Best of the best: High-performance HDTVs

It's been more than a year since we awarded our first and only "10" in performance to the Best TV we've ever reviewed, Pioneer's Kuro PRO-111FD. Since then, we've reviewed more than 50 other HDTVs, none of which were capable of matching its picture quality. Since the Kuro has been discontinued, and is quickly gaining the status of legendary collector's item as it disappears from store shelves, it's time to crown a new "Best" for each category of TV we review.

Best plasma: Panasonic's TC-PV10 series blends great black levels with accurate-enough color and that uniform plasma picture to leap past any of the other plasmas we've tested this year, and nearly all of the LCDs.

Best LCD: The Samsung UNB8500 series takes LCD picture quality to a new level. This local-dimming, LED-based display costs a bundle, but makes up for it with the deepest black levels you can get without springing for a Kuro.

Best non-LED-based LCD: Sure LED-based models get all the ink these days, but we thought that for completeness' sake, LCDs with conventional backlights should get a category to themselves. Yes, the winner is another Samsung, but not because if its 240Hz processing.

Best projector: Samsung's improved Joe Kane projector delivers the most accurate color in the business and better black levels than ever, making it the hands-down winner in this category.

Best picture quality overall, flat-panel TV: It's basically a tie between the best plasma and the best LCD. As long as you sit in the sweet spot directly in front of the screen, The Samsung 8500 delivers better picture quality than the Panasonic V10. But if you move to either side, the 8500's black levels wash out and the V10's picture slides into first place.

Barring a better-performing model coming out between now and the end of the year--an unlikely scenario in our opinion--these sets will remain atop the HDTV picture-quality heap until the flagship 2010 models arrive.

More Resources

Best 5 HDTVs,

Best HDTVs overall,

CNET's HDTV World,

Four styles of HDTV,

'Should I buy a Kuro before it's too late?',

LED-based LCDs explained

Product name	Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD	Panasonic TC-P50V10	Samsung UN55B8500	Samsung LN52B750	Samsung SP-A900B
Price	$4,499.99	$1,818.18 to $2,099.00	$3,998.00 to $4,049.00	$1,749.00 to $2,799.99	Check Prices
CNET editors' rating	4.5 stars	4.0 stars	4.0 stars	4.0 stars	4.5 stars
Average user rating	4.5 stars	4.0 stars	0 stars	4.0 stars	0 stars
Review date	September 30, 2008	June 08, 2009	October 06, 2009	May 14, 2009	September 14, 2009
The Bottom Line	The Pioneer Elite PRO-111FD represents the pinnacle of flat-panel HDTV picture quality.	The high-end Panasonic TC-PV10 series of plasmas delivers the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we've tested so far this year.	It costs a mint, but Samsung's local dimming, LED-based UNB8500 series delivers the best picture quality of any LCD we've tested.	The Samsung LNB750 series can't beat the picture quality of the best plasmas and LED-based LCDs, but for a conventional LCD, it's one of the best we've tested.	The new chip in Samsung's SP-A900B helps it to outperform every projector in its class, including its step-down Joe Kane-designed brother, and to compete favorably against significantly more-expensive three-chip DLP projectors.
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Features
Weight	88 lbs	79.4 lbs	Info unavailable	67.5 lbs	21.6 lbs
Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	Info unavailable
Sound Output Mode	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Info unavailable
DVD	None	None	None	None	Info unavailable
Remote Control	Remote control - Infrared	Standard remote control - infrared - Infrared	Remote control - Infrared	Remote control - Infrared	Info unavailable
VCR	None	None	None	None	Info unavailable
Technology	Plasma (PDP)	Plasma (PDP)	TFT active matrix	TFT active matrix	Info unavailable
Diagonal Size	50 in - Widescreen	50 in	55 in - Widescreen	52 in - Widescreen	Info unavailable
Additional Features	Crystal emissive layer Still picture capability Room light sensor Microsoft PlaysForSure protected content	Screen coating filter Viera image viewer Viera Link Viera Cast Motion pattern noise reduction	Ultra clear panel Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation technology	Ultra clear panel	Info unavailable
Product Description	Pioneer PRO 111FD - 50 in Plasma TV	50 in	Samsung UN55B8500 - 55 in LCD TV	Samsung LN52B750 - 52 in LCD TV	Info unavailable
Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications
Buying choices	Amazon.com Marketplace $4,499.99 In stock: Yes Price from 1 CNET Certified store	Amazon.com Marketplace $2,099.00 In stock: Yes Abes Of Maine $1,818.18 In stock: Yes PowersellerNYC $1,995.00 In stock: Yes Prices from 3 CNET Certified stores	Amazon.com $4,049.00 In stock: See Site Price from 1 authorized store	Beach Camera $2,019.00 In stock: Yes B&H Photo-Video $2,799.99 In stock: Yes Buydig.com $2,019.00 In stock: Yes Prices from 8 authorized stores	This product is available exclusively through approved dealers.