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Panasonic TH-50PX60U 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Product Description
A plasma screen renders vivid colors like you've never seen before (as in, up to 29 billion in this case), extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the TH-42PX60U is a mere 3.7 inches deep, one of the slimmest plasmas around--perfect for desk or wall mounting. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems.
The TH-50PX60U features a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution and an amazing contrast ratio of 10000:1. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.) The 3D Y/C digital comb filter constantly analyzes the three dimensions of picture height, picture width, and picture changes-over-time, to reduce dramatically edge image artifacts while improving transition detail. Other features include V-Chip parental controls, on/off sleep timers, closed-caption decoding, aspect ratio control, and video input labeling.
The TV's internal stereo speakers are powered by 10 watts per channel (for 20 watts of total power). It features the following connection options:
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any AV source with an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV). HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multi-channel digital audio--all using a single cable.
If a component doesn't have an HDMI connection, you'll also get great picture reproduction using the three-jack component video (Y/Pb/Pr) input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. Component video output is available only for DVD playback.
What's in the Box
Plasma TV, remote control (with batteries), pedestal base, power cord, printed operating instructions
Product Details
Video Reviews
Customer Reviews
I went with the PANASONIC b/c of Consumer reports review of last years models. It was rated as best picture for non HD programming over any of it's competitors. Going shopping for these things locally is similar to buying a used car - b/c most stores won't show you anything but a HD signal - but I was able to get one store to show me a digital signal to a couple models and was able to view a DVD of TOP GUN on this and a few other models. Alot of brands will have a significant dropoff in quality from HD to digital signal - NOT this panasonic.
The picture in HD is simply amazing. Clarity / sharpness / at all angles of viewing both near and far away from the screen. The speakers are very good too - I will play a movie through the Home Theatrre - but day to day viewing the speakers will be more than adequate for most viewers.
The picture in non - HD programming - Comcast digital cable signal. About 85 % of the programming is pretty close to the same quality as High Def. Alot of the cable programming seems to be formatted in anticipation of High Def viewing and look very sharp and clear. Occasionally ( maybe 10 - 15 % of cable programming ) you'll get a feed that's not quite as sharp and ther'es a noticeable decline in picture quality from the HD or normal Digital programming. However - I've checked that same programming on my older CRT television - I found that the ( Non-HD programming with poor signal ) picture on the 50" plasma is the same quality as what I'm getting on my 20" non digital television. The only difference is that most of the programming is so much better in quality on this plasma TV that it seems like the picture isn't good for those few broadcasts. BUT - it's not poor picture from plasma Tube - it's just a bad signal that looks worse in comparison to the other channels and/or programming.
*** Don't let a salesperson talk you out of this TV if you have a large pictue window. I almost decided against the Plasma tube b/c a circuit city salesperson said the reflection would annoy me with a large window in the room. We have a west facing picture window in the rear with a tree outside the window. There is reflection on this tube - but it's no different than the reflection you'd get with a standard CRT tube television. We just pull down the shades a bit - and we haven't noticed anything that would be bothersome when viewing a program. We bought it with the assurance that if the reflection was an issue we could swap it out for a LCD or other television. We're keeping the Panasonic Plasma!!!!
I'm totally happy we bought this TV - and have no regrets for choosing the Panasonic. I'd buy this TV again in a heartbeat. The only thing I don't know about is the longevity of this type of tube - but I'll learn that over time. We spent 400 bucks on an in home 4 year service plan to accompany the TV. The marketing says it will last 27 years if viewed 6 hours per day - but I think that's a little optimistic. I did however learn in my research that this technology has been around for 30 or 40 years so I'm hoping that means there won't be any technical quirks to still work out.
Jake
My next criteria was the TVs ability to present a quality standard broadcast video, that seems to be about 90% of the material available today. HD is just beginning to become more adequately available today.
While shopping, I did not notice a huge difference in the quality of HD from one TV to another but there is a huge difference in quality at standard broadcast. You won't see this in the stores because they always use HD to impress their customers. This is where this TV shines. The picture quality is amazing even when not a HD broadcast. This is important as it involves the TVs ability to improve the standard broadcast video. There seems to be a vast difference from set to set in this ability and it has a lot to do with the internal circuitry. All sets look great at 1080p, however they sure don't look the same when it involves standard cable or standard satellite broadcast. The standard broadcast material on this set can look almost like HD depending on the quality of the broadcast. The poorer material looks just that, poor, but it is the broadcasters fault, not the TV.
Some things I do not like:
1. A plasma must be carried straight up and down. The first one I purchased had a shattered screen (the whole TV had to be replaced) Not too good for internet purchases as they will not allow returns even if defective or damaged in shipping.
2. The remote is spartan. No "learning" feature and has very limited adaptation to other video equipment.
3. Way too much silver. Thank goodness they have a little black around the screen.
4. No variable audio to an amplifier. You have to use the receiver control to vary the volume or connect everything through the receiver.
5. Some glare problems particularly if you have a window to the back of the viewing area. No problem from front or side lighting.
6. The set control comes set to "vivid" which sets the contrast and brightness way up and can damage the TV. You must first "break in " all plasmas by running the contrast and brightness at "0" for the first 100 hours. This is a pain as this is about a months viewing for us because the picture is pretty dark. Also, you have to be aware of the screen ratios as some broadcast cut off the sides or bottoms/tops which leave a black border. This can cause "burn in" that can damage your screen. I find myself changing aspect ratios pretty often. You can watch all transmissions if you adjust the screen ratios to cover the entire screen and not leave any black bars anywhere.
7. Possible repair costs. I understand that it is a "throw away" set if the plasma screen goes out. Plasmas costs more than other TVs to repair but are less repair prone.
8. A 50" screen just qualifies as a "big screen" in my opinion. 55" or 60" would be better but the cost now is prohibitive. I find it adequate at a viewing distance of 12' to 14'.
9. You can see the pixels if you get up close. (screen door effect) I guess it is the nature of the beast. The pixels are not visible after about 6 feet away.
Some of the things I like:
1. Good standard video quality
2. Awesome HD video quality
3. Can handle 1080P (for future, blue ray and HD DVD players)
4. Runs really cool. I notice no heat at all emanating from it. For some reason it has two cooling fans.
5. Quiet operation. You have to put your ear to the back of it to hear anything.
6. Quality construction. The interior looks like commercial quality.
7. Remote uses hard buttons instead of soft rubber
8. Easy setup and controls
9. Two HDMI connections (more the better as future HD devices will use these)
10. No lamp to replace every couple of years at $250- $300 (DLP, LCD)
11. Long service life (estimated at 60,000 hours or about 20 years)
12. Good repair record according to Consumer Report.
13. Excellent black handling which is so important for the 3D effect.
14. Sound quality is adequate. The surround sound is artificial sounding.
After owning and watching this set for a little over a week, I have no buyer's remorse. It was a good purchase and I am very happy. I highly recommend this TV. The negatives are very small compared to the positives, many being the nature of plasma TVs. Watching a program on HD is a real experience that makes you feel like you are there and this TV will do it. Calculating the costs of any hobby or vacation far exceeds the cost per hour of this quality of a television. It is really cheap entertainment and well worth the investment.
Then one day I was researching plasma TV's on the internet and came across a web site that helped solve the dilemma. The information they conveyed suggested to me that the problem I was seeing with these Panasonic plasma's was not associated with the quality of the TV, but rather with the quality of the picture adjustment (probably the standard default adjustment out of the box).
As it turns out, the film and broadcast industry uses the Imaging Science Foundation optimum color temperature rating of D6500K as their standard when filming TV shows or movies. When the technical people who reviewed this Panasonic 50" model measured the color temperature of the TV out of the box, they found it measured in excess of D10000K. This setting was well in excess of the industry standard of D6500K and probably accounted for the fact the plasma looked so unrealistic to me at the stores. Most plasma TV manufacturers have unrealistic viewing picture settings out of the box in order to entice the unknowing consumer.
The website shared the optimal picture settings that bring the plasma to within several percentage points of the industry "perfect" standard of D6500K. After reading the article I decided to take a chance and buy the 50PX60U. Once hooked up, I immediately pulled up the main menu and proceeded to adjust the TV to the recommended settings. These screen adjustment settings found in the main menu under "PICTURE" include changes to Picture Mode, Picture, Brightness, Color, Tint, Sharpness, Color Temperature, and Enhanced Black Level. If you are considering buying this plasma or have already bought it, I highly recommend visiting the site. It contains a wonderful review of the 50PX60U and gives you in table form the exact picture settings mentioned above. Their site can be found by searching plasma tv buying guide. Just click on the 50" plasma reviews for the Panasonic 50PX60U.
After changing the settings to the recommended industry standard, the only word I can use to describe the picture quality of this plasma TV is WOW!!!!!! It is shockingly great, very realistic, and does NOT show any of the negative characteristics that I witnessed in the major retail outlets I visited. If you buy this set (or if you own it already), you'll find that the recommended settings will enhance your viewing pleasure immensely.
I would make several other suggestions for your viewing pleasure if you are new to the plasma market as I was. Be sure your HD source is excellent. The plasma you buy will only put out an excellent picture if the incoming signal is of excellent quality. A reliable cable or satellite provider with the proper HD in-home and outside of home equipment and HD service will provide a great HD feed for your plasma. If your cable provider is like mine, be sure to check that your HD cable box is putting out the HD 720P (P for progressive scan) signal that your plasma TV was made to use. Some boxes will default to a 1080i (interlaced) signal which is inferior to the 720P your plasma will support. Check the display on your cable or satellite box if it has one. If it displays anything but 720P, get on the phone with your cable or satellite provider to find out how to make it default to a 720P signal. If you have a DVD player, make sure it is a 720P (progressive) scan HD DVD player and check to make sure the DVD's you use are also of 720P quality. Anything less and you will be sacrificing picture quality.
Be sure to purchase a decent HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable if you plan on using upstream hardware with HDMI outputs to your plasma. A decent HDMI 6' cable is about $30 on the internet. This too will give you the greatest amount of HD precision from your plasma TV. If your upstream hardware only has a DVI (Digital Video Interface) video output, be sure to purchase a DVI to HDMI cord that has a DVI connector on one end and a HDMI connector on the other. As DVI only supports video signals, you will have to run a separate RCA audio cable from your cable/satellite box for your digital audio signal (for plasma TV or home surround system) or analog audio signal (for a standard stereo). However, this is far superior than taking the easy way out and using a component hook-up instead. Component video cables supply no where near the same video quality that HDMI or DVI do. If your upstream hardware providing the signal to your plasma has neither HDMI or DVI outputs, change that hardware to one(s) that do if you truly want High Definition quality out of your HD plasma.
Also, make sure you purchase the right plasma screen size for the distance you're going to watch it from. A 65" screen may be way too large for a 6' viewing distance. The high definition pixel size for a 65" screen is much larger than say a pixel from a 42" screen. If you watch too large an HD screen from your viewing distance, you will see the individual pixels losing the HD effect. A 42" screen may be too small if your viewing distance is 16' away. Although the picture quality would be just fine, you probably will have trouble watching it because of its diminished size. Remember, these plasma TV's have a 16:9 aspect ratio (16" horizontal for every 9" vertical) which are nearly twice as wide as they are tall. The good news is that you get great wide screen vision far superior to standard 4:3 (4" horizontal for every 3" vertical) aspect ratio TV's which are only 33% wider as they are tall. The bad news is that you must be VERY concerned about the vertical viewing area. Make absolutely sure you have enough vertical screen viewing area when picking out the right plasma for your viewing distance. I would go so far as to say that paying close attention to the vertical measurement of the plasma may be much more important than consideration of the diagonal measurement, especially if you are accustomed to seeing standard TV with a 4:3 screen aspect ratio size.
Plasma TV's are great. But be aware they are susceptible to screen burn in from static objects displayed on programming you may watch such as stock tickers, etc. Many HD channels are now using logos that are plasma friendly. But be cautious about this inherent weakness in plasma technology especially vulnerable in the first several hundred hours of use.
One last thing. You just spent big bucks on a plasma TV. Make sure you buy a good AC power surge suppressor to plug your plasma into. It's not a good idea to buy some cheap $5 plug strip. Purchase something decent, preferably one that has a downstream equipment replacement warranty if it fails. (Better to have THEM replace your plasma TV from a power company power surge than YOU!!!)
Hope this information will be helpful to you. Good luck in your plasma shopping experience!
I could not be happier with this TV.
I just keep saying 'amazing' whenever I look at the picture (my wife is getting sick of hearing me say 'amazing'). The images are just spectacular. The technical details are better discussed in other reviews (and very well on [...]).
Set up is no easy matter in my opinion. We had a technician come out to have the Plasma TV mounted on the wall appropriately and make sure all the components (Digital Cable Box from Cox and the JVC Theater in a Box DVD player and speakers) were all connected to the plasma TV. This was well worth it for me as I would have not enjoyed trying to set this up myself at all. You also have to drop a few hundred more dollars for all the requsite 'monster' cables to connect the Plasma TV to the components and you have to buy a wall-mount if that is how you want to display your screen. I had no real problem with my old TV but I honestly did not want to tackle this set up...I think having someone do it for you is very much worth considering and allowed me peace of mind (I would have lay awake at night listening for a crash of the Plasma TV falling off of our wall in the living room)...
The HD Channels are amazing. Football games are a whole different experience. You can see the blades of grass on the field, the faces of fans in the stands, the dimples on the football, the chalk lines' imperfections in the field...I am in awe. Discovery and PBS have HD Channels and the nature images are simply breathtaking.
The settings of the TV out of the box are MAXIMIZED for contrast and sharpness...these need to be adjusted for a better picture (and supposedly to prolong the life of the TV but I read somewhere that the half-life of the plasma is about 40 years with 4 hours a day playtime).
The remote control options are pretty self-explanatory. I am still trying to figure out the DVR that is in our new cable television box as well so this is complicating the process a little. I still have 3 remotes (TV, Cable Box and JVC Home Theater/DVD---I also have reviewed the JVC THC6 HTiB) and it does not seem likely that one will 'learn' the other two...this is not a big problem for me, but my wife would really like one remote to rule them all and it does not appear that the Panasonic remote will do that.
Even DVDs (like LOTR: The Two Towers) look wonderful on this Plasma TV. There are picture settings for 'cinema' view (as well as others) which has a darker tone to the display. I am still playing around with the settings a little bit. I do not have a HD DVD player yet but I am considering it (though I cannot imagine movies will look that much better than I think they already do on this screen).
I really do not ever have to go to a movie theatre again and suffer through the high prices for tickets, popcorn, rude patrons, cell phones and screaming kids. I am certainly not saying that buying the multi-thousand dollar plasma TV is a cost-saving measure to avoid going to movies---honestly, I think that the only valid justification to buy this is because you WANT to...but it is really an amazing piece of technology and we plan to get the most out of it.
We have not tried to display any of our digital camera's images from the memory card yet but there is a slot in the bottom front of the TV to allow for this and it seems to be pretty user-friendly. Also, if you are like me and still have a lot of VHS movies, the front of the plasma TV appears to allow connection of another component (VCR) to the TV...which is nice but I have not tried this yet.
We did cave in and get the warranty for the product...
I absolutely love this Panasonic TH-50PX60U 50" Plasma HDTV and could not be more pleased with it thus far.
There are plenty of fine TVs out there these days and in-depth information about them all at the AVSForum.com link. "Panny's" as they are referred to there, are held in high esteem.
After spending 4 months looking for a large screen TV, I had decided that it was almost impossible to make an intelligent choice in what is an extremely fast-changing scene. The salesperson at CC was kind enough to feed a 1080p feed (as we will soon be getting from the new BlueRay players) through the Panny to see how it will look when these high-definition players become available. The picture was every bit as good to my eyes as was the native 1080p Sony Microdisplay TV placed conveniently below the Panny.
This convinced me to purchase the Panasonic now. I can live with the small difference between 720/1080i and 1080p.
Now is a good time to buy a high-definition set. There are plenty of feeds available from both cable and satellite services.
Projection HD TV's on the other hand, fade in brightness far more quickly than you are used to. And LCD HD TV's, although good in brightly lit rooms, have a limited viewing angle that this TV does not. Your preferred choice is now clear, Plasma HD TV. Go to the Panasonic website to make sure you are actually buying the latest one. Currently this is the TH-50PX60U model.
So what can you expect your viewing experience to be with an HD big screen TV anyway? You will have a lot of learning to do. First of all, you will find that most of what you actually watch is not available in HD. No DVD is in HD. TiVo will not display in HD unless you have a Direct TV satellite dish and a special HD TiVo receiver. It may be a challenge for you even to get true HD at all even after you upgrade your digital cable box to HD.
DVD's you watch will look near to HD quality, even though they are not actually in HD. Good quality regular TV programming will also look good even if it is not actually in HD. Some TV programming will look absolutely awful on your HD big screen, however, and horrible flaws in resolution and detail that were not visible before will make some programming actually unwatchable.
You will soon be able to tell which programs were actually filmed and which were recorded with video cameras, due to the color blotching all video cameras leave. Horrible stage makeup on some faces that you couldn't even see before will also become noticeable when watching some shows!
If you do not hook your HD digital cable box up correctly, you won't be able to see HD even on the HD channels. You must hook up the composite video (three video and two audio jacks) or the HDMI or DVI connectors to get the HD feed. If you use the normal video output (one video and two audio jacks or the s-video) you will get a 480 interlaced non-HD picture by mistake.
Old fashioned TV is 480 interlaced. Some DVD players have 480 progressive scan. This HD TV has native 720 progressive scan HD. Another common format is 1180 interfaced HD. 1180 progressive will be coming eventually. 720p is currently thought to flicker less than 1180i. 1180p isn't even available yet. 1180i is translated perfectly into 720p on this TV nonetheless so you can watch all modes and will be able to continue to watch all modes for some time to come.
This TV has a 10th generation plasma screen, with a remarkable 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones is truly remarkable to view on this TV even in 480p mode which is the best you can get off of a DVD.
Nowadays you can pick up a micro fiber cleaning cloth at auto parts stores. When using one of those you can feel the grip of invisible dirt even upon surfaces that look clean. However, I feel no grip at all when dusting this TV, leading me to surmise that the glass surface of this TV has been somehow microscopically perfected. And I am glad to say that little dust seems to be sticking to it.
On this TV I can split the digital cable wire and get non-scrambled true HD TV channels directly off the cable wire without even using the HD cable box or the composite or HDMI inputs. For scrambled HD TV, the DVI feed from the HD cable box goes to the TV's HDMI input for true HD and the S-Video feed from the HD cable box goes to the TiVo for non-HD TV. You will be able to record HD programming from your digital HD cable box on your TiVo, only the programs will automatically get changed to 480i non-HD from using the S-Video output connector from your cable box. The HD channels will still look better than normal, however, even after you switch back to your TiVo to see something on an HD channel that you recorded in 480 mode. You will want to be there to watch programs on HD channels live in true HD now, of course, instead of later on as recorded by TiVo.
You will find yourself to be ahead of the curve. Your TiVo won't work correctly. Most channels won't be in HD. Your DVD's will all be in the old format. And your cable guy won't have the slightest idea how to actually hook you up to see actual HD, so don't let him or her walk off with the 5 wire red green blue and audio composite video cable you will need!
And Eureka, you will know instantly once you actually get true HD on your new TV! Even though there are only a handful of HD stations at present (Discovery HD, ESPN HD, TNT HD, InHD, InHD2, ABC HD, NBC HD, CBS HD and Fox HD and one HD feed for each of the four movie channels) you will find you only want to watch whatever is on in HD instead of whatever you used to watch before. Get ready for a life changing experience, therefore. But let them take a while to get those HD DVD's rolling, so you don't have to replace your entire collection of movies with a new format again so soon after having just changed them all!
This was my first HD TV purchase. I waited several years and waded through a lot of websites and consumer magazines, and visited all the big box stores (repeatedly). After considering Plasma, LCD, and DLP systems, I settled on plasma for its picture quality, unlimited viewing angles, and minimum space requirements. (Though I will say LCD's have come along way). Once I settled on a plasma, my research found the Panasonic 42" and 50" models consistently rated in the top three in terms of picture quality, connection options and reliability.
I thought briefly about waiting for 1080P plasmas to become affordable. However, from what I've read the human eye can't differentiate between a 1080i (720P) and 1080P resolutions once your back 8 to 10 feet. With a 50", you don't want to be that close anyways, so why wait.
I got mine for $1,600 with 2 years no interest financing the day after Thanksgiving. Yes I was one of the suckers standing in line at 4AM, in the freezing cold. After owning the Panasonic TH-50PX60U for several weeks, it was worth the effort. The picture is awesome, whether you're watching HD programming, DVDs or regular broadcasts. You'll watch all your old DVDs and be amazed at the details you've been missing.
Set up was a breeze. It's got 2 HDMI, 2 component video, 3 s-video and 1 optical audio. All are clearly labeled and easy to get to. I highly recommend using the HDMI or component video connections to get the best picture. I thought s-video was good, but its not even close. I played with the picture and audio settings and found the factory setting were fine. I use the standard factory settings for all viewing. The TV comes preset with vivid, standard and cinema settings. Vivid is too bright for me and cinema is too dark. I wall mounted the unit and it saves a ton on space. The wall mount was pricey, but if you've come this far, why not go a little farther. Its worth it and not hard to do.
Couple of things to consider before buying:
1. Make sure your normal viewing distance is 3 to 4 times the length of the TV. This 50" is just under 48" long, so the optimum viewing distance is 12' to 16'. I tried sitting closer and the found it hard to take in the whole screen. If you are close (+10'), by the 50", there's a big difference from the 42" for not a lot more money.
2. Use the HDMI and component video connections, and you don't need $200 Monster cables. I'm using $50.00 cables from Home Depot with out any trouble.
3. Don't place the TV directly in front of a light source (window or lamp), or you'll get a noticeable glare. I haven't had a problem with the indirect lighting in my room.
And yes..my HD picture on my Panasonic is awesome, $18 cable and all.
As most other televisions, this is a native 720P resolution that can convert into 1080i. Research has proven that it's always best to keep the picture in its native resolution to get the best results. Personally, I haven't noticed a difference between 720p and 1080i, but 720p is supposed to be better in terms of action movies and sports than 1080i. I could go into all the technical details, but anyone can research online to find out all the details (check out [...] for a good review of TV technology).
As far as this TV, the picture is just stunning. High def channels make you feel as if you were there. Standard def channels look amazing, and much better than on an LCD TV (note: standard def on satellite seems to suffer worse quality than from a cable company).
Do yourselves a favor - no matter what high def TV you buy, but the OPPO DVD upconvert player. I bought the 981 which upconverts all the way up to 1080P signal quality. Basically, these players upconvert your regular 480i DVDs to HIGH DEF quality. It upconverts to 480P, 720P, 1080i, and the one I bought upconverts to 1080P. I'm not kidding - it's as if you were watching a high definition DVD. There is no reason to ever buy a blue ray/HD DVD player if you buy the OPPO. Amazon sells them, but they were out of stock so you can go directly to [...] to get them. Do a Google search on these players and see for yourself why they were rated the #1 upconvert player ever made.
Also do yourselves another favor and get the AVIA DVD for home theater calibration. Not only does this improve majorly your TV high def picture quality, but it also makes standard def look TONS better.
Some people pay hundreds of dollars to get their televisions professionally calibrated. After extensive research, I found a site that lists the settings for the best picture based on TV. Here they are:
Panasonic TH-50PX60U Optimal Picture Settings
Picture Mode Standard
Picture +22
Brightness +8
Color -1
Tint -4
Sharpness -14
Color Temperature Warm
Enhanced Black Level Off
The picture looks AMAZING. Be careful - the setting is on VIVID from the manufacturer, which can burn out the TV much faster due to the brightness. Although burn-in isn't nearly as much an issue as it used to be, make sure you try to keep the picture full screen as much as possible for the first 2000 hours.
One thing I LOVE about this TV is the TV/Video button. Instead of cycling through each TV/VIDEO option (there are EIGHT of them), when you hit the TV/VIDEO button it displays all eight of them and you just arrow down to the one you want! Plus you can label them (TV, DVD, GAME, VCR, CABLE, etc.) so it makes it that much easier for someone else to use your TV! You'd think it wouldn't have taken this long to get this option in a TV, but finally, Panasonic did it all right.
I could go on and on about how amazing this TV is, but until you see it in person, you won't really know. By the way, I've had NO problems with glare (everybody disses plasmas because of glare). Panasonic uses a proprietary anti-glare technology on their plasmas, which drastically cuts back on glare. My TV is situated in a room with lots of light and I've NEVER had a problem.
BUY THIS TV! I bought it at Fry's for $[...] which was an amazing deal. I would've paid hundreds more...worth every single penny. The best purchase I've ever made.
I performed quite a bit of research using CNET and other online audio/visual forums and came to the conclusion that, like a good stock pick, this is the best value out there on the market at this point in time. This is the only HDTV that I found which had great reviews over 90% of the time. I was open to both LCD and plasma screens but it seems that the consensus is that plasma offers you slightly better picture and that the burn in problem experiences by older HDTVs is not much of an issue anymore. If you are a hard core gamer, or if the room in which the TV will be displayed is extremely bright, then a LCD might be better. In my mind, there is no doubt that the plasma picture looks better when in a completely dark room than during the daytime (but then again I can't say that this isn't also true for LCD screens as I don't have one). Before going to actually take a look at the televisions, I think that it is a good idea that you do some research on the net (CNET "HDTV buying guide" is an excellent place to start with the basics). After narrowing your picks down, take a good look at them at your local electronics store. Granted it is hard to compare different televisions at your local Best Buy because each of their televisions are not adjusted to their optimal viewing settings. Instead, they are set to high contrast and maximal brightness so they look good in the showroom. I can say, however, that this plasma looks absolutely amazing in my living room. I never realized the variability between different depths of black in a picture and never truly appreciated how a true black color is supposed to be represented until I purchased this TV. The contrast, color, and clarity of the images displayed is amazing.
My one hesitancy in purchasing this television was the fact that it is "only" 768p. I was drooling over the 60+ inch 1080p Panasonic plasma that I saw at Best Buy but it was over 6000 dollars. You can tell the difference between the 1080p and the 720p on such a large screen, especially when you are closer than 6-7 feet. But in a 50 inch or smaller screen and at a greater viewing distance, the difference in clarity becomes much less obvious. Additionally, the difference in price just didn't seem worth the benefit, especially because there is such little 1080p programming (broadcast HD programming is either in 1080i or 720p and I don't see myself buying one of the next generation DVD players until the Blue-ray/HD-DVD format war is definitively over). I figure I will be more than happy with this television for the next 4-5 years -- by that time the 1080p televisions will more than likely be even cheaper than todays 720p's and there will be a decent amount of 1080p programs. In addition, while standard definition programming looks disappointing in comparison to HD programming, it is definitely watchable. Only very few SD broadcasts look considerably worse on this TV in comparison to a SDTV.
If you want a superb HDTV without breaking the bank, please take a look at this Panasonic. It is a great value that can't be matched by any other HDTV and will be an upgrade from all SDTVs.
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