Top 10 Holiday Picks for 2005
Plasma TV Buying Guide runs down its list of top 10 televisions for the 2005 Holiday Season.
Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK Plasma TV
The 50" Panasonic broadcast series plasmas have been a perennial favorite here at the Plasma TV Buying Guide, and the latest TH-50PHD8UK model is no exception. Quite simply, this TV has the finest picture quality of any plasma we've ever seen. The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK does everything well: high contrast, excellent detailing in dark scenes, a bright picture, and outstanding image scaling from HDTV, progressive scan DVD, and cable television. At a street price of up to $500 less than its competitors, we don't hesitate in making this our hands-down #1 pick for HDTV. Find Recommended Dealers
Panasonic TH-42PX50U Plasma TV
Take the top performance of the Panasonic plasma screens, and add the convenience of a built-in ATSC/QAM HDTV tuner, plus dual-tuner picture-in-picture, and you have the Panasonic TH-42PX50U plasma television. This set really has it all: built-in tuners, a CableCARD slot for your HDTV connection, dynamic stereo sound, and the latest HDMI digital interface to boot. With it's sleek, slim black and silver design, this one's a real steal and another easy Top 10 pick. Find Recommended Dealers
Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD TV
LCD TV displays have come a long way in overall picture quality, and this brilliant 40" Sony LCD TV from the BRAVIA line leads the pack. A full 1366 x 768 HDTV resolution and the acclaimed Sony WEGA image processing circuitry combine for a terrific picture from any video source, and the Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD TV also includes the full ATSC/Tuner package and CableCARD slot and a 26-Watt audio system as well. We like the HDMI input in addition to analog component video, and the VGA input for your PC completes the package. Find Recommended Dealers
Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK Plasma TV
The Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK doesn't pack quite the visual punch of it's big brother, our top-rated TH-50PHD8UK plasma, but with this 42" HDTV you get that same Panasonic quality and still save some cash—up to $800 or more, from the prices we've seen. So check out our recommended Authorized Panasonic dealers, and you can get this extraordinary 42" HDTV plasma for a steal! Find Recommended Dealers
Pioneer PDP-5060HD Plasma TV
This year's Pioneer PureVision Plasma TVs look great with a new, high-tech design, and the picture quality doesn't disappoint. You get all the features here, including Digital Cable Ready tuning and dynamic stereo sound, powered by Pioneer's imaging technology, which features some of the most natural progressive-scan pulldown in the industry. We love the new look for the Pioneer PDP-5060HD, and if you like the idea of the separate media receiver box, this is the pick for you. Find Recommended Dealers
Pioneer PDP-4360HD Plasma TV
Another great pick from Pioneer plasma, the PDP-4360HD boasts all the features of the 50" model, and Pioneer's unique 43" HDTV screen gives you just a little edge over comparable 42" models, without taking up much more space. The 2050 Pioneer PureVision plasmas feature better contrast and brighter pictures than ever before, so if you can find one of these TVs, you won't be disappointed. Find Recommended Dealers
Panasonic TH-50PX500U Plasma TV
The Panasonic 500U models take a step up from the 50U series, adding a PC input and beefing up the audio section with 13 watts per channel. We can't say enough about the picture quality on these Panasonic plasmas, and consensus at the PTBG is that the new bezel design and table stand for the TH-50PX500U is Panasonic's best-looking offering to date. Find Recommended Dealers
Samsung HP-R5052 Plasma TV
You might be surprised to see a Samsung plasma among our Holiday picks, but only until you see the picture! The Samsung HP-R5052 plasma grabs a top-ten spot with advanced image processing, an attractive design and all the connectivity and features you need—including the Digital Cable-Ready ATSC tuner, picture-in-picture, and a PC input. Find Recommended Dealers
Sharp LC-45GD7U LCD TV
There's not much we can say about the Sharp LC-45GD7U LCD, but let the numbers speak for themselves: 45-inch LCD TV screen, full 1920 x 1080p native resolution, and a fast 12ms response time. It's a pricey unit, but if you want simply the finest LCD television on the market, this is it. Full "plug-and-play" connections to HDTV, DVD, games and more, with the CableCARD, HDMI, component video, and a PC-compatible DVI input, we couldn't ask for any more features on this 45" set, and the HDTV picture with that 1080p resolution is simply jaw-dropping. Find Recommended Dealers
Pioneer ELITE PRO-1130HD Plasma TV
You can find a cheaper 50" HDTV plasma than the Pioneer ELITE, but Pioneer enthusiasts and serious videophiles will tell you that you can't find a better picture anywhere. The Pioneer ELITE PRO-1130HD is the top-of-the-line Pioneer offering, adding all the fine details like a no-glare PURE color filter glass, as well as a luxurious, deep-gloss finish that looks just as fit for a fine sportscar as for a plasma TV. Because this is their high-end "boutique" line, this one may be hard to find in your online shopping, but Authorized Pioneer resellers will carry it—take a look at our recommended dealers list to get started. Find Recommended Dealers
