Panasonic Premiere TH-65VX100U

Reviewers say that the 65-inch Panasonic Premiere TH-65VX100U delivers some of the best picture quality of any HD display, but its steep price and limited availability appeal to only the well-heeled or dedicated videophile. The TH-65VX100U is a monitor, which means there's no built-in tuner. The audio amplifier does a nice job if paired with good speakers, but they're not included, and neither is a stand or much in the way of inputs. The Panasonic Premiere TH-65VX100U does offer incredible picture quality, marked by blacks that are bested only by very few sets, such as the now discontinued Pioneer Kuro plasma TVs. Colors are lifelike, though some say they're technically inaccurate. For those looking for nearly as big a screen at a cheaper price, the Samsung PN58B650 (*Est. $2,140) provides blacks that are almost as deep and very accurate colors. The Samsung PN58B650 is also a full-featured TV, with a tuner, speaker and stand included.

Despite its price, the 65-inch Panasonic Premier TH-65VX100U gets quite a few professional reviews. The most detailed are at Home Theater and Sound & Vision magazines. CNET and PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com offer reviews that are also useful. User reviews are essentially nonexistent -- not a surprise given the TV's cost and limited availability (it is mainly sold through professional installers).