Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 50-inch Plasma HDTV
October

As far as picture quality goes, plasma technology has always had the upper hand in the flat-panel TV wars. And since Pioneer's Elite PRO-FHD1 is the best-performing plasma TV to hit the market, that makes it the best flat-panel TV available — period. Pioneer's plasmas have long been able to deliver images with a deep, CRT-like black and rich, natural-looking color. But what the PRO-FHD1 adds to the mix is true 1080p resolution — something that until now has been missing from plasma sets. Aside from its standard-setting picture, the Pioneer's other benefits include a sleek, black-toned design, a Dot-by-Dot mode that lets you bypass the set's video processing, and a generous range of inputs, including custom installer-friendly DVI, RGB+H/V, and RS-232 connections.

At $8,000 (a few grand more than other like-size plasmas on the market), the PRO-FHD1 isn't a casual purchase. And its 50-inch screen size makes it suited for only small to medium-size rooms. But if you're looking for a flat-panel TV and aren't willing to make any picture-quality compromises, this Pioneer is the one to buy.
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— Al Griffin