TV Reviews

If you are someone who is just shopping around for a basic big screen TV without any of the fun features (like built in speakers, its own stand, and a tuner) than the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 is the television for you. Because you are going for basic you are obviously going for an older model. This is one of the best choices you could choose because it offers some of the best in picture quality that you can find anywhere.

This 50" PRO-FHD1 was the first plasma television to ever have a pixel count of 1,920x1,080 of the native resolution. This is what gives the picture you are watching the detailed look that makes it come alive.

This television may not have all the features that you can find in most televisions these days - but it still has all of the basic HDMI inputs located on the edge of the black panel on the television. You can also find a DVI input - which can work with digital computer signals. There are five BNC inputs that can accept video signals from a computer and other video processors.

To place it anywhere in your home you will have to pay a little extra to buy a stand for it. Also you will have to hook it up to the speakers you have at home. We find it better to go the extra mile and hook it up to a brand new sound system to give you the true effect of a home theatre. If you want to watch HDTV on it you will have to go out and purchase a tuner.

With its sharp details and accurate display of colors we have to say that this is one of the best plasma screens that we have seen. The coloring is near to perfect saving you the time of having to adjust it.

One thing that we hate to see on a television is the color that is left behind when the television is shut off or when a scene in a movie switched from bright to dark. You'll notice that most televisions give off a glow when this happens - which in turn can distort the picture a little. The PRO-FHD1 does not have a problem in this area. It does a great job of keeping everything looking the way it should.

So when it comes to performance we have to say that the Pioneer PRO-FHD1 makes for a great television experience. However, the price of $2,500 - $3,000 that we would have to pay for it (considering that it is a basic television) is something that might be a little too steep for most people. Some people can afford to sacrifice great features for great performance - but not too many will.

The black and silver Philips 32PFL9632D is not only a sleek and sophisticated looking LCD TV, it's absolutely jam packed with lots of great features. They seem to have thought of everything, including their exclusive, Ambilight, three dimensional, high specification, technology.

This beauty really stands out from the crowd. Philips have also integrated an interactive lights system that responds to the action on the screen. Combine that with wide angle viewing, and the action truly becomes intense.

The processing system of the Philips 32PFL9632D is much more powerful than all its predecessors. A 48Hz Play back facility has also been added. With three HDMI inputs and these two important improvements: the Philips 32PFL9632D can support the new high definition 1080p/24fps format, used on Blu-ray, High Definition and many new DVD discs.

However, there are a few issues. The digital tuner isn't as good as you'd expect, the movement's unstable. Also, the picture tends to be a bit on the dark side. Lighten it up, and you will lose detail. Having to choose is not so hot. One last whinge, the color temperature adjustments are too clumsy. Despite the issues, overall, the Philips 32PFL9632D definitely gets the thumbs up.

The maker of the VP42 - Vizio - is not a common household name that many people recognize. While it is true that Vizio is not always known for their high quality LCD televisions it doesn't mean that they are something to shy away from. Vizio is the brand to look for when you are willing to sacrifice a few good features for something that is low cost.

The VP42 has some important pros and cons to it. Color rendition and black levels are somewhat fair. When it comes to the HDMI inputs you can expect good connectivity.

Another great feature that we love to mention is the QAM capable digital tuner. This will enable you to receive over-the-air digital signals without using any sort of control box.

The only thing lacking in the VP42 is the picture quality. The edge enhancement is overdone and the green color in the picture usually switches to blue. It also seems to have a problem keeping up with the details of fast moving pictures.