Pioneer PRO FHD1

Pioneer's PRO-FHD1 isn't for everyone. As the first 50-inch plasma display to have a native resolution of 1080p--in other words, 1,920x1,080 pixels--it understandably costs a mint ($8,000 list). As a monitor, as opposed to a "true" TV, it lacks niceties such as built-in speakers, a tuner (ATSC or otherwise), or even an included stand. And as a member of Pioneer's "Elite" subbrand, it includes picture-centric features, such as user-menu color temperature and primary color adjustments, which most users won't know what to do with. But if you're willing to pay top dollar for the best 50-inch plasma on the market right now, look no further. Compared to the Panasonic TH-50PF9UK, the other current 50-inch 1080p plasma, the Pioneer delivers slightly better picture quality at a more-than-slight price increase. Although it's a bit too expensive to be considered our Editors' Choice in this category, the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 delivers the best picture quality of any television we've tested in the last year. Understatement is the order of the day with the Pioneer PRO-FHD1. The 50-inch pane of glass is set in the middle of a black frame that, unlike other Elite frames, isn't glossy. Instead there's a layer of dark-tinted plastic that extends slightly beyond the edge of the black on all sides, creating a subtle accent. The only other remarkable item on the plasma's surface is the Elite logo and small, nondimmable LEDs that glow blue when the power is on and red when it's off. The panel measures 50.5 x 29.5 x 3.8 inches (WHD) and weighs 87.7 pounds.

Pioneer's remote is as basic as beans, as we'd expect from a clicker that doesn't have to change channels. We really liked the dedicated buttons for switching inputs, but that's really the only remote item worth mentioning. The set's menu system is organized logically, although the nested selections in the picture menu seem to go on forever. The biggest item at the top of the Pioneer PRO-FHD1's spec sheet is its pixel count. This is the first plasma to have 1,920x1,080 pixels of native resolution on its screen, which lend the picture more detail with 1080i and 1080p sources than you'll see with lower-resolution panels, which typically have 1,366x768 pixels. All those pixels also provide more detail with computer sources, which can be set to 1,920x1,080 resolution and deliver every pixel, but they won't improve the look of 720p HDTV or standard-definition television.

As we mentioned at the outset, the Pioneer lacks many of the features you'd expect in any television. You'll have to pay extra if you want to set it on a stand--Pioneer's PDK-TS23 (about $500) is the model the company recommends. Pioneer does not make matching speakers; you'll have to either connect your own to the panel's audio jacks or just use an external home theater sound system, a better move. And of course you'll also need an external tuner--such as a cable or satellite box--or an over-the-air tuner to watch HDTV or any television broadcast on this monitor.