Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #6710 in Consumer Electronics
- Size: 55-Inch
- Brand: Panasonic
- Model: TC-P55VT50
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 30.40" h x
1.80" w x
50.70" l,
66.20 pounds
- Hard Disk: 500GB
- Display size: 55
Features
- 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty
- Infinite Black Ultra Panel, One sheet of glass
- Vera Connect Wi-Fi Built-In with Web Browser, On Mode Average Power Consumption: 119 W
- TV without stand (Width x Height x Depth): 50.7-Inch x 30.4-Inch x 1.8-Inch, TV with stand (Width x Height x Depth): 50.7-Inch x 32.3-Inch x 14.1-Inch
- Type of 3D Glasses used - Active Shutter (Model: TY-EW3D4MU),3D glasses sold separately
Panasonic VIERA TC-P55VT50 55-Inch 1080p Full HD 3D Plasma TV
Product Description
What the press is saying:
"Panasonic's new flagship HD 3D plasma model. Probably the best looking TV you'll see this year"..."Unrivaled picture quality. Incredibly deep blacks stand up in bright rooms." ~Gizmodo (June 15, 2012) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The VT50 series is the Full HD 3D Plasma flagship series. This top-of-the-line HDTV offers a revolutionary level of picture quality (Full HD 3D; 1080p Full HD resolution) and features the Infinite Black Ultra Panel (VT series only). Other unique features include ISFCCC Calibration Mode with Advanced Calibration, 2500 Focused Field Drive, and a VIERA Touch Pad controller (VT/WT series only).VIERA Connect IPTV - More Fun Comes Via a Cloud Service VIERA Connect is a cloud service that provides apps in categories like video and music, social networking, games, news and lifestyle, sports, health and fitness. Learn more about the world of Smart VIERA and VIERA Connect here. Enhance your TV Experience with Popular AppsPopular apps on VIERA Connect include Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Facebook, Twitter, Wall Street Journal, and huluplus, all optimized for the best user experience. In the 2012 TVs, you can have an unlimited number of apps installed because those apps are stored in the cloud, rather than in the TV memory itself.Learn more about "smart" TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at Amazon's Smart TV Center.Clicker - Video on Demand Cross SearchingFind your favorite movies and video content easily with one-step searching, which allows you to cross search from multiple VOD services. For ease-of-use, use the quick keyword input on VIERA Connect to help retrieve your desired content faster. Customize your screen by grouping commonly used apps and displaying them on the screen for easier use.VIERA Remote Ap p Support The VIERA remote app lets you use a smartphone or tablet device as a remote control. Tap and flick-based commands are intuitive. Use your smartphone as a gamepad for VIERA Connect game applications or your tablet as a touch pad to control what you do on the TV screen. Display the same web pages on both your VIERA screen and your smartphone with a simple flick. Simply "swipe" and share your favorite photos, music, and movies from your smartphone to your VIERA TV anytime.  Communicate with Family and FriendsThe social networking TV app allows you to access social network sites and communicate with your loved ones while simultaneously watching TV. Watch live sports games while upping the excitement by chatting with your friends as the game unfolds. Record an original message and set it as your answering voice message. Callers can record messages onto an SD Card (min. 512MB required), while you are away. *Skype camera not included with TV purchaseGlass and Metal Design: One Sheet of GlassThe VT50 features a “Glass and Metal” Design concept to express an elegant and luxurious theme. VIERA’s ele gant design gives it a simple yet powerful presence by harmonizing materials and design. This new design maximizes the natural qualities of glass and metal to visually express the superb performance of the display and billions of colors. The VT50 series continues th e design evolution seen in the 2011 VT30 series with a stunning one sheet of glass design. It expresses a minimalist sense of beauty by stripping away all unnecessary elements. Flat and lustrous, this single pane of glass is totally obstruction-free and only available on the VT50 series.Expressive, Lifelike Colors and Beautifully Reproduced Crisp LinesWith the VT50, the 1,080p Pure Direct function transmits and outputs high-quality video signals directly to the TV. Diagonal lines and edges are detected with high precision for all types of images, and optimal correction is applied to achieve beautiful, highly natural, noise-free lines. People's faces are detected and skin tones are corrected to ensure soft, natural complexions.The Perfect Smart TV Experience: A Suite of TechnologiesSmart VIERA Engine Pro A dual core processor chip for high-end models (only available on the WT50, GT50, and VT50 models) which provides enhanced differentiated image quality and processing at high speed. Image quality is enhanced to faithfully reproduce the inherent beauty of the image. DLNA/Built-in Wi-Fi The VT50 series has built-in Wi-Fi which gives you even more layout flexibility.600 Hz Sub-field Drive and 2500 Focused Field DriveThe VT50 features 600Hz technology which allows for superb full-HD motion and still images. Panasonic uses unique image-analysis technology which allows for greater clarity with motion images. The VT50 also employs Neo Plasma Black 2500 FDD to provide a crisp image even when the content shows very fast motion. 3D 24p Cinema Smoother VIERA gives you naturally flowing 24p images with the look and tonal characteristics of film, and familiar TV-like quality. Panasonic's advanced source analysis and frame generation deliver smooth, natural, and lifelike images.Operate Multiple Systems with Just One Remote Control through VIERA LinkThe GT50 features VIERA Link, a technology that allows a consumer to operate all VIERA Link compatible AV components using only the TV’S remote control. Just point the VIERA remote at your TV, and the signal will travel over the HDMI wires to the right piece of equipment, whether it be your Panasonic Blu-ray or DVD player or Panasonic Home Cinema Surround System.ISFccc Calibration Mode with Advanced CalibrationAn ISF-certified installer can calibrate your VIERA VT50, so that image reproduction is customized to the actual viewing conditions in your home and your personal preferences. The calibration process provides the settings that bring out the full expressive potential within the image signals. Settings for contrasts, tint, sharpness, and color are optimized to meet your home’s lighting conditions for both daytime and nighttime viewing.Share Content on the Large Screen with 2D-3D ConversionUnique Panasonic technology converts 2D images into high-quality 3D in real-time . The 3D effect is natural and realistic. Enjoy Blu-ray movies, DVD movies and even ordinary TV broadcasts in 3D. The Super Resolution function allows images that were converted from 2D to 3D to be displayed in sharp, clear 3D images. Learn more about Panasonic's true-to-life Full HD 3D technology here.Learn more about 3D, how it works, and exactly what you'll need to enjoy 3D at home at our 3D Center.Ultra Blacks with the Infinite Black Ultra PanelThe VT50 series has the Infinite Black Ultra panel which is the best grade panel Panasonic offers on any of their plasma HDTV line. The TVs feature self-illuminating panels with ultimate black levels, Neo Plasma technologies provide an Infinite Black Filter with a higher efficiency panel that generates the best balance of black and white under brighter environments. This high performance panel allows for improved external light shading, increased clarity, and better light transmittance.Environmentally FriendlyPanasonic’s commitment to sustainability and producing ecologically sound products is evidenced in the 100,000 hour life span of the Plasma Display panel and the lack of lead or mercury in the panels. Panasonic's plasma panels last up to 100,000 hours before the brightness decreases by half - that's more than 30 years of viewing 8 hours a day. With Eco Mode, Panasonic TV's turn off and adjust brightness depending on operating status. The Power Save setting also adjusts screen brightness to reduce power consumption. |
"The Panasonic TC-PVT50 series produces some of the best pictures ever, with exceedingly deep black levels, highly accurate color, and perfect screen uniformity and off-angle performance. It can get brighter than competing plasmas and performs better in well-lit rooms"...."The bottom line: The Panasonic TC-PVT50 series represents the pinnacle of current flat-panel TV picture quality."~CNET.com, (June 4, 2012)
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
430 of 438 people found the following review helpful.
By Anthony Campo
In my opinion, this tv is the best to be had at this time. To provide some background for that opinion, I have tried the following sets while I still had my Kuro 5020: The VT30, D7000 and the 80" Sharp 632U LED. The Sharp was something I had to try based on some reviews but it really was quite disappointing and never even made it onto the wall. For further information regarding my opinion of the Sharp, please read the comments section where I have answered a question regarding my expereince with this set. The VT30 was quite good but had color issues, uniformity issues and large bezel syndrome. The D7000 was far better than I had expected after reading the nasty comments about it. But none of these sets allowed me to feel good about sending my 9g Kuro packing.With much anticipation, I ordered the 65VT50 from Amazon. The entire process was painless and quick as per usual. Delivery was sooner than expected and professional. They did send only one driver, so be prepared for that. But we managed just fine. I quickly inspected the set and immediately mounted it and got things setup. Everything went smoothly.I did download and install an available update. The only new "feature" I noticed after the update was a fairly long duration banner at TV startup. This is defeatable within the settings, so fear not.**** A second update had been released and is mentioned at the end of this review.****** 09/28/2012 update #3 version 1.17 is out. This may effect a calibrationNow for my impression of this television.This VT50 is simply beautiful. The smaller bezel and overall aesthetics are quite excellent. Gone are the days of "but LCD's are so much slimmer and/or less bulky". This set looks great turned off. I am happy to pay a premium for the single sheet of glass design even if that was the only difference over the GT, but its not.Some complain about the silver trim, but you will be hard pressed to find an owner that does not like it. Personaly, I really like the look. I think the TV would look rather run of the mill and boring without it.The touchpad was easy to pair with the television. I do not imagine myself using the touch pad much, but it does work as advertised. If you use your television to browse at all, you may find the touchpad quite useful. I had no issues navigating with it at all.It is also worth mentioning that this set is also quite a bit lighter than the VT30.To my eye, the blacks are right there with the Kuro I just sold. A meter may say otherwise but it takes a trained eye to see the difference if not side by side. The blacks are inky and satisfying and do not leave me wanting in any way. My eyes are pretty damn good and all I can say is that I do not miss my Kuro one single bit. And the extra real estate is quite nice as well.Equally as impressive is the increased brightness of this panel. If you find that you are really drawn to the brightness of an LCD, but prefer the motion of a plasma, this set should fit your bill perfectly. I have two large windows in my living room and never feel like I need more out of my set in terms of brightness. The anti-glare works excellent as well.If I was forced to come up with a gripe, it would be the red LED that comes on when the set is on. This was poor planning on Panasonics part but I am not losing any sleep over it. A little well trimmed piece of electrical tape takes care of that if it really bothers you.Everything works as it should. HDMI control works perfectly on mine. I can hit the power button once on my Directv remote and everything turns on as it should (STB, TV, and AVR). ARC (Audio Return Channel) is also nice. This allows the audio from the TV to play through your home stereo while utilizing the same HDMI cable that feeds it content. To utilize this feature, you will need to plug your HDMI cable into HDMI #2 on the television. This is great for when you are watching Netflix or something emanating from the TV itself. All this functionality is assuming that you have an AVR that is up to date and HDMI 1.4a compliant as well as your HDMI cables. I use these cables Mediabridge Ultra Series - High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - (6 Feet) - Category 2 Certified - Supports 3D & Audio Return Channel [Latest HDMI Version Available]. They have worked perfectly for me every single time and the price is nice. I still feel compelled to interupt when I see an employee at a Big Box store trying to convince an unknowing person to spend over $100 on a Monster cable.You will notice that the HDMI ports are extremely close to the edge of the set. If you have rigid cables, it can present a problem and possibly cause them to protrude past the edge. There are several fixes for this. The one I chose was to use two of these connectors Cable Matters Gold Plated HDMI Male to HDMI Female 270 Degree Adapter. Together they create a 180 degree bend to allow your cables to be neatly installed.Bluetooth is a great feature that this TV has. I can place my receiver in standby (bypass mode) and listen to TV at night with my wireless blutooth headset. I will take a quick moment to endorse this headset LG Tone - HBS-700 Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset - Retail Packaging - Black/Orange. They work flawlessly on everyting I throw at them from working out, talking on the phone while driving to listening to a TV show while eating a midnight snack. They are ultra comfortable and sound excellent. At any rate, I am unsure why this feature gets such little attention. But keep in mind that you do need to verify that your AVR will pass through sound via HDMI or there will be no sound at all when the AVR is off or in standby mode. This is assuming that you pass your content through a receiver. You can't fault the tv if no sound is getting to it.I have had many high end TVs over the years but this one takes the cake for me as an overall package. No offence to anyone intended, but you could not pay me to place an LED TV in my living room. Sure the Sharp Elite looks great head on, but try going off to an angle, and not even an extreme angle and watch the PQ fall off a cliff. Looking at a plasma from any angle is like looking through a window. Not to mention that motion is far more natural looking on plasma in general.As far as sound is concerned, I personally place very little time in this area. Many people may use the built in speakers for night viewing. I would say that these speakers are quite capable for that purpose. If you are looking for this TV to have a capable 24/7 sound system, then you will probably be let down with this and pretty much any other flat screen offering. If you are going to lay down the funds for this beauty, you should also be ready to invest in a descent sound system if you do not already have one.*** Amended 3D glasses info.Considering how passionate some folks seem to be about the exclusion of 3D glasses, I will only say this: This set does not come with 3D glasses. I am fine with that. You may not be.Now lets talk about breaking in your plasma and some of the myths that go along with that. Many people will religiously use what are called break-in slides for the first 100 hours that they own the television. There are good reasons for this and there are misguided reasons as well. These slides are full screen color slides that you would run at 100 contrast for 100 hours as a slide show. This allows the phosphors to age evenly in there more fragile and impressionable state that is the first 100-200 hours. Now it is just as reasonable to simply watch mixed content for the first 100 hours instead of using slides. You just want to be sure to avoid letter box material or leaving stations on with static logos for long periods of times. The only downside of using content instead of slides is if you plan on using offered calibrated settings from someone like D-Nice on AVS. He has been kind enough in the past to offer calibrated settings to folks in an attempt to help out the community. He will break-in a set with the slides and then calibrate it. He will then post these settings for others to get at least close to a calibrated look. The best way to mimic his results is to break-in your set with the slides as he did. He will also be the first to tell you that panels vary and you may or may not benefit from his offered settings. If you do not use the slides as he did, then you will have less of a chance of benefiting from his settings because the panel will have been aged on a far less consistent scale. At this point in time, D-Nice has not posted settings for this particualr set. So keep this in mind, as there are questions as to whether or not he will at all.Personally, I am not using slides anymore other than for use to inspect my panel for problems. Nobody wants to have a brand new set off limits for 4 days. I know I don't. This time round, I have not used slides and all is well in the world. If I want to get the set calibrated, I will.Running slides in the hopes of matching the exact characteristics of someone elses panel is a gamble that may or may not pay off, and how would you really know if you were getting the most out of these "Free" settings without meters and training to tell you?But, it is fair to say that you will have the least chance for any type of IR in the first 100+ hours by running the slides. There are no logos or bars or HUDs to worry about. I stress the point that they will not CAUSE IR but they will not help remove it. So it is a personal choice and there is most definately no reason not to run the slides other than it makes the set unavailable for 4 days.As a side note, these slides are excellent tools to inspect your new screen for issues such as dead or stuck pixels, micro cracks in the glass and hot spots or uniformity issues. The trick here is to use this tool when you get your set and then leave it alone. If you constantly use these slides to look for issues, you will eventually find one and it will drive you crazy. And in most cases it will end up being something that you will never see while viewing normal content.Slides can be downloaded by searching for "Plasma Break-In DVD Images" . Just select the "Plasma Break-In DVD Images" link. Once downloaded, unzip and place on thumb drive.So there you have it regarding break-in. Use slides or mixed content for the first 100 hours or so and relax.One more thing worth mentioning to those that are unaware. The picture on your set will continue to improve over the first 300+ hours. So please do not base your impression of the set on the picture that comes out of the box. Blacks settle in a touch lower and the picture quality in general will become a bit richer and vibrant.Another common misconception is that slides should be used to help remove IR or image retention. This is simply not the case.Here is an excerpt of something I wrote on AVS:You will never be told to use slides to remove IR. Breakin slides are for breaking in the panel, period. Think about it this way. If you look at your IR while running the slides, you will see that the IR is flashing exactly the same each time. You are simply baking the IR in as far as I am concerned. You are maintaining that exact image over and over again. Now start a pixel flipper or mixed content for that matter. In this case, every pixel involved within the area of the IR is being given it own unique workout independent from the surrounding pixels. This random aging of the pixels will allow the offending pixels involved within the area of IR to hopefully slowly blend in better with the surrounding pixels.Sure, there is an anti-retention tool that is built into the sets software, but do not let that fool you into a false sense of security. If you leave on a station with a static logo for two days straight, the tool will do no more than make the edges of the logo image blurry rather than defined.I should also mention that I have had no hint of IR on my set to date (besides on slides). This is after days of watching Discovery channel who is one of the worst offenders of the infamous logo. They should be sued with other channels that wreak havoc on plasmas with these logos. I almost have to think they have stock in LED technology! lolSettings: The following are the settings that I am currently using post Luminance patch. They are a combination of my own and others. I feel I have struck a very nice balance without having had an actual calibration performed. This is in no way intended or claimed to be professional calibrated settings. I would be happy if they work for you though. So it definitely does not hurt to give them a try. If you find colors to be off on your particular panel, simply disregard the Pro settings and only use the Basic settings.Picture Mode: CustomContrast: 82 "Bright Room" Setting 98Brightness: 52-54 "Bright Room" Setting 70Color: 50Tint: 0Sharpness: 14-24 *If you have an external VP you may want this at zeroColor Temp: Warm 2 (or Warm 1) * Warm 1 will not be as accurate, but you may prefer it anyway as it will spruce up the whites a touch.Cats: OffVideo NR: OffAspect adjustments submenuScreen format: FullHD size: Size 2 (Size 1 will perform a 95% overscan. Can be good to get rid of scan lines at top of screen for sat/cable content as well as video noise that can be seen on edges of some content)H size: [grayed out]Zoom adjustments: [grayed out]Advanced Picture:3D Y/C filter: Off [grayed out]Color matrix: HD [grayed out]These next two settings may or may not help poor content and should have little to no effect on quality content.Block NR: OffMosquito NR: OffMotion smoother:Weak or Off: For most content. Pans will still be messy but no SOEMedium: Clean Pans but with SOE. Great for animated contentHigh: Introduces far too many artifacts and motion issues1080p pure direct: OnBlack level: Light3:2 pulldown: On24p Direct in: 60Hz * 60Hz seems to function as 96Hz does without introducing artifacts that may or may not be detected. But 96hz mode does provide slightly better blacks. So use 96hz if you do not perceive artifacts.Pro Settings:Color space: NormalW/B high R: -1W/B high G: 0W/B high B: 0W/B low R: 0W/B low G: -4W/B low B: -1W/B detail adjustment menu: (listed as Red, Green and Blue gain, respectively)100 IRE: -1, 0, -1 90 IRE: -2, 0, +1 80 IRE: 0, +1, -1 70 IRE: 0, 0, 0 60 IRE: 0, 0, +1 50 IRE: +1, +2, +1 40 IRE: 0, 0, -1 30 IRE: +1, -1, 0 20 IRE: +2, -0, +1 10 IRE: -1, -0, +1Red hue: 0Green hue: +4Blue hue: 0Red Saturation: -5Green Saturation: -4Blue Saturation: 0Color detail adjustment menu:Yellow hue: 0Cyan hue: 0Magenta hue: +2Yellow saturation: -2Cyan saturation: 0Magenta saturation: 0Red luminance: 0Green luminance: -12Blue luminance: -2Yellow luminance: 0Cyan luminance: +4Magenta luminance: +4Black Extension: 0Gamma adjustment: 2.4Panel Brightness: MidContour Emphasis: OffAGC: Off or 0Gamma Detail Adjustment Menu100 IRE Gain: 090 IRE Gain: 080 IRE Gain: 070 IRE Gain: 060 IRE Gain: 050 IRE Gain: +340 IRE Gain: 030 IRE Gain: 020 IRE Gain: -110 IRE Gain: 0Now a closing moment for the topic of BUZZING. All plasmas buzz....period. It is an inherent aspect of the technology. A perfect way to hear how this buzzing is effected by what is on the screen is by using the slides we talked about. Typically, the buzzing will be loudest on an all white or very bright screen. As you flip through the different colored slides, you will notice the buzzing changing in its intensity. Now some sets will obviously buzz more than others. You may have two identical sets that are side by side and one may be louder than the other. So if you have a set that you feel buzzes too much for you, an exchange may be in order. But be ready for no change, less noise and possibly more noise. But please do not base your impression while you are standing in a silent room with your head behind the TV. Listen to the TV sitting in your normal viewing location with volume at what you would consider "normal" or slightly below that. Then see if you can even hear it at all. Personally, I have to have my volume very low to hear it at all. Under my normal listening conditions, I NEVER hear my set buzz. There are many other factors involved that can contribute to the buzzing. Some of which include proximity of TV to the surrounding walls, room acoustics, sensitive hearing, furniture in the room, carpet, etc.....I hope this information helps you in your decision. I know the feeling of being overwhelmed when you are are trying to make an educated choice amid a sea of conflicting information.When all is said and done, I feel great about my purchase and highly recommend the television.TopperMcFlyUpdate 07/31/2012:Panasonic has released another update. This update resolves the issue with CMS color Luminance not functioning. ;-)Picture settings are reflected and noted above.Update 08/19/2012:In order to put minds at ease, I begrudgingly put the colored slides up after about 750 hours of use to see if I have any IR. I expected to at least see some minor IR but the fact is that I have ZERO IR! If you are worried about IR, stop. Follow my instructions and advice and it will be a non-issue.And btw, my picture quality has steadily improved over the entire 700+ hours it has been running. What a gem.
99 of 108 people found the following review helpful.
By Brandon
Pilot freight services delivered my unit May 8th, 3-days sooner than advertised. While I was apprehensive about set-up, an HDMI (not included) and power cord were all that was needed to start watching programs through my receiver. I'm a big guy, so hefting the TV onto its base wasn't such an ordeal, but I will note that most people will need help with this chore. I opted not to put it on the wall due to its weight and my living room's space restrictions (not to mention the extra price/non-availability of a wall bracket). The pedestal required a Philips screwdriver to construct and does not swivel in the slightest. Upgrading to 65-inches, I don't miss that feature.The viewing experience is as advertised. Out of the box, the VT50 is set very dark. Unless the unit will be placed in a home theater, you will need to use a custom or the "THX Bright Room" setting. At any setting, however, you will note the incredible degree to which blacks are displayed. I tested some modifications while watching a MLB game broadcast in HD. Its difficult to describe the "new" shades of black and grey that I could discern on this set, but I can say that I never saw them before. Every detail that I thought of or tried to see was simply: there. The one sheet of glass addition is gorgeous, though when the TV is on it kind of disappears. Simply put, I've never seen a better looking plasma display.VIERA functionality is running wirelessly and almost seamlessly through my Netgear N900. Every app I've tried (I'm not a subscriber to anything like Netflix, so I don't know how well pay apps function) loads quickly. The on board browser is ever so slightly slower than one on a dated laptop I've got, but every web-page loaded without issue. I found streaming videos from a networked PC not to work unless I ran them from a my X-box 360. I can only assume that this is a codec issue.The speakers are "Meh". At this level of monitor, you better already have standalone speakers running through an amp or your missing out. Form factor-wise, the included speakers and woofer melt into the VT50's body. Frankly, I wouldn't have known they were there had I not read the specs. Additionally, and this probably can be attributed to my Pioneer receiver or an HDMI bug, you cannot listen to the set's speakers and your externals at the same time.The touch-remote is a nice addition, but responsiveness and fine movement leave a little to be desired. It's not a laptop/ipad... er, pad. I've got an android smart phone that quickly synched with the VT50 and functions better during internet browsing. Media transfer from the TV to the phone was a button click away, however, going the other way around has escaped me for the moment. Attempts to "flick" a pic or .mov from my phone all end in a triangle inset with an "!" on the TV. There's probably a work around, but I'm a little disappointed it didn't work out of the box.On the disappointment front, I feel obligated to express mine at the lack of 3D glasses included at purchase. I knew that going in, but never the less, it still stings not to have the ability to test such a significant function of the VT50. At around $3,800 I think I've earned at least one pair. Additionally, don't let some idiot at your local big-box store attempt to sell you last years glasses (not that this happened to me, even though it did). The VT30 & VT50 are incompatible.Finally, I live in Colorado and my front door opens at 6,170 feet-ish. My previous plasma was built in 2003 and did not like this altitude. It ran hot and buzzed incessantly. 15-min of use and you can feel the heat escaping the top of the VT50's rear vents with a wave of your hand. It doesn't heat my living room after being on for an hour or buzz at all like my previous set, but I'll be sure to update this review if anything changes. Panasonic's own tech support sent me an email before I purchased it, ensuring me the all their plasmas were rated to 8,000ft, and a local specialist told me that I'd be safe up to 11,000ft.To be clear: I took a star off my review due to the lack of included glasses at this price. It's like buying a pick-up truck and being told that the lever/toggle switch for your included 4-wheel drive is an extra. Bad marketing Panasonic, bad. Other than that, and the odd Android functionality, I cannot recommend this Plasma any more than if I were to post a picture of me hugging it. The P65VT50 is truly fantastic. While I cannot speak for a comparison between this set an a comparable LED, I would figure the LED to be brighter. But if you do most of your TV watching at night, as I do, I'd stick with the Plasma.
57 of 64 people found the following review helpful.
By jordan
My VT50 arrived a little over two weeks ago and I feel that I'm now familiar enough with it to write a review. This review is for the 55" model.The VT50 replaced my 50" G-Series Panasonic plasma from 2010. While I liked it just fine, it was a tiny bit too small, had a bezel that got uglier over time, and suffered from floating blacks, which was very annoying since my primary use of the display is watching Blu-Ray content in the dark. I had been anxiously awaiting the release of the VT50 - so much so, that I ordered one without seeing it first, reasoning to myself that if I didn't like it, then I wouldn't be satisfied with any TV this year.The VT50 arrived. Once unpacked and set up, I marveled at the TV before I even turned it on. Was this TV really made by Panasonic, the company known for being helplessly behind the competition is terms of industrial design? The svelte single sheet of glass design is beautiful. The VT50 takes the design introduced with last year's clunky VT30 and trims it down to perfection. The bezel is much smaller than Samsung's E7/8000 and much more attractive in my opinion. It features a nice silver trim around the edges and a classy stand with a silver/black gradient. I can see how the silver edge might be a problem in a very bright room, but I really like it.But design is secondary, isn't it? Picture quality is why anyone buys a flagship model and the VT50 more than delivers. Panasonic has made major improvements over 2011 models, with a new driving method, redesigned panel, and improved filter. Once initial set-up is done, the TV defaults to standard mode, which looks awful - dull and lifeless with egregious line bleed. Thankfully there's an easy fix - this a THX certified display, and new for 2012 Panasonic includes two separate THX modes for 2D viewing - THX Cinema and THX Bright Room. These modes look great out of the box. THX Cinema is what I mainly watch with, although I sometimes use Bright Room mode, albeit with contrast scaled back to 80. Compared to the THX mode on my last Panasonic, the mode here is much improved and lacks the greenish push that I noticed before. I think rather than try to eyeball it, since I'm not a calibrator, I'm going to leave it in THX mode sans any adjustment and pay someone to calibrate it later this year. Compressed satellite HD actually looks surprisingly great, image processing is top notch here and is good at masking artifacts from less-than-stellar feeds. Definitely better than my old Panny. The picture also has a characteristic that is hard to describe - perhaps "smoother" is the word I'm looking for here; it just looks incredibly natural and effortless in subtle color transitions and gradients. I suppose that can be attributed to Panasonic's claim of improved shades of gradation.The real test, however, was when I turned off the lights and fired up the Blu-Ray player. The home menu on my Sony Blu-Ray player is a light gray, which is great for testing panels for flaws in uniformity. Knowing problems with banding, blobbing, and splotching Panasonic had with last year's model, I nervously inspected every part of the panel. No anomalies to be found, whew. I pressed play and ended up sampling a variety of content, and the VT muscled through all of it with incredible prowess. The black level here is impressive - I've seen a VT30 in the dark and this rightfully trounces it. I've also seen an E8000 in the dark and it can't get quite as dark as the VT. Letterbox bars blend into the bezel. Thanks to the deep, dark blacks the VT50 is blessed with incredible contrast. Images have an abundance of pop and lifelike depth, and recall the tangible realism produced by later-generation Pioneer plasma panels. Motion is natural, cinematic, and artifact-free when the 4:4 pulldown 96Hz mode is engaged. I do not notice any flicker either. It should also be noted that I have watched enough on it to verify that the image is rock-solid - no floating blacks, fluctuating brightness, no distractions. Just a beautifully rendered, film-like image that pulls you in.3D performance: Using THX Cinema 3D mode, the 3D image looks great. This is the first 3D TV I've owned but I've seen plenty of 3D on other flat panels and some projectors. 96Hz is unavailable here. Great sense of depth and minimal crosstalk, although I do notice some in higher contrast scenes. This can be somewhat remedied by switching from 60 to 48Hz mode, but it introduces some annoying flicker. I tested using Blu-Ray content like Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D, Hugo, Tron:Legacy, Arabia 3D, and the Adventures of Tintin 3D. 2D>3D conversion is still unimpressive, even after making 3D adjustments, but I suppose it's not too bad considering the display is doing the conversion on the fly. Not a big deal. Please note that Panasonic does not include glasses in the box for North American sets this year. Yeah, it's a bummer, but the good news is that this year Samsung's cheap SSG-4100 glasses are fully operational with the VT50. I own a pair and a pair of the official Panasonic-made TY-ER3D4MU glasses, and performance is identical, although I find the Panasonic glasses have bigger lenses and are more comfortable.One thing I did not test much is the Viera Connect platform. I poked around a bit, and it seems largely identical to the interface on my BDT310 Blu-Ray player but with the addition of the web browser. Since the VT50 has a dual-core processor it is quite a bit snappier loading apps and navigating between them, however. Panasonic includes a touchpad remote to make web browsing easier but I found it a bit awkward to use, and while the web browser is decent, I don't see myself ever using it. I don't want to browse the web on my TV, but for those that do, it's not bad.So while I generally try to shy away from giving products five-star reviews, I have a hard time finding anything bad to say about the VT50. The only thing I can really knock it for is the anti-glare filter - while it's incredibly effective, it does compromise the vertical viewing angle of the TV. I'm assuming it functions by absorbing ambient light from above and below the panel and rejecting it, resulting in a darkened image from above or below. The horizontal viewing angle is not compromised, so I certainly don't think it's worth taking a point away, especially considering that neither I nor anybody I know watches TV sitting below the screen or standing above it.All told, the VT50 is, simply put, the best plasma Panasonic has ever made, and represents more than a minor improvement over the VT30. Panasonic has set the bar not only for themselves, but has left Samsung in the dust this year. While Panasonic focused on drastically improving image quality this year, Samsung seems content with making minor improvements while adding a camera and frustratingly stupid gesture control to their plasmas. Highly recommended!
This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Price comparisons Of Panasonic VIERA TC-L55DT50 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Full HD IPS LED-LCD TV
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #4185 in Consumer Electronics
- Size: 55-Inch
- Brand: Panasonic
- Model: TC-L55DT50
- Format: CD-ROM
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 28.60" h x
1.10" w x
48.70" l,
33.10 pounds
- Display size: 54.6
Features
- Full HD 3D
- IPS LED Panel
- Vera Connect with Built-in Wi-Fi and Web Browser
- Thin LED Design: TV without stand (Width x Height x Depth): 48.7-Inch x 28.6-Inch x 1.1-Inch, TV with stand (Width x Height x Depth): 48.7-Inch x 30.5-Inch x 11.5-Inch
- The 60Hz (110-120V 60Hz) on the back of the set only specifies the electrical system it is designed to be plugged into.
Panasonic VIERA TC-L55DT50 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Full HD IPS LED-LCD TV
Product Description
VIERA Connect IPTV - More Fun Comes Via a Cloud Service VIERA Connect is a cloud service that provides apps in categories like video and music, social networking, games, news and lifestyle, sports, health and fitness. Learn more about the world of Smart VIERA and VIERA Connect here. Enhance your TV Experience with Popular AppsPopular apps on VIERA Connect include Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Facebook, Twitter, Wall Street Journal, and huluplus, all optimized for the best user experience. You can have an unlimited number of apps installed because those apps are stored in the cloud, rather than in the TV memory itself.Learn more about "smart" TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at Amazon's Smart TV Center.Clicker - Video on Demand Cross SearchingFind your favorite movies and video content easily with one-step searching, which allows you to cross search from multiple VOD services. For ease-of-use, use the quick keyword input on VIERA Connect to help retrieve your desired content faster. Customize your screen by grouping commonly used apps and displaying them on the screen for easier use.VIERA Remote App Support The VIERA remote app lets you use a smartphone or tablet device as a remote control. Tap and flick-based commands are intuitive. Use your smartphone as a gamepad for VIERA Connect game applications or your tablet as a touch pad to control what you do on the TV screen. Display the same web pages on both your VIERA screen and your smartphone with a simple flick. Simply "swipe" and share your favorite photos, music, and movies from your smartphone to your VIERA TV anytime.   Communicate with Family and FriendsThe social networking TV app allows you to access social network sites and communicate with your loved ones while watching TV. Watch live sports games while upping the excitement by chatting with your friends as the game unfolds. Record an original message and set it as your answering voice message. Callers can record messages onto an SD Card (min. 512MB required), while you are away. *Skype camera not included with TV purchaseBeautiful Images from Anywhere - Wide Viewing Angle The IPS LED Clear Panel Pro panel delivers a wide 178° viewing angle, you see clear, vibrant images from every seat in the room. The backlight features a wide transmission aperture that enhances contrast between light and dark and improves response to provide smoother motion images. Share Content on the Large Screen with 2D-3D ConversionUnique Panasonic technology converts 2D images into high-quality 3D in real-time. The 3D effect is natural and realistic. Enjoy Blu-ray movies, DVD movies and even ordinary TV broadcasts in 3D. The Super Resolution function allows images that were converted from 2D to 3D to be displayed in sharp, clear 3D images. Learn more about Panasonic's true-to-life Full HD 3D technology here. Learn more about 3D, how it works, and exactly what you'll need to enjoy 3D at home at our 3D Center.Expressive, Lifelike Colors and Beautifully Reproduced Crisp LinesDiagonal lines and edges are detected with high precision for all types of images, and optimal correction is applied to achieve beautiful, noise-free lines. People's faces are detected and skin tones are corrected to ensure soft, natural complexions.The Perfect Smart TV Experience: A Suite of TechnologiesDLNA/Built-in Wi-Fi The DT50 series has DLNA compatibility and built-in Wi-Fi which gives you even more layout flexibility.IPS LED Panel and 1920 Backlight ScanningSuper high speed 1920 backlight scanning offers higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes, reduction of afterglow, and a smooth, crisp image. Sports scenes, action scenes and other fast-motion images are crisp and clear.  3D 24p Cinema Smoother VIERA gives you naturally flowing 24p images with the look and tonal characteristics of film, and familiar TV-like quality. Panasonic's advanced source analysis and frame generation deliver smooth, natural, and lifelike images.Operate Multiple Systems with Just One Remote Control through VIERA LinkThe DT50 features VIERA Link, a technology that allows a consumer to operate all VIERA Link compatible AV components using only the TV’S remote control. Just point the VIERA remote at your TV, and the signal will travel over the HDMI wires to the right piece of equipment, like your Panasonic Blu-ray or DVD player or Home Cinema Surround System.Environmentally FriendlyThe new and improved high efficient LED/LCD panels reduce targeted power consumption up to 25% over the 2011 models. The DT50 series is Energy Star certified and has a long-life panel. |
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
76 of 85 people found the following review helpful.
By Watchman
This TV is awesome. Great picture and apps. Hooked to 3d Panasonic Blu Ray player and picture phenomenal. One caveat, the bluetooth for the 3d glasses does not work. Panasonic support has been great working with me in trouble shooting this problem. Panasonic made all arrangements for Tech to come and repair. Will update once fix is complete. UPDATE: Main board was replaced and bluetooth is working now. It was not as bad as it sounds, the Tech brought the right part with him and it took about 30 minutes. I took off 1 star due to the problem but would not hesitate to buy another one of these TVs. I've been waiting for several months for Panasonic to put their 2012 lineup on the market and I'm glad I waited. I have 2 other Panny's and the picture is great on all, but especially this one. Almost forgot, the 3D is spectacular on this TV especially with 3d movies. The 2D to 3D is ok but a little hard on my eyes.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful.
By Ananth
I got my 47" TV yesterday. On seeing the cyber monday deal, I was also in two minds given Cnet's scathing review. The TV seemed very good on paper. However, I wanted to get more opinions, and noticed that even though many others had mentioned the contrast issue and black levels, the TV was rated very well. Just as some one else mentioned in a recent review, the avforums review seemed very balanced and comprehensive. After that, I decided to just try it out.I did have some delivery woes with UPS, and their not-so-careful handling of my package right in front of my very eyes! But the TV is great. I hooked it up last night and it looks great! The design is very sleek, the panel is very glossy, and the images are very good. I spent some time looking at the various picture options, and the sliders for contrast, brightness, sharpness, backlight control. Out of the box the colours were great, but with the customization, they were brilliant. Even the black levels are quite good.Setting up the internet had one small hitch. The TV was not getting an ip address from my router automatically. I manually set it up, and it was online in a flash. I also downloaded the iPad app for the viera remote, and it is really handy. Particularly to type stuff on the iPad and send it to the browser on the TV!Played some HD content on the youtube app as well as the youtube site on the browser. Both worked great. Setting up the amazon instant video account was a flash as well.Tried HD channels like AnimalPlanet, NBC, Nat Geo etc, and the rendering of the closeups, the crispness of the images was very good. Dark scenes had excellent blacks as well. The lighting in my living room is average - low light.I am yet to try 3D and full HD DVDs. Will update if I find anything interesting.The one thing I have noticed though is that the backlight on the right end of the panel seems a bit "glowy" compared to the rest of the panel, when nothing is on. I reckon it may just be something that may go away once the TV has run-in a little bit. However, it has not affected the images as far as I can tell.Overall, am quite glad I did not listen to CNet this time around.
67 of 81 people found the following review helpful.
By MAX SMART
I purchased this TV last week, the design caught my eye, I really like the style of this TV. The colors and brigtness is really good compared to my previous panasonic plasma, however it has several flaws:Cons/flaws:- TV shows yellow hot spots on the bottom of the TV, I guess they made it to slim and thin, so the backlight LED's leak- Black levels are not very good, TV shows dark grey in black scenes, should be inky black- TV has flash light effect, and severe lighting issues, especially when viewing at night or on a dark screen- TV has a large white cloud hot spot on the right/bottom corner, not severe but totally annoying- TV developed a blue/yellow line in the middle of the screen, which changes colors from time to time, it's blue right now and creates a thin blue line on the screen. I contacted Panasonic support and they have a technician coming next Friday to try to fix it. I'm thinking the display is bad.Pros:- Great Desgin, thin bezel and only weighs about 28 lbs- Color accuracy and picture clearity are greatI really like the design and the color and clarity of the TV, so I will be giving Panasonic a chance to fix the issues with the blue line on the screen and the yellow hot spot leaks, before I decide to return the TV, since I got such a great deal for the TV. I purchased for $800.00, it's definitely worth it without the problems, but it is definitely not worth $1,300 dollars. No way.
This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Low Cost Samsung LN22A650 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #50854 in Home Theater
- Color: Black
- Brand: Samsung
- Model: LN-22A650
- Released on: 2008-05-18
- Dimensions: 15.90" h x
22.20" w x
3.10" l,
12.80 pounds
- Native resolution: 1024 x 768
- Display size: 22
Features
- Touch of Color Bezel
- 720p HD Resolution, 3,000:1 contrast ratio & fast 8ms response time
- 1 HDMI Input, 1 Component Input, 1 S-video, 1 PC input
- 3W x 2 Audio Output
- Headphone Jack
Samsung LN22A650 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
Product Description
Add an extraordinary touch of class and beauty to your HDTV with our unique Touch of Color(TM) feature. The LN22A650 also features high-definition picture quality so you see more details, heightened clarity and brilliant color. Plus, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio delivers incredibly sharp images in very dark or light scenes. You'll never look at your TV the same way again.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful.
By John N. Schear
I applaude the first evaluator for his detailed comments. He is accurate in his description and his accolades fully accentuate the quality of this little gem. At 22" and 720p you could not ask for more other than a slightly larger screen at a slightly larger price. When I compare this picture with the same model 40" there is no difference other than the size. I do not know the pixel pitch of either TV; however, the normal sighted viewer cannot tell any difference in picture quality even though the 40" is 1080p vs 720p. This TV makes the perfect companion for working on a computer and viewing the TV next to it. Any TV can be torn to pieces for this reason and that but for the money and size this is going to be hard to beat. One item that I might find fault with is the potential cost imputed in the TV for the Touch of Color. That is a waste of money for me and could be omitted in other models if the cost of the addition is eliminated as well. Unlike the 40", I had little or no problem calibrating this 22" even though the controls almost mirror each other.My final: enjoy; I am.added 9-22-08: I neglected to include an important element of this purchase. Amazon sold the TV and I am overwhelmed by their attention to details. Every part of the transaction went perfectly from placing the order on 8-10 and delivery a few days later using free shipping. The same TV at big box is 20% to 25% more and you pay taxes and cost of visiting. Amazon continues to give the best bang for the buck.
45 of 50 people found the following review helpful.
By David Noller
We bought this TV for our master bedroom, to replace a 20" Panasonic standard TV. This is our first LCD TV and also our first HDTV, so this is quite an adjustment for us. The first problem we ran into is what to do with the DVR and the cable box since we had those on top of our old TV and there was no good place to put them with the LCD on a stand (on our dresser). This was solved when we found a stand at Staples that wrapped around the cable box and supported the DVR (upon which we have the TV sitting, it is pretty light ...).We have the TV hooked up with a splitter such that we have a cable from the wall that comes directly in, and another one that comes in via the cable box with S-Video. I was kind of disappointed when I first looked at a regular channel coming in over the S-Video as it really looked no better than the Panasonic. On top of that, putting the TV in WIDE mode to fill the screen distorts the picture slightly.To my surprise, I discovered that he best signal was actually from the cable coming directly from the wall. In this configuration, similar to another reviewer, I was able to pick up DTV and HD channels too, although it is somewhat difficult to tell what is where since there is no rhyme or reason to the organization of the channels before the cable box sorts it out. Once I made my own list of channels, however, I had a nice assortment of great looking HDTV channels and the picture looks fantastic for these, especially after some tuning (I jacked up the backlight and lowered the brightness and that did it).I saw a number of reviews of the predecessor of this TV (the 450) that complained about the sound. To me, at least, the sound on this TV is just fine and I like the surround sound.The TV is very nice looking - I was expecting the screen to be glossy based on what I had read but it is not, it is a matte finish. The frame around the screen (with the touch of color) is very glossy and the red color is very subtle, unlike the photos Amazon is displaying. The controls on the right side of the TV are very hard to see, but I don't expect to use them anyway so I am glad they are not that visible as it would detract from the look of the TV otherwise. The base of the TV is much wider than the one shown in the Amazon picture - I'd say it is about 12 inches wide or so. That is good too though, in my view, as it distributes the weight across a larger area if you want to put it on top of something like a DVR like I did.The TV seems too take a bit of time to come on, I have not timed it, but maybe 5 seconds or so. One other small quibble is the fact that the stand is not adjustable so you cannot tilt the screen forward or backwards. We have it on a dresser facing our bed, so the angle is just about perfect when we are in bed, so this is not an issue for us, but it could be in other configurations.As to size, I had trouble deciding between a 19" and 22" version of this TV, since I was replacing the 20" Panasonic. We are probably 10 ft away from the TV when we are looking at it in our bedroom and the 20" Panasonic was just the right size. After measuring screens, I concluded that the 19" version of this TV was the same width screen as my Panasonic, but due to the widescreen aspect ratio, was about 2" shorter top to bottom, so a lot less viewing area. Because of that, I went with the 22" Samsung and I am glad I did. The 19" would have seemed too small compared to what we replaced.One other point on the Series 6 - I think the higher contrast ratio and resolution of this TV makes a big difference in the picture. If you have a chance, go to Best Buy or another store and look at a series 6 screen (LN22A650 and LN19A650 are both series 6)compared to a 450 TV of the same size. I noticed that the series 6 was much brighter and crisper and had much truer tones on skin, so that, combined with the nice look of the TV, convinced me that it was worth the extra money.Finally, it makes a very cool noise when it turns on and off! :)
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
By DBroncos 4 Life
UPDATE 09-25-2008:I still like this little LCD...BUT the off-angle viewing, mostly from below, is quite bad. I know LCDs are notorious for this, but I have a 32" Sammy LCD that is 2 years old and it doesn't look at all as bad as this one. In other words, I moved this LCD from my office to on top of a tall dresser and I view it from my bed (when laying down), it is a good 4 or 5 feet below the TV and the screen is very dark. Sometimes unwatchable during dark scenes. My fix will be to buy a mount that will allow me to tilt the LCD down. That will fix the problem.Right and left viewing angles are fine though. Just from below it is horrendous. Just wanted to add that. It's not a deal breaker or anything. Just something to consider. Still a great product from Samusung.I have had this 720p LCD for about a week now and these are my initial impressions.Pros:- Excellent picture via Cox cable HD channels- SD video is actually pretty good- computer hook-up via HDMI is impressive (Good second monitor for laptops)- picture via Panasonic upconverting DVD is superbCons:- only one HDMI and one component connectionNeither:- Sound is average, but this TV is only 22"It is for a small bedroom, office, or kitchen. Maybe as a computer monitor or to play PS3/Xbox while watching TV.Overall I like it for a HDTV in my office and as a second monitor for my Toshiba laptop.As far as settings, I like "Standard" with the backlight at 8 and cool2. The rest of the settings can be adjusted (contrast, sharpness, color, etc,) but I like the default with only the above changes.For DVD, I recommend "Movie" mode and warm2(default).Nice job once again SAMSUNG. Quality product at a fair price.Oh and I love you Amazon even though I am upset about you getting rid of the POPG.Please post any questions about this model under comments and I will check back and answer best I can
This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Who Sells Philips 32PFL5332D/37 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #146623 in Home Theater
- Color: Black
- Brand: Philips
- Model: 32PFL5332D/37
- Released on: 2007-04-01
- Dimensions: 31.60" h x
21.50" w x
4.60" l,
46.20 pounds
- Native resolution: 1366 x 768
- Display size: 37
Features
- 32" LCD with ATSC/Qam integrated tuner, swivel stand
- Pixel Plus 3 HD to vivid high resolution picture performance
- 1366 x 768p resolultion
- Dual HDMI input and also CVI and S-Video inputs
- USB connect to play music files or digital pictures
Philips 32PFL5332D/37 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV
Product Description
Philips 32" LCD, Widscreen HDTV, Pixel Plus 3 HD for vivid HD resolution, Built in ATSC/Qam tuner, 1366 x 768p resolution, Virtual Dobly Surround Sound for theater like sound experience, Swivel stand, USB connect for easy multi-media playing, 2xHDMI, CVI and S-Video inputs.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
56 of 56 people found the following review helpful.
By J. M. Lin
It cost me around CAN$950 at BestBuy. After one month I am still very happy with my decision. Before the purchase, I spent long time in the store comparing this with Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, and Westinghouse 32"s. The conclusion is that Philips delivers the most natural picture (thank for the LG panel). Sony is quite good in every aspect but pricy. Toshiba is generally okay except the picture looked really 2-D (fake), IMHO. 1080p from Sharp is nice, but I'm afraid it's an overkill for the 32" level (perhaps even for a 37"). Westinghouse offers a good price/performance ratio, but I would feel like buying extra protection after knowing the warranty service issues from the company.When spending money on a TV, we look at two things - performance and warranty. As for performance, an LCD TV mainly depends on the panel and the image processor. Those "resolution", "response time", "contrast ratio", "viewing angle" etc are decided by the panel itself. There are other inborn feature by a panel but let's not get too technical. Nowadays technology on making 32" panels has become mature, so in most cases what makes one outstanding is the image processor. This is something you need to spend time in a store to feel. Both TVs from Philips & LG use the same LG made panel yet a difference can easily be seen, because Philips uses Pixel Plus.An HDTV has high resolution capability, but currently only few signal source are in 1080. Digital signal from cable box, DVD player via component, or Wii etc normally has lower resolution than the HDTV. When display these on a 1366 x 768 HDTV, more noise arises. This is when Pixel Plus enters. From the demo you can see the Pixel Plus technology does cancel noise and enhance colour contrast yet successfully maintain the nature of the image. Every company has their unique way of doing this. I personally believe Pixel Plus is among the tops.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
By M. R. Rizzo
I picked the TV on sale at Best Buy, for the size and contrast ratio (3200-1)plus a DTV tuner its very good buy and I paid about $90 less than the price above at the time if this review. I use it mainly to play Xbox 360 games on but it also shows DVDs and other HD media very well. My only gripe is that the remote is very basic but does the job however I also own a Philips DVD player and the remotes conflict a little. A nice feature is the USB connection you can plug ina memory stick and view media off it or use it to update the TVs software.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
By Christoffer Riis Jensen
So there I was. I had finally saved up to go get a LCD TV - but which one should I buy. I knew I was going for 32" to 37" because any bigger would be too big for my livingroom. I also knew that Samsung makes the best LCD TV but at a premium. On the shelf infront of me stood a 32" Phillips.Phillips used to be the market leader in TV's so I decided to go for it.I HAVE NOT BEEN DISAPPOINTED! The picture is nice and crisp (Supports up to 1080), sure there is some issues with shades of black - but that is the case for all LCD's. If you want bang for your buck - this is the way to go! Put it to you this way - the boys have already seen it and SUPERBOWL is at my place!!!!
This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Compare Prices LG 42PJ350 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #32831 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Titan
- Brand: LG
- Model: 42PJ350
- Released on: 2010-03-04
- Dimensions: 24.30" h x
38.90" w x
2.20" l,
44.10 pounds
- Networking: HDMI
- Display size: 42
Features
- 600Hz Sub Field Driving
- High Definition Resolution
- 3M:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- TruSlim Frame
- Picture Wizard II
LG 42PJ350 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
Product Description
Get beautiful HD and the superior plasma contrast you're looking for with the PJ350. If you think plasma means a bulky frame or power inefficiency, take a second look with the PJ350. It has a TruSlim Frame that makes for a sleek design and its Intelligent Sensor technology and Smart Energy Savings makes sure it's using only the energy it needs.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
120 of 120 people found the following review helpful.
By StevenJ
Let me start by saying that I am not a videophile, but when it comes to purchasing a television I can be very picky. I went through the whole LCD vs. Plasma dilemma 3 years ago when I bought my Samsung 5084 (one of the best non-Pioneer plasmas at the time). That said, I was ready to supplement that unit this year with a 'smaller' LCD for the bedroom (didn't want to sweat IR, horizontal line bleed, etc). Needless to say, LCD options in the 'budget' range lack features that alleviate some of their drawbacks, forcing you to suffer through motion blur, clouding, and terrible black levels if you choose a set for ~$800).Enter the 42" plasmas. For the sake of comparison, I decided to investigate the plasma alternative once again. This essentially brought me to the Samsung C450 due to my positive experience with the 5084 and glowing reviews for the C450. Unfortunately, users reported an audible buzzing noise from the Samsung (a noise I know full well from the 5084 and did not want to deal with on a bedroom set).Enter the PJ350. I only became aware of this set after seeing it next to the Samsung at the store. From a design perspective, it tops the Samsung with an ultra thin bezel, very thin chassis, and no 'touch of red'. Furthermore, I heard no buzzing from the LG floor model, while the Samsung sounded like someone was digging honey out of a beehive. Since it is a brand new model I had no reviews to rely on, but I took the plunge.Picture quality from this unit is superb for any sub-$1k TV, much less one at this price point. This 720p set rivals my 1080p plasma in most respects, most notably black levels. I have only had it for a few days now, but setting the TV on 'cinema' mode at 70 contrast and 50 brightness is really impressive (I recommend switching those two numbers for several weeks to break in the unit). If you place your head behind the unit, you can hear the typical plasma 'buzz', but this is completely inaudible at any reasonable viewing distance. While this goes without saying, all the benefits of plasma are apparent with this TV: cinematic quality motion (none of that chincy 120hz movement), 24p bluray playback, consistent backlighting, etc. I have noticed a tiny amount of false contouring, but less than my Samsung - hardly an annoyance. OTA video quality is, of course, superb. The reviewer who stated that colors are not as vivid clearly didn't recognize that picture settings are independently adjustable for each input. This TV does offer a settings wizard to help set the picture based on your unit and environment, but I prefer manual adjustment to suit my personal tastes.If you're worried about not having 1080p, don't be. At this size, you will not detect a difference anywhere outside 4' from the unit. The screen is quite reflective, but if glare is your primary concern then you surely can settle for the inferior picture quality of a cheap LCD. While I have limited experience with my LG, I can honestly say that I am very pleased thus far.
105 of 107 people found the following review helpful.
By John P. Freeman
Well, after suffering long enough with my fiance's 30" Philips tube set, I took the plunge and purchased the 42pj350. Let me preface this entire review by giving a little background here. I have worked for both Ultimate Electronics and American TV for a total of 4 years in the past and spend literally hundreds of hours looking at pictures on TV screens, adjusting them, using AVIA discs, etc... so I have a relatively solid base for judging picture quality here. I've loved Pioneer Elite projection sets and plasmas and sold many projection Mitsubishi sets on the basis of quality of the picture.So...I set the set home and unbox it. Seven screws later, It's on the swiveling stand (yes, swivel stand on a $600 TV) and has taken the place of the bain of my television existence - the 30" tube. The only source I immediately have to try the set on is the composite Dish Network standard def feed, which really bummed me out. But, color me surprised when the channels, for the most part, look quite good from our 9' seating distance. Honestly, the little LG processes standard definition quite ok. After some quick picture adjustments (which I will talk about later), I start to surf around to find stuff to watch. NFL network has a game on - perfect for checking motion processing of a crappy 480i feed. Flawless. It looked damn good. I put the set in cinema zoom 1 (my fiance has had her old set in the same type of stretch/zoom ratio on her other set for years on standard def) and the picture quality is again more than passable for the signal. The deep blacks (compared to LCD sets I have owned) really allow the other colors on screen to pop nicely, even with contrast and color turned down. So far, standard def is a win.Next night, it's time for some blu-ray lovin'. I drag my HTPC out from the bedroom and plug the HDMI in...presto...we've got an actually very readable desktop in front of us. I didn't even set the resolution to the native of the panel, I left it at the native for my 32" LCD in the bedroom and it was amazingly clear. The blu ray du jour of the evening is the biggest movie ever - the recently released Avatar. I get a warning about needing to update my player, which sucks because I don't have a network drop in the living room, but I decide to press on and take a chance. Holy hell..the 3 minutes of the movie that played looked fantastic. Compared to the 32" Olevia we have been watching movies on in the bedroom, this is a different world. Rich colors, sharp detail, noise free playback (no crawling dots like I have experienced on fairly recent Panasonic and Samsung plasmas) that looked amazing at our seating distance. After she is in bed, I break out the Xbox 360. Forza 3, Grid, and Left 4 Dead all look better than they ever have in this house. The kids have a 32" Vizio 1080p set in their room that we normally play on, but again, the deep black of plasma technology just pops the other colors off the screen. I felt like I needed to wipe the red from one of the Ferraris off of the screen because it just looked that wet. So far, so good with hi-def signals.We spent much of Sunday (today) with cheezy sci-fi moves on SyFy network playing. My first foray into daytime viewing. I can't really complain. Yes, it is a giant piece of glass and does reflect things. News flash...tube tvs that we have been watching for 50 years are glass, too. We have a window to the left of the television and it wasn't a distraction at all. On a black screen, yes, you can see reflections. I can't see them as a distraction to most normal viewers. Our viewing is predominately night-time, but I will not limit daytime viewing because of a little reflection between commercials. It certainly is less distraction than the double reflections of my parents' 50" Panasonic with it's supposed AR coating. Reflections on that set turn into prismatic star shapes that apparently reflect off of 2 pieces of glass on the front of the set. After dinner, I drag the antenna out of the bedroom and rig it up for the misses to watch Desperate Housewives. Over the air HD looks stunning. It's truly amazing what 720p looks like on a 720p set. Yes, the native broadcast signal on ABC is 720p and it looks very, very good. I see no reason to spend twice the money at this screen size for 1080p and it's a damn shame that retailers are selling the 'you just HAVE to have 1080p' bill of goods to so many consumers when they would be blown away by the little LG that could. I'm a tough customer and have the box in the other room in case this set was going to perform like a $500 42" tv. It absolutely did not.As far as picture adjustments go, it didn't take long to see what looked good, but I will AVIA this thing this week. I used Cinema as the starting point for out-of-the-box adjustments. Contrast is around 75, Brightness 50, sharpness turned way down at 30. I also set the color temp slightly cool - it looks good there with the Color Gamut set to Wide. Speaking of color..if you set the gamut to wide - turn the color itself down to compensate. I've got the dynamic contrast on low right now and it seems to work well. Normally, I would shut every picture feature off and go from there, but with the black level setting at dark, the low setting is in no way heavy handed in crushing shadow detail from what I can see so far. I turned the edge enhancement off, the dynamic color off (stange enough, this feature actually reduced saturation when turned on???) and the gamma is set at medium right now. True, there are much more detailed settings in the ISF modes, but I've got nothing but time to mess with them and the picture so far is quite good. Colors come off as damn accurate and that plasma black sets them off.Inputs on the set are plentiful with no less than 5 HD inputs (3 HDMI, 2 component), an RGB 15 pin PC input, and composite for legacy devices. The set does lack S-video inputs or analog audio output - 2 things that can be forgiven for an entry level set like this one. Plasma buzz? Nope. Just a slight high-pitch noise that is less noticeable than what the CRT it replaced emitted. Image retention? Have not seen this happen yet. My parents also have a 50" Samsung (2008 model) and the IR is just unforgivable. 20 seconds in the DirecTV menu shouldn't leave an image up for 3 minutes after. I have been looking for it and didn't even see any after my unsuspecting fiance paused the DVR for something like 20 minutes before I woke up the other morning. The remote control and menus are both well laid out and intuitive. The remote is light years ahead of what Panasonic is sending out with their televisions. I swear they are off the same assembly line as their tube tv remotes from 10 years ago, which sucked big time, too.Honestly, I'm a critical guy with this kind of stuff and expected much less from this panel. I used to run movie theaters in my younger years and have the consumer electronics background to boot. That is a perfect storm of criticism for almost any television that I watch. For a $540 street product (hell, even Sears is pushing this thing for about that price at brick and mortar) I can wholeheartedly recommend it at this screen size. Black levels are quite good, colors bright and accurate, and no screen door effect to speak of outside of 3 feet.For those seeking a bargain in entry level plasma land - look no further.Update 7/20:After having the set for a couple months now, and upgrading my Dish Network to HD, I have a more in-depth experience with it. I am still very, very impressed. Sure, the black levels may not be Pioneer Kuro dark, but still leagues ahead of a standard LCD panel. Color reproduction is now spot-on after a couple weeks.It's difficult to really convey how much better colors look on this set than the LCDs in the house. The only word that I can summon is 'glow.' The plasma panel's colors glow...they've got some luminance off the surface of the screen, whereas the LCD sets come across as less natural in color fidelity. This can be attributed to the fact that plasma panels produce their pictures using phosphor (like CRT sets did) to produce the light. LCDs use flourescent lighting behind the panel to do the same. The colors jump off the screen. Reds, blues, and greens just glow with realism.This tv has really shaken my belief that 1080p is a must. My 9 foot viewing distance provides an excellent experience. Movies, TV shows, sports...they have all passed with flying colors. I would absolutely purchase this set again.For those who care, LG produces a 'Zenith' branded version of this and the 50" model for Sears. The sets are identical, sans a couple video settings, the usb port, and a less full-featured remote. Generally, they retail for roughly $100 less than their LG counterparts. LG bought the Zenith brand name many years ago and break it out every once in a while to release more basic versions of their sets. I've examined them in a couple Sears stores and the picture performance is just as good as mine, almost 100% identical menus, and even has the swivel base.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
By Joey in RaChaCha
Strengths: Many different inputs (including VGA), easy-to-use menus, good remote, thin design, very sleek looks.Weaknesses: No native 1080p HD resolution (but it will display 1080p content as either 1080i or 720p), and no S-Video input.Have owned this unit for 3 weeks and I love it!! Granted it is my first flat panel HD-TV, but LG makes good TVs and the price was very affordable. The picture quality is great, and that's what we are all looking for, right? There are plenty of every type of input (except S-Video), and even SD-TV content looks great from any source or input. Sound quality is very acceptable from built-in speakers, although I have a 5.1 surround receiver setup also. I love the fact that the bezel (frame around the screen) is so thin -- makes the TV look like it's just the screen itself. And the unit is so thin front-to-back, it's almost as thin as the new LED TVs! After viewing many TVs in stores and friend's homes, I prefer Plasma over LCD for the contrast, better blacks and shadow detail. Also, even with contrast and brightness set to moderate levels (i.e. 65% -- you shorten the life of any flat-panel display by running it at 100% all the time), the picture is still very crisp, very bright, and the colors and detail just blow me away. I would recommend this TV to anyone!!
This Page is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
