LCD TVs are among the leaders in improving high-definition TV, with many models incorporating the new 1,080p resolution. Plasma sets are close on their heels.

Noted for their thin profiles, large screens and wide viewing angles, plasma sets have been slow to incorporate 1,080p. (The designation refers to the number of pixels per inch. The higher the number – standard HDTV is 720p – the greater the resolution and the sharper the image.) That pace is expected to pick up the second half of next year. In the meantime, there are lots of very good 720p plasma sets on the market. And with prices continuing to fall, you needn’t wait to experience the accurate colors, deep blacks and great contrast that typify plasma TVs.

Our latest tests of plasma sets looked at 42-inch and 50-inch models. Although these are less than 6 inches thin, they’ve fairly heavy – a 42-inch unit, for instance, weighs about 100 pounds. Many also present peculiarities that have long dogged plasma TV: reflections from shiny screens and burn-in from static images such as news tickers or video games.

Yet plasma remains a good buy for anyone who wants a thin, big-screen bargain in HDTV:

Issue: RR October 2006 Story: Plasma TVs Product: Hitachi Model: 42HDS69 CU: 03549-5383 Purpose: ID Photographer: John Powers

¢ 42-inch models. Our top-rated smaller set, the Panasonic TH-42PX600U ($2,500), featured very good picture quality when tested with high-definition signals and good quality in standard definition. It comes with a CableCard slot (enabling reception of scrambled cable channels) and PC input. The Panasonic TH-42PX60U can’t decode scrambled signals on its own, and scored slightly lower overall, but costs $500 less. With a resolution of 1,024 by 1,080, the Hitachi UltraVision 42HDS69 ($2,000) has enough pixels vertically to display all the lines in an HD signal, but horizontal resolution falls short of true 1,080p. For fine value in a 42-inch set, we like the HP PL4260N ($1,700). It has very good picture quality in high definition and excellent sound quality.

¢ 50-inch models. Like its 42-inch brand mate, the Panasonic TH-50PX600U ($3,600) leads this pack. It offers CableCard capacity and a PC slot to go along with very good HD picture quality and excellent sound. Although not as feature-laden, the Panasonic TH-50PX60U ($3,000) did very well with high-definition signals. With a built-in DVR (digital video recorder), CableCard and very good HD picture quality and sound, the LG 50PC1DR offers a lot for $3,300. Plus, it comes with a 24-month warranty on parts and labor. The Fujitsu Plasmavision P50XTA51UB has a 36-month warranty, CableCard slot and very good HD picture quality, but even all that may not justify its $5,500 price. Better values are the lower scoring (but still good) HP PL5060N ($2,600) and Zenith Z50PX2D ($2,500).