Hitachi P50X01AU Plasma TV

This being a plasma TV, I took keen interest in setting the levels fine. The final delicate balance we received in the brightness-contrast realm was quite impressive; the blacks were way deeper than in all the recent LCDs, even the highest-end one. Though some intense bright spots did not react well, they look overemphasized and caused borders to bulge a bit, even after calibration.

What was spectacular was the color and warmth of the video. Skin tones were seductively accurate, and so were the natural reds, greens and everything in between (that’s geek humor for you). This aspect, coupled with the deep blacks, make it a great TV till now.

Next come the issues of detail and motion. Firstly, though this is a 50-incher, it upscales SD quite well (we saw I Am Legend in DVD format). Secondly, the motion is smooth enough – there was no real problem with ghosting and dynamic ‘jaggie-line’ formations, though they were there. It's the same with game and animation cadences too; no real judder and all that, and my source was good besides. Horton was a pleasure to watch with all the vibrant hues being depicted quite well. BUT (there is always a but) very high-detailed parts flickered and aliased quite a bit, and slight graininess was seen in the image.

Conclusion
Rs 1,99,990 is what you have to pay for this huge piece of video gear. I think the price is justified to a certain extent, as plasma technology is expensive, and you do get contrast levels that LCD can’t even dream of. All the same, this TV has some flaws in other realms besides color and contrast. Check it out before you decide.