Group test: 50in plasma TVs

Ask most people what sort of flat TV they're intending to buy in the near future, and they'll probably say LCD. Which is absolutely fine, of course; there are plenty of outstanding LCD TVs in the marketplace today. But at the same time we'd urge anyone to at least spare a thought for plasma.

The gas-based technology has suffered a bit of a battering in recent times, thanks initially to some ridiculous stories about its lack of reliability (seemingly instigated by shop assistants trying to persuade people to fork out on exorbitant extended warranties), and then to some canny marketing by LCD-only juggernaut brands like Sony and Toshiba. Even politicians are getting in on the plasma bashing act now, with a recent Conservative think tank declaring - with scant regard for the actual facts of the matter - that we shouldn't buy plasma TVs because they're way more wasteful of power than LCD.

The reality is that if done well, a plasma TV should last every bit as long as an LCD one, will probably use no more power than an LCD, and in our opinion can still deliver a superior performance, at least when it comes to watching films. So before you head unthinkingly for the LCD department, you surely owe it to yourself to at least have a look at some of the four 50in plasma models featured below.

Overview Price: £1,350 More info: LG Electronics Size (on stand): 1360(w) x 986(h) x 426(d)mm Weight (inc stand): 48kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 15000:1 Claimed max brightness: 1500cd/m2 Connections: Two HDMI inputs, S-Video input, component video input, two scarts (both RGB), PC input, RF jack, digital audio output, CI slot LG 50PB65 According to LG, the design of its 50PB65 is inspired by the brand's iconic Chocolate mobile phones. Personally we're not entirely sure we see the connection. But that doesn't stop the 50PB65 from being a genuinely pretty TV, albeit a surprisingly large one. The set is also well specified, with 1080p/24fps HD support via its two HDMIs, an HD-friendly 1366x768 resolution, and a very high claimed contrast ratio of 15000:1 - one of the very highest ever seen. Image processing, meanwhile, includes Faroudja's DCDi de-interlacing system for removing the ragged look you might otherwise see around contoured edges, and LG's own XD Engine system that works its magic on colours, contrast, motion handling and noise levels. The biggest surprise, though, is a 100Hz system. Although commonly used on LCD TVs to improve the appearance of motion, 100Hz doesn't really seem necessary on a plasma TV, which inherently suffers far less problems with motion blur than LCD. But then we guess we shouldn't complain about it provided it doesn't actually make pictures worse. First impressions of the 50PB65's images are strong, mostly because colours positively radiate off the screen. Such vibrancy is usually the exclusive domain of the inherently brighter LCD technology, but the 50PB65 delivers a real kaleidoscope of rich hues that grabs your attention hard. What's more, these full-tilt colours aren't shown with any of the 'striping' effect that still afflicts some plasma TVs. Our doubts over the worth of the 100Hz processing are also put to bed by the crispness of the 50PB65's presentation of speeding objects, and removal of both motion blur and the sort of dithering noise that some plasmas suffer with. Once the initial rush of these positives wears off, though, cracks start to show through. For instance, the 50PB65's black level response is a little lacking, meaning that dark scenes can look slightly flat and grey. Next, high definition sources don't look quite as sharp and detailed as we'd ideally like, while standard definition sources tend to look a little noisy. Finally, even those colours that so impressed us at first end up causing consternation with a rogue tone or two, especially during dark scenes.

Verdict Plus points Good design, decent feature list, extremely bright colours, fair price Minus points Black levels not the best, some colour tone issues, noisy standard def pictures

Overview Price: £2,979 More info: NEC Size: 1222(w) x 736(h) x 99(d)mm Weight: 35.5kg Native aspect ratio: 16:9 Claimed max contrast ratio: 3000:1 Claimed max brightness: N/A Connections: Two HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, D-Sub PC input, three stereo audio inputs, composite video input, S-Video input

That said, the 50XR6G doesn't get off to the most domesticated of starts by coming equipped with no tuner, Scart sockets or even built-in speakers. The screen does at least carry two HDMIs though, as well as component video and PC support.

Other features are relatively thin on the ground and quite an eclectic mix, with highlights being 'Theatre' picture presets, picture-in-picture modes, and the option to magnify any section of the picture by up to 900 per cent. And no, we couldn't think of a compelling reason for doing this either.

Happily NEC's Pioneer connection does shine forth in its AV performance. Especially striking is how phenomenally sharp and textured HD images look, with the screen actually managing to make you believe you're seeing more pixels than the 1365x768 count the screen actually has.

This immediate clarity isn't reduced by such problems as colour noise or fizzing noise, and objects pass across the screen without suffering problems with mosquito noise either (as can happen with some plasma TVs).

Next to impress are the 50XR6G's colours, which combine good intensity with easily the most believable range of tones NEC has ever produced on a flat TV. Even skin tones look credible for 99 per cent of the time.

But the single biggest improvement NEC has made for the 50XR6G is in the black level department. Gone is the greyness that characterised dark areas on earlier NEC panels; in its place are rich, deep blacks that deliver the contrast range of your average movie with genuine dynamism.

Having said that, the NEC's black levels still fall slightly short of the best efforts of Panasonic and Pioneer plasma TVs. And we're also a little nonplussed by the screen's nearly £3,000 price, which looks rather steep when you can get top-class Panny and Samsung 50in plasmas for nearly a grand less these days.