Group test: 37in LCD and plasma TVs pt2

Overview Price: £900 More info: Panasonic Size (no stand): 917(w) x 617(h) x 95(d)mm Weight: 22.5kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 15000:1 Claimed max brightness: N/A Connections: Three HDMI inputs, component video input, two Scarts (both RGB), composite video input, PC input, stereo audio inputs, tuner input, CAM slot, S-Video input, headphone jack, SD card slot Panasonic TH-37PX80 While every other brand in the UK has now succumbed to the allure of LCD for its 37in TVs, Panasonic is sticking to its plasma guns with the 37PX80. This inevitably means the TV is not a full HD model; fitting 1920x1080 plasma cells into a 37in screen is a feat not even Panasonic has managed yet. The 37PX80 also lags behind some of its LCD rivals by not making any of its three HDMIs v1.3 compatible. However, it does score one major on-paper success with its claimed contrast ratio of 15000:1 - especially since this is achieved with none of the 'brightness-reducing trickery' of the sort found on most serious LCD models. Also potentially beneficial to picture quality is 100Hz processing for increased image stability, especially during camera pans, and Panasonic's latest V-Real 3 image processors, complete with new and improved algorithms for boosting picture quality and handling 1080p/24 inputs. The good news is that pretty much every element of the 37PX80's processing and core plasma technology combines to produce outstanding pictures. As we'd hoped, for instance, the set's black level response is easily the best in this group test, hitting the deepest levels of black with scarcely a trace of the common grey mist problem. It also handles motion better even the best of our LCD models, and shows HD with more sharpness than you would imagine possible from a screen with a 1024x720 native pixel count. Plus the V-Real 3 engine does a masterful job of upscaling standard definition sources to fit the 37PX80's screen, and colours look vibrant and free of noise. If we had to be really picky we might say that the 37PX80 makes supposedly deep reds look a bit orange. But with its sound system also proving pretty potent, the abiding memory of the 37PX80 is of a TV that's at the very top of its game.

Verdict Plus points Stunning pictures, good connections, easy to use Minus points Some reds turn a touch orange, and it's more expensive than its rivals today

Overview Price: £650 More info: Philips Size (no stand): 935(w) x 626(h) x 116(d)mm Weight: 24kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 7500:1 Claimed max brightness: 500cd/m2 Connections: Two HDMI inputs, component video input, two Scarts (one RGB), composite video input, stereo audio inputs, tuner input, CAM slot, S-Video input, headphone jack Philips 37PFL5522 At just £650, the Philips 37PFL5522D is the cheapest TV in this group test by a cool £150. But we have to say it shows… It's the least glamorous looker, for starters; nothing more than a featureless black rectangle, truth be told. And it's the least well connected, including just two HDMIs of the old v1.2 generation and no dedicated D-Sub PC port. This means you have to use one of those precious HDMIs for PC hook-up. As you'd expect of such a self-consciously budget model, the 37PFL5522D is an HD Ready rather than Full HD resolution TV. But in other specification areas it actually punches above its weight; the set's claimed contrast ratio, for instance, is a thoroughly decent 7500:1, while its picture processing engine is Philips' venerable Pixel Plus HD. We should stress, though, that the version of Pixel Plus carried by this entry level TV is a rather ancient one, and so will inevitably lack some of the refinements of later versions. And actually, we really missed those refinements. For instance, standard definition pictures don't look particularly sharp by today's standards, and there are quite a few processing side effects too. Also, HD pictures look a touch 'gritty'; rapid motion suffers more motion blur than with any other TV in this group; colours look slightly washed out at times; and finally in the negative column you can't watch from much of an angle before the picture's contrast and colour reduce markedly. Pictures aren't all bad, by any means. Black levels are way deeper than you'd expect of a budget TV, and HD pictures look exceptionally sharp and textured. Plus colours look quite natural when they're not looking muted. But with some distinctly average sonics to wrap up a decidedly tepid performance overall, it's hard to really recommend the 37PFL5522D given the company it finds itself in today.

Verdict Plus points Remarkably cheap, HD pictures look crisp, good black level response Minus points Colours can look washed out, motion blur, processing side effects, poor viewing angle, weak sound

Final verdict With all of our contenders today limboing comfortably breaking the £1,000 barrier, it's nice to take away as the main theme to emerge from this group test the fact that you really don't have to spend megabucks to get a very respectable 37in TV indeed. That said, you do need to spend more than £650. For that's the sum demanded for the Philips 37PFL5522D that props up the rest in our final league table; a set which suffers too much from LCD's long-standing motion blur and viewing angle problems to really stand proud amid its strong competition here. In third position we've placed the Hitachi L37X01. Anyone who owned this TV would likely be very happy with it, especially given the features it offers for just £800. But in the end I just couldn't see past its black level deficiencies quite enough to elevate it into the top two. Our thoroughly deserving silver medallist is the LG 37LT75. For although it's arguably aimed at quite a rarified audience with its Freeview Playback functionality, it does what it does extremely well, with immaculate recordings and some of the best standard definition pictures in town. Bursting through our finishing tape in first place, then, is Panasonic's 37PX80, with its effortlessly deep black levels, great colours and near-flawless motion handling. We're not saying from this that you should automatically deduce that plasma is always a better technology than LCD. But it's certainly another day in the sun for the supposedly ailing technology, that's for sure.

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