Budget big-screen HDTVs: larger than 41.9 inches for less than $1,500

David Katzmaier, Senior Editor

Updated February 11, 2008

While prices for flat-panel HDTVs don't seem to be falling as fast as they once did, and more expensive models with 1080p resolution (plasmas) and 120Hz refresh rates (LCDs) dominate the upper slots of our top products lists, there are still plenty bargains to be found. The problem, as usual, is separating the wheat from the chaff. We've gathered a six-pack of 42-inch and 50-inch plasmas and LCDs that cost less than $1,500, and lined them up for comparison.

Related Resources

	remove this product	remove this product	remove this product	remove this product	remove this product	remove this product
Product name	Insignia NS-PDP42	Philips 42PFL7432D	Panasonic TH-42PX77U	Hitachi P50H401	LG 50PC5D	Panasonic TH-50PH10UK

Review date	February 07, 2008	December 13, 2007	March 27, 2007	January 02, 2008	July 11, 2007	September 21, 2007

CNET editors' rating	4.4 Mediocre	6.9 Good	7.3 Very good	5.8 Average	6.9 Good	7.7 Very good

Users' rating	5.9 Average ( from 9 users)	9.0 Spectacular ( from 17 users)	8.4 Excellent ( from 25 users)	8.4 Excellent ( from 29 users)	7.1 Very good ( from 17 users)	9.0 Spectacular ( from 1 users)

Buying choices	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...

Local shopping	No local stores found	No local stores found	No local stores found	No local stores found	No local stores found	No local stores found

Product videos	Watch video		Watch video	Watch video	Watch video

Review summary	Serious issues with image burn-in spoil the Insignia NS-PDP42's appeal as an inexpensive plasma HDTV.	Although its black-level performance hampers its picture quality against similarly priced flat-panel LCDs, the Philips 42PFL7432D has its share of strong points.	With its antiglare screen, the good-performing Panasonic TH-42PX77U plasma is as at home in brightly lit rooms as any LCD.	Although it's inexpensive, Hitachi's P50H401 50-inch plasma produces one of the least impressive pictures we've seen lately.	The LG 50PC5D suffers a few picture quality faults compared to the best 50-inch plasmas, but its aggressive price and solid black levels really increase its appeal.	While still offering excellent all-around picture quality, the "professional" Panasonic TH-50PH10UK plasma TV isn't quite as good a bargain as its "consumer" cousins.

Product series		See all products in this series	See all products in this series	See all products in this series	See all products in this series	See all products in this series

My Products	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)	Add to my products Add to my products I want it Track pricing and other product info. I got it Get a custom support center on this product. Close Added to my products: I want it (See all) Added to my products: I got it (See all)
Basic Specs
Product type	Plasma TV	LCD TV	Plasma TV	Plasma TV	Plasma TV	Plasma panel

Diagonal size	42 in	42 in	42 in	50 in	50 in	50 in

Image aspect ratio	16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9	16:9

HDTV compatible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Info unavailable

Remote control type	Universal remote control (Infrared)	Remote control (Infrared)	Remote control (Infrared)	Remote control (Infrared)	Remote control (Infrared)	Remote control (Infrared)

Resolution	1024 x 768	1920 x 1080	1024 x 768	1280 x 1080	1366 x 768	1366 x 768

Supported DTV Resolutions	480p , 720p , 1080i	480i , 480p , 576i , 576p , 720/50p , 720/60p , 1080/24p , 1080/50i , 1080/50p , 1080/60i , 1080/60p	480p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p	480i , 480p , 720p , 1080i	Info unavailable	480i , 480p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1080i

Comb filter	3D digital	3D digital	3D-Y/C digital	3D-Y/C digital	3D-Y/C digital	Info unavailable

Sound output mode	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo

Dimensions (WxDxH)	44.4 in x 13 in x 29.5 in	41.2 in x 4.6 in x 27 in	44.9 in x 3.9 in x 25.3 in	48.8 in x 16.5 in x 34.7 in	48.8 in x 3.5 in x 32.6 in	47.6 in x 3.7 in x 28.5 in

Weight	64.4 lbs	76.3 lbs	61.8 lbs	116.8 lbs	76.3 lbs	79.4 lbs

Service & support	Limited warranty - 1 year	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Limited warranty - 1 year	Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 2 years	- Parts and labor - 1 year

Color	Info unavailable	High-gloss black	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Gloss black	Info unavailable

Product name	Insignia NS-PDP42	Philips 42PFL7432D	Panasonic TH-42PX77U	Hitachi P50H401	LG 50PC5D	Panasonic TH-50PH10UK

Full specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications

Price range	Check latest prices $800 from 1 store	Check latest prices $n/a from 0 store	Check latest prices $1128-1300 from 2 stores	Check latest prices $1289-2000 from 3 stores	Check latest prices $1178-1400 from 8 stores	Check latest prices $1319-2399 from 4 stores