Panasonic TC-PST30 series
As long as you don't mind its clunky style, the Panasonic ST30 wins "present of the year" in this category. Available in six (!) sizes from 42 to 65 inches, it offers 3D compatibility, our favorite Internet suite (Wi-Fi dongle included) and yes, those deep blacks and wide viewing angles you can only get from plasma. The kicker: it costs hundreds less than any other TV this year that earned an 8 or better in our Performance category.
The good: The Panasonic TC-PST30 has excellent overall picture quality, with deep black levels, accurate color, and solid video processing. It can handle 1080p/24 sources well and exhibits the nearly perfect screen uniformity of plasma, as well as solid 3D picture quality. Its Internet suite is simple to use yet content-rich, and it includes a Wi-Fi dongle.
The bad: The chunky ST30 seems dated by today's flat-panel TV design standards. Picture quality flaws include limited brightness--a liability especially in bright rooms--and less-saturated color in its most accurate picture mode. The ST30 has fewer picture controls than the competition, doesn't include 3D glasses, and uses significantly more power than LCD TVs.
The bottom line: If you can live with its homely design, the excellent picture quality and feature set of the Panasonic TC-PST30 series combine to make it one of the best plasma TV values available.
November 1, 2011 11:19 PM PDT
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET
