Hitachi P50X01AU Plasma TV

How long has it been since we reviewed a plasma TV? I frankly can’t remember, it feels like ages. Last year, and a bit into this one, I thought plasmas were a dying breed, but I'm proved wrong. Hitachi, Pioneer, and Panasonic are still active in this field, and it’s Hitachi that's been reviving the trend in India. We got their new model, the P50X01AU, for review, and it brought tears to my eyes – the last time I checked, Plasma looked insanely good!

Design and Features
Setting up is a process in itself, as the stand comes separate, with all its tools and accessories. After screwing in 10 screws, we placed the TV on our rack, and let it gleam for a while. This is the part where I comment on the looks of the unit, so that’s exactly what I’ll do.

The P50X01AU sports a glossy reflective black finish for the bezel, which is medium in thickness. The speakers are at the bottom, and there's a centrally placed logo. The looks are actually very simple; no crazy curves or shiny metal. The stand is large and rectangular, and sturdy as they come, which helps hold upright this monolithic piece of electronic craftsmanship.

The features are straight up, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The I/O includes 3 HDMI (ver. 1.3) 2 VGA, and 2 components, plus old-time connections like S-video and composite. An interesting inclusion is an optical digital out (for taking the audio signal out), which is seldom seen in LCDs. The contrast ratio is 10,000:1, while the frame rate conversion and 24p compatibility ensures interest in the product.