If you want to stick with plasmas especially in that size range and up, you have basically three options; Panasonic, of course, and there is also Samsung and LG. Of all these, the one's that I have seen that are, to me, the overall best value and somewhat underestimated are the models from LG. I don't think you will find any LCDs especially the LED versions in that size for anywhere near the prices you have mentioned. Only the more expensive LEDs especially the "local dimming" versions can come anywhere near the black levels of the Plasmas anyway.
