Reference Elites

CNET's comparisons usually include a "reference" TV in the lineup against which all of the others are measured. On the left there's the 2008 50-inch Pioneer Elite Kuro, and on the right the 2011 Sharp Elite, the best TV of last year. Both will be kept for different reference situations this year, along with a Panasonic TC-P65VT50 and a Panasonic TC-P55ST50--our favorite high-end and mid-tier (respectively) TVs from 2012.