Three 50-inch plasma displays arrive at TechTV Labs. We must be in heaven.

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There I was, slack-jawed, next to three ultra-thin 50-inch plasma displays. The Pioneer sitting on its tabletop stand and the Philips mounted on the wall both displayed a sharp, super-sized "Unreal Tournament" LAN game in all its fury. A high-definition movie played on the third plasma, the Fujitsu, which was precariously held up by makeshift support feet.

Needless to say, I was in a really good place, somewhere between awe and wonder. Those who have witnessed a good plasma in action know what I'm talking about.

Rarely does a technology sweep us off our feet like a giant plasma screen, particularly when it's pumping out high-resolution video. Expansive screen space (currently up to 63-inches) at the movie-like 16:9 aspect ratio, high-definition resolution at 1080i or 720p, and a thickness of only 4 or 5 inches make a plasma television the TV to buy -- if you can afford one.

Not all plasmas created equal

Plasma displays range in size from 32 inches to 63 inches. Price ($2,500 -- $20,000) is a general indicator of quality. For example, a good 50-inch plasma will cost you about $10,000 (MSRP) whereas a not-so-good plasma will run you around $7,000 (MSRP). These lower-end plasmas typically have lower native resolution, trouble rendering true blacks and reds, and will not include a pure digital DVI input.

It's important to mention that, while still exorbitant in price, plasma television prices have dropped by as much as half since last year.

Selecting the best

We evaluated the following high-end 50-inch plasmas displays and chose our favorite based on picture and motion quality, color, input/output options, and price.


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