Panasonic TX-P46Z1B wireless plasma TV

It's a neat solution which we've seen before on Sony's EX1 series of LCDs,but this is the first time it's been available with a plasma. Aside from the aesthetic advantages of having less cables trailing around, the system also means that the P46Z1B can be almost unfeasibly slim, certainly for a plasma, at a sliver under 25mm thick (about an inch) for most of its body (it's a chunkier 49mm in a middle portion where it connects to the desktop stand).

The screen itself is a minimalist marvel, but there are quite a lot of add-ons, not least the speaker units, which arrive separaty from the screen and need to be bolted on at the sides (or not, if you're using a separate audio system, which again helps to keep things neat and functional). The wireless receiver screws onto the back and hangs just beneath the screen, which doesn't feel like a particularly elegant solution.

The connections box is about the same size as a DVD player, and features plenty of inputs, including four HDMIs (three on the back, and another under the flap at the front), a pair of Scarts, component, composite and VGA connections as well as SDHC memory card slot for loading picture or video file, and Ethernet port, PC port and a satellite LNB input (it can handle both Freesat and Freeview signals).

The wireless transmitter, which uses high frequency RF signals, plugs into the connections unit and can sit on top or nearby. It can support 1080p as well as 1080i HD though, something that will certainly appeal to Blu-ray fans.

The screen claims an extremely high 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, delivering what Panasonic likes to call 'infinite black'. Infinite may be a bit much, but the P46Z1 does deliver - in spades. Blacks are indeed deeply rich and detailed, and the contrast with the retina-burning brightness this screen is capable of is nothing less than stunning (althoug you can of course reduce the brightness considerably for more relaxed viewing).

Colours look natural rather than in any way forced, and it manages an equally impressive performance with standard definition material, as well as the HD stuff it's so obviously designed for.

The screen features Panasonic's 600Hz Sub-field Drive Intelligent Frame Creation Pro video processing system, last seen on the P46G10, which aims to combat plasma's traditional judder issues by boosting standard PAL playback of 50 frames to second to 600 - that should do it.

The Ethernet connection is intended for connection to your broadband router so you can access Panasonic's VieraCast internet portal. This walled garden offering is a little thin at the moment, with just five providers currently on board (YouTube, Picasa and Eurosport, plus Bloomberg financial info and a weather app), but more are likely to follow. However, ut still seems unnecessarily limiyrf compared to Philips' full-internet NetTV offering.

This is a screen that has everything - skinny good looks, if that's important to you, an astoundingly dynamic picture with super-clear sharpness and resolution, plus a full array of connections that you can tuck away neatly out of sight thanks to its wireless connection system. The only problem is that at £4,000, it comes with an equally impressive price tag.

• Tech Specs

PublishTo	None
Weight (kg)	25
Dimensions (hwd, cm)	81x125x5
Type	Plasma
Screen size (in)	46
Phono audio in	2
Phono audio out	1
USB in	0
Scart in	0
S-Video in	1
RGB Scart in	2
HDMI 1.3a	No
Composite in	1
Component in	1
24fps	No
DVI in	0
HDMI in	4