Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10

Best 50-inch plasma TV

• Deep blacks
• THX-certified
• Great styling
• More energy efficient than earlier plasma HDTVs

• Colors outside of THX mode not the most accurate
• LCD HDTVs more energy efficient still

Now that Pioneer is leaving the field, critics say Panasonic is the go-to choice for those who demand terrific blacks for the most cinematic picture quality. The Panasonic TC-PV10 series of sets, including the 50-inch TC-P50V10, have a panel that uses less energy than plasma displays of the past (though LCD TVs use even less energy for the most part). A THX mode lets viewers see movies and other content exactly as intended without resorting to extensive and expensive professional calibration, though there are enough picture controls for dedicated tweakers to set things to their own preferences. The single-glass-sheet design is striking. Other screen sizes in the series include 54 inches, 58 inches and 65 inches. The less costly 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50G10 (*Est. $1,300) uses the same plasma panel and includes many of the same features, including THX certification, but sports more conventional styling, less sophisticated video processing and fewer user-accessible picture adjustments. However, it is also notably less expensive.

CNET has a nicely detailed report that compares the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10 to the step-down Panasonic Viera TC-P50G10. ConsumerReports.org's report is briefer but is also testing based. A fairly long thread at AVSForum.com discusses the TC-PV10 series at length. Amazon.com is the best destination for user reviews.