Pioneer PDP-5000EX

Native 1080p panel, Exceptional image quality, Attractive design

Expensive, No TV tuner, No speakers

Provided you’re extra careful to avoid screenburn, especially during the first 100 hours of the screen’s life, and provided you can afford it, you can snap up a PDP-5000EX safe in the knowledge that it delivers simply the finest 50in pictures we've yet...

Dazzling HD picture clarity ; Excellent standard-def pictures

Sparse features ; Poor speakers

It costs a whole lot of money, but you get the best 50-inch plasma performance for it

Awesome standard- and high-definition image quality ; Solid build ; 1080p playback

No tuner or speakers ; Very expensive

What's also interesting is just how good standard-definition material looks here. Most flat panel TVs don't really shower themselves in glory when showing SD programmes, but we have to say that the Pioneer does a spectacular job of making the bad stuff...

If God IS watching, he'll be set up in front of this bad boy

Truly native 1080 resolution comes to plasma for the first time

Slightly disappointing connectivity

Looks great, awesome HD pictures, lots of HD connectivity

No TV tuner, not cheap, speakers only optional

Native 1080p panel, Exceptional image quality, Attractive design

Expensive, No TV tuner, No speakers

The PDP-5000EX is the best display available on the market, though it comes at a price.