How do I feel about my new Panasonic 50px80u? I know the title of this review leaves that a little ambiguous, so let me clarify... I love it. This is my first big screen (moving from an Aquos 32") and I researched the heck out of this thing before I pulled the trigger.
I looked at Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Pioneer, and Vizio before settling on Panasonic as the perfect blend of performance and price. I wanted to go 50" or above, and I needed to spend somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000. Normally, I do most of my electronics shopping at Costco because they have the best return policy and their prices are normally competitive with online stores such as Amazon. But unfortunately, Costco is still selling the 50px77u and hasn't begun to sell the 50px80u, and I wasn't about to wait for months to get the big screen.
After looking online and trying to get reviews (cnet has been excruciatingly slow with this model) and seeing it in person at Circuit City, I decided that I had seen enough positive reviews to make my decision. Finally, I went to Vanns and ordered it for $1,499.98 (Amazon's prices are like a yo-yo - $1420 one day, $1520 the next). A week later, it shows up at my house, and I put it together. YES!
So the picture looks great. The SD card slot in the front is convenient and pretty sweet. High def from Directv looks great and even standard def isn't bad. I popped in the complementary copy of 300 into my HD-DVD player and sat back transfixed by the picture. I'm not sure what more can be gained by 1080p because 720p looks absolutely fantastic and I see no pixelation whatsoever. I'd rather have a 720p set with accurate colors than some 1080p set with strange blues, greens, and reds, and this Panasonic set looks as true as can be.
In short, I'd definitely recommend the TH-50PX80U to anyone looking for a great picture at a reasonable price. You can pay more, but I doubt you'll get more. If you enjoy the prestige of hanging and paying for a Sony, then by all means, do it. But if you want a great set at a great price, look no further.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Absolutely brilliant - stunning picture with uncompressed HD content
I've been thinking about getting a HDTV for some time now, but have been price-watching and comparing, afraid to make a commitment - confounded by the same worry that accompanies all large electronics purchases : What if the price drops immediately after I buy the TV? What if it's not so great as everyone else describes? Can I trust an online "deal"?
Because I consider myself as very picky about what I buy in terms of quality - but also frugal to some extent, I would endlessly walk around stores, to see if I could spot a winner at a reasonable price. One note of caution: Be wary about picking a TV merely based on its performance in a store. The lighting is rarely similar to that in your living room and the color, contrast and brightness are turned way up to grab your attention. The LCD TVs show better in brightly lit stores because their bright vivid displays attract but blow out the finer details. What drew my eye on two separate occasions (without first noticing the brand) was the Panasonic plasma TVs. The black level and the sheer clarity for a 720p TV, even up close, seemed superior to the other more expensive and 1080p TVs surrounding it. The color and brightness didn't seem like it was turned up, but the picture was stunning nonetheless.
When I came back home and plugged the model number into Google, I was amazed at the positive reviews about the Th-50PX80U from everyone who had bought it. When I price checked on Froogle, I was amazed to see the price was at around $1,198 at Amazon including shipping (but not white glove service). There were only 2 left at that price so I bit the bullet and bought it. Electronics Expo (the actual seller) was very pleasant to deal with and saw that the TV was delivered within 4-5 days - I upgraded to the white glove service and the delivery men unpacked the TV and installed it on the stand.
To be honest, when I first turned it on, I had it connected to the Std Definition (480p) content, and of course that is always unimpressive on a 50 inch screen (imagine your current TV stretched to that big and that wide) - however when I switched to the HD content from the Comcast DVR, it was like night and day.
I'll say this - the TH-50PX80U looks best when connected to an uncompressed 720p HD source like a DVD player. Most of the content that comes in on cable HD especially Comcast is somewhat compressed to maximize bandwidth and as a result you will see blocky patches and artifacts where the signal has compromised on detail and averaged those pixels. For a plasma screen this size, it also looks best in a fairly dark room and about 8 to 9 feet away - though even if you walk up close, it's incredibly clear and tack sharp. What's amusing about the HD signal is that it's so sharp and detailed that what I thought was patchy skintones is actually the texture of the actual make-up - yes it's that clear!
I would definitely recommend this TV for those who want a large clear plasma TV with great color and picture quality.
Because I consider myself as very picky about what I buy in terms of quality - but also frugal to some extent, I would endlessly walk around stores, to see if I could spot a winner at a reasonable price. One note of caution: Be wary about picking a TV merely based on its performance in a store. The lighting is rarely similar to that in your living room and the color, contrast and brightness are turned way up to grab your attention. The LCD TVs show better in brightly lit stores because their bright vivid displays attract but blow out the finer details. What drew my eye on two separate occasions (without first noticing the brand) was the Panasonic plasma TVs. The black level and the sheer clarity for a 720p TV, even up close, seemed superior to the other more expensive and 1080p TVs surrounding it. The color and brightness didn't seem like it was turned up, but the picture was stunning nonetheless.
When I came back home and plugged the model number into Google, I was amazed at the positive reviews about the Th-50PX80U from everyone who had bought it. When I price checked on Froogle, I was amazed to see the price was at around $1,198 at Amazon including shipping (but not white glove service). There were only 2 left at that price so I bit the bullet and bought it. Electronics Expo (the actual seller) was very pleasant to deal with and saw that the TV was delivered within 4-5 days - I upgraded to the white glove service and the delivery men unpacked the TV and installed it on the stand.
To be honest, when I first turned it on, I had it connected to the Std Definition (480p) content, and of course that is always unimpressive on a 50 inch screen (imagine your current TV stretched to that big and that wide) - however when I switched to the HD content from the Comcast DVR, it was like night and day.
I'll say this - the TH-50PX80U looks best when connected to an uncompressed 720p HD source like a DVD player. Most of the content that comes in on cable HD especially Comcast is somewhat compressed to maximize bandwidth and as a result you will see blocky patches and artifacts where the signal has compromised on detail and averaged those pixels. For a plasma screen this size, it also looks best in a fairly dark room and about 8 to 9 feet away - though even if you walk up close, it's incredibly clear and tack sharp. What's amusing about the HD signal is that it's so sharp and detailed that what I thought was patchy skintones is actually the texture of the actual make-up - yes it's that clear!
I would definitely recommend this TV for those who want a large clear plasma TV with great color and picture quality.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Absolutely Brilliant !
Few models I considered before purchasing this one were
Samsung 50 inch plasmas HT 5054 (1299 $), 5064 (1400$) the 56 inch LED DLP (1499$) and LG 5PCD 50 inch plasma( 1249$).
I am glad I chose this model as in terms of look and clarity , I doubt if any model in the market can beat this. My uncle has Sony XBR 52 inch LCD and this PLASMAS is as good as that. Even a microscope would find it hard to decipher the difference.
This is as good as it gets ! I bought mine for 1419 from Amazon. They raised the price to 1519 the next day :)
Pros :- Excellent picture , SD card slot , Not too heavy ( I had Philips 42 inch Plasma which was twice as heavy), great looks (black glossy frame), very good set of inputs , nice intuitive remote, Excellent SD picture as well infact some channels look as good as HD !!
Cons :- No PIP , No glow on the remote buttons.
In spite of these minor cons, I am very very happy. I would end up buying it again given a choice. :)
Samsung 50 inch plasmas HT 5054 (1299 $), 5064 (1400$) the 56 inch LED DLP (1499$) and LG 5PCD 50 inch plasma( 1249$).
I am glad I chose this model as in terms of look and clarity , I doubt if any model in the market can beat this. My uncle has Sony XBR 52 inch LCD and this PLASMAS is as good as that. Even a microscope would find it hard to decipher the difference.
This is as good as it gets ! I bought mine for 1419 from Amazon. They raised the price to 1519 the next day :)
Pros :- Excellent picture , SD card slot , Not too heavy ( I had Philips 42 inch Plasma which was twice as heavy), great looks (black glossy frame), very good set of inputs , nice intuitive remote, Excellent SD picture as well infact some channels look as good as HD !!
Cons :- No PIP , No glow on the remote buttons.
In spite of these minor cons, I am very very happy. I would end up buying it again given a choice. :)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U One of the best HD tvs out there. EXCELLENT!
Forget about 1080p - it just doesn't matter for a screen this size or smaller. The set actually has a 1080p processor, but a 720p display. I saw this one next to the 1080p model running off the same feed and this set looked better. If you see this in the store, do not go by the terrible picture you see. Their feeds are horrible, and the settings on the set are set to vivid (which is totally off for colors/brightnress, etc).
Go to avsforum dot com and search for the thread on this particular model. Several people have posted settings that make this TV pop.
Here's my take on my set with only 50 hours of break in (plasma sets get better with time - 100-200 hours is the break in period)
Pros:
1. Picture - HDTV is outstanding, DVDs are better, and I have yet to get Blu-Ray. Standard def tv is pretty good on this set, though once we added the HD channels to our cable package, we no longer watch any sd programming except the kids, who watch cartoons (and they look good on this set). Out of the box settings are not opimal, check the avsforum for specifics. Once the settings are changed, this set will look better than most twice the price.
2. Sound - Yes, the sound is good. Good as any tube tv, just don't use the bass boost as some distortion can occur. We use the tv speakers for everyday use and a surround system for movies.
3. Reflections - Hardly any that we notice. We upgraded from a tube tv, so this is infinately better. Our room is dark, so that was not an issue.
4. Motion - Zero blur! All (yes even 120Hz) LCDs suffer from this to some extent. This set does not - excellent for sports.
5. Viewing angle - almost 180 degrees - without loss of color (yet another deficit of LCD tvs).
6. Size - Perfect for my seating of 7-13 feet.
7. Asthetics - Nice looking addition to the family room.
8. Gaming - XBOX360 is 100 times better than the tube - blows it away!
Cons:
1. Because of this set, I find myself spending too much time watching shows I would never have watched before - thanks Panasonic...
I am having a hard time finding anything wrong with this set. You cannot find a better set for this price. Those who give this set less than 5 stars have not adjusted their sets properly or are not rating the set, but vendor problems (IMHO).I'm willing to say that this is better than 95% of the sets out there. Calibrated correctly, this set just rocks!
Go to avsforum dot com and search for the thread on this particular model. Several people have posted settings that make this TV pop.
Here's my take on my set with only 50 hours of break in (plasma sets get better with time - 100-200 hours is the break in period)
Pros:
1. Picture - HDTV is outstanding, DVDs are better, and I have yet to get Blu-Ray. Standard def tv is pretty good on this set, though once we added the HD channels to our cable package, we no longer watch any sd programming except the kids, who watch cartoons (and they look good on this set). Out of the box settings are not opimal, check the avsforum for specifics. Once the settings are changed, this set will look better than most twice the price.
2. Sound - Yes, the sound is good. Good as any tube tv, just don't use the bass boost as some distortion can occur. We use the tv speakers for everyday use and a surround system for movies.
3. Reflections - Hardly any that we notice. We upgraded from a tube tv, so this is infinately better. Our room is dark, so that was not an issue.
4. Motion - Zero blur! All (yes even 120Hz) LCDs suffer from this to some extent. This set does not - excellent for sports.
5. Viewing angle - almost 180 degrees - without loss of color (yet another deficit of LCD tvs).
6. Size - Perfect for my seating of 7-13 feet.
7. Asthetics - Nice looking addition to the family room.
8. Gaming - XBOX360 is 100 times better than the tube - blows it away!
Cons:
1. Because of this set, I find myself spending too much time watching shows I would never have watched before - thanks Panasonic...
I am having a hard time finding anything wrong with this set. You cannot find a better set for this price. Those who give this set less than 5 stars have not adjusted their sets properly or are not rating the set, but vendor problems (IMHO).I'm willing to say that this is better than 95% of the sets out there. Calibrated correctly, this set just rocks!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Happy. Happy. Happy
I've had this TV for a little over a week and it's been great. I replaced an HD CRT (Sony 36" XBR) and was nervous that I wouldn't see the same picture quality. I chose plasma over LCD b/c I believe it provides a better picture (not so harsh or sterile - more lifelike) and I haven't been disappointed. DVDs and HD content are stunning, and, surprisingly, the SD content I watch (from Dish Network) ain't too bad, either.
I decided to save money by going 720p instead of 1080p and, at least until I have a Blu-Ray player, I am 100% satisfied with that decision: the 720p looks just great over a wide variety of sources (Dish, DVD, OTA HD).
The anti-reflective coating works, at least for me in my family room, as promised. In fact, we have a white ottoman about 8 feet from the TV and I noticed I could see its reflection in the bezel *around* the TV (shiny black plastic) but not on the TV itself.
Availability on this TV from Amazon comes and goes - I made sure to buy from them and wasn't disappointed. The free delivery was professional and on-time and they took it out of the box, plugged it in, made sure it worked, and offered to take the box.
If you buy from Amazon, be sure to keep an eye out on the price for a full 30 days after you buy it. I got mine on 3/31/08 for $1496 and it has dropped in price twice since then (now $1436). Amazon promptly refunded me both times - the second time within *five* minutes of my request.
I decided to save money by going 720p instead of 1080p and, at least until I have a Blu-Ray player, I am 100% satisfied with that decision: the 720p looks just great over a wide variety of sources (Dish, DVD, OTA HD).
The anti-reflective coating works, at least for me in my family room, as promised. In fact, we have a white ottoman about 8 feet from the TV and I noticed I could see its reflection in the bezel *around* the TV (shiny black plastic) but not on the TV itself.
Availability on this TV from Amazon comes and goes - I made sure to buy from them and wasn't disappointed. The free delivery was professional and on-time and they took it out of the box, plugged it in, made sure it worked, and offered to take the box.
If you buy from Amazon, be sure to keep an eye out on the price for a full 30 days after you buy it. I got mine on 3/31/08 for $1496 and it has dropped in price twice since then (now $1436). Amazon promptly refunded me both times - the second time within *five* minutes of my request.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Great Purchase
I was initially was going to get a 42" or 46" 1080p tv, but after a couple tv returns I decided to go for the bigger set, even if it was "only" 768p (720p), and I am extremely happy I did. I watch blu-ray, hd cable, and xbox 360 and PS3 from 9 feet away and don't notice the detail difference between 1080p and 720p at my viewing distance. I was also worried about green fringing while gaming but it turns out this really isn't an issue at all (only notice it once in a blue moon, and it doesn't bother me at all), so for anyone who's heard of fringing, don't worry about it. The blacks and shading are top in it's class; if you need absolute black go for a Pioneer or the pz85u, but for a modestly priced set you won't get better blacks. The colors are great too; the most accurate mode with no video noise is "cinema". My settings are as follows: Picture: 85, Brightness: 49, Color: 39, Tint: +1, Sharpness 50, Color Management: Off, Black Level: light, Video NR: off, MPEG NR: off, Picture Mode: warm. Highly recommend this tv.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Excellent Plasma
This is the 3rd plasma that I ordered from Panasonic, and this technology never let me down. I love this product! I have it hooked up to my DirecTV satellite and tested the picture quality with the regular signal and HD signal. With both signals, the pictures is crisp and clear from watching about 4 feet away from the screen and everything is the same at 8 feet away. This plasma is 720p native resolution and it is great. So unless you have a small room where you need a 1080p native resolution, that is if you are watching very close and ruin your eyes at the same time, you really don't need a 1080p resolution. So save yourself some big bucks by getting the 720p instead of 1080p. Buy yourself some good recliners and of course the flat panel tv stand or wall mount instead, because you gonna need them.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Great TV!
Just bought this tv over the weekend. The picture is great, the colors are vibrant and clear and the sound is wonderful!
This is a 720p tv, so it isn't as clear as the higher-end 1080p units. I can see the pixelation when I'm about 4' from the tv, but farther than that, it fades away.
Standard definition cable tv is definitely serviceable. The colors are nice, balance, etc., but as expected a little blurry (from content). Definitely not going to keep me from watching standard def programs I like, but noticeably not as sharp (not the tv's fault, I suppose).
The exterior is understated with a glossy black frame (approximately 2" wide) around the screen. A foldaway cover hides front HDMI, component and SD card inputs, and there are two HDMI, svideo, component inputs (plus more I can't recall) in the back. The speakers are located below the screen. Setting the surround mode to on really fills the room with sound.
The viewing angle is quite wide. I can clearly see the picture well beyond the 45 degree angle.
The menu is easy to use, and the remote is intuitive. The resulting mix is a relatively straightforward adjustments to picture, sound, screen fill, channel preferences, etc.
Seeing pictures from the SD card was one of the unexpected joys I've had in trying this set out. My 5 MP pictures popped out of the screen with clarity and true color that I didn't expect.
A couple of caveats:
1) The channel lag could be a little annoying-- the screen goes to black for a little less than 0.5 seconds when changing the channel. THis doesn't concern me since I'm using a cable box.
2) This set is not 1080p. According to my research, TV's less than 50" do not benefit all that much from 1080p, due to the how many pixels you can cram into a limited space. Truthfully, I wasn't really in the market for a 1080p so I didn't really do a strict comparison.
3) with the bass boost on, sound on some commercials gets a little distorted. Since this only happens during those certain commercials, it must have something to do with the original content.
4) this is the first HDTV I've purchased, so I don't have much to compare it to. DVD's and HD cable have looked great on this set, but I haven't had a chance to test out Blu-ray on it. Also haven't had a chance to test out video games either.
Can't wait to see my Seattle Mariners play on the beautiful green grass of Safeco field on this TV!
This is a 720p tv, so it isn't as clear as the higher-end 1080p units. I can see the pixelation when I'm about 4' from the tv, but farther than that, it fades away.
Standard definition cable tv is definitely serviceable. The colors are nice, balance, etc., but as expected a little blurry (from content). Definitely not going to keep me from watching standard def programs I like, but noticeably not as sharp (not the tv's fault, I suppose).
The exterior is understated with a glossy black frame (approximately 2" wide) around the screen. A foldaway cover hides front HDMI, component and SD card inputs, and there are two HDMI, svideo, component inputs (plus more I can't recall) in the back. The speakers are located below the screen. Setting the surround mode to on really fills the room with sound.
The viewing angle is quite wide. I can clearly see the picture well beyond the 45 degree angle.
The menu is easy to use, and the remote is intuitive. The resulting mix is a relatively straightforward adjustments to picture, sound, screen fill, channel preferences, etc.
Seeing pictures from the SD card was one of the unexpected joys I've had in trying this set out. My 5 MP pictures popped out of the screen with clarity and true color that I didn't expect.
A couple of caveats:
1) The channel lag could be a little annoying-- the screen goes to black for a little less than 0.5 seconds when changing the channel. THis doesn't concern me since I'm using a cable box.
2) This set is not 1080p. According to my research, TV's less than 50" do not benefit all that much from 1080p, due to the how many pixels you can cram into a limited space. Truthfully, I wasn't really in the market for a 1080p so I didn't really do a strict comparison.
3) with the bass boost on, sound on some commercials gets a little distorted. Since this only happens during those certain commercials, it must have something to do with the original content.
4) this is the first HDTV I've purchased, so I don't have much to compare it to. DVD's and HD cable have looked great on this set, but I haven't had a chance to test out Blu-ray on it. Also haven't had a chance to test out video games either.
Can't wait to see my Seattle Mariners play on the beautiful green grass of Safeco field on this TV!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Panasonic TH-50PX80U Where have you been all my life?
This is my first HD TV purchase ever, so I made sure to do my homework. I spent days researching brands, plasmas v. LCDs, 720p v. 1080p resolutions, and 42" v. 50" screens. Friends and family kept telling me, "Get a LCD. Get a 1080p."
The fact is after combing through review after review from consumers and professional critics alike, it became evident that Panasonic is leading the way with plasma technology, and the years-old issues with these TVs (burn-in, heat, glare) are all but resolved. In fact, plasmas offer smoother motion, deeper blacks and wider viewing angles than their LCD rivals.
Screen size and resolution, I found, go hand-in-hand. The rule of thumb: 50" or less in screen size is not worth the extra $$ for 1080p. The increase in resolution only really becomes appreciable with screen sizes over 50". Too, one can only truly take advantage of 1080p with a Blu-ray DVD player. HD channels are sent at lower resolutions, though obviously much better than standard 480i.
Armed with this knowledge, I set out to find the best 50" plasma 720p I could find that fit within my budget. Sony and Pioneer were out. The next tier included Samsung, Toshiba, and Panasonic. The latter won hands down.
Whether I am watching DirectTV HD or my standard DVD player, the picture quality is nothing short of amazing. I love the anti-reflective coating on the screen; works beautifully in our well-lit room and does not mute the colors. It took a minute for my two year-old to get over Scooby-Doo outsizing him, but he's hooked now.
The one minor complaint I see in other reviews is bass distortion with the speakers. I do not use the "bass boost" function and have not noticed anything but clean sound. In fact, speech, music, and effects sound quite good and balanced. Most will use surround sound for movies anyway, I suspect. The only thing that peeves me is the digital audio out. It only supports 2 channel stereo to a receiver.
In closing, I believe this is the best value you will find for a top quality product in this category. Get one, and you won't just watch TV, you'll experience it.
The fact is after combing through review after review from consumers and professional critics alike, it became evident that Panasonic is leading the way with plasma technology, and the years-old issues with these TVs (burn-in, heat, glare) are all but resolved. In fact, plasmas offer smoother motion, deeper blacks and wider viewing angles than their LCD rivals.
Screen size and resolution, I found, go hand-in-hand. The rule of thumb: 50" or less in screen size is not worth the extra $$ for 1080p. The increase in resolution only really becomes appreciable with screen sizes over 50". Too, one can only truly take advantage of 1080p with a Blu-ray DVD player. HD channels are sent at lower resolutions, though obviously much better than standard 480i.
Armed with this knowledge, I set out to find the best 50" plasma 720p I could find that fit within my budget. Sony and Pioneer were out. The next tier included Samsung, Toshiba, and Panasonic. The latter won hands down.
Whether I am watching DirectTV HD or my standard DVD player, the picture quality is nothing short of amazing. I love the anti-reflective coating on the screen; works beautifully in our well-lit room and does not mute the colors. It took a minute for my two year-old to get over Scooby-Doo outsizing him, but he's hooked now.
The one minor complaint I see in other reviews is bass distortion with the speakers. I do not use the "bass boost" function and have not noticed anything but clean sound. In fact, speech, music, and effects sound quite good and balanced. Most will use surround sound for movies anyway, I suspect. The only thing that peeves me is the digital audio out. It only supports 2 channel stereo to a receiver.
In closing, I believe this is the best value you will find for a top quality product in this category. Get one, and you won't just watch TV, you'll experience it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)