Panasonic TH 50PF9UK

The second 50-inch plasma available with 1080p resolution, the Panasonic TH-50PF9UK has a bit of catching up to do. The first was Pioneer's Pro-FHD1, which earned the highest picture-quality marks we've given out in a long time. The Panasonic also delivers excellent images, although it's not quite as impressive as the Pioneer overall. More importantly, both cost significantly more than their lower-resolution 50-inch plasma brothers, and their extra resolution only translates into an appreciably sharper picture if you plan to sit very close to the big screen--say, six feet or less. In other words, most buyers will be better served getting standard-resolution 50-inch plasmas, but if you must have millions of pixels and you like the Panasonic's industrial chops, then it might be worth the extra cash to you.

Design While Panasonic has announced a few "consumer" 1080p plasmas, the first being the 50-inch TH-50PZ700U due this summer, the TH-50PF9UK reviewed here was designed primarily for professional use. It's still perfectly safe for use in the home, however, and it provides more picture-quality adjustments and a much cleaner, minimalist look than the company's consumer models, as evinced by the current PX50U series. The trade-off? Panasonic's pro plasmas come with just a couple of inputs, no speakers, and no stand, although you can purchase them separately. The stand will cost around $150, and the speakers, if you choose to add them, about $250. (The full list of accessories can be found here.)