Hopefully, I can save you some time. I spent about a year researching and continually trying to justify why my 50" Mitsu projection tv was still worthy. Last week, I finally pulled the trigger and this tv absolutely rocks. It is beyond amazing. I was watching a movie (X-MEN Final Stand)the other night (THX mode) and paused it twice and said to my wife, can you believe this tv is in our house?
I had my family over this weekend. Within 15 minutes my brother asked me how I knew this was the best tv to buy. I told him about the research I did, that combined with the picture he was looking at convinced him to order one for himself. He bought it yesterday.
The NBA playoffs, baseball, hockey, hey I even watched auto racing...Just unreal. I had no idea what I was missing until this tv arrived. I strongly considered the new LED LCD SAMSUNG'S. The 1.2" depth and picture are very good, but it came down to a few simple things. Overall value, absolute amazing picture, best refresh rate and viewing angles. All that and the brightness of LCD's helped me go with plasma and the right decision for me was the G10...This is the one.
We added the Bose 321 GS sound. We have a small room and did not want lots of wires, etc. Sound rocks. My wife's big deal was she wanted to be able to hear people talking in a movie and still hear the action all around. This system, though expensive delivers.
I hope this info helps. I appreciated all the feedback left by other's and wanted to share my thoughts too.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Pretty darn impressive
I've owned the G10 50" for almost a month now. I bought it based on the CNET reviews and then after reading the reviews here. I did have some reservations based on the reviews (color and sound, specifically) so those are the items I'll address.
I'll start with the bad.
The delivery service was horrible. The delivery guy called me and asked, "Do you have a pickup truck?" My response, "Yes, why?" He said, "Can you meet me in such and such a town to pick it up? In this economy we're trying to save as much $ as we can!" I called the manager at the delivery office and relayed the conversation to her. She seemed a bit upset, to say the least, and my TV arrived 45 minutes later. That wasn't a great start.
Setting up the TV, however, was easy with a 2nd person. It was very easy. The TV stand is great, and makes the TV very sturdy.
Once turned on the TV had a funny hue to it, just like the reviews had said. It has that greenish hue like it was 'sick' or something. We changed all the settings as recommended by CNET and tried the THX as suggested by some reviewers. The picture was rather dim on THX, and the pictures on the settings recommended by CNET was pretty good. We then started looking at the other pre-set picture modes offered by the G10 and found "Game" mode to be incredible. The colors looked fantastic and the screen was bright. We've had it on this setting since then and the picture is wonderful.
We've found the sound on this TV to be acceptable. We have a 7.1 Mirage surround sound system powered by a big Onkyo receiver so we do LOVE sound. Unless we are watching a movie, we just used the sound from this TV. This is something that we couldn't do with our last TV, so that's been a nice surprise. If you are hoping for movie theater sound from this TV, its not it. If you're looking for sound that is great for a TV set, then you won't be disappointed.
Lastly, I was afraid of the infamous plasma "glare" that I kept reading about. I found the glare to not be an issue. We have a 14 foot wall of windows directly opposite the TV. The sun never shines directly into the window, and with the light colored curtains drawn, it just fine. There is no noticeable glare. I think this was our biggest relief. It was my wife's biggest relief too because she was able to keep her light tan curtains. I was ready to install black theater curtains if I had to.
In conclusion: The initial picture quality is strange unless you choose a different setting or create your own (which you can, easily), the TV design is very nice, there is little to no glare, and the sound is fine. The price on Amazon is great. All in all, this TV is a total winner.
Don't be afraid. I'm a pretty particular person and I don't tolerate poor quality. I'm very happy with this purchase.
I'll start with the bad.
The delivery service was horrible. The delivery guy called me and asked, "Do you have a pickup truck?" My response, "Yes, why?" He said, "Can you meet me in such and such a town to pick it up? In this economy we're trying to save as much $ as we can!" I called the manager at the delivery office and relayed the conversation to her. She seemed a bit upset, to say the least, and my TV arrived 45 minutes later. That wasn't a great start.
Setting up the TV, however, was easy with a 2nd person. It was very easy. The TV stand is great, and makes the TV very sturdy.
Once turned on the TV had a funny hue to it, just like the reviews had said. It has that greenish hue like it was 'sick' or something. We changed all the settings as recommended by CNET and tried the THX as suggested by some reviewers. The picture was rather dim on THX, and the pictures on the settings recommended by CNET was pretty good. We then started looking at the other pre-set picture modes offered by the G10 and found "Game" mode to be incredible. The colors looked fantastic and the screen was bright. We've had it on this setting since then and the picture is wonderful.
We've found the sound on this TV to be acceptable. We have a 7.1 Mirage surround sound system powered by a big Onkyo receiver so we do LOVE sound. Unless we are watching a movie, we just used the sound from this TV. This is something that we couldn't do with our last TV, so that's been a nice surprise. If you are hoping for movie theater sound from this TV, its not it. If you're looking for sound that is great for a TV set, then you won't be disappointed.
Lastly, I was afraid of the infamous plasma "glare" that I kept reading about. I found the glare to not be an issue. We have a 14 foot wall of windows directly opposite the TV. The sun never shines directly into the window, and with the light colored curtains drawn, it just fine. There is no noticeable glare. I think this was our biggest relief. It was my wife's biggest relief too because she was able to keep her light tan curtains. I was ready to install black theater curtains if I had to.
In conclusion: The initial picture quality is strange unless you choose a different setting or create your own (which you can, easily), the TV design is very nice, there is little to no glare, and the sound is fine. The price on Amazon is great. All in all, this TV is a total winner.
Don't be afraid. I'm a pretty particular person and I don't tolerate poor quality. I'm very happy with this purchase.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 By far the best TV for the money
Beyond awesome picture. Blacks are so black and the colors are perfect. There is no reason to buy any other set. LCD's with LED backlight are the only ones even close and they cost several thousand more. The Vieracast works so easy. Just plug in a cat5 from your network and your all set. One touch of the remote and you have weather, Stocks, Youtube and more. If you buy anything else just remember you bought the wrong TV. THIS IS THE ONE YOU WANT.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 outstanding value, Amazon VOD is worth the price difference w/ the S1
Everyone reviews the picture; we all know it looks almost as good as last year's Pioneer Elite. We all know it uses less power, produces exceptionally accurate color, and looks great in a bright room.
What very few people have touched on is the newly-added Amazon VOD feature. All it took was a quick firmware update from Viera Cast.
The video quality for HD videos is generally outstanding. I'd put it somewhere in between Comcast's compression and OTA HD. It seems to require somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-5mbit (inconsistent) downstream to maintain the blue-coded "HD" connection, so those with puny internet connections obviously need not apply.
That being said the videos buffer FAST, the prices are generally cheaper than cable on demand services by a dollar or two, and the selection is really pretty broad.
I've owned several HDTVs over the past 7 or so years, starting with the most basic 32" widescreen 1080i CRT ever made (a Samsung). The G10 is in a completely different league. The only thing that comes close are the 9G Kuro Elites, and good luck buying one of the few hundred of those that are left out in the world. With Pioneer exiting the game the torch has been officially passed.
My only regret is that I got anxious and pulled the trigger on a 50" before the 54" was released. I find myself lusting for that extra 4" every once in a while.
What very few people have touched on is the newly-added Amazon VOD feature. All it took was a quick firmware update from Viera Cast.
The video quality for HD videos is generally outstanding. I'd put it somewhere in between Comcast's compression and OTA HD. It seems to require somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-5mbit (inconsistent) downstream to maintain the blue-coded "HD" connection, so those with puny internet connections obviously need not apply.
That being said the videos buffer FAST, the prices are generally cheaper than cable on demand services by a dollar or two, and the selection is really pretty broad.
I've owned several HDTVs over the past 7 or so years, starting with the most basic 32" widescreen 1080i CRT ever made (a Samsung). The G10 is in a completely different league. The only thing that comes close are the 9G Kuro Elites, and good luck buying one of the few hundred of those that are left out in the world. With Pioneer exiting the game the torch has been officially passed.
My only regret is that I got anxious and pulled the trigger on a 50" before the 54" was released. I find myself lusting for that extra 4" every once in a while.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Simply gorgeous!
This is my first HD set, although I have watched a lot of HDTV at friends' homes over the years.
The picture of this TV is simply amazing. The color in THX mode is truely mesmerizing (to borrow a perfectly apt description from a previous reviewer). It is so good that I try to use it most of the time unless the room is very bright (I have large windows on two walls in the room, so if it's sunny outside and the curtains are up, it gets too bright for THX mode). Yes, THX mode is dark, but if it's trying to reproduce the authentic colors of a movie, which you'd watch in a really dark movie theater, I don't have a problem with it not being suitable for a very brightly-lit room.
Speaking of the bright room, I have had no problems with glare. This is so much so that I don't know what people are talking about when complaining about plasma and glare. The anti-reflective coating on this screen seems to be very effective.
The first day I set up this TV, a friend and I watched parts of Live Free or Die Hard and Casino off of Dish Network in HD (1080i). We were both simply in awe of the picture quality and colors, and he is someone who is on his third plasma TV and has been riding the wave from the beginning. He thought this is the best picture quality (for non-blu-ray) and color he has seen on an HD set, period.
Upconverted DVDs look good, but Dish Network's HD 1080i movies look better. I can't wait to receive my Blu-ray player and try a real 1080p source. I will update my review then.
The delivery took place on the promised day. The guy unpacked the TV, installed it on its pedestal (with my help, since it requires two people) and we placed it on the table. Pretty impressive for free delivery. This "white glove" service costs $200 on top of delivery charges on other sites.
All in all, I am very impressed with this set and with Amazon's delivery. I would certainly recommend it and encourage buying it from Amazon.
The picture of this TV is simply amazing. The color in THX mode is truely mesmerizing (to borrow a perfectly apt description from a previous reviewer). It is so good that I try to use it most of the time unless the room is very bright (I have large windows on two walls in the room, so if it's sunny outside and the curtains are up, it gets too bright for THX mode). Yes, THX mode is dark, but if it's trying to reproduce the authentic colors of a movie, which you'd watch in a really dark movie theater, I don't have a problem with it not being suitable for a very brightly-lit room.
Speaking of the bright room, I have had no problems with glare. This is so much so that I don't know what people are talking about when complaining about plasma and glare. The anti-reflective coating on this screen seems to be very effective.
The first day I set up this TV, a friend and I watched parts of Live Free or Die Hard and Casino off of Dish Network in HD (1080i). We were both simply in awe of the picture quality and colors, and he is someone who is on his third plasma TV and has been riding the wave from the beginning. He thought this is the best picture quality (for non-blu-ray) and color he has seen on an HD set, period.
Upconverted DVDs look good, but Dish Network's HD 1080i movies look better. I can't wait to receive my Blu-ray player and try a real 1080p source. I will update my review then.
The delivery took place on the promised day. The guy unpacked the TV, installed it on its pedestal (with my help, since it requires two people) and we placed it on the table. Pretty impressive for free delivery. This "white glove" service costs $200 on top of delivery charges on other sites.
All in all, I am very impressed with this set and with Amazon's delivery. I would certainly recommend it and encourage buying it from Amazon.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Mesmerized
I received the 50 inch G10 about a weak ago. Setup was a simple procedure and I have been able to view the tv in a variety of lighting situations and video source formats. The set is in a brightly lit room (ambient) and I have utilized the THX setting as well as the custom settings outlined in CNET. I do get some glare but it is from a bay window directly opposite the tv and is resolved by shutting the curtains. The picture is bright enough (I use the custom setting during the day) and the noise complaints I have read on other posts is non-existent. In fact, the Comcast cable box is far louder. Heat build up is not an issue either. Speakers? I have been pleasantly surprised. There have been a couple of times where I had to look and see if the surround system was on (amp was off). Picture in HD, blue-ray is jaw dropping. My wife and I both comment on the quality of both the detail and color. This TV replaced a 7 year old Sony HD set (34" XBR) that failed and I am stunned how much the quality has improved and the costs have dropped in the intervening years [...].
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Great picture, amazing value
After searching for a suitable 1080p replacement for my older 720p Philips plasma, I first tried the massive Samsung PN-58B550 because it seemed like a great value, but--and since this isn't a review of that TV I won't go more into other than to say that for all I could do the colors were either flat or the blacks were grey and there was a constant buzz that is common with some plasmas that I just couldn't stomach for such an expensive and supposedly great device--given its shortcomings, I decided to have a second stab at a replacement. I selected the P50G10 for this and I must say that I am immensely pleased with that decision.
I first saw the P50G10 as a display at a local big blue electronics retailer and was instantly drawn to its look, even when powered off (and this is an important thing to me since most of the time that's how the TV is). I powered it on and was impressed at the dark blacks, vivid colors and smooth motion. As I compared it to one of the newest 1080p 240Hz LCDs hanging near it I realized that it was--even as mucked up as the controls had been--hands and feet above the other TV in terms of raw performance.
One feature I was certain I wanted in my next TV was network connectivity, whether for DLNA or straight internet feeds. The VieraCAST built into this TV is a little lacking in raw ability, but having YouTube, Picasa and weather close at hand is pretty handy; I'm hoping that the extra slot on the main screen that reads "coming soon" is filled with Netflix bringing Panasonic's offerings up to the LG & Vizio playing field. Fortunately, the TV is able to use this network connection to apply its updates without having to fiddle with USB drives and finding/downloading the right files... a huge time saver.
Many reviewers of this TV comment that the THX mode just makes the screen darker, and that is certainly one of the things it does, but in so doing the contrast is also popped to the max and a few other settings really make the colors more lifelike and vivid. I watched Wall-E as the first test of the new TV and I was amazed at how crisp and bright the colors were on THX mode; they looked great on standard and custom modes, but I felt that the specialized mode was the closest reproduction to when I saw the movie in DLP on the silver screen.
The only two complaints I have with the television are both relatively minor; first, it uses a non-standard power plug which was a bit of a pain for me as I like all of my cables neatly concealed on my TV stand and I've got enough cables running around that it's hard to add/remove them. Second--because my TV stand actually hangs the TV, I had to be very careful about the positioning of the brackets so I didn't block any of the necessary ports. Panasonic's having chose the 400mm mounting holes as a place to align video and audio connections proved a bit of a challenge and I ultimately had to mount the TV a little lower than I really wanted to be able to make the connections I needed.
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with this TV. While it would be great if it were a few inches larger, I have found that for all of its rich features (internet, THX, great color production, near-silent operation) this is the best TV I have found, and I'm sure I'll be happy with it for years to come.
I first saw the P50G10 as a display at a local big blue electronics retailer and was instantly drawn to its look, even when powered off (and this is an important thing to me since most of the time that's how the TV is). I powered it on and was impressed at the dark blacks, vivid colors and smooth motion. As I compared it to one of the newest 1080p 240Hz LCDs hanging near it I realized that it was--even as mucked up as the controls had been--hands and feet above the other TV in terms of raw performance.
One feature I was certain I wanted in my next TV was network connectivity, whether for DLNA or straight internet feeds. The VieraCAST built into this TV is a little lacking in raw ability, but having YouTube, Picasa and weather close at hand is pretty handy; I'm hoping that the extra slot on the main screen that reads "coming soon" is filled with Netflix bringing Panasonic's offerings up to the LG & Vizio playing field. Fortunately, the TV is able to use this network connection to apply its updates without having to fiddle with USB drives and finding/downloading the right files... a huge time saver.
Many reviewers of this TV comment that the THX mode just makes the screen darker, and that is certainly one of the things it does, but in so doing the contrast is also popped to the max and a few other settings really make the colors more lifelike and vivid. I watched Wall-E as the first test of the new TV and I was amazed at how crisp and bright the colors were on THX mode; they looked great on standard and custom modes, but I felt that the specialized mode was the closest reproduction to when I saw the movie in DLP on the silver screen.
The only two complaints I have with the television are both relatively minor; first, it uses a non-standard power plug which was a bit of a pain for me as I like all of my cables neatly concealed on my TV stand and I've got enough cables running around that it's hard to add/remove them. Second--because my TV stand actually hangs the TV, I had to be very careful about the positioning of the brackets so I didn't block any of the necessary ports. Panasonic's having chose the 400mm mounting holes as a place to align video and audio connections proved a bit of a challenge and I ultimately had to mount the TV a little lower than I really wanted to be able to make the connections I needed.
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with this TV. While it would be great if it were a few inches larger, I have found that for all of its rich features (internet, THX, great color production, near-silent operation) this is the best TV I have found, and I'm sure I'll be happy with it for years to come.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Best picture quality and price combination
I bought the TC-P50G10 three weeks ago, and am very happy with it. I did a lot of research and tried out a number of TVs before settling down on this one, so I thought I would share some of the information and my experience with the TV, and hopefully make your decision in choosing the TV a bit easier.
First thing first. According to my research, the Panasonic G10 probably has the best picture quality among all TVs in mass production as of the time of this review (May, 2009). Most importantly it has pitch dark black level, scorching brightness, high color accuracy, and good motion processing.
I chose the Panasonic plasma over Sony and Samsung LCD for a few reasons. (1) Compared to 120Hz LCDs, Panasonic is significantly cheaper than Sony and Samsung. (2) I think the G10 is better in handling motion than the 120HZ LCDs. (3) The colors on the plasma are more appealing to me than those on the LCDs. (4) It has superior viewing angle. It looks perfect from any angle you will actually watch the TV without washing out the color, prserving the quality of the color.
The third point on color appeal is subjective and calls for description of subjective experience. There are lots of technical comparison of the colors on different displays on the internet, but my perceptual experience is that the colors on the panasonic plasma is very vibrant, punchy, tantalizing, and mesmerizing. The colors look like things in real life, but they are more intense than real life. A friend said "it's prettier than real, but not distorted. It is just like an enhanced colorful world." If you prefer high fedelity to real life colors, you can use the THX mode to tune it down to be very faithful to studio color measures. LCD in comparison is also very vibrant, but it doesn't look as realistic. It's more like computer graphics and less like colors of living things. Technically, this may have to do with the deeper black level on the plasma than the LCD.
Before the G10, I had the Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ80U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV. Both TVs have very appealing colors, but I returned the PZ80U and got the G10 because the G10 has a number of important improvements over the PZ80U: it has a brighter plasma display, has a VGA PC input, lower energy consumption, and more accurate color. Also, its frame is more compact, so I can fit a 50" G10 into the space that would only hold a 46" PZ80U. In fact, the G10 is brighter and more contrasty than last year's top model Panasonic TH-50PZ850U 50-inch Viera 1080p Plasma HDTV.
What else do I like about the TV? It is very bright for a Plasam TV. According to tech specs and online reviews, it is the bightest plasma ever made. In Custom Mode, it is more than bright enough to watch in my room with direct sun light (sun light in the room not on the TV). In Vivid Mode, "you should prepare to put on your ski googles". In fact, it's too bright and overly constrasty and saturated for regular viewing. However, it is quite useful in displaying low resolution and low quality online video such as YouTube or Netflix Instant Watch. The extra boost in brightness, contrast, and saturation make the low quality online video look much more appealing and lively.
VieraCast is kinda cool. Not a deal maker but certainly not a drawback. I used third party firmware DD-WRT to set up a Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router as a wireless bridge. So the TV can get online without running a cable to my main router.
I find this TV fits my needs perfectly. But no TV is perfect, at least not for the technically savvy.
So here are the cons:
(1) The sound is mediocre. It is fine to watch a TV show, but lackluster to watch a good movie or music show.
(1.2) True Cinema 24-frame mode flickering is perceptually disturbing because the refresh rate is set to 48 Hz in the mode. It is a pitty because motion does look much more life like and less video like in True-Cinema mode. Wish the TV could run at 72 Hz.
(2) My PC only has VGA out but no DVI out. (This point does not matter for those with DVI out on their computers. A DVI to VGA cable will work fine) The VGA input on the TV does not support 1080 HD. It only supports up to 1280x768. Panny should not cut corner here. Although this problem doesn't really matter for video contents because most computer video resolution is less than 1280x768. And the pixel interpolation effect on the Plasma is more like a CRT and less like an LCD. So the set is reasonably good at displaying contents with resolution lower than its native res.
(3) VieraCast needs improvement. The content is still limited. The search function of Youtube on VieraCast is not as easy to use as on a computer. The Amazon video on demand price is way too high (but this is not really Panny's problem). I wish a firmware upgrade would enables Netflix streaming.
(4) The remote is not as well laid out as the one on PZ80. The 3 big buttons above the directional keys are occupied by the rarely used VieraLink, VieraCast and VieraTool. The commonly used Menu key is moved to a small key. Totally wrong choice of ergonomics.
(5) VGA PC input is paired with RCA audio input. I wish it is a 3.5mm (1/8 ") mini jack instead, which will allow a single cable cable integrating VGA video and mini jack audio. Now I have to use two cables.
(6) The stand does not swivel.
Regardless of the above drawbacks, overall I find this TV to have the best picture quality and price combination. The pros by far outweigh the cons. The picture quality of this TV is truly amazing, as such some calls it "The New King of Plasma." Anyone seriously considering an HDTV should take a look at this one, now that the Pioneer Kuro exited the market. I use it with a PS3, the Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Entertainment System (Set of Six, Black), Denon AVR 589 receiver, and an Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna for HDTV over the air reception. It's a lot of fun to watch BD movies, play some games, and watch some TVS, stream some video on Netflix via my laptop.
I highly recommend it.
First thing first. According to my research, the Panasonic G10 probably has the best picture quality among all TVs in mass production as of the time of this review (May, 2009). Most importantly it has pitch dark black level, scorching brightness, high color accuracy, and good motion processing.
I chose the Panasonic plasma over Sony and Samsung LCD for a few reasons. (1) Compared to 120Hz LCDs, Panasonic is significantly cheaper than Sony and Samsung. (2) I think the G10 is better in handling motion than the 120HZ LCDs. (3) The colors on the plasma are more appealing to me than those on the LCDs. (4) It has superior viewing angle. It looks perfect from any angle you will actually watch the TV without washing out the color, prserving the quality of the color.
The third point on color appeal is subjective and calls for description of subjective experience. There are lots of technical comparison of the colors on different displays on the internet, but my perceptual experience is that the colors on the panasonic plasma is very vibrant, punchy, tantalizing, and mesmerizing. The colors look like things in real life, but they are more intense than real life. A friend said "it's prettier than real, but not distorted. It is just like an enhanced colorful world." If you prefer high fedelity to real life colors, you can use the THX mode to tune it down to be very faithful to studio color measures. LCD in comparison is also very vibrant, but it doesn't look as realistic. It's more like computer graphics and less like colors of living things. Technically, this may have to do with the deeper black level on the plasma than the LCD.
Before the G10, I had the Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ80U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV. Both TVs have very appealing colors, but I returned the PZ80U and got the G10 because the G10 has a number of important improvements over the PZ80U: it has a brighter plasma display, has a VGA PC input, lower energy consumption, and more accurate color. Also, its frame is more compact, so I can fit a 50" G10 into the space that would only hold a 46" PZ80U. In fact, the G10 is brighter and more contrasty than last year's top model Panasonic TH-50PZ850U 50-inch Viera 1080p Plasma HDTV.
What else do I like about the TV? It is very bright for a Plasam TV. According to tech specs and online reviews, it is the bightest plasma ever made. In Custom Mode, it is more than bright enough to watch in my room with direct sun light (sun light in the room not on the TV). In Vivid Mode, "you should prepare to put on your ski googles". In fact, it's too bright and overly constrasty and saturated for regular viewing. However, it is quite useful in displaying low resolution and low quality online video such as YouTube or Netflix Instant Watch. The extra boost in brightness, contrast, and saturation make the low quality online video look much more appealing and lively.
VieraCast is kinda cool. Not a deal maker but certainly not a drawback. I used third party firmware DD-WRT to set up a Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router as a wireless bridge. So the TV can get online without running a cable to my main router.
I find this TV fits my needs perfectly. But no TV is perfect, at least not for the technically savvy.
So here are the cons:
(1) The sound is mediocre. It is fine to watch a TV show, but lackluster to watch a good movie or music show.
(1.2) True Cinema 24-frame mode flickering is perceptually disturbing because the refresh rate is set to 48 Hz in the mode. It is a pitty because motion does look much more life like and less video like in True-Cinema mode. Wish the TV could run at 72 Hz.
(2) My PC only has VGA out but no DVI out. (This point does not matter for those with DVI out on their computers. A DVI to VGA cable will work fine) The VGA input on the TV does not support 1080 HD. It only supports up to 1280x768. Panny should not cut corner here. Although this problem doesn't really matter for video contents because most computer video resolution is less than 1280x768. And the pixel interpolation effect on the Plasma is more like a CRT and less like an LCD. So the set is reasonably good at displaying contents with resolution lower than its native res.
(3) VieraCast needs improvement. The content is still limited. The search function of Youtube on VieraCast is not as easy to use as on a computer. The Amazon video on demand price is way too high (but this is not really Panny's problem). I wish a firmware upgrade would enables Netflix streaming.
(4) The remote is not as well laid out as the one on PZ80. The 3 big buttons above the directional keys are occupied by the rarely used VieraLink, VieraCast and VieraTool. The commonly used Menu key is moved to a small key. Totally wrong choice of ergonomics.
(5) VGA PC input is paired with RCA audio input. I wish it is a 3.5mm (1/8 ") mini jack instead, which will allow a single cable cable integrating VGA video and mini jack audio. Now I have to use two cables.
(6) The stand does not swivel.
Regardless of the above drawbacks, overall I find this TV to have the best picture quality and price combination. The pros by far outweigh the cons. The picture quality of this TV is truly amazing, as such some calls it "The New King of Plasma." Anyone seriously considering an HDTV should take a look at this one, now that the Pioneer Kuro exited the market. I use it with a PS3, the Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Entertainment System (Set of Six, Black), Denon AVR 589 receiver, and an Antennas Direct DB2 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna for HDTV over the air reception. It's a lot of fun to watch BD movies, play some games, and watch some TVS, stream some video on Netflix via my laptop.
I highly recommend it.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Delivers a quality HD experience with extras
The P50G10 is my second HD Plasma experience, the first being a 2004 Panasonic, which still looks and works quite well. It has found another spot in our home to make room for the new G10 in our family room. When searching for and finally selecting the new Panasonic G10, I was comparing choices against this first experience considering both the manufacturer and the plasma technology. While I have a few smaller sized LCD's, mostly in the 20-32" range, I have never been overly impressed with the picture. The seem a bit cartoonish, even in HD mode, so I quickly settled on a plasma as my technology choice. Having made that decision the alternatives in terms of manufacturers narrowed quickly. Wh Pioneer exiting the Plasma business, and considering my experience with my original Panasonic plasma the brand decision was made. Selecting which model from Panasonic boiled down to scouring the 2009 product announcements and available reviews (CNET), and making the trade-offs on size, cost and availability. This all led me to the P50G10, which was a good fit on all points.
I have had the unit installed and working for 4 weeks now, and must say its been an extremely satisfying time. The G10 is a major step up, from my previous plasma, in terms of picture, inputs i.e. 3 HDMI vs 1, and ability to control each picture setting independently. I have tweaked the picture setting on the Standard and THX settings a bit to sharpen and brighten the picture a bit, but most of the other settings are very good out of the box. As the unit is stand mounted, and in a room with mostly indirect and overhead lighting there are no issues with glare or light reflection, from the main glass or its glossy black bezel.
In the process I also moved up to a Panasonic BMP-BD60 (will write a separate review on it) Blu Ray player and the 1080P picture is nothing short of amazing. As these are both Panasonic units they inter-operate with VieraLink which simplifies and automates the way the two units operate together, a nice but not essential feature. I setup a Wireless ethernet bridge (Linksys WET54G) to feed the VieraCast function on the G10, and it works flawlessly. At this time the amount of content available is limited, but one can see the potential, if Panasonic can bring more content services to this function. The G10 does employ a set of power consumption controls. There are both Input Idle and In-Activity based auto-power off modes to save on power consumption, which is good as plasma's are a bit power hungry.
To be balanced the G10 does have a few shortcomings. The sound from the onboard speakers is a bit thin. You can mitigate this some by pumping up the Bass control and turning on the Bass Boost, but its just not a rich sound experience. I think Panasonic can do better with some higher quality speakers and a small sub-woofer. I, and I suspect most others, have a surround system connected and utilize it for a better sound experience.
I also preferred when Panasonic placed the additional inputs into a trap door on the front of the plasma, the G10 has these on the left (facing) edge. To me it was more convenient and accessible to have these set of inputs up-front.
All in all, the G10 is a high quality Plasma with terrific features and future expandability. If offers a near perfect picture across multiple inputs and types of content.
I have had the unit installed and working for 4 weeks now, and must say its been an extremely satisfying time. The G10 is a major step up, from my previous plasma, in terms of picture, inputs i.e. 3 HDMI vs 1, and ability to control each picture setting independently. I have tweaked the picture setting on the Standard and THX settings a bit to sharpen and brighten the picture a bit, but most of the other settings are very good out of the box. As the unit is stand mounted, and in a room with mostly indirect and overhead lighting there are no issues with glare or light reflection, from the main glass or its glossy black bezel.
In the process I also moved up to a Panasonic BMP-BD60 (will write a separate review on it) Blu Ray player and the 1080P picture is nothing short of amazing. As these are both Panasonic units they inter-operate with VieraLink which simplifies and automates the way the two units operate together, a nice but not essential feature. I setup a Wireless ethernet bridge (Linksys WET54G) to feed the VieraCast function on the G10, and it works flawlessly. At this time the amount of content available is limited, but one can see the potential, if Panasonic can bring more content services to this function. The G10 does employ a set of power consumption controls. There are both Input Idle and In-Activity based auto-power off modes to save on power consumption, which is good as plasma's are a bit power hungry.
To be balanced the G10 does have a few shortcomings. The sound from the onboard speakers is a bit thin. You can mitigate this some by pumping up the Bass control and turning on the Bass Boost, but its just not a rich sound experience. I think Panasonic can do better with some higher quality speakers and a small sub-woofer. I, and I suspect most others, have a surround system connected and utilize it for a better sound experience.
I also preferred when Panasonic placed the additional inputs into a trap door on the front of the plasma, the G10 has these on the left (facing) edge. To me it was more convenient and accessible to have these set of inputs up-front.
All in all, the G10 is a high quality Plasma with terrific features and future expandability. If offers a near perfect picture across multiple inputs and types of content.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Review
From the Manufacturer
Manufacturer's Description
If you demand the best from your viewing experience, the 50-inch TC-P50G10 was created just for you. The new G10 Series boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action--even Web entertainment. It is all made possible by Panasonic's Neo PDP technology, which delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, all with lower power consumption.
Manufacturer's Description
If you demand the best from your viewing experience, the 50-inch TC-P50G10 was created just for you. The new G10 Series boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action--even Web entertainment. It is all made possible by Panasonic's Neo PDP technology, which delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, all with lower power consumption.
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Features
Features
- 1920 x 1080 Resolution
- Native contrast 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast 2,000,000:1 Infinite black for the brightest whites and darkest blacks
- 3 HDMI Inputs
- THX Certified display
- PC Input For Better Viewing
Panasonic TC-P50G10 Product Details
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1561 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: black
- Brand: Panasonic
- Model: TC-P50G10
- Dimensions: 30.30" h x 48.00" w x 4.20" l, 70.60 pounds
- Display size: 50
Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC-P50G10 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
Product Description50" Plasma, 1080p, THX, Viera Cast, H.264, IP Camera Ready, PC Input, 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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