So you can't afford the big bucks for a top-of-the-line plasma panel, and you want to know what the best value in the category is? I have long considered Panasonic to be the best bang for the buck in plasma, and that remains the case as of this writing. This applies across the entire line of consumer panels from Panny. The TH-42PZ80U (Purchase , TweakTV Settings), and its 46-inch (Purchase, TweakTV Settings) and 50-inch (Purchase, TweakTV Settings) siblings are among the best values in the category. They are all 1080p resolution plasmas. Next up in the line is the 85 series starting with the TH-42PZ85U (Purchase , TweakTV Settings), and moving through the 46 (TH-46PZ85U / Purchase , TweakTV Settings), 50 (TH-50PZ85U / Purchase , TweakTV Settings) corresponding models.  

Blacks are second best in class behind the much pricier Pioneer PDP and Elite panels. Overall color accuracy of the Panasonics while not as good as the Pioneer Elite, but on a par with the much more expense Pioneer PDP-5020 and 6020 models. There is also more control over picture parameters in all the Panasonic models than there is in the Pioneer 20 series panels, which means you have the ability to fine tune the picture to a higher degree of accuracy than with the regular line Pioneers. Please see my full report on the Pioneer 20 series panels.

If you are looking for the best alternative to the Pioneer 20 series panels the TH-42PZ800U, 50PZ800U, 58PZ800U, and 65PZ800U panels are the ones to look at. These are pricier than the PZ85 models, but still considerably less than the Pioneer 20 series. The THX mode in the 800 series Panasonic's give them superior overall color accuracy as the Primary and Secondary colors in this mode are reasonably accurate, where as, the Pioneers are way off the mark in that regard. For my money the blacks on the Panasonics are compelling enough that I would opt for an 800 series Panasonic over the Pioneer 20 series panels because of their superior color accuracy. Save your hard earned dollars for a professional calibration  on the Panasonic and you will be assured of superior performance at a much lower overall cost.