Question: I've read online that the Pioneer KURO plasma televisions are among the very best made, with amazing accuracy and definition. Apparently Pioneer won't be making them after 2009, and videophiles are saying to scoop one up before they're gone.

Do you have any exposure to the Pioneers? Are they really that good, and is their exit from the market a statement on the future of the plasma TV? I'd like to see the technology stick around.

KURT MILLER, Montana

Answer: The Pioneer KURO sets were indeed the best out there. If you want the best picture quality you can currently get in a flat panel, buy one soon!

Pioneer's exit from plasma manufacturing saddened many videophiles, but it made sense for Pioneer when it comes to the bottom line. As a high-end television manufacturer producing a premium-priced product, Pioneer's TV market share was low, and their exit was driven by a new focus on mass-market opportunities, such as their excellent receivers, Blu-ray and car audio.

Fortunately, Pioneer's plasma know-how isn't going to waste, as leading plasma manufacturer Panasonic purchased Pioneer's plasma patents and hired many of the engineers who worked in Pioneer's plasma division. It bodes well for future high-end Panasonic plasmas, and there is bound to be a technology trickle-down to their consumer lines in the future.

You will be happy to know Plasma TV is doing extremely well, posting record sales. According to a recent study by Quixel Research, second-quarter 2009 unit sales of 42-inch 720p plasma TVs were up by 40 percent compared with the previous quarter, making it the fastest growing segment of the TV marketplace and the only segment to show significant growth. This means people are catching on to the incredible value and performance of affordable plasma TVs, and reading the news made me very happy indeed.

Many LCD TVs do look great, and the picture is very bright; but when I put an LCD TV next to a plasma TV, I find myself drawn to the natural colors, contrast, flesh tones and motion rendition of the plasma set. At current prices the performance-to-value proposition is stunning, allowing consumers to get a big, truly beautiful HDTV picture for a pittance.

Recently I've seen the 42-inch Panasonic TC-P42X1 sell for as little as $599.99, and the 50-inch version, the TC-P50X1, on sale for $799.99. A sub-$600, 42-inch plasma HDTV from a top-tier manufacturer is a mind-boggling value, and for only $200 more you can go big with a 50-inch screen. If you are in the market for a TV, I'd jump on one of these before they come to their senses.

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