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Screen stars: Ten HDTVs on test

Time for a new gogglebox?

Group Test The world of TV is changing, as HD hits the mainstream and digital broadcasting finally overtakes analog. There are myriad options available too, from plasma to LCD, little to gargantuan and everything in between. One for every flavour then...

Evesham Alqemi 32TX

Evesham Alqemi 32TX - "Big Wednesday" image copyright Warner Brothers

Evesham's Alqemi 32TX sits at the very bottom end of the main room HDTV price range, coming in at a frankly gob-smacking £500. Which immediately raises the eyebrow of suspicion - for how, we ask, can they possibly have produced an HDTV worth turning on for such a pittance? The answer, it seems, is by doing everything just well enough to make it good value for money without ever going overboard.

Take the design, for instance: in no way offensive, it's not exactly easy on the eye either, sporting a distinctly plasticky black livery and single speaker that gives it a gap-toothed, awkward look. Any styling faux pas is instantly remedied, however, by the amazing connectivity. Two Scarts, s-video, composite-vodeo, component-video (aka YPbPr), VGA, DVI, 3.5mm audio sockets and HDMI are all in attendance - a list many TVs costing twice as much would be hard pushed to match. Analog and digital tuners are built in and there's a Common Interface slot for TopUp TV. Comprehensive.

Performance is where it counts though, and the Evesham packs a decent operating punch for its price. The native resolution of 1366 x 768 supports 720p HD pictures and competently downscales 1080i, lending impressive detail to the rolling surf in John Milius' Big Wednesday. Contrast is the biggest sticking point with blacks never achieving true depth and whites remaining harsh, but the colour reproduction adequately makes up for it. Sonically, the 32TX is equally impressive, with good vocal clarity and a surprisingly punchy pseudo surround mode with BBE Digital.

For anyone looking to break into the HDTV market without breaking the bank, the Evesham is the best option currently available.

Evesham Alqemi 32TX


Best for a bargain
Evesham brings HD big screen TV to the masses with its budget-priced beauty...
85%
Price £499

Panasonic TH-103PF9

Panasonic TH-103PF9 - "Fletch" image copyright Universal Pictures

The 'who can produce the biggest TV' battle has been raging for a good while now, with manufacturers striving to go one inch better than rivals and prove their... er... televisionhood. At a recent Panasonic show at London's Heathrow Marriot, we were treated to the world's largest plasma display panel yet, offering a ludicrous 103in (2.6m) of viewing pleasure. With over two million pixels on display and enough screen to accommodate four 50in plasmas...

When you're dealing with something of this size, you are naturally limited in terms of style. Panasonic has wisely opted for a simple black surround and stand, uncluttered by buttons and paraphernalia, to keep it as minimalist as possible. Though it would be hard not to imagine this TV being the dominant decoration in anything but the most cavernous of sitting rooms.

Connection-wise, the PF9 is fairly unique in that it has "fluid" options so you can pick and choose exactly what you want with all the latest and regular options from component-video to HDMI available. Flick the Panasonic on and its size only seems to increase as it kicks out a picture we can only describe as huge, in every sense. The true 1080p 1920 x 1080 resolution means this is one of not many true full HDTVs yet available in this country, and it is matched by equally impressive stats, like the 5000:1 contrast ratio.

This all translates into an extraordinary visual experience - one of the best pictures we've ever seen on a television of such gargantuan size. Black and white levels live up to that claimed contrast ratio while colour reproduction and detail is staggering, in no small part thanks to the inclusion of Panny's plethora of picture processing technologies like Real Black Drive System and Super Cinema Mode.

In fact, there are only two problems with Panasonic's showstopper: its price, and having a house big enough to fit it in. Then again, if you have the latter, you probably won't have to worry about the former.

Panasonic TH-103PF9


Best for extravagance
Panasonic's mine's-bigger-than-yours argument goes too far with this 103in monster
80%
Price £46,000
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Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX700B

Panasonic TH-42PX700B - "Dune" image copyright Universal Pictures

The inclusion of a second Panasonic is indicative of the company's expertise when it comes to manufacturing the old gogglebox. Because the reason we felt compelled to include the ludicrously oversized TH-103PF9 is echoed in the TH-42PX700B - it's a set of similar quality, using many of the same superior image processing engines but at something like a quarter of the size and, more importantly, a tiny percentage of the cost.

The 42PX700B is another handsome-looking TV proving that black is back as the AV enthusiast's colour of choice. Panasonic has, however, teamed it with a silver stand as an option, which we must say really doesn't work - the cheaper models come with a black stand and are far sexier.

Alongside standard connection options, the 700B features a front-mounted SD card slot that's high-capacity SDHC compatible and is capable of playing H.264 HD movies you've recorded using your HD camcorder - see our recent camcorder group test for some top models. There are three HDMI slots - two on rear, one on front - for all your HD peripherals, which Panasonic uses to full advantage with its Viera Link feature. An HDMI cable carries control signals alongside video and audio, so you can use your Viera remote to control your DVD recorder, HD camcorder and anything bearing the Viera Link icon. It makes for instant access and supreme ease of use with whatever you want to watch or record.

Visually and sonically, the 700B is everything we expected. Using the Vreal2 processor optimised for 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution, the 1080p Digital Processing chip-set means pictures are as good as they get whether from an HD source or through upscaled standard-definition broadcasts. Another strong year for Panasonic then.

Panasonic VIERA TH-42PX700B

Best for functionality
Panasonic's user-friendly Viera Link system brings ease of use to high end technology...
85%
Price £1500

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