Samsung PN59D6500

The 59-inch Samsung PN59D6500 strikes an appealing compromise between performance, features and value. First things first, blacks don't quite stand out to the very best plasma TVs, such as Samsung's 64-inch PN64D8000 (*Est. $3,000) or Panasonic's 55-inch TC-P55VT30 (*Est. $2,400) , but they are not all that far behind -- and certainly darker and inkier than even the best LED sets. Color performance, on the other hand, is excellent, with even the toughest reviewers finding little to complain about on that front. The biggest negative is that standard plasma TV drawback -- a screen that casts of lots of reflections in a well-lit room.

Features-wise, there's little that's not on board. Internet streaming is missing a couple of bells and whistles compared to Samsung's most expensive TVs -- such as a built-in web browser and Skype support -- but otherwise all of the content providers offered through the Samsung Smart Hub interface as well as Samsung's App store are here. Built-in Wi-Fi to access that is a plus. So is 3D support, which is more satisfying, experts say, than the 3D systems in last year's sets. Yes, you still need optional active-shutter glasses to enjoy that, but they work better and cost less than in 2010 (starting at *Est. $50). A 51-inch version, the Samsung PN51D6500 (*Est. $1,100) , is also available.

Though most of the professional reviews of sets in this series have been of the smaller PN51D6500, experts say that since specs are the same, those reviews provide a good indication of the performance of the larger, 59-inch Samsung PN59D6500. User reviews can also provide insight, and BestBuy.com currently has the largest number of those.