Pioneer PDP-5070HD Plasma
By Shane Buettner   •   September, 2006

• $4,500
• 50" Plasma
• 1365x768
• Key Connections: Dual HDMI inputs, three component inputs, PC and USB inputs

Features We Like: Excellent connectivity with dual HDMI and component inputs, accepts 1080p/24 signals from Blu-ray or HD DVD, Over-the-Air and cableCARD HD tuners, Pioneer's latest and greatest innovations in plasma image quality

Features We Miss: This set has features we hadn't even thought of, so who are we to complain?

At A Glance: Here's a Pioneer plasma that's outfitted like a Pioneer Elite plasma! We reviewed and loved this set's predecessor in January of '06 for its improved blacks and color accuracy, and its outstanding video processing. The new model boasts all of Pioneer' latest advances in plasma designs, and adds some key features that bode well for the future. Chief among them is the ability to accept the 1080p/24 signals that will one day soon be de rigeur with the next-gen HD disc formats. And since the new model is a thousand bucks, we're that much more excited to get a hands-on look at this set.