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Plasma TV: Ratings of Sources
Total of 21 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. CNet.com
Oct. 31, 2008
Best plasma TVs
by David Katzmaier
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

CNet.com reviews more plasma TVs than just about any other reviewer, with most top choices winding up on this list. While some reviewers go even deeper, CNet's write ups are far more detailed than those of… Consumer Reports (see below). In addition, we appreciate that CNet has taken great pains to detail their testing methodology -- including how they obtain TVs for testing -- which adds to the site's credibility. The Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-111FD is identified as the "pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality," but it's "extremely expensive." CNet also identifies several more reasonably priced plasma TVs that perform nearly as well, including the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U, which is named an Editors' Choice. The TV's bigger-screen sibling, the Panasonic TH-58PZ800U, is similarly honored, but strangely not listed here.

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2. CNet.com
Oct. 31, 2008
Best cheap plasma TVs
by David Katzmaier
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment While the listing above honors the best plasma TVs in terms of pure performance, CNet also recognizes that economic realities often play a role in finding the perfect TV. This listing includes plasma TVs that deliver a decent, if not better, picture and terrific bang for the buck. The Panasonic TH-42PX80U stands out for setting "the picture quality-to-value standard for entry-level plasma TVs."
3. ConsumerReports.org
Not Dated
Plasma TVs
by Editors of Consumer Reports
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

While Consumer Reports rates lots of plasma TVs -- 25 in its latest report -- each set only gets a few paragraphs of discussion, offering much less detail than other reviewers. In addition, we are a little… bothered that 15 of the 25 rate well enough to earn a recommendation. On the plus side, Consumer Reports updates its ratings on a regular basis, and those ratings are based on competent and thorough testing. Though the most recent report is not dated, it is current and most -- but not all -- models are still in production.

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4. Playback Magazine
Nov. 2008
Buyer's Guide: 5 Gold-Standard Plasma HDTVs
by David Birch-Jones
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Site navigation here is a nuisance as it centers more on style than ease-of-use, but the content is worthwhile as this is one of the better comparative reviews of plasma HDTVs we found -- though it would… have been better still if all the TVs were of the same screen size. Discussion isn't particularly extensive, but important points are covered and ratings for features, performance with HD and SD signals, value and more are provided. There's also a to-the-point box saying who should consider each HDTV, and who should look elsewhere. Recommended settings and a bottom line assessment for each HDTV are other pluses. The Panasonic TH-42PZ800U and Samsung PN50A760 are singled out as especially good performers.

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5. PCMag.com
Nov.13, 2008
Bargain Hunt: Plasma HDTVs
by Corinne Iozzio and Robert Heron
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This article groups three current-model plasma HDTVs and emphasizes their value, especially in light of some recent price drops. Write-ups here are brief, but links lead to longer, competent and decently detailed reports. The Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD scores particularly well and is honored with an Editors' Choice award.
6. Sound & Vision Magazine
Oct. 2008
Sound & Vision's Best
by Editors of Sound & Vision
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Sound & Vision magazine occasionally tests plasma TVs in highly detailed, single-set reports and multi-set roundups. Highest-rated products earn a Sound & Vision Certified and Recommended rating, and those… plasma TVs that the magazine says are "the best gear to buy right now" also appear in this listing. Only one plasma TV, the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U, makes the grade, but the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD also earns a Certified and Recommended award in its review elsewhere on this site.

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7. Home Theater Magazine
As of Nov. 2008
Buyer's Guide: Flat Panels
by Editors of Home Theater
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Home Theater magazine covers plasma TVs in single-set reviews, multi-TV roundups and as part of home-entertainment systems. The reviews are highly opinionated and most include objective ratings. Top picks make it to this buying guide, which would be even more useful if it did not include both plasma and LCD TVs and if it explicitly indicated how the top choices rank compared to each other.
8. Ultimate AV Magazine
As of Nov. 2008
Flat Panel Displays
by Editors of Ultimate AV
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The single-product reports here are among the more detailed and loaded with technical specifications. Most reviews include comparisons to other plasma TVs, but best choices are not clearly identified. A Buyer's Guide on the site is out of date.
9. PlasmaTV Buying Guide.com
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma TV Reviews
by Editors of PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This site lacks some of the professionalism of more highly rated reviews, but the tests seem to be fairly done and offer lots of detail. We especially appreciate the inclusion of detailed calibration… results and the listings of the other equipment used in each review. Ratings are provided, but a table summarizing them is cluttered by the inclusion of lots of discontinued TVs. The Samsung PN50A650 is the highest scoring current plasma TV.

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10. Playback Magazine
Oct. 2008
Setting the Standard for Affordable Plasma
by David Birch-Jones
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In a stand-alone review, David Birch-Jones is the first professional reviewer that we've seen to weigh in on the just released Vizio VP505XVT. This review has the same pluses and minuses as the reports in the November 2008 issue, as cited above, while site navigation is just as onerous. To say Birch-Jones is impressed with this Vizio TV would be an understatement.
11. Big Picture Big Sound.com
As of Nov. 2008
HDTV Reviews
by Chris Boylan
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Chris Boylan only reviews a pair of current plasma TVs -- the Panasonic TH-46PZ800U and the Vizio VP322 -- but both reviews are very well done. Testing is extensive and well explained, without leaving the uninitiated scratching their head too often. A rating is provided for each set, but those aren't really very useful given the lack of context.
12. Home Entertainment Magazine
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma TVs
by Geoffrey Morrison
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Home Entertainment magazine has only reported on a couple of plasma TVs in recent months, but reviewer Geoffrey Morrison does a good job covering the essentials without overwhelming the reader. The results of testing are described, but not meticulously detailed. Opinions are clearly presented, but no attempt is made to rate or rank plasma TVs.
13. AVSForum.com
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma Flat Panel Displays
by Contributors to AVSForum.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This heavily trafficked user discussion site is hard to navigate, but contains some detailed and insightful coverage of specific televisions. Some of the threads are quite long and a few even contain thousands of posts.
14. BestBuy.com
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma Flat-Panel TVs
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment BestBuy.com has become one of the better resources for user-written reviews. Most of the sets listed get plenty of comments, making this an especially useful place to see how owners rate their TVs after they've gotten them home. That said, it is probably most useful as a destination for a second opinion once you've narrowed your choices.
15. Amazon.com
As of Nov. 2008
Flat Panel Plasma TVs
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon.com also invites owners to share their experiences with potential buyers. Unfortunately, the listings include many discontinued models, making navigation more difficult. On the positive side, Amazon.com offers some useful tools, such as a box that contrasts the most helpful critical and complimentary reviews for a set as voted on by site visitors.
16. HomeTheaterReview.com
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma HDTV Reviews
by Editors of HomeTheaterReview.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

HomeTheaterReview.com is a relatively new site -- at least to us -- but they've seemed to accumulate a decent number of plasma TV reviews in the time they've been around. That's the good news. The bad news… is that the reports are on the superficial side. Based on comments, some testing is clearly being done, but the bulk of the write-ups are consumed with discussions of features that could just as easily be gleaned from manufacturer literature. High points, low points and a conclusion are provided, but no best TV is clearly identified.

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17. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Nov. 2008
Flat Panel TVs
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Consumer Guide has come a long way in recent months. Reviews are modestly detailed and clearly indicate that some testing is going on. Still, that testing is not explained in any way, nor is there a good explanation of how the site's ratings are derived. Because of that, Consumer Guide is most useful as a second or, better still, third opinion of a set you are considering.
18. About.com
As of Nov. 2008
Top Plasma Televisions - EDTV and HDTV Plasma Televisions
by Robert Silva
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This is a list of "favorite" plasma televisions, compiled by Robert Silva, About.com's Guide to Home Theater. Unfortunately, nowhere is the criteria for earning a spot on this list spelled out, and there is… no sign that any actual testing has been done. Though a few discontinued plasma TVs remain listed, Silva also includes some of the latest models. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but is not affiliated editorially.)

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19. Epinions.com
As of Nov. 2008
Flat Panel Television
by Contributors to Epinions
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment While Epinions also offers users the opportunity to share their opinions about products they own, it gets far less traffic than either Amazon.com or Circuit City. Because of that, current models tend to have very few reviews and ratings. Plasma and LCD TV are listed together as Flat Panel Televisions, and there's no easy way to zero in on sets using one technology or the other.
20. Walmart.com
As of Nov. 2008
Plasma TVs
by Contributors to Wal-Mart.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wal-Mart doesn't carry that many plasma TVs, but it's the best place to find user reviews for some budget models, such as certain sets from Vizio. The quality of the reviews is no better or worse than those at most other retail sites, but some include information about the reviewer and whether he or she would recommend the TV to a friend, which is helpful.
21. PC World
As of Nov. 2008
HDTV Reviews
by Lincoln Spector
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

PC World reviews are a bit of a disappointment. Testing is clearly being done, but descriptions are brief. Value and design are given far greater weight than performance in some cases. Some odd comments and… odd decisions are sprinkled throughout. One example is not testing the Panasonic TH-46PZ800U in its THX mode -- which deprives readers of a hands-on evaluation of that TV's most noteworthy feature.

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