HDTV Plasma Ratings

The following HDTV plasma ratings are based on a rating scale from 70 (denoting poorest quality) to 100 (signifying the very best quality). A rating in the 60s for any particular category of a product review indicates a serious defect which causes the product not to operate properly. Picture quality is double-weighted in the Overall Score calculation.

Category : 42" HDTV Plasma

There are 24 brands under review. Out of these 23 leading HDTV plasma brands, there are twelve brands which have scored above 90 in the overall assessment. They are :

1. JVC PD-42V475PD and JVC PD-42WX84 - 94.75
2 NEC 42VP4 - 93
3. Panasonic TH-42PD50U - 92.5
4. Panasonic TH-42PHD8UK - 96.25
5. Panasonic TH-42PX50U- 95.25
6. Panasonic TH-42PX600U - 97.5
7. Panasonic TH-42PX60U - 95.5
8. Pioneer PDP-4270HD - 95.25
9. Sony KE-42M1- 90.75
10. Sony KE-42XBR950 - 92
11. Sony PlasmaPro PFM-42X1 - 93.5
12. Toshiba 42HP83P - 94

As is evident from the above, while the Panasonic, JVC, Pioneer and NEC brands score comparably, the Sony two brands KE-42XBR950 and KE-42M1 have fallen below expected standards. Panasonic has the maximum number of winning brands in this category.

In terms of picture quality of these plasma TVs, however, the following three brands top the list with a 98.

Panasonic TH-42PX600U, Panasonic TH-42PX60U and Pioneer PDP-4270HD. The three brands which have scored very poorly (in the 70s) are Gateway GTW-P42M303, Samsung PPM42S3 and SPN4235 and Samsung PPM42S3 and SPN4235. Even their overall scores are below standard.

Category : 50" HDTV Plasma

There are 18 brands rated in this category. Interestingly all but two brands fare pretty well (overall score above 90). The two (Fujitsu clubbed) brands which have not fared well with overall score standing at 77.25 and 83.5 respectively are Akai PDP5006H and Fujitsu P50XCA30WH and P50XHA30WS. The picture quality scores were 78 and 85 respectively.

The winning HDTV plasma brands in terms of overall score above 90 in the 50" category are :

NEC 50MP3 with 93.88
Panasonic TH-50PHD7UY having 95.75
Panasonic TH-50PX60U scoring 95.5v Panasonic TH-50XVS30 Onyx - 94.25
Pioneer Elite PRO-1110HD - 92.38
Pioneer PDP-503CMX and Pioneer PRO-1000HD - 92.75
Sony KE-50XBR950 - 92
Sony PFM 50C1 - standing at 91.5

It is important to note here that in terms of picture score, all of these HDTV plasma brands have scored above 90.

Category : 60" HDTV Plasma

There are three brands of 60" HDTV plasma being rated here. The Panasonic TH-58PX600U has scored highest in overall terms with a whopping 96.75 followed by Panasonic TH-65PF9UK with an overall score of 90.75. In terms of picture quality they are 97 and 93 respectively. The brand under scan should be Zenith P60W38 which shows an overall score of a mere 82.75 with a picture score of only 80.