Pioneer's 8th generation plasmas have been collecting all the plaudits of late.

The incredible KURO range has wowed all comers. To be fair, Pioneer has deserved it for living up to its name and shaking up the high-definition plasma market.

New plasmas to challenge Pioneer

But nothing stands still in the world of technology, and Pioneer's rivals are hitting back hard.

Our What Video colleagues have just run the rule over two serious challengers to Pioneer's new-found domination.

That one is a Panasonic comes as little surprise. Panasonic is seen as Pioneer's chief rival in the plasma stakes, and the TH-42PZ700 certainly takes on the rival Pioneer PDP-428PD where it counts.

Like the Pioneer, it has no obvious flaws, and it outdoes the KURO by being a Full HD screen.

Samsung pitches in

The second new rival is another Full HD offering - the Samsung PS-50P96FD. Samsung's TVs have a reputation for combining sumptuous looks with terrific value.

Nothing has changed, and this 50-inch gas monster throws breathtaking picture quality into the deal too.

Of course, the second, Full HD wave of Pioneer plasmas will surely wow us all over again in the next few months. But in the meantime two things are clear.

First, Full HD is where the latest battleground for plasma supremacy is being fought. And second, Pioneer's days of headline-hogging, deserved as they have been, may be over.