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Plasma Televisions Plasma HDTVs have generally been a more expensive technology than LCD displays, but this gap is shrinking. Plasmas offer benefits like darker blacks and more accurate colors over LCD displays, but are generally not as bright and have their own set of issues. Plasma displays are made up of many small cells that are filled with gas, typically neon and xenon. High voltage electrical impulses are used to excite this gas, which produces the state called Plasma from which the displays derive their name. As a plasma is produced, it releases electrons that then excite phosphor materials that line the cell, which produce the red, green and blue lights that are used to create an image. Three cells, one for red, green and blue, are grouped together to form a single pixel on the display. By modulating the electrical impulse to produce brighter or dimmer combinations of these three colors Plasma displays can produce any color in the visible spectrum. Because they lack the backlights that LCD displays use, Plasmas are able to produce much deeper blacks and a higher contrast between the darkest black and brightest white. This also helps them produce more accurate colors. The negative to Plasma displays are that they cannot get as bright as LCD displays, and they use a lot of power. The two are related, for example if you are looking at an all white display on a Plasma you'll notice the brightness drops significantly, this is because the television has reached it's maximum power draw and is thus unable to produce the maximum level of brightness across the entire screen, a phenomenon known as White Falloff. Plasma displays are also susceptible to  burn-in: if a static image is left on the display for long periods of time, it can result in a "ghost" effect as the burned in image remains visible even after the display has switched to another image. Due to the more difficult construction of Plasma displays, they have generally been relagated to larger, more expensive HDTVs.  But as costs have come down, we are beginning to see smaller Plasma displays and they have become more competitive with LCD displays in that market. Plasma Reviews TV Name Type HDMI In Size Format Is 3D Price Panasonic VIERA TH-46PZ80U Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p No $898.00 Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10 Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p No $3,199.00 Panasonic Viera TC-P54Z1 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p No $3,995.00 Panasonic Viera TC-P54G10 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p No $1,499.88 Panasonic TC-P65VT25 Plasma 4 65 in. 1080p No $0.00 Panasonic TC-P54G25 Plasma 4 54 in. 1080p No $0.00 Panasonic TC-P50VT20 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p Yes $0.00 Panasonic TC-P50U1 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p No $978.18 Panasonic TC-P50G10 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p No $1,229.99 Panasonic TC-P42X1 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p No $619.00 Panasonic TC-P42S1 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p No $699.95 Samsung PN58B850 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p No $2,799.00 Samsung PN58B550 Plasma 4 52 in. 1080p No $1,467.77 Samsung PN50B430 Plasma 2 50 in. 720p No $900.00 Samsung PN50A760 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p No $1,795.00 LG 60PS80 Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p No $2,048.00 LG 60PS60 Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p No $1,018.18 LG 60PK950 Plasma -1 60 in. 1080p No $0.00 LG 50PQ30 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p No $778.00 Plasma Spec Sheets TV Name Type HDMI In Size Format Is 3D Price VIZIO VP50HDTV Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $1,150 VIZIO VP505XVT Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,500 VIZIO VP504 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $800 VIZIO VP503 Plasma 4 50 in. 720p O $1,200 VIZIO VP423 Plasma 4 42 in. 720p O $900 VIZIO VP422HDTV10A Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $0 VIZIO VP422 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $800 VIZIO VP322 Plasma 3 32 in. 720p O $650 VIZIO VM60P Plasma 4 60 in. 720p O $2,299 Panasonic VIERA TH-C50FD18 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $3,999 Panasonic VIERA TH-C42HD18 Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $678 Panasonic VIERA TH-65PZ750U Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p O $4,295 Panasonic VIERA TH-65PX600U Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p O $4,448 Panasonic VIERA TH-58PZ750U Plasma 3 58 in. 1080p O $3,095 Panasonic VIERA TH-58PZ700U Plasma 2 58 in. 1080p O $2,820 Panasonic VIERA TH-58PE75U Plasma 2 58 in. 720p O $2,000 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ850U Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,600 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ80U Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,295 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ800U Plasma 4 50 in. Unknown O $1,784 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PZ800U Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,784 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PE700U Plasma 2 50 in. 1080p O $2,299 Panasonic VIERA TH-50PC77U Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $1,305 Panasonic VIERA TH-46PZ85U Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p O $1,900 Panasonic VIERA TH-46PZ850U Plasma 4 46 in. 1080p O $900 Panasonic VIERA TH-46PZ80U Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p O $898 Panasonic VIERA TH-46PZ800U Plasma 4 46 in. 1080p O $1,535 Panasonic VIERA TH-42PZ85U Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $1,095 Panasonic VIERA TH-42PZ80U Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $1,079 Panasonic VIERA TH-42PZ800U Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $1,650 Panasonic VIERA TH-42PC77U Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $1,300 Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10 Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p O $3,199 Panasonic Viera TC-P54Z1 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p O $3,995 Panasonic Viera TC-P54G10 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p O $1,500 Hitachi UltraVision P50V701 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $2,200 Hitachi UltraVision P50S601 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,600 Hitachi UltraVision 55HDX99 Plasma 3 55 in. 720p O $50 Hitachi UltraVision 55HDT79 Plasma 3 55 in. 720p O $2,290 Hitachi UltraVision 55HDS69 Plasma 3 55 in. 720p O $2,915 Hitachi UltraVision 42HDX99 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $0 Panasonic TH-65PZ850U Plasma 5 65 in. 1080p O $1,079 Panasonic TH-58PZ850U Plasma 5 58 in. 1080p O $3,999 Panasonic TH-58PZ800U Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $1,590 Panasonic TH-58PX600U Plasma 2 58 in. 720p O $2,999 Panasonic TH-50PZ80Q Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,079 Panasonic TH-50PZ700U Plasma 2 50 in. 1080p O $3,200 Panasonic TH-50PX77U Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $863 Panasonic TH-50PX600U Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $5,000 Panasonic TH-50PF9UK Plasma 0 50 in. 1080p O $2,083 Panasonic TH-42PZ700U Plasma 2 42 in. 1080p O $956 Panasonic TH-42PX77U Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $785 Panasonic TH-42PX75U Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $995 Panasonic TH-42PH10UK Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $998 Panasonic TC-P65VT25 Plasma 4 65 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-P65S2 Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-P65S1 Plasma 3 65 in. 1080p O $2,359 Panasonic TC-P58V10 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $2,129 Panasonic TC-P58S1 Plasma 3 58 in. 1080p O $1,460 Panasonic TC-P54V10 Plasma 4 54 in. 1080p O $2,359 Panasonic TC-P54S2 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p O $1,298 Panasonic TC-P54S1 Plasma 3 54 in. 1080p O $1,250 Panasonic TC-P54G25 Plasma 4 54 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-P50X1 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $700 Panasonic TC-P50VT20 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p X $0 Panasonic TC-P50V10 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $2,149 Panasonic TC-P50U2 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $731 Panasonic TC-P50U1 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $979 Panasonic TC-P50S2 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,049 Panasonic TC-P50S1 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,255 Panasonic TC-P50G25 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,295 Panasonic TC-P50G20 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,500 Panasonic TC-P50G15 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $599 Panasonic TC-P50G10 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,230 Panasonic TC-P50C2 Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $0 Panasonic TC-P50C1 Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $796 Panasonic TC-P46U1 Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p O $999 Panasonic TC-P46S2 Plasma 4 46 in. 1080p O $893 Panasonic TC-P46S1 Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p O $749 Panasonic TC-P46G10 Plasma 3 46 in. 1080p O $900 Panasonic TC-P42X1 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $619 Panasonic TC-P42U2 Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-P42U1 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $709 Panasonic TC-P42S2 Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $731 Panasonic TC-P42S1 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $700 Panasonic TC-P42G25 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $1,098 Panasonic TC-P42G15 Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $900 Panasonic TC-P42G10 Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $785 Panasonic TC-P42C2 Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $0 Panasonic TC-L37U22 Plasma 4 37 in. 1080p O $579 Panasonic TC-L32U22 Plasma 4 32 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-58PS14 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-50PX24 Plasma 2 50 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-50PX14 Plasma 2 50 in. 1080p O $0 Panasonic TC-50PS14 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,016 Panasonic TC-42PX24 Plasma 2 42 in. 1080p O $599 Panasonic TC-42PX14 Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $599 NEC PX-42XR4A Plasma 2 42 in. 1080p O $1,879 Norcent PT-5045HD Plasma 1 50 in. 720p O $1,413 Norcent PT-4246HD Plasma 1 42 in. 720p O $1,100 Samsung PN63B550 Plasma 4 63 in. 1080p O $1,989 Samsung PN58B860 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $2,159 Samsung PN58B850 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $2,799 Samsung PN58B560 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $1,574 Samsung PN58B550 Plasma 4 52 in. 1080p O $1,468 Samsung PN58B530 Plasma 3 58 in. 1080p O $0 Samsung PN58A650 Plasma 4 58 in. 1080p O $1,544 Samsung PN58A550 Plasma 3 58 in. 1080p O $1,775 Samsung PN50B560 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $0 Samsung PN50B550 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,097 Samsung PN50B540 Plasma 2 58 in. 1080p O $1,550 Samsung PN50B450 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $759 Samsung PN50B430 Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $900 Samsung PN50A760 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,795 Samsung PN50A650 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $999 Samsung PN50A550 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $888 Samsung PN50A530 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,999 Samsung PN50A450 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $730 Samsung PN50A410 Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $1,499 Samsung PN42B450 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $574 Bang and Olufsen PN42B450 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $574 Samsung PN42B430 Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $0 Samsung PN42A450 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $560 NEC PlasmaSync 60XC10 Plasma 1 60 in. 720p O $1,999 NEC PlasmaSync 50XC10 Plasma 1 50 in. 720p O $1,498 NEC PlasmaSync 42XC10 Plasma 1 42 in. 720p O $868 HP PL4272N Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $1,150 Pioneer PDP-5080HD Plasma 4 50 in. 720p O $2,899 Pioneer PDP-5070HD Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $2,495 Pioneer PDP-505CMX Plasma 0 50 in. 720p O $3,000 Pioneer PDP-4280HD Plasma 4 42 in. 720p O $2,695 Pioneer PDP-4270HD Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $2,295 Hitachi P55T551 Plasma 3 55 in. 1080p O $50 Hitachi P50V702 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,799 Hitachi P50T501 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,129 Hitachi P50S602 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,499 Hitachi P50H401 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,099 Hitachi P50A402 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080i O $1,599 Hitachi P50A202 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080i O $800 Hitachi P42T501 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $899 VIZIO P42HDTV Plasma 1 42 in. 720p O $636 Hitachi P42H401 Plasma 1 42 in. 1080p O $2,250 Hitachi P42A202 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080i O $1,400 Insignia NS-PDP32-09 Plasma 3 32 in. Unknown O $0 Insignia NS-P502Q-10A Plasma 2 50 in. 1080p O $1,200 Insignia NS-P501Q-10A Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $700 Maxent MX-58HPT51 Plasma 3 58 in. 1080i O $1,989 Maxent MX-50X5 Plasma 2 50 in. 1080i O $1,400 Maxent MX-50HPT51 Plasma 2 50 in. 1080i O $948 Maxent MX-5020HPM Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $1,469 Maxent MX-42HPT51 Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $841 Maxent MX-42HPM20 Plasma 1 42 in. 720p O $39 Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $3,900 Pioneer KURO PDP-6010FD Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $3,899 Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $2,999 Pioneer KURO PDP-5010FD Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $2,300 Samsung HP-T5064 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $750 Samsung HP-T5054 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $760 Samsung HP-T4264 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $650 Samsung HP-T4254 Plasma 3 42 in. 720p O $665 Samsung FP-T5084 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $900 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-950HD Plasma 4 42 in. 720p O $2,700 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-151FD Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $7,999 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-150FD Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $5,495 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-1150HD Plasma 4 50 in. 720p O $2,144 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-111FD Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $4,500 Pioneer ELITE KURO PRO-110FD Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $4,495 Hitachi Director's Series P60X901 Plasma 3 60 in. 1080p O $3,499 Hitachi Director's Series P50X901 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $4,299 LG 60PS80 Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $2,048 LG 60PS60 Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $1,019 LG 60PK950 Plasma 60 in. 1080p O $0 LG 60PK750 Plasma in. Unknown O $0 LG 60PG60 Plasma 4 60 in. 1080p O $2,999 LG 60PG30 Plasma 3 60 in. 1080p O $2,399 LG 60PC1D Plasma 2 60 in. 720p O $2,195 LG 52LG50 Plasma 3 52 in. 1080p O $1,200 LG 50PS60 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,019 LG 50PQ30 Plasma 3 50 in. 720p O $778 LG 50PK550 Plasma 50 in. 1080p O $0 LG 50PJ350 Plasma 50 in. 720p O $0 LG 50PG60 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $2,500 LG 50PG30 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $2,000 LG 50PG25 Plasma 4 50 in. 1080p O $1,611 LG 50PG20 Plasma 3 50 in. 1080p O $1,500 Philips 50PFP5332D Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $1,599 LG 50PC5D Plasma 2 50 in. 720p O $80 LG 42PJ350 Plasma 42 in. 720p O $0 LG 42PG25 Plasma 4 42 in. 1080p O $600 LG 42PG20 Plasma 3 42 in. 1080p O $850 LG 42PC5D Plasma 2 42 in. 720p O $680