Plasma TV Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Plasma TV. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Plasma TV, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Plasma TV. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Plasma TV prices.

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Plasma TV Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Plasma TV Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. CNet.com	Best plasma HDTVs David Katzmaier May 16, 2008		CNet.com's electronics editors continually test and report on plasma TVs, with sets that score most highly making it onto this list. The Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ800U is named an Editor's Choice winner, edging out even Pioneer's highly vaunted KURO TVs. The Samsung PN50A550 also rates highly, while the Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX80U is singled out as "setting the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level flat-panel HDTVs." CNet reviews more plasma TVs than just about any other reviewer, and its reviews are far more detailed than those of Consumer Reports (see below). It is also currently the most up-to-date resource for plasma TV reviews. In addition, we appreciate that CNet has taken great pains to detail their testing methodology -- including how they obtain TVs for testing -- which adds to the site's credibility.

Plasma TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Plasma TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Plasma TVs Editors of Consumer Reports Feb. 2008		While Consumer Reports rates lots of plasma TVs -- 37 in its latest report -- each set only gets a few paragraphs of discussion, offering much less detail than other reviewers. In addition, while Consumer Reports updates its ratings on a regular basis, and those ratings are based on competent and thorough testing, the current information is a bit dated as most of the plasma TVs listed are last-generation models, though some still current plasma TVs are included.
3. Sound & Vision Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Sound & Vision's Best Editors of Sound & Vision magazine April 2008		Sound & Vision magazine occasionally tests plasma TVs in highly detailed, single-set reports and multi-set roundups. Highest-rated products earn a Sound & Vision Certified and Recommended rating, which the magazine says indicates that they are "the best gear to buy right now." Sound & Vision recognizes the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-110FD 50-inch plasma TV for its unbeatable black levels and close to perfect color balance, declaring that it represents the "state of the art" in HD displays.
4. Home Theater Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Buyer's Guide: Flat Panels Editors of Home Theater magazine As of Jun. 2008		Home Theater magazine covers plasma TVs in single-set reviews, multi-TV roundups and as part of home-entertainment systems. The reviews are highly opinionated and most include objective ratings. Top picks make it to this buying guide, which would be even more useful if it did not include both plasma and LCD TVs and if it explicitly indicated how these top choices rank compared to each other. The 60-inch Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-150FD is a called the best one-piece digital display the magazine has ever tested. The 50-inch Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-110FD is lauded equally.
5. Ultimate AV Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Flat Panel Displays Editors of Ultimate AV magazine As of June 2008		The single-product reports here are very detailed and loaded with technical specifications. Unfortunately, comparisons to other plasma TVs are rarely made, and a Buyer's Guide is out of date. The Pioneer Elite PRO-110FD receives a glowing recommendation, with Scott Wilkinson saying no other display can touch it for sheer picture quality, but it is very expensive. The remaining plasma TVs reviewed here are now discontinued, but some might still be available for sale.
6. HDTV Solutions.com	HDTV: Plasma, LCD, DLP Reviews & Commentary Editors of HDTVSolutions.com As of June 2008		HDTVSolutions.com occasionally reviews plasma TVs in complete and fairly detailed single-set profiles. Unfortunately, TVs are not directly compared to each other, and no overall grade is assigned -- although some key factors such as performance and value do receive ratings. In addition, though a couple of still-current or still-available plasma sets are profiled, as of our last visit, it had been several months since a plasma TV has been reviewed.
7. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Plasma Displays Editors of PC Magazine As of June 2008		At PC Magazine, plasma TVs are covered in single-product reviews and occasional roundups. All sets get an overall rating that can be used to compare TVs. Plasma TVs that deliver in terms of performance and value also receive Editors' Choice ratings. Unfortunately, PC Magazine has not published very many reviews in recent months, and its most recent reports are of already discontinued models.
8. AudioVideo Revolution	Plasma HDTVs Editors of Audio Video Revolution As of June 2008		Though a few longer, more helpful reports are sprinkled in here and there, Audio Video Revolution mostly covers plasma TVs in brief capsule reports that fall short of the better efforts we see elsewhere. Comments make it clear, at least, that someone is doing some hands-on testing, and appropriately critical comments are made. However, the lack of depth, abundance of discontinued models and lack of ratings and detailed comparisons makes this only a secondary source for plasma TV guidance.
9. I4U News.com	Home Entertainment Reviews Editors of I4UNews.com As of June 2008		I4UNews.com bills itself as a technology lifestyle magazine and shopping guide. Reviews are more superficial than others, but don't do a bad job of tackling things from a user's point of view. The 1080p Hitachi P50S601 scores well in reviewer Shane McGlaun's eyes, and earns one of the site's Editors' Choice ratings. He notes it has picture quality and features that "put other sets to shame." The NEC PlasmaSync 60XC10 60-inch plasma monitor has great picture quality, but too many limitations -- such as sparse connectivity -- to make it the best choice for most home theater setups.
10. AVSForum.com	Plasma Flat Panel Displays Contributors to AVSForum.com As of June 2008		This heavily trafficked user discussion site is hard to navigate, but contains some detailed and insightful coverage of specific televisions. Some of the threads are quite long and a few even contain more than 1,000 posts.

Plasma TV Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Plasma TV Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. BestBuy.com	Plasma Flat-Panel TVs Contributors to BestBuy.com As of June 2008		BestBuy.com has become one of the better resources for user-written reviews. Most of the sets listed get plenty of comments, making this an especially useful place to see how owners rate their TVs after they've gotten them home. That said, it is probably most useful as destination for a second opinion once you've narrowed your choices.
12. CircuitCity.com	Plasma Flat Panel TVs Contributors to CircuitCity.com As of June 2008		CircuitCity.com is another retailer that allows users to post reviews and ratings. As with Best Buy.com, most of the plasma TVs receive enough comments to make visiting the site useful. However, while the list of TVs can be sorted many ways, including by rating, you must click through to each TV to see if that rating is based on one or two ratings, or a hundred.
13. Amazon.com	Flat Panel Plasma TVs Contributors to Amazon.com As of June 2008		Amazon.com also invites owners to share their experiences with potential buyers. Unfortunately, the listings include many discontinued models, making navigation more difficult. On the positive side, Amazon.com offers some useful tools, such as a box that contrasts the most helpful critical and complimentary reviews for a set as voted on by site visitors.
14. PlasmaTV Buying Guide.com	Plasma TV Reviews Editors of PlasmaTVBuying Guide.com As of June 2008		This site lacks some of the professionalism of more highly rated reviews, but the tests seem to be fairly done and offer lots of detail. Most of what's here is now dated, but this is the only professional review of the Runco SP-50/SP-50XA that we've seen.
15. Epinions	Flat Panel Television Contributors to Epinions As of June 2008		While Epinions also offers users the opportunity to share their opinions about products they own, it gets far less traffic than either Amazon.com or Circuit City. Because of that, current models tend to have very few reviews and ratings.
16. Consumer Guide.com	Flat Panel TVs Editors of Consumer Guide.com As of June 2008		Most of the plasma TVs listed here have been discontinued. And while some are recommended, there's no explanation as to why or whether these televisions have been tested.
17. HDTVMagazine.com >> Details/Subscribe	HDTV Displays Braden Russell and Ara Derderian As of June 2008		Though it has been some time since the self proclaimed "HT Guys" Braden Russell and Ara Derderian has looked at an HDTV, the Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-950HD and the Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-150HD are the subject of brief reviews here.
18. About.com	Top Plasma Televisions - EDTV and HDTV Plasma Televisions Robert Silva As of June 2008		This is a list of "favorite" plasma televisions, compiled by Robert Silva, About.com's Guide to Home Theater. Unfortunately, nowhere is the criteria for earning a spot on this list spelled out, and there is no sign that any actual testing has been done. Though a few discontinued plasma TVs remain listed, Silva also includes some of the latest models. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but is not affiliated editorially.)