Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)This TV has the best picture of any TV I have ever seen.
I build homes for multi-millionaires and I have seen some incredible
TV's, theater rooms, with $50K audio systems wired in; and I have never
seen a TV with a better picture.
I bought this TV within a week of Consumer Reports rating it as the best
picture they had ever tested, and I was still surprised at how breathtaking the picture was.
You cannot overrate this TV and its capabilities to deliver a picture like none you've seen before.
I do implore you, however, to invest in a blu-ray DVD player and a high quality HDMI cable for the full effect. The picture, when playing a blu-ray DVD on the new Panasonic blu-ray DVD player, along with a high quality HDMI cable (Panasonic makes maybe the best available for only $25)
is unbelievable. The definition is so amazing that your opinions of beautiful big screen actresses may come back down to earth after seeing the the blemishes in their complexion that you never would have seen on a
regular TV.
This TV is the pinnacle. There is no TV better.

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The Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 1080p Plasma HDTV sports a 42-inch plasma screen with 1080p resolution for a crystal clear viewing experience. It will feel right at home as the centerpiece of a home theater setup.
An Understated Beauty The TH-42PZ700U does not look like it's trying too hard. Instead, it lets the big screen speak for itself. The glass is surrounded by a thick glossy black bezel on all sides, with a door on the bottom to keep controls out of sight. Another hatch hides a slot for SD memory cards. Speakers--matching in color and barely noticeable--are set on both sides of the display. The understated look would be an elegant addition to any decor.
Outstanding Performance The TH-42PZ700U is 1080p, meaning it has a full 1920 x 1080 resolution, the highest HD resolution available for the clearest and sharpest picture. Because of its plasma display, the black levels are deep and the uniformity of brightness is superb. The unit has 4096 shades of gradation and has up to a 5000:1 contrast ratio. Video noise reduction circuitry and a digital comb filter make sure the picture on screen is always optimal. The TH-42PZ700U will upconvert any signal you feed it and display it at 1080p.
Connections On the back, the TH-42PZ700U features two HDMI inputs, two component inputs, two composite inputs, and two S-Video inputs. Hidden beneath panels in front is another composite and S-Video input, a component video input, and a slot for SD cards. Insert an SD card filled with photos and you can watch a slide show with the built-in Photo Viewer software.
TV as an Art Gallery The TH-42PZ700U includes GalleryPlayer software you can use to display high-definition art and photography on your TV. A free collection of images is included so your television can display art even when it's not on.
One-Touch Convenience When you use the Panasonic EZ-Sync technology to connect to other compatible EZ-Sync devices via the HDMI connector, you get one-touch control over all your home theater components. For example, with one touch of a button, you can turn on the DVD player, turn on the receiver, and set the DVD player as the source while also adjusting the sound level, turn on the TV--which will accept the input signal--and play the DVD. Instead of fumbling to find all the right buttons, you can watch your movies without wondering how to set everything up.
The TH-42PZ700U is backed by a 1-year limited warranty for parts and labor.
What's in the Box TH-42PZ700U plasma HDTV, remote control (with batteries), AC cord, pedestal, two cable clamper, and antenna adapter.

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Panasonic VIERA TC-P65ST30 65-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me start off by saying 4 things first:
1) I LOVE Panasonic products. I have had their phones/shavers/Digital Cameras/and now a Blu-ray player and I love them ALL.
2) I even absolutely love the PQ on this TV as well (barring fluctuating brightness of course).
3) I'm giving it a 1-star rating with a heavy heart but with a firm observant mind.
4) I wish I never had to write this review.
The deal breaker??? - Fluctuating brightness!!!
I have read rave reviews for this TV here/other places and I agree with them PQ-wise. But IF and only IF your set has this and you've noticed this you're done. I hope this is not the case with you but it IS the case with me and few others. Not sure how many "few" people it takes to get the attention of a major manufacturer but here is my viewing experience so far. I've had this TV for 3.5 weeks now.
This TV tries to adjust its brightness A LOT. Majority of the time a scene changes between a dark scene to a (much) lighter scene/area - you can see the changing brightness - especially on the face, it'll go wayyyy brighter, then back to normal. Eventually the light will be perfect/even great hue but the "switching" drives me nuts. While dark scenes themselves look great overall - I also noticed some dark/darkness adjustment even in a night scene where the light in the scene/room was off. It happens much less often but it does. The adjustment in dark scenes are not that distracting as they are less frequent/apparent. Daylight/bright scenes - another story.
I even tried to "ignore" this by telling myself - oh well no TV is perfect and let me just "live" with it but I just couldn't. Besides - for a $2K TV to do what my $250 seven year old Sharp (CRT) TV does NOT do is simply unacceptable.
I have tried Blue ray/SD content/HD contect/netflix/regular DVDs and they all display fluctuating brightness. I grant it's not there ALL the time but boy when it rears its ugly head (which is often) - that is ALL I watch and well that is ALL I'm watching right now - not willingly I must add. I've gotten the latest firmware as well.
So why just a 1-star when the PQ/blacks are great. The brightness problem is so glaring that it handily undoes the MANY good/great/outstanding qualities of this TV. Speaking of outstanding - another great thing about the TV is skin tones - oh so natural. When I was TV hunting/doing "eye test" in stores - LED always seemed to have an edge. But man - this colors/skin tones are so realistic in this TV. I do not want to take away the great PQ of this TV - in all fairness, yet at the same time I do not want to take away the undeniably distracting viewing this TV presents to me. In fact I feel like I've been relegated to "watching" the fluctuating brightness instead of actually enjoying the experience of this otherwise great TV. I even tried telling myself - maybe I'm "looking" for this brightness fluctuation issue but no no no - it's THERE.
I'm at a loss to explain why Panasonic did not/does not notice this - that is - if they don't. They need to fix it and fix it now. I BELIEVE Panasonic can and should make it right. And I still maintain it's a great TV. I do not know if others have had the same issue or to this degree but this has been my experience. I don't know the technical details but they *should* be able to fix this with a firmware fix. I have NOT given up on them and hence have requested Amazon for another ST30. It is a great TV otherwise but you buy a TV to enjoy the programming content, NOT distractions. Panasonic - you are the top plasma maker in the market. You guys even have the entire (former) Pioneer/Kuro team working for you. Will you please make it right!!!
When I get the new TV - I will re-evaluate and post my findings. Oh by the way Amazon was 100% helpful/quick in sending a replacement. Thanks Amazon!!!

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Panasonic VIERA U1 Series TC-P42U1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)I previously owned a bulky 46" DLP but decided I needed a new and smaller TV due to moving into a smaller place. I researched for a while and decided on this television, the deciding factors being 1080p, contrast, and refresh rate. I have to say, I'm very pleased.
This is the first full HD television I've ever owned. After tweaking with the picture I stuck in Wall-E on Blu-Ray and was amazed by the clarity. I realized just how much I'd been missing out on HD with my other TV.
I wish it has a PC input, but you can get HDMI adapters for that. The picture quality of an HDMI connected device looks awesome, but I've noticed it's a little dark with component devices like game consoles as well as cable and HD signal channels. Games look good though, even the Wii looks pretty good. I wish I could have tested out my XBox360 more on this set but it unfortunately broke two days after getting the TV. Figures...
I bought this TV with hopes of getting the best Blu-Ray picture at this price range and I think I got it. At under $900 this TV is a steal.


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42" Plasma, 1080p, 3 HDMI, Native contrast ratio 30,000:1, Infinite Black Dynamic contrast, 600 Hz Subfield Drive

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Panasonic TC-P46S2 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this television from Amazon & have lived with it for a couple of months.
I did a lot of shopping; finally deciding on this television & I am very happy I did. This TV is fantastic: Beautiful colors - 1080p - 600Hz Refresh Rate - 2,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio. The last two numbers make LCD's come up very short. In case you don't know: The contrast ratio is a measure of the difference between white and black. The higher the contrast ratio, the blacker the blacks & the whiter the whites. The deeper blacks make the colors really pop. This is where Plasma completely dominates LCD.
Sound & Vision Magazine rated these Panasonic Viera Plasma televisions right under the Pioneer Kuros. This is high praise considering that they had rated the Pioneers the best TV, of any kind - anywhere, for the last two years. Considering that the Kuros are 4 times the price, this TV was the obvious pick.
For the last years; the knocks against plasmas were the issues of Burn-In and excess heat compared to LCD's. The issue of Burn-In has been addressed. It is not a problem anymore. In addition, I have not noticed the TV giving off any abnormal heat. As a matter of fact, I don't notice any heat from it at all. Since these issues have been fixed, Plasma's should be much higher on everyone's shopping list.
A couple of side notes: 1) since I got it I have moved from cable to Dish. This has made a big improvement, & 2) the ability of take an SD card directly from the camera, insert it into the TV, and play the images is a nice feature.
I ordered direct from Amazon with the free shipping. The television arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The delivery people were accommodating and professional. They set everything up & were nice enough to even move some furniture around.
If you are considering a television in this price range, I think this is the one to get.


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Building on its award-winning 2009 Plasma line, Panasonic's 46-inch VIERA TC-P46S2 Plasma HDTV features a new panel with NeoPDP technologies that provide the best balance of black and white under brighter environments while also offering higher energy efficiency. The new NeoPDP Plasma panel also further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast in brighter environments. This S2 series model provides 1080p resolution, full-time 1080 TV lines of moving picture resolution, and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity.


Key Features

Key Specifications


What's in the Box Panasonic S2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions

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Samsung SSG-P3100M/ZA Starter Kit and Samsung PN64D8000 64" PDP 1080p HDTV Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)I will say first off that I am not a proffessional TV guy. I do not have a device to measure MLL, or light output.
That being said, I researched exhaustively as my little 37" Diamond series was getting a little small. For 3-4 months I had my heart set on the P65VT30, preordered at J&R. Then I started reading reviews by cnet, and other pros on the web about their previous sets. Blacks levels on pannys WILL degrade. That rating on their site which says it has better blacks will change, they will degrade over time, and very likely to a point worse than this set. I do not care how many people say that the VT30 has better blacks because 4300 dollars is just not worth it for a set that has worse color, temporarily better blacks, and a vizio-esque blocky design.
I cancelled my VT30 preorder shortly after reading review after review regarding the above issue. It is due to how the set adjusts brightness, and is just the way those sets work - the issue is unavoidable, so don't say I didnt tell you so when you notice while watching the super bowl later this year and the steelers jerseys are not as black as they once were!
Now the samsung PN64D8000 is about as good as you're going to get on a big screen pdp display - blacks ARE better on this set than the smaller ones, which I will address later. Blacks are Inky!! And I use that term because that is the most applicable word I can think of. Colors are delicious, with reds, greens, yellows, and blues all popping right off the screen and into your living room. I play a lot of HD games on ps3/360 and the first thing I noticed is how well the set responds to fast moving images. It is spot on, and at least twice as fast as my old LCD set was. Gaming on this TV is an absolute pleasure, and I cant stand it on my old mitsu anymore, as my eyes have become accustomed to nearly perfect response time.
On to BD's. I have read conflicting reports of Cinema Smooth degrading blacks when turned on. I have not seen this one solitary instance. I watched the Matrix Reloaded twice - the first time with CS on, the second with it off. Blacks did not decrease any that I could notice, and I have a good eye for detail. Yes, CS mode does improve PQ on bluray movies, and quite a bit I might add. The picture, for lack of a better word, just seems more "together." More details can be seen with CS mode on than off. This feature is really personal preference, but for me it improves an already amazing picture to a pq I have literally not seen before on a TV. This mode is what videophiles call the "96hz mode". Technically means that turned on CS will match the 24fps, with that of the bd, which greatly improves pq. Modern films are filmed at 24fps, and CS mode basically matches that, by reducing from 60fps to 24fps using 96hz mode. Techno-babble I know, but moving on.
Netflix. We've all got it, and we've all seen the input signal change mid-way through a movie much to our annoyance. It shows up even worse on a big hd set. Here is where I have one of my few complaints: while whatching netflix I have seen in only a few instances some mild fluctuating blacks. I'm not sure if it is due to the picture source(netflix) or the tv's processing. I'm still trying to figure it out.
I have seen FB only one other time. On the BD of Interview with the Vampire the blacks did fluctuate a few times, and if I was not so obsessed with detail I would not have noticed it. Its really a small issue, and most folks will probably not see it like some of us tech heads do. NOTE: Samsung did release an update for this tv, and after installation I watched the IWTV again. This time I did not see FB's. None.
The only time I EVER see fluctuating blacks now is when netflix is on a low quality for whatever reason. It only seems to happen when watching poorer quality signals like sd cable, or netflix, so really nothing to worry about.
My review is mainly regarding picture quality, and ive got a tower for my internet. That being said, the internet on the tv is ok. A little laggy sometimes, but its bearable. Netflix straight through the tv is quite acceptable, and at least as good as from a ps3/360. Netflix through the ps3 has been the best overall, if it makes any difference(1080p streaming).
Overall I would give this set a 9/10 just because the stand is so darn ugly, the bezel is not black like the d7000 and the few instances I saw FB's. Blacks are amazing, inky, and you will notice them the first time you turn it on. Colors are spot on!! Response time is absolutely fantastic, and despite what those 18 year olds at best buy say, plasma is far superior for gaming. Burn-in is a thing of yesteryear, and there is absolutely no issues with that on this set. I would take this set over the Panasonic P65VT30 ANY DAY!! Samsung is better with parts distribution, service, warranty claims(not that you will have any), and over picture quality. Blacks are videophiles obsessions, and this set does them perfectly.
So when you pull out your credit card for the VT30, just remember "i told you so" when youre cursing at your set come super bowl time, or neo's trench coat isnt as black as it used to be...
Hope this helps with your decision!
Thanks for reading guys.
Ryan
Oh yeah, and seeing as how last year(and the year before) that the smaller samsung pdp sets had worse black levels expect that also being the case with this year's sets. So yes, the PN64D8000 DOES have significantly better blacks than the 51 or 59 inchers. Dont forget that!

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Panasonic VIERA TC-P55VT30 55-inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I just bought this so I only have a few hours on it. The good. Exceptional piture. Dark blacks of course. But I really bought this for the 3D. I had narrowed my choices down to the samsung pn59D8000 and the Panasonic p55VT30. The 3D on the samsung looked a little artificial to me, that is like the cardboard cut out books that you open and they have one flat image after another. The Panasonic however has a real nice graduation of 3D from front to back. I really liked the new Samsung glasses, the bluetooth connection, light weight, large lenses, and even balance. I still don't like the feel of the Panasonic glasses but they say they are comming out with better ones mid summer. I don't like that Panasonic is still using infared since anything in the path of the beam cuts the 3D. The feature that really wow's me is the 2D to 3D conversion. Oh My God! the Panasonic is soooo much better than the Samsung in this respect. I'd swear the 2D movies I've been watching with this feature are 3D. It has minimum, medium, and maximum settings for this. I like the medium setting which gives a lot of 3D without distorting the 3D effect like the maximum setting does. My local dealer did a good job of matching internet prices and free delivery and set up. The spider stand on the D8000 was really flimsy in real life. So I like the Panasonics heavier but more solid pedestal better. I wanted to buy the VT25 from last year but was still disappointed in the amount of light loss when putting on the 3D glasses. This year the amount of light loss is much much less than last year, even tolerable. Sound is actually pretty good but I still run it through my Denon 7.1 surround system. Another thing that steered me away from the Samsung were all the reports of poor customer service on displays that went out. I wish Panasonic would slim the bezel down more, and go to a wireless glasses recharger.
I have both the Samsung BD-C6900 Blue-ray player and the Panasonic BDT350. Love the Samsung, hate the Panasonic. The Panasonic is not as user friendly, not as pretty, takes forever to load, and makes alot of clicking/humming/buzzing noises when playing a disk. It didn't start out that way but it's been less than a year and already it sounds like a five year old player. The quality of picture produced by each player is basically a wash for me. I really can't tell any difference. I'll try to update this as I get more experience with the TV. Oh by the way - I'm not a football fan but watching it in 3D is like being on the field, incredible. And I was just told buy my sales person that there has been a price drop on the current set of 3d glasses. They are now available for $49.99
UPDATE: 07/12/11 I've bought two additional 55" ST30's so I can put them side by side as part of an "eyefinity" setup on my computer. The ST30's are suprisingly pretty good but I had to go through one return due to one looking grainy (a known not uncommon issue with panasonics in general and the ST30's specifically). Now if they can only get rid of the bezel.
UPDATE: Well first day and already its gone bad. I got the vertical black bar that covers about an eighth of the screen about 3/4 of the way on the right side. In researching similar problems it might indicate the Plasma Display Panel (PDP) was defective. It appears I have a vertical block that is bad. Retailer is getting me another one tomorrow.
UPDATE: Ok new TV working well. On the standard picture setting its really too dark. So I increased the brightness by changing to game or cinema. I've been watching 2d movies with the 2d to 3d conversion with good results. I just watched my first real 3D movie "Tangled". I have seen the 2D version of this movie about 5 times but watching it in 3D is like seeing it for the first time. WOW! I'll never be able to watch it in 2D again. The details are amazing. You notice every blade of grass, every leaf on the trees, every strand of hair on people, all sorts of things I've never noticed before like birds flying in the fore and background, butterfies and pollen, textures on just about everything! The only negative I see in 3D is when somthing moves fast like a swinging arm. I don't know if its motion blur or just me not being able to focus fast enough. The picture is brighter and clearer with better 3D than I've seen in the theaters. I have a 2009 Samsung 63" plasma which I still like the 2D bright, clear, sharp picture of over this Panasonic. But for 3D I'm quite satisfied. I also use this set as my main computer monitor. It's fun to watch online movie content with the 2D to 3D conversion active.
UPDATE: The way I see it the ST30, GT30, and VT30 are basically good, better, best. The best way for me to describe the picture quality difference is similar to watching a 60hz refresh rate and then watching an 80hz refresh rate. The picture just seems clearer, sharper, and more stable. Now the thing that really suprised me was watching 3D on the ST30's. It was as good as the VT30. In fact I had a really hard time trying to tell the difference. So is it worth the difference in price? Hmmmm hard question to answer. As you can see even though I have the money for three VT30's, I opted for one VT30 plus two ST30's and I'm happy with the results. I tried the apps and they are great but all the ones I like wanted money. I guess I'm not ready to pay for them. As far as the 55" being big enough to watch 3D, yes, in fact for movies I have to back up a little from my usual four foot distance to a six foot distance to get the whole thing in my fileld of view. I know people out there probably think its insane to sit so close, but I really like to immerse myself in my movies and games and the hd quality of both the VT30 and ST30 allow me to do that.
UPDATE: 07/26/11 The 63" Samsung I was mentioning earlier that I liked so much has started to fail after 17 months. A $3600.00 then top of the line set that bragged about how long they were supposed to last. Luckily I read many of the Amazon.com reviews on the Samsung flat screens and bought a two year extended warrenty. I just don't understand all the failures on the Samsung and Panasonic TV's. It's like they have no quality control going on in the factories.
Update: 08/02/11 The $350.00 repairs on the Samsung 63" are done and the picture is back to looking amazing. I say wow everytime I see it. I mention this for people who are trying to decide between Panasonic and Samsung. After watching the repairs I could have done it my self for a $40.00 part and 15 minutes of work. It was that easy.

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3D Technology Checklist
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Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P46S1 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered the TC-P46S1 from Amazon on July 6. TV was delivered exactly one week later by CEVA logistics. Fantastic service!
Now on to the set. I have owned two televisions in the past 15 years. The first was a 19" Zenith CRT. The second was a cheap 27" Apex CRT that I bought from Sam's Club about seven years ago. I had been waiting to buy a HDTV until a decent 1080p set was available for a price that I considered reasonable if amortized over ten years. Each person has their own definition of reasonable, but I felt that time had finally arrived.
I researched this purchase for about two months. Early on I decided I wanted Panasonic plasma. Plasma is currently the only choice for those who want the best possible picture at a given price point. The only question was which model and what size? There were three models in my price range when I decided to buy: the X1, the S1, and the G10. The X1 series is Panasonic's 720p line of plasmas. It comes in 42" and 50" sizes. For my viewing distance (10 feet), 720p was a definite possibility. The S1 series is Panasonic's lowest 1080p plasma line. The G10 is a step up from the S1 and includes a THX mode and Viera Cast, Panasonic's internet and video on demand service. A decent rule of thumb is that each step up in size is about $200 and each step up in model type is about $200. For example, the 42" G10 is about the same price as the 46" S1 and the 50" X1.
I created cardboard mock-ups of the 42", 46", and 50" sets and placed them where the TV would go to help determine the correct size. It quickly became clear that 42" was too small while 50" was too large for my personal taste. The 46" was perfect. Unfortunately, this eliminated the X1 series from contention as there is no 46" set in that line. I would have bought the X1 had it been available. That set is the best HDTV for the money that is offered right now, IMO. Still, 46" was the sweet spot for me, so I was going to have to move up to a better model. Now the question was should I go with the TC-P46S1 or TC-P46G10?
In my case, I was planning on buying the Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray player to go with the set. When I was ready to buy, Amazon was offering $150 off the BD player when purchased with an S1 set or $200 off when purchased with a G10 set. The price of the BD60 itself was $200, so that made the deal irresistible. The BD60 also offers Viera Cast, which would have duplicated that functionality if I went with the G10 set. So the decision came down to whether or not I wanted THX for an extra $150. In the end, I decided the cost was not worth it and went with the S1. I have no regrets about that decision at all.
The color and detail on this set is fantastic. Watching the BBC Planet Earth Blu-ray set in 1080p is awe-inspiring! This set paired with the BD60 is a match made in heaven and a much better setup than many others costing hundreds of dollars more. Colors look realistic (and can be made more realistic with some tweaking or a professional ISF calibration). The set has plenty of connections including three HDMI inputs; however, I've found that pairing this with a good AV receiver that has HDMI output makes the number of the connections on the set irrelevant. Even the onboard sound on the TV is decent, but if you're purchasing a TV of this caliber, you would probably want to hook it up to a decent sound system to fully appreciate the home theater experience. The set also has an SD card slot for viewing photos, so the TV can stand in as a very large digital picture frame if you are so inclined.
One of the knocks against plasmas are that they put off more heat than LCDs. Really, this is a non-issue, IMO. The amount of heat generated is far less than a much smaller CRT. Yes, it's warmer than an LCD, but are you really willing to live with all the faults of LCD (less contrast range, poor off-angle viewing, and poor black levels) just to have a TV that is a little bit cooler? Are you watching TV in your family room or a freezer? One consideration that is a possible concern is that the anti-reflective coating is not very effective. If you have strong reflections that you are unable to control, you may want to consider an LCD, although the best LCDs have glass panels instead of matte screens anyway. Overall, I don't think you can buy a better TV for the money (well, maybe the TC-P50X1). Highly recommended!


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46" Plasma, 1080p, NEO PDP Panel which is brighter, Full-time 1080p TV lines of moving picture resolution, 3 HDMI, Native contrast ratio 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast infinite black 2,000,000:1, Game Mode, Anti Reflective Filter, 600 Hz Subfield Drive

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Samsung PN64D8000 64-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Plasma 8000 Series Smart TV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I will say first off that I am not a proffessional TV guy. I do not have a device to measure MLL, or light output.
That being said, I researched exhaustively as my little 37" Diamond series was getting a little small. For 3-4 months I had my heart set on the P65VT30, preordered at J&R. Then I started reading reviews by cnet, and other pros on the web about their previous sets. Blacks levels on pannys WILL degrade. That rating on their site which says it has better blacks will change, they will degrade over time, and very likely to a point worse than this set. I do not care how many people say that the VT30 has better blacks because 4300 dollars is just not worth it for a set that has worse color, temporarily better blacks, and a vizio-esque blocky design.
I cancelled my VT30 preorder shortly after reading review after review regarding the above issue. It is due to how the set adjusts brightness, and is just the way those sets work - the issue is unavoidable, so don't say I didnt tell you so when you notice while watching the super bowl later this year and the steelers jerseys are not as black as they once were!
Now the samsung PN64D8000 is about as good as you're going to get on a big screen pdp display - blacks ARE better on this set than the smaller ones, which I will address later. Blacks are Inky!! And I use that term because that is the most applicable word I can think of. Colors are delicious, with reds, greens, yellows, and blues all popping right off the screen and into your living room. I play a lot of HD games on ps3/360 and the first thing I noticed is how well the set responds to fast moving images. It is spot on, and at least twice as fast as my old LCD set was. Gaming on this TV is an absolute pleasure, and I cant stand it on my old mitsu anymore, as my eyes have become accustomed to nearly perfect response time.
On to BD's. I have read conflicting reports of Cinema Smooth degrading blacks when turned on. I have not seen this one solitary instance. I watched the Matrix Reloaded twice - the first time with CS on, the second with it off. Blacks did not decrease any that I could notice, and I have a good eye for detail. Yes, CS mode does improve PQ on bluray movies, and quite a bit I might add. The picture, for lack of a better word, just seems more "together." More details can be seen with CS mode on than off. This feature is really personal preference, but for me it improves an already amazing picture to a pq I have literally not seen before on a TV. This mode is what videophiles call the "96hz mode". Technically means that turned on CS will match the 24fps, with that of the bd, which greatly improves pq. Modern films are filmed at 24fps, and CS mode basically matches that, by reducing from 60fps to 24fps using 96hz mode. Techno-babble I know, but moving on.
Netflix. We've all got it, and we've all seen the input signal change mid-way through a movie much to our annoyance. It shows up even worse on a big hd set. Here is where I have one of my few complaints: while whatching netflix I have seen in only a few instances some mild fluctuating blacks. I'm not sure if it is due to the picture source(netflix) or the tv's processing. I'm still trying to figure it out.
I have seen FB only one other time. On the BD of Interview with the Vampire the blacks did fluctuate a few times, and if I was not so obsessed with detail I would not have noticed it. Its really a small issue, and most folks will probably not see it like some of us tech heads do. NOTE: Samsung did release an update for this tv, and after installation I watched the IWTV again. This time I did not see FB's. None.
The only time I EVER see fluctuating blacks now is when netflix is on a low quality for whatever reason. It only seems to happen when watching poorer quality signals like sd cable, or netflix, so really nothing to worry about.
My review is mainly regarding picture quality, and ive got a tower for my internet. That being said, the internet on the tv is ok. A little laggy sometimes, but its bearable. Netflix straight through the tv is quite acceptable, and at least as good as from a ps3/360. Netflix through the ps3 has been the best overall, if it makes any difference(1080p streaming).
Overall I would give this set a 9/10 just because the stand is so darn ugly, the bezel is not black like the d7000 and the few instances I saw FB's. Blacks are amazing, inky, and you will notice them the first time you turn it on. Colors are spot on!! Response time is absolutely fantastic, and despite what those 18 year olds at best buy say, plasma is far superior for gaming. Burn-in is a thing of yesteryear, and there is absolutely no issues with that on this set. I would take this set over the Panasonic P65VT30 ANY DAY!! Samsung is better with parts distribution, service, warranty claims(not that you will have any), and over picture quality. Blacks are videophiles obsessions, and this set does them perfectly.
So when you pull out your credit card for the VT30, just remember "i told you so" when youre cursing at your set come super bowl time, or neo's trench coat isnt as black as it used to be...
Hope this helps with your decision!
Thanks for reading guys.
Ryan

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Panasonic TC-P54S2 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this TV for nearly a month. After I got the basic picture settings where I like them I am continually amazed at what a terrific picture I get. For me the the CINEMA setting seems to be the best overall setting for both DVDs and broadcast/cable TV and I adjust the the other picture settings as needed for individual DVDs or TV programs.
I wanted to keep this brief so I won't go into any further detail. I am completely happy with this TV. You can never really be sure what a TV is going to be like once you get into your home. In this case I can't imagine how it could be any better.
AVERAGE USER PICTURE SETUP GUIDE
I have had this TV about 3 months now and still Love it. Over that time I have fine tuned the picture settings to the point where I am happy with them in almost every viewing situation and video format without having to make any changes. I watch my TV at ambient light levels from fairly bright to completely dark.
I thought a list of my settings might be a helpful starting point for new owners wanting to get the best from this awesome TV as quickly as possible. I didn't use any test patterns or fancy equipment to arrive at these settings. They were developed using real world viewing. You super techies can scoff and move on now and hopefully this will be a help to the rest of you.
SETTINGS
Picture Mode = Cinema (always)
Contrast36
Brightness36
Color 29 (you will probably use this
Tint+1 and the tint control most often)
Sharpness 50
Color Temp = warm
CATS off
Video NRon
Blur Reduction on
ASPECT:
Screen Format = full
HD Size 1
ADVANCED PICTURE
Mpeg NR = on
Black level = light (This is an important setting. On My TV it was defaulted to DARK. On very dark scenes like in
Theaters during concerts there is much useful detail that is lost with the Dark setting.
Another good example is the opening scene of "Master and Commander" The movie opens with a
long distance shot of the HMS Surprise alone at sea just before the sun comes up. The camera
slowly pans closer to the deck of the ship until we can see the black rigging silhouetted
against the grayish blue predawn with sailors climbing up and down the rigging for the
changing of the watch. The next scene is of the ships cook reaching into the on deck chicken
coop to grab a chicken. With the setting in DARK the cook's face, clothing and the chicken
are all dark shadows with no detail. With the light setting the cooks features, his ginger
colored beard and the soft blue and gray stripes of his shirt are now visible along with
the individual reddish brown feathers of the chicken he selected.
I hope this helps you get started. Everyone's tastes are different but this should be a good starting point.
I suspect that these settings should also be good for the other size sets in the S2 line
This review refers to the 2010 model TC-P54S2

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Building on its award-winning 2009 Plasma line, Panasonic's 54-inch VIERA TC-P54S2 Plasma HDTV features a new panel with NeoPDP technologies that provide the best balance of black and white under brighter environments while also offering higher energy efficiency. The new NeoPDP Plasma panel also further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast in brighter environments. This S2 series model provides 1080p resolution, full-time 1080 TV lines of moving picture resolution, and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity.




Key Features


Key Specifications




What's in the Box Panasonic S2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions
Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

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Samsung PN50B550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received this TV last week and so far it has been AWESOME! I would have given it 5 stars but the sound quality is a little muffled. It doesn't bother us much since we plan on hooking up a surround sound system but if you are using the TV's speakers exclusively, you may want to reconsider. Picture quality is amazing...best I've seen and I did a TON of research before deciding on this model. I was back and forth between plasma and LCD and I'm so glad I went plasma. We have the TV in a bright room and the new filters seem to work great. Not much glare at all. Definitely no more glare than the 36 Sony Wega tube TV this Samsung replaced. If you are not picky about the sound, this is a great choice. After a week, we are not disappointed!

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Samsungs new PN50B550 plasma flat panel HDTV redefines our commitment to design, performance, and cost of ownership. Its 50 inches of 1080p Full HD picture performance makes it the perfect living room centerpiece. The attractive Touch of ColorTM design adds a subtle clear-to-charcoal gray accent to the sets bezel. Enjoy brilliant, film-like images in Full HD resolution. Samsungs breakthrough mega dynamic contrast ratio offers a more accurate color tonal range, deeper blacks and shadow details. The new E-Panel technology featuring our innovative FiterBrightTMtechnology reduces glare in brighter rooms and delivers a better picture while using less energy. Add 4 advanced HDMI inputs that feature Samsungs Anynet+ (CEC standard) technology making system control of compatible A/V devices like a Blu-ray player or HTIB system a one-touch operation. Experience Full 1080p performance on Samsungs new B550 series plasma HDTVs that are easy on the environment and easy on the wallet.

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Samsung PN59D6500 59-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Plasma HDTV (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To preface, this tv is a replacement for the UN55B8000 LED I had that malfunctioned. So this review should provide a good perspective for those debating between LED and Plasma like I was.
Overall, the PN59D6500 is an excellent tv. It displays an amazing picture with deep blacks and beautiful colors. It just has a few issues which keep it from being perfect.
Picture: The picture is great, especially for my primary usage which is bluray movie watching. In a dark environment watching a bluray movie I don't think any other tv out there can touch it. It's like being in a state-of-the-art movie theatre but better. The image is just so deep and rich. Really awesome. For this environment, it's no contest superior to the LED.
During the daytime, it's a different story. I would say that the picture is very very good, but it's just not as bright as an LED. The whites on it are dull in comparison and you just don't get that pop that is easy to see at any Best Buy when you have a plasma next to an LED. So for this reason, if your primary interests are day time tv watching or sports, you may want to consider the LED. Not to say this tv isn't still great during the day. I watched some hockey on ESPN and the ice still looks plenty bright and white.
Gaming: I have to give the edge to the Plasma here. Again it's not quite as bright as LED but it just presents a superior image with richer color. I thought God of War 3 looked great on the LED but on plasma it's just incredible. Feels like you're playing the movie 300 or something.
3D Movies: I think the 3D on this tv is a great added feature. Now that they are giving away the glasses for free, everyone should be excited about it. However, it's an added feature, for me, not a reason to buy this tv. The reason for this is that while watching a 3D movie is awesome, it's not perfect technology. The sense of depth is awesome, but the image is too dim and there is noticeable flickering. I see this as something that will be cool to watch for those special big budget fx films (Avatar, Tron) but definitely not going to take the place of standard 2D viewing. I tried the 3d on Sony TV and it had equivalent amount of flickering. LG 3d doesn't have as much flickering but the picture is not nearly as good.
3D Gaming: Also very cool but the technology is not up to par here. This isn't the tv's fault. PS3 is just not ready to deliver the goods here yet. In order for it to process 3D it has to cut the game's resolution in half. The difference is very noticeable, especially on a giant screen like this. Playing Killzone 3 3D, which is the flagship 3D title, the sense of depth totally enhances the game experience. The first time you line up your sight and feel like your target is yards away is really something. It's only afterward you notice that the graphics look like crap. The half resolution makes everything in the picture look jaggy, pixelated, and slightly shimmery. Almost like you're suddenly playing a Wii game. Again, it's still fun to try but I look more forward to seeing the 3D that PS4 can do.
Buzzing: The number one complaint of plasmas, particularly samsungs, is that they have an issue with buzzing noise. Supposedly that was fixed on 2011 models. Well, it's still there, slightly. But it's faint. And only when the screen is completely black or mostly dark (like movie credits or night scenes). When this happens you notice the rise of a high pitched buzz. It's not very loud, not as loud as the ps3 fan. But it's high pitched so it cuts through everything else. Because it doesn't happen most of the time and it's not very loud, I have decided to live with the issue and usually will forget about it. A minor annoyance.
Of course, that brings me to why I got this tv in the first place which is that the UN55B8000 I had had the well known problem of flashlighting in the corners. This caused a terrible black level and screen unevenness. Samsung Service was diligent and very professional about addressing my problem. On the 3rd service call they brought me a whole new panel. The new panel had the same problem but even worse. I was surprised when they called me and said they would give me a full refund. So nice job to Samsung service dept.
I never got a useable LED tv so if you do decide to go that way, make sure you get one with no flashlighting.
Overall, I definitely recommend the plasma over the LED. It just has a better picture, especially for watching bluray movies. If you don't care about that and mainly watch daytime television and sports, you may want to consider the brighter picture of the LED.

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3D Technology Checklist
This product is 3D-related. To help you get a great 3D experience, use the checklist below to ensure you have everything you need. 3D viewing requires:

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Samsung PN63B550 63-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have lived with this tv for only a week now but I would like to say I researched to no end for a tv that is over 60 inches.The other choices were the 65 inch sharp lcd and the 65 inch panny plasma. I have compared this tv to the others with the same feed and similar settings and the samsung wins in my eyes. The colors on this tv are more vibrant then the lg ,kuro, and panny.
I would say the panel and stand are a very nice glossy black with the option to swivel to some extent. The tv arrived connected to the stand which made setup very easy. The menu used to change settings is very user friendly as well. I like how you can label each input source this way it is obvious which input works with each device. The BD playback on this tv is excellent. I could go on and on.
There is a B590 which inlcudes cinema smooth and a screen which is ultra filter bright plus as opposed to ultra filter bright. You will not notice the difference.
BTW, I also saw this tv side by side with last years 63A650 playing same feed using same settings mode. It was not even close in my eyes. The 63b550 looked sharper, brighter, colors were more vibrant etc...

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Samsung PN63B550 63-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

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Panasonic TC-P50U2 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just picked up my second Panasonic plasma and couldn't be happier. This TV has great picture and just enough bells and whistles for my needs: 3 HDMI inputs and an SD card reader for viewing photos. This TV does not have anti-reflective glare (not needed in a dark home theater room), USB ports (who cares), LAN connection (I already have streaming Netflix through Roku and Wii), 3D capable (I personally don't want that, you may), or a fourth HDMI input (don't need it, you may). The picture is identical to any other model in the series, just significantly less expensive because it omits the aforementioned features. So just decide what inputs you need and pay for the model that provides just that and nothing extra. I have had my 42 inch for three years and it is perfect and I expect the same quality and reliability out of this one too!!!

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Building on its award-winning 2009 Plasma line, Panasonic's 50-inch VIERA TC-P50U2 Plasma HDTV features a full HD 1080p resolution, 900 TV lines of moving picture resolution, and 600Hz Sub-field Drive for superb motion clarity. This and other models in the U2 line offer Panasonic's VIERA Image Viewer feature, which enables you to play slideshows of JPEG images stored on SD memory cards, as well as the VIERA Link feature for controlling a variety of compatible components--from Blu-ray Disc players to digital cameras--through a single remote.
Adhering to Panasonic's commitment to the environment, this VIERA model--as well as all 2010 models--features improved power consumption and meets the new, more stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements. And you'll get a long Plasma panel life of up to 100,000 hours--more than 30 years of viewing when watched 8 hours a day--before the brightness of the panel decreases to half.

Key Features Panasonic's VIERA U2 series Plasma HDTV.

VIERA Image Viewer: View full-HD images with the integrated SD card slot, enabling you to view JPEG photos captured from your digital camera or camcorder on the big screen. Navigate your images via an easy-to-use thumbnail display.


Key Specifications


What's in the Box Panasonic U2 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions

Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

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Samsung PN50C7000 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been researching plasma televisions for the last few months in preparation for my first large TV purchase. It was a painstaking process that eventually lead me to purchase the Panasonic G25. Because I lived with that TV for about three weeks and have enjoyed the C7000 for the same amount of time, I am poised to compare the two.
What first must be addressed is why I chose to return the G25. Two words: floating blacks. This is not to be confused with the phenomenon of rising blacks, where over time the ability of the panel to produce deep, dark blacks is diminished (although this afflicts 2010 models, it occurs at a more gradual rate). "Floating blacks" occurs when images on screen change in brightness and the blacks rise and fall as a result. This represents a significant problem because it is reactionary: when a bright image appears, the blacks do not rise immediately so the effect becomes very obvious and irritating. Floating blacks have been reported by many, while others swear they either do not exist or are indiscernible. I found the behavior to be pervasive for all material and absolutely unbearable. This is unfortunate, because the G25 was fantastic in every other regard: nearly perfect colors out of the box in THX mode, rich blacks with great shadow detail and not a hint of image retention or burn in. In all of the aforementioned categories, the G25 outperformed the C7000 and makes me wish Panasonic would have their niggles sorted.
Onward to the C7000.
Overall, I am very pleased with the television. Aesthetically, it is an extremely striking piece of kit. The base is a beautiful piece of brushed aluminum (well, it's probably steel, but the finish is brushed), the bezel also sports a brushed finish, which in my opinion is far superior to the glossy bezel of most sets, and the glass-like base support and surround add the finishing touch to a special looking television.
The picture quality of this television is great, to be sure. I find the out-of-the-box colors to be fairly inaccurate and they will be further from true without a professional calibration than the Panasonic. Black levels are good, although not as a rich as the G25 (pre-rise anyway, that could change after a year or two). The screen is a bit brighter than the G25 with more color pop and I have had no issues with motion. The G25 was noticeably grainier, a possible issue if one's normal viewing distance is closer than average (say, closer than 8 feet). The standard menu allows for far more customization than the Panasonic and there is no need for a non-professional to ever enter the service menu. The internet widgets are exponentially superior to those offered by Panasonic, but I have so many streamers, media devices etc. that the included Samsung apps are rarely used.
There are a couple of things that irk me with the Samsung, none necessarily significant. Image retention is far more prominent on this set than the Panasonic or my parents' five-year-old Phillips. A static image left on screen for just a few minutes will result in image retention (and I do have the pixel orbiter set to engage after just one minute). Luckily, it will disappear within minutes after switching to any content that will get those pixels moving and none of the retention has resulted in burn-in. I do play games and still detect no burn-in whatsoever. Also, I did notice a bit of line bleed that I never experienced with the G25, but that seemed to be an isolated incident as I have not observed it again.
That segues nicely to my next point of complaint: game mode. The input lag on this set makes games unplayable in any mode BUT game mode. This in itself is not an issue, because with game mode engaged, any remaining lag is imperceptible. The problem stems from a poorly designed menu. To activate game mode, you must enter the menu, scroll down to services, then click the general setting menu, and then choose on or off. If input lag is going to suck so much in all other modes, this needs to be a single button-click on the remote. Moreover, you can't disengage game mode by simply switching picture modes. Instead, you must again navigate the same asinine menu tree. Irritating and unnecessary, but at least input lag is perfectly acceptable once in game mode.
What many buyers considering this set are probably concerned with is 3D capability. It is by far the least expensive 3D television currently available and (especially with the present inclusion of a BR player/starter kit combo) is an unbeatable value. 3D on this set is nearly as good as the big boys (read: VT25) with little crosstalk or ghosting. 3D content is sparse at the moment and will continue to be for the foreseeable future (partly because of the exclusive packaging bull malarkey perpetuated by Samsung and the studios themselves; talk about shooting yourself in the foot). As such, the 2D-3D conversion algorithm is a nice addition and can deliver surprisingly impressive results. It works well for some content and is insufferable with others, so you will have to experiment and see what works for you. Some games and animated content seem to respond particularly well. I recently experimented with native 3D content via the PS3 and was surprised with the results. Stardust HD and Motorstorm both exceeded my expectations, especially considering they were not initially created with 3D as an objective. WipeOut, while not nearly as striking (and a medicore game at best), still enjoyed the added benefit of depth afforded by 3D and still yields an appreciable effect. I should also add that I have experienced no issues whatsoever concerning communication or syncing between the glasses and the television. Additionally, the glasses are fairly comfortable and having to change a battery every 50 hours is actually preferable in the long run, as opposed to losing the charge with internal units, necessitating a trip to the factory (or refuse bin).
A tangential but important note: when the 7000 line of Samsung plasmas was first released, a picture-processing mode called Motion Judder Canceller was engaged and undefeatable. What this processing actually does is irrelevant: it should be avoided like the plague. If you choose this set, make sure it has firmware 1026 or later installed or download it immediately if not. For giggles, I converted my C7000 into a C8000 in the service menu, which activates the option to enable or disable MJC (I do not recommend this as there is no need). I enabled it and within seconds wanted to gouge my eyes out, it really is that bad. Make sure MJC is off, forever. And ever.
I suppose this review might come across as somewhat negative. I have decided to keep the Samsung and am happy to have returned the Panasonic, if that is any indication. I give a slight edge to the G25 in overall picture quality, so if you do not need/want 3D and do not observe floating blacks - or don't know what the heck I'm talking about (and believe me, ignorance is most definitely bliss here) - I would go for the Panasonic, primarily because it is surprisingly inexpensive for the picture it offers. Otherwise, the Samsung is a great set and impeccable value considering its feature set and stunning design. All of the 2010 plasma models have their foibles, it just so happens the C7000 offered the least of them in areas concerning me for the right price.

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Get a true cinematic experience without going to the cinema with a Samsung plasma HDTV. This Samsung PN50C7000, with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio makes sure every frame is saturated with dense, rich color. Samsung is also ENERGY STAR compliant so you are assured that your 50 -inch plasma HDTV is helping the environment by using less enery while saving you money.

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