out the jack-pack complement, which should be sufficient for the legacy sources that most people will want to use.

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display

• Right up there with the very best sets in this department, the LG has a great, compartmentalized, large on-screen icon system that is easily legible from quite far away. For those who would like to adjust the set’s various video and audio controls, I’m delighted to report that LG realizes that it isn’t a good thing to have any particular adjustment control appear onscreen for a scant few seconds before disappearing; accordingly, the set’s adjustment slider bars (again, large and clearly legible from a distance), stay onscreen for about 40 seconds between button presses. This is a boon for those adjusting the set when using test patterns (as they should), especially when the patterns come from a pokey DVD or Blu-ray player.
• The fly in the ointment is a picture reset icon in the adjustment menu that’s all too easy to hit (I did twice, and not intentionally), which really should be buried elsewhere in the setup menu.

Remote Control

• LG hits a few high notes here, with large buttons for the most important functions including the number keypads, which are labeled with a large legible white font. The remote isn’t backlit though (unlike the Samsung remote, which is the standard-setter in this class), and there aren’t direct input selector buttons (you’ll have to toggle through the sources). But, the LG’s great on-screen menu system abates that shortcoming somewhat.

 

PERFORMANCE

DVD	Detail	Color	Blacks	Shadow Detail	Artifacts/Noise
(Blu-ray) 21	No problems here, as the LG’s “Just Scan” 1:1 mode is 1080p pixel-for-pixel spot-on, especially notable with this disc’s bonus Blackjack card game graphics which are sharply defined.	Even with the color control dialed down, the LG’s over-emphasized color palette makes everything pop, especially noticeable during the many brightly lit Las Vegas indoor and outdoor scenes (desirable for some viewers, but not for others).	Reasonably good, as in chapter 10, set in a casino’s darkened control room, where nonprincipal actors can be seen huddling over their monitors looking for cheaters on the casino floor.	Same scene in chapter 10 has a casino boss peering over the casino investigator’s shoulder in low light. Unfortunately, the LG displays the boss’s face with quite noticeable posterization color gradation artifacts.	Posterization (color gradation artifacts) during some dimly lit scenes.
(HDTV) Overhaul in’ Discovery HD Theater	Lots of close-up shots in this 1080i video, showing great details of a complete restoration and substantial upgrade of a somewhat battered and tired ’65 Mustang.	The color palette (color gamut) overemphasizes everything, including skin tones, adding makeup-like tinges to the various technicians at Chip Foose’s automotive shop.	Slight black crush noticeable on very dark objects, such as the desk in Chip’s office, which obscures deep black details.	Numerous under-frame shots reveal very good shadow detail as the Mustang’s complete rebuild progresses during the show.	None noted.

Bottom Line: People who want their HDTV viewing experiences to have a vivid, “more-colorful-than-life-itself” quality will be drawn to this LG set. The only catch—and it’s a significant one—is that those hyper-vivid colors come standard and can never be fully dialed back, not even through professional calibration. Otherwise, the set’s inputs are flexible, the swivel stand is well thought out, and the remote is better than most. PB

Panasonic TH-42PZ800U

“That’s a rather compact carton for a 50-inch flat-panel TV,” I thought to myself as the delivery driver unloaded the Panasonic plasma. While we asked for, and were promised, Panasonic’s 50-inch THX-certified model, what arrived instead was its 42-inch baby brother. Oh well. Since there was no time before deadline to arrange a replacement, I agreed to review the 42-incher instead, which as it turns out is really not a problem, and here’s why. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with the 50-inch version at THX’s headquarters, and upon seeing and measuring the 42-incher, I can confidently say that it differs from the 50-inch model only in screen size and not in performance in any meaningful way. And, the 50-inch model is only $200 more than the 42-incher tested here.

Consider this HDTV if: You’re looking for a plasma set that has been thoroughly tested by the experts at THX. In THX mode this set produces an out-of-the-box picture that, with only slight user adjustments to the contrast and brightness controls, turns in a benchmark, referencegrade picture—a picture so good that it makes a full professional
calibration unnecessary.

Look elsewhere if: You’re looking for a set that delivers a punchier color palette. In THX mode this set might at first
look a tad pale compared to many others, but in fact this Panasonic matches, to a degree as good as I’ve ever seen, the exact colorimetry and other important parameters as specified by the HDTV standard. It provides real, studiograde
picture performance.

Features

• The most obvious differentiation here is the set’s THX certification, which is by no means a casual endorsement by a disinterested third party, but rather a rigorous testing and certification procedure designed to produce the most accurate picture possible. While most manufacturers ignore the colorimetry specifications of the HDTV standard and instead go overboard with exaggerated color characteristics that often can’t be tamed even with a full-on calibration, the Panasonic, in THX mode, comes in just about spot-on, a trait shared only by costly professional studio-grade monitors and high-end front projectors.
• The white balance, or gray scale, is similarly excellent from the brightest whites all the way to the darkest grays, coming remarkably close to the D65 ideal color temperature over the entire range. These results are achieved with no need for additional calibration, other than tweaking the brightness and contrast controls slightly (something every set needs, as source components do vary somewhat). The Panasonic also turned in a very respectable score when deinterlacing 480i SD and 1080i HD test patterns.

Connectivity

• Four HDMI inputs are provided, with one of them under a flip-up door at the bottom of the set’s front panel where a pair of composite and S-video connections also reside along with an SD card reader for viewing photos. Around back, the other three HDMI inputs are supplanted by two component inputs and another set of composite and S-video connections. An RGB PC input (with audio input) rounds out the input complement, and for connection to an external audio system (which we always recommend), the Panasonic provides both an optical digital output as well as a stereo analog output. Overall, this is a well-equipped set from a connectivity standpoint.

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display

• Occupying almost the full left side of the screen, the Panasonic’s menu system is well laid out, with various adjustments in their logical place. In addition to the legible and logical menu structure, users are aided by a graphic of the remote’s cursor keypad and surrounding buttons that are context-sensitive for the particular adjustment or function being fiddled with. While the menu system is noteworthy for its design, the actual adjustment slider bars are hampered by a lightning-quick (perhaps a second or so) reversion back to the main menu. Ideally, control graphics they should stay up onscreen for at least ten or more seconds between button presses to aid in picture tuning.

Remote Control

• While the majority of the black remote’s buttons aren’t backlit, the important functions such as volume, channel, and number keypad are larger than the norm and feature correspondingly large white numerals and symbols. The Menu button is placed directly above the cursor keypad, and nearby are Exit and Return buttons–overall a good design. Like almost all TV remotes, the Panasonic’s has the ability to control a VCR, satellite, or cable
  box and a disc player, and those selector buttons are backlit with a flashing red indicator to advise which mode the remote is currently in. No direct input selectors are provided, however, but a press of the TV/Video button calls up the input source list in the easy-to-read menu.

PERFORMANCE

DVD	Detail	Color	Blacks	Shadow Detail	Artifacts/Noise
(Blu-ray) Legends Of Jazz	With the HD Size set to “2” (or pixel-for-pixel), the Panasonic is sharp as a tack on this HD jazz performance, so much so I can easily make out the brand and settings of the singer’s AKG microphone during close-up shots.	Just about perfect, with a rich color tone that never veers to the excessive. The colorful studio lighting has lots of deep rich blues, which can easily be noted reflecting off the black gloss piano’s finish. The performers’ flesh tones are realistically natural as well.	The overall black level is quite low, a good thing, and the various shots of the black piano, guitar frets, studio microphones and monitor equipment come through with a richness that’s clearly evident.	With good blacks usually comes good shadow detail, and here the Panasonic does a great job of rendering shadow detail with none of the posterization that can often occur.	None noted.
(HDTV) Blades Of Glory Cinemax	While not as crisp as it is on 1080p HD disc, the movie has lots of closeup shots of the skaters’ intricately detailed costumes, which the Panasonic handles easily.	Thanks to the Panasonic’s excellent colorimetry, the skaters’ flesh tones as well as their costumes are reproduced with natural color and without excess emphasis as is usually the case.	Will Ferrell’s character wears a black leather biker outfit that is reproduced with sufficiently deep blacks. Computer monitors on commentators’ desk are also properly rendered.	Skating arena scenes reveal rich details such as groups of real people in the darkly-lit upper balconies instead of rows of mannequins often used in large crowd shots like these.	None noted.

Bottom Line: This Panasonic represents a breakthrough in terms of out-of-the-box picture quality. When the THX picture mode is engaged, this set looks for all the world as if it has received a full-on professional calibration; that’s remarkable. If you’ve ever wondered what studio-grade picture quality looks like, this HDTV will give you
the answer. Be aware, though, that the emphasis is on accurate, natural color—not on an impressionistic, larger-than-life color palette. One of the best HDTVs we’ve yet seen. PB

Pioneer PDP-5020FD

Pioneer’s well-deserved reputation for excellent plasma picture quality (especially with its recent Kuro Elite models, which set the standard for plasma performance) gets another boost with its newest standard-line models (also sub-branded as Kuro sets). These models improve on last year’s efforts in deep black characteristics, the holy grail of plasma supremacy.

Consider this HDTV if: You’re looking for a proven performer from a consistently top-rated brand. The deep black performance of this model is superb, which is Pioneer’s forte. This television is extremely aesthetically pleasing, especially if you remove the detachable speaker sound bar that normally resides along the bottom edge of the set.

Look elsewhere if: You’re on a budget and looking for maximum bang for the buck. The lack of user-accessible calibration controls is a minus (all the other sets we tested have them—the Pioneer should, too), and the remote control is also a disappointment.

While not up to the absolutely excellent performance of its Kuro Elite offerings, this latest Pioneer set does offer improved deep blacks compared to last year’s model, and is priced significantly lower (although it’s still perched at the top of the price range for the models in this Buyer’s Guide).

What has also improved is the overall technical performance in terms of deinterlacing standard and high-definition signals, providing a test bench result that nearly matches that of competitor models that feature “boutique brand” scalar chips.

One thing that hasn’t improved is the inability to access the set’s color drive and bias controls, which remain hidden under a service menu. While that was the norm for a number of years for other brands as well, almost all other makers now provide these controls out in the open so that owners can choose to have their sets professionally calibrated. This is especially irksome as Pioneer (which does provide ISF C3 calibration control capability with its Elite models) voids the warranty if those controls are accessed. Maybe someday Pioneer’s marketing and service departments can come to terms with this anomaly.

The Elite models feature Pure mode, designed to emulate the characteristics of studio HDTV monitors; this feature is missing from the non-Elite models, although the provided Movie mode comes fairly close.

Features

• Stereo speaker sound bar attaches to bottom of set, saves space in tight cabinetry (but the additional inches add to the stand height).
• Media server connectivity via Ethernet port.
• Room light sensor makes slight adjustments to overall picture brightness depending on ambient room light conditions.

Connectivity

• Right up there with the competition with four HDMI inputs, probably more than enough for most users, but there’s only one component input—something to consider if you have multiple legacy sources that lack HDMI outputs.

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display

• Quite different from Pioneer’s earlier models, which provided picture and sound adjustments at the top of the menu structure, this latest Pioneer provides a sharper, cleaner interface, but buries the picture and sound controls one sub-menu level down. Lots of picture and sound adjustments abound however, once you’ve found them in the sub-menu.

Remote Control

• This is the Pioneer’s other disappointment, as the remote has tiny, non-backlit buttons crowded together with barely discernable labels—you’ll want to keep a flashlight on hand, and perhaps a magnifying glass, before you fumble around with the remote in a dimly lit environment.

PERFORMANCE

DVD	Detail	Color	Blacks	Shadow Detail	Artifacts/Noise
(Blu-ray) Cir que du Soleil Cortege	Their first HD release, Cirque du Soleil’s Cortege is a visual spectacular, crisp and clean (unlike an earlier DVD release of Dralion, which was plagued with mastering artifacts).	Shot in HD, this live concert is an explosion of colorful costumes, aided by excellent stage lighting, which the Pioneer shows off to stellar effect.	Once again, we see here that plasma is king of the deep blacks, and this latest Pioneer does a very good job of reproducing deep black.	Audience shots, along with high stage views show the Pioneer to be very good at providing shadow details.	None noted.
(HDTV) Mythbusters Discovery HD	Shot live to 1080i (as are many Discovery HD programs), Mythbusters is a great show for close-ups of small objects, and the native 1080p resolution of the Pioneer clearly shines, even when viewers sit very close to the screen.	Among other zaniness, this episode has the boys playing with paint guns (the shoot-em-up kind, not the car-refinishing kind), and the color clarity just pops. More evidence of plasma superiority over LCD.	Co-host Adam’s extensive collection of black T-shirts is well reproduced.	A nighttime fire-walking scene (these people are clearly insane) shows excellent dark gray and deep black details.	None noted.

Bottom Line: Pioneer’s latest non-Elite series plasma TVs definitely improve upon last year’s predecessors in terms of approaching the performance of step-up Elite models. While pricey compared to the competition, this set is nonetheless cheaper than last year’s equivalent model and it provides a rewarding viewing experience. PB

Samsung PN50A760

Samsung’s latest 50-inch plasma looks as good when it’s turned off as when it’s turned on, with a stylish acrylic bezel that features a gentle red tinge, and the built-in stand features a swivel function (not motorized though), along with a red backlit power indicator that includes touch-sensitive on/off ability and perhaps the best-designed TV remote control that I’ve ever seen.

Consider this HDTV if: You’re looking for an all-round excellent performer that shows Samsung takes the plasma TV category very seriously. The set  is fully equipped with the right kind of picture processing adjustments needed to extract the highest possible performance, and once tuned, it puts out a simply gorgeous picture. The remote control is an out-of-the-park home run in terms of design and functionality.

Look elsewhere if: The Samsung exceeds your budget (but note that, while not inexpensive, this set offers high value when you factor in its excellent picture quality and great remote control design). Note, too, that the set does not provide a subwoofer output.

Samsung’s engineers have clearly done their homework, as the PN50A760 features picture adjustment provisions that are on par with professional broadcast monitors, including a blue-only mode to assist in color tuning, along with effective picture controls and a range of color temperature options. The set’s user-accessible controls can take you pretty far, but if given a full professional calibration, its colorimetry will match to an extremely fine degree the technical requirements of the high definition television standard, which assures proper color reproduction, especially with respect to flesh tones.

Features

• Extensive input and output connections include side-mounted HDMI, S-video and composite video inputs (with stereo audio inputs) as well as a USB port and a headphone jack.
• The set features impressive standard and high-definition deinterlacing, for a smooth jaggie-free picture.
• The excellent backlit remote control makes the set a joy to use.

Connectivity

• Four HDMI inputs (with one on the side panel) as well as two component video inputs provide more than enough compatibility with legacy sources and latest generation devices, and the set includes an Ethernet port as well as an RGB PC input.

USER INTERFACE

On Screen Display

• Well-thought-out and logically presented, the clear on-screen display’s design presents all of the available options and controls in context-sensitive groupings, with numerically indicated slider bar adjustments.

Remote Control

• A superb design, which features large, easy-to-read buttons that are gently backlit with amber coloring, the best choice for viewable contrast in a dimly lit room. The remote also has a highly touch-sensitive sensor that lights it up with the barest gentle touch, a major plus. The cursor keypad features an iPod-like click wheel that further aids menu navigation and adjustment control.

 PERFORMANCE

DVD	Detail	Color	Blacks	Shadow Detail	Artifacts/Noise
(Blu-ray) Cir que du Soleil Cortege	The ornate uniforms of the British officers are clearly defined, with the detailed gold braid stitching easily evident.	An evening scene with the British officers hosting an outdoor gala reveals the actresses’ overly embellished makeup. Chapter 14 features an ambush by the Yankee army, and the redcoats worn by the British are vividly realistic.	Very good deep black performance, especially notable during nighttime scenes, such as in Chapter 11, with a woman and her children escaping capture by fleeing from a darkened basement.	Chapter 10 features a twilight beach scene, and the Samsung has no problem at all revealing subtle details in the background during close-up shots.	None noted.
(HDTV) Saturda y Night Live NBC	The opening skit is set in a recording studio, which features realistic sound dampening panels on the walls, and is clear and crisp.	Natural flesh tones without embellishment are evident throughout the show.	A black studio microphone and mesh screen are excellently rendered, showing plasma superiority with deep blacks (compared to LCD flat panels).	As the camera pans over the studio audience prior to the opening monologue, the Samsung clearly shows crew members in the dark background getting ready for the next segment.	None noted.

Bottom Line: This is a superb performer in all respects, and it delivers very satisfying performance once user controls are adjusted per our recommendations. The Samsung’s extensive picture controls allow for a full calibration that can achieve even better colorimetry accuracy. The excellent remote control design sets the standard for the TV industry, and the Samsung’s generous input complement with a total of six high definition connections should be more than enough for even the most well-equipped home theater system. PB