Panasonic TC-P50V10
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: TC-P50V10
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- Bottom Line:
- The high-end Panasonic TC-PV10 series of plasmas delivers the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we've tested so far this year.
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CNET editors' review
Panasonic TC-P50V10 price range: $1,889.95 - $2,099.00
- Reviewed by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 06/08/2009
- Released on: 05/15/2009
The good: Superb black-level performance with excellent shadow detail; relatively accurate color in Custom mode after adjustment; great color saturation; properly handles 1080p/24 sources without flicker; uses less power than previous 1080p plasmas; VieraCast provides access to select Internet services; plenty of connectivity with four HDMI and one PC input.
The bad: Expensive; less accurate primary and secondary colors in non-THX modes; somewhat limited picture controls; still less efficient than comparable LCDs.
The bottom line: The high-end Panasonic TC-PV10 series of plasmas delivers the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we've tested so far this year.
In our review of Panasonic's G10 plasma we discussed how it competed for picture quality supremacy against Pioneer's now-discontinued Kuro PRO-111FD--still the best HDTV ever--and how ultimately it couldn't quite match the Kuro. The same basic story stays true for the TC-PV10 series, but it's even better than the G10. This Panasonic plasma has the same deep blacks that grace its less expensive little brother, and adds a couple of key improvements: better video processing to handle 1080p/24 sources, and more picture adjustments that allow it to transcend the limitations of THX mode. Its picture should satisfy all but the pickiest of videophiles, and it also outperforms any LCD-based display, LED or otherwise, we've ever tested. Beyond image quality, the V10 delivers plenty of features and an eye-catching one-sheet-of-glass design, for a combination that deserves serious consideration from buyers willing to pay for it.
Series note: We performed a hands-on evaluation of the 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50V10, but this review also applies to the 54-inch Panasonic TC-P54V10. The two sizes share identical specs and should have very similar picture quality. The Panasonic TC-PV10 series also includes 58- and 65-inch models, but we will review those larger sizes separately when review samples are available later in 2009.
Design
Editors' Note: Many of the Design and Features elements are identical between the TC-PV10 series and the TC-PG10 series we reviewed earlier, so readers of the earlier review may experience some déjà vu when reading the same sections below.
The Panasonic TC-PV10 is one sleek plasma. Its main external differentiator is what the company calls "one sheet of glass" design, where a pane of glass extends beyond the edge of the screen and over the bezel itself, leading to a seamless look that's even more impressive in person than in pictures. (It's worth noting that only the 50- and 54-inch models feature the one-sheet design; the larger members of the series have the more traditional, visually separate bezel around the screen). The V10 series eschews the relatively bright silver fade along the bottom of the frame seen on the company's step-down TC-PG10 models, instead opting for a much subtler silver accent that arcs slightly upward in the middle. We think the V10 looks more attractive and sophisticated than the G10, and indeed it's one of the coolest-looking TV designs we've seen this year.
The black frame around the screen is a bit wider than that of the G10 series, leading to the V10's slightly larger height and width dimensions (0.2 and 0.9 inch larger, respectively, on the 50-incher, for example). The panels' depth dimension, on the other hand, is just 3.3 inches--not quite as thin as Samsung's 850 series plasmas or Panasonic's own Z1, but thinner than the 4.2 inches of the G10 models. If you're keeping track, the 50-inch V10 also weighs 4.4 pounds more than the 50-inch G10, which is probably due to that big pane of glass. We also appreciated that the 50-inch V10 model's stand includes a swivel, an extra not found on less expensive Panasonic plasmas--nor on the larger members of the series.
Beyond the panels and stands, the V10 models are pretty much identical in design to the G10s. The remote differs from the one found on less expensive Panasonic plasmas, and in general we liked it. Panasonic's marketing guys got to the button designers, however, and apparently mandated that an unnecessarily prominent trio of keys--Viera Link, VieraCast and VieraTools--appear above the central cursor control. Each provides direct access to functions we'll warrant most users won't access as frequently as the Menu key, and the trio relegates that button to an easily overlooked spot near the top of the clicker. We still like the feel of the keys, and appreciate the size, color and shape differentiation that helps us forget that only the huge volume and channel buttons are illuminated. The remote cannot control other devices via infrared (IR) commands, but it does allow some control of compatible HDMI devices connected to the TV via Viera Link (a.k.a. HDMI-CEC).
Panasonic tweaked its menu design for 2009. The same yellow-on-blue color scheme is in evidence (albeit a lighter shade of blue), and navigation is basically unchanged, but the main menu actually has a couple of icons now. Overall it's still one of the more straightforward, basic-looking menus on the mainstream market, but we still wish the company would see fit to include onscreen explanations of selections. A new Tools menu showcases some of the TV's functions, including THX mode, Digital Cinema Color, and VieraCast.
Features
As Panasonic's nearly top-of-the-line plasma series, excepting the Z1, the V10 models offer a couple of extras. One is the ability to refresh the screen at 96Hz, which allows the TV to properly maintain the cadence of film when fed a 1080p/24 source--typically from a Blu-ray player (the refresh rate remains fixed at the standard 60Hz for non-1080p/24 sources). The V10 also has a 48Hz setting, but we recommend using 96Hz instead since the 48Hz option can introduce flicker. (Here's where we mention that, like all Panasonic plasmas, the V10's spec sheet includes mention of a 600Hz subfield drive. Our best advice is to ignore this spec--it has no visible bearing on picture quality, aside from a slight improvement in motion resolution that's extremely difficult to see.)
The other big step-up is Digital Cinema Color, which allows the V10 to show a wider color space than the traditional HDTV color space. Since Blu-ray Discs are produced in the HDTV color space, however, we prefer to leave DCC turned off--in fact, DCC is defeated and rendered nonadjustable if you select THX mode. See Performance for more information.
The V10 models also offer THX Display Certification. When you engage THX picture mode, the V10's color accuracy, shadow detail, and numerous other picture characteristics improve significantly without you having to make a bunch of adjustments. THX comes close to a "one-step calibration," but in the V10's case it's not as effective as using the Custom mode and Pro adjust settings.
VieraCast, which debuted on the TH-PZ850U series last year, is Panasonic's interactive TV feature. It offers access to YouTube videos, photos stored on your Picasa account, stocks and headlines courtesy of Bloomberg, and local weather. It connects to the Internet via an Ethernet port on the back of the TV. Panasonic regrettably does not include wireless capability nor sell a wireless dongle, although it says third-party wireless bridges or powerline adapters will work fine.
New for 2009 Panasonic has added the ability to access Amazon Video on Demand via VieraCast. The pay-per-view movie and TV service is integrated nicely into the television, includes access to so-called high-def content, and can supplement or supplant cable or satellite PPV offerings with its significantly larger catalog. We also appreciate that, unlike some implementations of Amazon VOD, VieraCast allows you to preview content before purchase. One downside of using the system is that it disables many of the TV's aspect ratio controls and doesn't allow access to the THX picture mode, but happily the other picture modes are all available and fully adjustable. Like the G10, the V10 also offers the ability to interface with compatible networked cameras to use the system to for household monitoring.
Panasonic offers fewer picture adjustments than lot of other HDTV makers, but the V10 includes more advanced adjustments, thanks to the Pro Setting menu, than step-down models. We liked that all five of the global picture modes, including THX, Studio Ref, and the dim-by-design Standard mode (see below), are adjustable and that the sixth, called Custom, is independent per input. The company's Game mode is basically just a picture mode; it doesn't eliminate video processing like some other makers' Game modes. The Studio Ref. mode, which isn't found on step-down models, supposedly delivers an image closer to that of a studio monitor.
There are five color temperature presets, of which Warm2 came closest to the D65 standard. The Pro Setting menu, which is only available in the Custom mode, offers white balance controls to tweak grayscale, although they're less complete (lacking control for green) than on other HDTVs. That menu also includes a gamma control and numerous other settings, and its presence really helped improve the TV's picture.
Adjustments available on all picture modes include a "C.A.T.S." function that senses ambient light and adjusts the picture accordingly; a Color management toggle that made color decoding worse when engaged; a trio of On/Off settings affect video noise; and another allows you to set black level (the Light option exposed the correct amount of shadow detail). The setting to control 2:3 pulldown happily affects both standard- and high-definition sources.
You can choose from five aspect ratio options with high-def sources, including a Zoom mode that allows adjustment of horizontal size and vertical position. The Full mode can be made to match the pixel counts of 1080i and 1080p sources, without introducing overscan, if you select the HD Size 2 option from the Advanced menu (in THX mode this option is called "THX" and you can't disengage it). We recommend using this setting unless you notice interference along the extreme edges of the screen, which can occur on some channels or sources.
Panasonic also offers ways to avoid temporary image retention, a.k.a. burn-in, and address it should it occur. A pixel orbiter slowly shifts the image around the screen, and you can elect to have it happen either automatically or in user-set periodic intervals. You can chose bright or dark gray bars alongside 4:3 programs. And if you do see some burn-in, chances are the scrolling bar function, which sweeps a white bar across a black screen, will clear it up after while. We appreciated that the VieraCast menu went into screen saver mode after a few minutes of inactivity.
While the company touts the V10 series' power-saving chops, thanks to its so-called NEO PDP panel, in reality this is still one of the more energy-hogging TVs you can buy (see Power consumption below). The set's ECO menu only allows automatic turn-off functions; it doesn't offer a specific power saving mode that affects power draw when the TV's turned on.
The TV lacks picture-in-picture and cannot freeze the image temporarily to catch a phone number, for example. It can, however, accept SD cards with digital photos into a slot on the left side, which allows it to play back the images on the big screen.
Connectivity on the TC-PV10 series is excellent, starting with four HDMI inputs, three on the back and a fourth on the side. Other back-panel connections include two component-video inputs, an AV input with composite and S-Video and an RF input for cable or antenna. There's also an optical digital audio output and an analog stereo audio output. In addition to the HDMI pot and SD card slot, the side panel offers a second AV input with composite video along with a VGA-style PC input (1366x768 maximum resolution).
Performance
In all the Panasonic TC-PV10 series delivers the best picture quality of any flat-panel TV we've tested so far this year. Its deep black levels are it biggest strength, and its color reproduction was accurate enough, especially given the extra controls, to satisfy all but the strictest videophiles. Said videophiles will also appreciate the V10's ability to properly handle 1080p/24 sources.
Setting up the TC-PV10 for optimal picture quality presented us a somewhat difficult choice: to THX or not to THX? As we noted on the G10 review, THX mode delivers more accurate primary colors than the company's other settings, along with very good gamma and grayscale performance. The downside of THX is a slightly dimmer image (25.75 ftl) and some color decoding issues that bring a greenish cast to the image. With our V10 review sample we actually saw worse picture quality in THX mode than we saw on the G10. For whatever reason the grayscale was quite a bit less accurate and too blue (we measured an average variation of 441K, as opposed to the 150K variation on the G10), and the primary color of red was also a good deal worse.
For those reasons, and also because the V10 allows significantly more picture adjustments than the G10, we decided to use the Custom mode, adjusted with our standard user-menu calibration, for our evaluation instead of THX. It delivered our preferred light output of 40ftl, accurate gamma (2.26 versus an ideal of 2.2--the same as we measured in THX and much better than Custom on the G10, which hit 1.86) and solid grayscale performance (which again surpassed the G10's overly blue Custom, thanks to the Pro adjust settings). Compared to THX, Custom on the V10 evinced less accurate green, yellow, and cyan colors and more accurate red and magenta (the color temperature and primary color numbers in the Geek Box are for THX, however, since it was still the most accurate preset overall before calibration). In case you're curious, we did measure the DCC mode and found it, as expected, highly inaccurate by HDTV color space standards, so we left it turned off for our evaluation.
Our comparison included the Samsung PN50B650, the Panasonic TC-P46G10 and the reference Pioneer PRO-111FD from the plasma camp, along with the Samsung LN52B750 and Sony KDL-52XBR9 representing LCDs. For most of our image quality tests we turned to "Baraka," which is among the best-looking Blu-rays on the market.
Black level: The V10 exhibited the best black level performance we've seen on any flat-panel HDTV aside from the G10 and the Pioneer. In extremely dark scenes, such as the partial eclipse and night sky at the beginning of Chapter 20, or the shadows along the twilight temples in Chapter 21, the black areas and letterbox bars were darker than any of the other displays in our comparison, with those two exceptions: blacks were basically the same on the G10 and visibly deeper on the Pioneer, and compared to the LCDs and the Samsung plasma the V10 was easily darker. As usual, with deep blacks came a picture with more pop, realism, and impact in both dark and brighter scenes, and the improved light output of the V10 in custom versus the G10 in THX made the V10 seem a bit more impactful in our darkened home theater.
Shadow detail was also excellent. Under the starlit sky in Chapter 21, the steps and statues of the temples, as well as the underside of the rock formations under the starlit sky, looked natural and no detail was obscured. The V10 was equal to the G10 and Pioneer in this regard, and again outdid the other displays.
Color accuracy: Overall color on the V10 was quite good, although by no means perfect. The color decoding of Custom mode overaccentuates red a bit, so we had to back the color control down quite a bit to compensate and prevent skin tones from looking too ruddy. As a result, saturation wasn't quite as lush as on our reference Pioneer, but it was still as good or better than the other models, as evinced by the vibrant colors of the tribesmen in Chapter 7 for example. Skin tones like the faces of the subway riders looked natural as well, thanks in no small part to the V10's accurate grayscale. This scene also revealed the greenish tinge of the G10's THX mode, and in general we preferred the look of the V10's Custom.
The V10's primary and secondary colors in Custom mode were not perfect, and according to our measurements Green was the biggest offender--a difference that was visible in the rice paddies and grass in Chapter 4, which looked slightly more intense and less natural than we saw on our reference display (although the difference was subtle). The blue sky reflected in the lake in Chapter 8 also appeared a bit too dark, an issue we blame on the too-blue secondary color of cyan.
On big advantage the V10 showed over the LCDs in our comparison was its ability to reproduce a true color of black that wasn't too bluish. Its grayscale stayed true even in the darkest areas, even surpassing the G10 and the Pioneer in this regard.
Video processing: The V10 was superb in this category. Our first order of business was to confirm that the 96Hz mode worked as advertised. It did. We tried our favorite test for proper 24-frame cadence, the flyover of the deck of the Intrepid from "I Am Legend," and the motion looked as filmlike as we've come to expect from displays that handle 1080p/24 sources correctly--just the standard rapid-fire judder of film without the hitching motion associated with 2:3 pulldown. We saw similar success in the camera moving across the airplanes and oil fields in Chapter 16 of "Baraka." For the record, we engaged the 60Hz setting and the hitching returned, and when we switched to 48Hz the flicker seen on the G10 and other so-equipped Panasonic plasmas was in full effect. Maybe it goes without saying, but for the full videophile experience we recommend using 96Hz mode with your Blu-ray player set to output 1080p/24.
As expected, the V10 resolved every detail of still 1080i and 1080p sources when its HD Size 2 aspect ratio mode was engaged. Motion resolution was the best we've ever tested and the equal of the G10, with the V10 resolving all 1080 lines of resolution in our test pattern. The display also successfully de-interlaced both film- and video-based 1080i sources. As usual, however, these excellent resolution characteristics were difficult to appreciate outside of test patterns.
Bright lighting: The V10 and G10 share the same antireflective screen. It did a solid job attenuating ambient light and glare in our bright room--not quite as good as the Pioneer or Sony, but clearly better than the highly reflective Samsung. The V10 did not preserve black levels in the bright light as well as any of the other non-Panasonic displays.
Standard-definition: The TC-PV10 series was a mediocre performer with standard-def material. It resolved every line of the DVD format, although details weren't quite as sharp as on the Samsung, for example. The V10 did a sub-par job with moving diagonal lines and stripes on the waving American flag, leaving plenty of jaggies along the edges. Noise reduction was solid, on the other hand, and both Video NR and MPEG NR settings contributed to removing moving motes and snow from low-quality shots of skies and sunsets. Finally, the set properly engaged 2:3 pulldown to remove moiré from the grandstands behind the racecar.
PC: With an HDMI source and set to THX mode, the V10 performed perfectly, resolving every line of a 1920x1080 source, with no sign of edge enhancement or overscan. Via VGA the TV would accept a maximum resolution of 1,366x768, as the manual indicates, and naturally test looked softer, blockier and generally worse than via HDMI. We'd love to see a full-resolution VGA input on a TV this expensive.
| TEST | RESULT | SCORE |
| Before color temp (20/80) | 6805/6923 | Average |
| After color temp | 6464/6400 | Good |
| Before grayscale variation | 419 | Average |
| After grayscale variation | 101 | Average |
| Color of red (x/y) | 0.624/0.346 | Poor |
| Color of green | 0.298/0.624 | Good |
| Color of blue | 0.1518/0.0655 | Good |
| Overscan | 0.0% | Good |
| Defeatable edge enhancement | Y | Good |
| 480i 2:3 pull-down, 24 fps | Pass | Good |
| 1080i video resolution | Pass | Good |
| 1080i film resolution | Pass | Good |
Power consumption: Like all Panasonic plasmas the TC-P50V10 used a lot of juice compared with similar-size LCDs, but at least it's more efficient than older plasmas. It wattage was low enough to earn an Average in the Juice Box, however, because the light output of its default Standard mode is relatively low: just 27.75ftl. We expect that some users might find that mode too dim and turn the display up to another picture mode, such as Vivid, for example, which hits a plenty-bright 72ftl but uses more than 400 watts.
After calibration to an equal 40ftl light output, we got a better sense of how the TC-P50V10 compares with like-size displays, and it's relatively inefficient--albeit an improvement over older 50-inch plasmas. Its 294 watts is worse than the non-1080p TC-P50X1 (which used 255 watts; unlike LCD, plasma technology uses more power at higher resolutions) but better than 1080p 50-inch plasmas from last year, such as the Panasonic TH-50PF11UK (336 watts), the Vizio VP505XVT (383), the Pioneer PRO-111FD (293) the LG 50PG60 (329) and the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U (286). On the other hand, the V10's 294 watts was much less efficient than even larger 52-inch late-model LCDs, including the Samsung LN52B750 (128), Sony KDL-52XBR9 (159), Sharp LC-52D65U (121) and even the 55-inch Vizio VF550XVT (145).
| Panasonic TC-P50V10 | Picture settings | ||
| Default | Calibrated | Power Save | |
| Picture on (watts) | 255.61 | 294.42 | N/A |
| Picture on (watts/sq. inch) | 0.24 | 0.24 | N/A |
| Standby (watts) | 0.132 | 0.132 | N/A |
| Cost per year | $55.17 | $63.53 | N/A |
 | |||
| Score (considering size) | Good | ||
| Score (overall) | Average | ||
User reviews
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This TV can handle pretty much anything you throw at it
by Big3rd on August 9, 2009
Pros: Deep natural blacks.
Rich colors.
Great natural motion.
Nice and bright.
Enough settings to get the picture you're looking for.Cons: Blues and yellows can seem a little too electric.
Summary: I've been looking at TVs awhile to really see what is being offered out here. Checked out the Pioneer and yes, the tv was pretty damn nice with rich ...
Summary: I've been looking at TVs awhile to really see what is being offered out here. Checked out the Pioneer and yes, the tv was pretty damn nice with rich blacks and accurate colors...but I was not happy with the brightness at all, especially for how expensive the TV was. It's good for blacks to be black, but the whites were not bright white. Another thing that was pretty important to me was the motion and of course, accurate colors. Now with these expectations, I had to pick the one TV that could pull off all of these well with the money I was willing to pay. So I checked out Mr. #2 on the list.
The blacks were deep and makes for great detail, especially since there wasn't a lot of blooming and washing out. After having this TV for a week, I've seen this thing really take on the darkest of scenes and still establish bright whites where they peaked out. There was the cave scene on Ironman that showed, on one half of the screen, a very dark corner in the cave with the smallest of details still being seen in the shadows and on the other half of the screen, there was a blinding light peaking into the cave that was BRIGHT WHITE. That was the balance I was looking for.
The colors are very intense on this TV if you don't tone them down, especially the blues and the yellows. But after some tweeking, I got everything under control and nicely balanced.
Now as far as motion goes, I've read that plasmas have the best motion because of the 600hz processing. Now you'd think they were head and shoulders better than the LCDs because they are only peaking at 240hz. I tested this theory and after my tests, I've found out that nothing could be further from the truth. Many of these manufactures are comparing two different types of processing. I make this claim because of the test I performed. Nothing big but revealing. This was the test. While at Paulson's audio, I was floating the floor and came upon a demonstration being shown on the Sony TV. They had three 42" Bravias running a Sony demonstration disc simultaneously. And the video was of a pendulum in motion. What better way to capture motion, right? But they put one on 60hz, one on 120hz, and one on 240hz. Of course, the first was very choppy, the second was considerably smoother, and the third was perfect. You could see all the detailed writing on the pendulum very clearly on the 240hz set TV. So I wanted to test this with plasmas...the "masters of motion." So I ran that test on Panasonic and it performed slightly better than the 120hz LCD Sony Bravia performed. So yes, you will still see the "clicks" or "jutter" in the motion. However, in all fairness, the motion of the 240hz LCDs are UNNATURAL. How do I know? Test your own eyes in the real world. While driving in your car, look at the motion of the light poles zooming past you. If you notice, it is not an ultra smooth motion because our eyes cannot process that motion that quickly. But the 240hz technology really is just filling in the gaps of what isn't there and therefore, it does not look natural and can at times can make a movie look like a camcorder recording. But it really is a matter of preference. I read on someone else's review that Disney movies were really jerky. I have to admit, I test a Pixar movie, and it was a little jerky. But for the most part, this TV performs well with motion.
I wish the screen wasn't so glossy because there is a nice amount of reflection there when compared to the LCDs or the Pioneer. But it's not a biggie.
I'm not gonna touch on sound because if you have a 50+ inch tv, there is no way you shouldn't have an external sound system.
But all in all, I am extremely happy with this purchase. Probably the best purchase I've made in years. Obviously, the picture was the most important thing for me because I didn't critique the menus, the sound, and the Vieracast feature...but the picture on this TV is REDICULOUS. You WILL be in awe every time you sit in front it. So hopefully, this helped you make a decision. And if you go out, test some of the things I hightlighted. Demand to play with the settings on the TV and if they won't let you, don't give them your money. Move on.9 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Panasonic Make Perfect Plasma TV
by johnnydk on August 6, 2009
Pros: Great color and contrast and great for watching the fast motion movies without any blur. Panasonic is a must buy if you are shopping for a plasma TV. I recommend you to check out http://www.squidoo.com/best-hdtv for best TV to get for this year.
Cons: The overall performance of the TV is still slightly inferior when compared to the Pioneer Kuro Plasma TV.
Summary: Panasonic and Pioneer are known to make the best plasma TV.
Summary: Panasonic and Pioneer are known to make the best plasma TV.
7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Plasma at its best
by ShockFactor on June 11, 2009
Pros: The Panasonic V10 picture quality is incredible.
Single glass style is sure to be copied by others.
Sound is incredible out of the box.
Love the swivel base for easy any adjustments.Cons: Wish the SD card accept was higher than 2 GB
Wish the card reader could accept more formats
Wish there were more color controls.Summary: This is the best TV on the market for the price. I love the style and I wish the review talked more about the sound produced by the speakers. Bottom ...
Summary: This is the best TV on the market for the price. I love the style and I wish the review talked more about the sound produced by the speakers. Bottom line is you won't be disappointed, but like one other reviewer said, why no 42 inch version? It seems the North American market is being underserved by not providing more choice.
The internet content is good, but I wish I could surf any site through a browser. But bottom line, is this is a TV and not a computer and as a TV this is the best HDTV I ever seen for the price.7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This TV is AMAZING!!
by kmustafa27 on July 3, 2009
Pros: Very Sexy and Sleek Design
Gorgeous Blacks
Great Color
NO BUZZING!!!
Hardly Any IR at all
Swivel Stand
Fairly Light for a TV This Size
Fairly Good on Energy ConsumptionCons: Sometimes there is a glare
Gets fingerprints pretty easily
The sound is decent at best, but thats a given, for a TV like this, i'd hope you would have surround sound or something else.Summary: Well after months of going over reviews on different sites and forums, i decided to go with the Samsung PN50B650. It was said to have better color than the Panasonic ...
Summary: Well after months of going over reviews on different sites and forums, i decided to go with the Samsung PN50B650. It was said to have better color than the Panasonic and great blacks as well. The bezel i didn't mind much, but i still prefer the classic black bezel. Well when i got the Samsung, i gotta admit, it was sexy. It had very great color right out of the box.
But there was 1 HUGE problem. I'm a fairly picky person when i buy something big, almost everything has to be perfect to me for me to be satisfied. The Samsung had a very annoying buzzing sound that i could not stop hearing. Obviously when i was playing a game or watching a movie, i wouldn't hear it, but the second i had the volume off or down, i'd hear the buzzing. This buzzing wasn't from 5inch away either, it was 7-8 ft!! By the way, i live about 100 ft. above sea level so that wasn't the problem. I thought it was defective, so i exchanged it. Same thing, except this time it was only audible from 5 ft. away or during quiet movie scenes. I had enough and made a change.
I spent the extra $400 and got the Panasonic TC-P50V10 from 6ave.com. They had a great price plus i used a coupon code to drop 6% more!!! (that code is "couponcabin"). The TV came and i broke it in. And the picture is GORGEOUS! It is 1 sleek looking TV too. The remote is decent, but i use a Universal Remote that connects everything together.
One other thing i noticed between this TV and the B650 is that the B650 had a tendency to have higher IR (image retention). After breaking the B650 in, i would still get some IR after 2 hours of gaming for atleast 20-30 min. With the Panasonic, i hardly get any IR, and if there is any, it lasts for 1 minute tops.
The only things i have against this TV is that it gets a little glare with little sunlight in the room. I generally have the blinds closed, but every now and then it sneaks through. This isn't a problem with the TV per se, but more of my living situation. One other thing is that it attracts fingerprints very easily. But there is an easily solution to that, a cleaning clothe, so no biggy there.
I'm not trying to bash the B650, because it did have a gorgeous picture, its just i couldn't get past that buzzing. I've heard others having the same issues and others that haven't, so i guess it all depends if you get lucky. I would definitely consider the B650 as well as this TV. But as far as myself, i'm VERY glad i made the extra $400 purchase.6 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The aesthetics of this set will compliment any room.
by Chrisnonstop on June 12, 2009
Pros: Slim, Amazing image, lots of extras, well designed, responsive menus/graphics.
Cons: SD card reader lacks support for most major video formats. About 3" thick at the center of the set.
Summary: I'm very impressed with the image quality of this set. Build quality is excellent as well. The web content, especially full screen youtube viewing, is a nice bonus. Video ...
Summary: I'm very impressed with the image quality of this set. Build quality is excellent as well. The web content, especially full screen youtube viewing, is a nice bonus. Video motion is so much better than anything I've ever seen on an LCD. If you like to watch movies, plasma is the only way to go. I've had this set for two days now.
I've had the T.V. for over a week now. I copied the calibration that CNET posted in their review. This is the way it should be set from the factory. Absolutely amazing. Had a chance to familiarize myself with all the features now, glad to say there are no glitches or firmware issues. Everything is rock solid.
Updated on Jun 19, 20096 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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4 days with the Panasonic V10...
by d-test on June 26, 2009
Pros: Ez to put together out of box; surprisingly light for its size; Nice remote; aesthetically pleasing; great features; HD looks really good, Standard def looks just okay (but that is mostly due to the feed) Sound is decent depending on source also.
Cons: Screen reflection; also screen is greenish when the tv is off; and the screen picks up fingerprints as if they were dipped in pizza; color is noticeably greenish to my eyes in most modes (need to dabble with the loads of adjustments tho)
Summary: I ordered the Panasonic V10 online, and everything worked out perfect. It got delivered on Tuesday and the Fed Ex guy who had the personality of a flounder asked where ...
Summary: I ordered the Panasonic V10 online, and everything worked out perfect. It got delivered on Tuesday and the Fed Ex guy who had the personality of a flounder asked where I wanted him to put the tv while he was standing inside of his giant truck. I said, "Didn't I get curbside delivery?" He said yes, and I said okay... "than can you put it on the curb?" He rolled it passed the curb and to the bottom of the stare well of my apt. building I signed some paperwork indicating that there was a small quarter sized blemish on the box, he phoned in that to his headquarters, I slid his lame ass a few bucks for his efforts, and my boy and I now had to carry the tv up flights of stairs. Not to ruin the story but it was so light that it was almost laughable. Mind you I had carried my old Sony CRT (200 lbs.) down to a friends apt. a half hour before, and that was a nightmare. So right away the fact that it was so easy to carry blew me away. I'd suggest instead of paying extra for any unnecessary fancy deliveries, you go buy yourself a pair of "white gloves" and carry it in with a friend if you're capable of course.
I love this TV. I love THX Mode. I love the swivel. (Which is a major feature to have with any plasma screen because they are reflective around light.) I still have not seen a blu ray on the tv yet & I am blown away by HD; so I still haven't seen the tv perform at its peak. Every one of my friends who has a flat screen compliments the V10 within 5 minutes of looking at it. Once your eyes adjust to the THX Mode, nothing else compares. Not even the setting from David Katzmaier. Altho his setting may sometimes be better for some standard channels that are not up to par with HD.
Put the stand down, slid the tv on; put a few screws here and there and the bad boy was ready like freddy. I put it on top of 2 tv stands from Ikea (Besta) side by side. I swore that 50 inches was going to be too big for my 8 feet eye level viewing distance. It is the perfect size. 46 may work out well for someone into standard definition and dvd's because it will tighten up the image a bit. But I have no regrets with this size and viewing distance.
I have a really big window to the left of the tv, so if you're sitting directly in front of the tv the window is to your left. Initially I was in absolute SHOCK at the reflection that I was seeing, it seriously haunted me for a couple days. I debated on returning it and getting a 46 inch LCD to avoid the reflection that i was seeing. I'm an artist and I know alot about color and I consider myself to have a pretty good eye (or eyes for that matter.) Also the color on the V10 is greenish for sure, even in thx mode. (people say thx mode is dim... yes, it's dim) So all these things were seriously making me sort of regret my purchase. Mind you at this point I had barely broken the Panny at all.
That night (2nd night) I was doing something in the kitchen, and when I looked up and saw Wall-E (HDon Direct TV) my entire thought process did a 360. I was stunned.
When you sit any thing thats THAT big in your living room it takes a couple days for the Pink Elephant In The Room to fade out. And it did. Now I have almost a television crush on this single paned beauty. Now mind you I have been shopping for an entire year for the right tv, and I targeted the V10 off of mostly looks alone. I visited the best buy near me when the 5020 Pioneer and the G10 were literally hanging next to each other on the wall. The 5020 just oozed superiority. It was like a thoroughbred standing next to a really fast donkey. 2 things i did not like about the pioneer was the steep price (even at its dirt cheapest) and the glossy black frame that looked to 90's for my taste. The V10 seemed to be the one to chase at that point. On looks alone the V10 crushes the G10's gaudy plasticy frame with the silvery cheap gradiation spray painted at the bottom. Even if its picture is comparable OR just below OR just above the G10; the V10 is effortlessly slick. And for the PRICE, is one tough plasma not to notice.
I think David Katzmaier gets alot of heat for suggesting price as compared to picture. Listen, I get the argument, but now that I own a pretty expensive plasma I completely understand his point. If u walk up to a guy who test drives sports cars and you ask what car do u suggest to get, its pretty likely he won't suggest a $250,000 car. If money is no object, decisions are always easier. But in general MOST shoppers are looking for a bargain. I found a old STUFF magazine the other day from 2002, and a 50 inch plasma was $15,000. For what I'm staring at in my place right now, Panasonic has put out a truly classy panel for a pretty fare price. Katzmaier points out that the color isn't perfect ,and he's right. But if u think about it. If panasonic made this tv Perfect, it would probably cost as much as a Kuro, and not many people would buy it, and THEY may throw in the towel on making plasmas too. We wouldn't want that to happen now would we? The reflection doesn't bother me any more and the picture quality seems to be getting better and better. So far I have to say that I am happy with my purchase.
If any one has any break in tips or opinions, I'm interested in hearing suggestions. It has been a real pain trying to figure how to break this set in. Some say break in is not necessary on newer plasmas, some say its a must. I've run the tv in HD in zoom mode for a few days now and run slide shows & the white scrolling bar alot. Sincerely, d-test
Updated on Nov 11, 2009
Also, If u have children that can easily access touching the screen u may want to look elsewhere. It is very sensitive to fingerprints & dust. Although it's very well built, that doesn't mean that it can't fall victim to a child with Dorito cheese on their fingers curiously trying to touch Barney on the screen because he looks so REAL on the V10. Otherwise, highly recommended. Good Luck, All.4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Outstanding picture quality right out of the box.
by paulvieth on August 11, 2009
Pros: Fantastic picture clarity, especially with sports motion, no pixalization,very crisp edges around images of people/objects with HD sources.Movies more like a theatre with deep blacks
Cons: Little reflective is bright sunshine, bought a new room darkening shade. 54" stand doesnt swivel and is quite wide, making it sit back from the front of the cabinet it is in. Vieracast doesnt offer too much yet, hoping it will get better with time
Summary: Picture looks great right out of the box, waiting to break it in before tweaking the settings. Picture quality for movies and sports equally impressive. Looked at every LCD and ...
Summary: Picture looks great right out of the box, waiting to break it in before tweaking the settings. Picture quality for movies and sports equally impressive. Looked at every LCD and plasma twice, glad I made the right choice.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sickest TV I ever bought!
by jimbobjoediddy on October 18, 2009
Pros: Clear, crisp colors. Resolution is beautiful! Easy to set-up. User friendly controls. Real cool looking frame. 4 HDMI ports! XBOX 360 games look SICK!!! HD cable channels are perfect!
Cons: $2,000 - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!
Summary: I went from a 42 inch Toshiba HDTV to this new Panasonic V10 and it was like going from a bicycle to a Ferrari!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Summary: I went from a 42 inch Toshiba HDTV to this new Panasonic V10 and it was like going from a bicycle to a Ferrari!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Top-notch product
by onlysolitaire on September 27, 2009
Pros: - Great picture quality
- Beautiful design
- Very good anti-reflective screen
- Swivel stand appreciatedCons: I haven't found any major flaws, but I wish the remote control was entirely back-lit (not just the volume and channel buttons)
Summary: Because the problems with THX mode can be overcome by adjusting picture settings, I can't find any major problems to complain about. I'm overall very satisfied with my ...
Summary: Because the problems with THX mode can be overcome by adjusting picture settings, I can't find any major problems to complain about. I'm overall very satisfied with my purchase. This is one heck of a good looking television (a great addition to my living room!). Most importantly, the picture quality is awesome, which is evidenced in particular by the deepness of the blacks. As the reviewer suggests, however, I have found it necessary to adjust the picture settings to maximize my viewing experience--the subdued image of Standard Mode just doesn't cut it. One of my bigger concerns when purchasing this model was screen glare, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the TV's strong performance in this area. The anti-reflective screen does a very good job, even with a few lights on in the room.
For viewing films in a dark room, I use the picture settings recommended by CNET at the following link: http://forums.cnet.com/5208-19410_102-0.html?threadID=345421
Updated on Oct 2, 2009
For black and white films, however, I do like to reduce the contrast a bit.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Outstanding picure, design and features.
by gnilrad on August 18, 2009
Pros: I adjusted picture settings to what Katz recommended and Blu-ray movies looked amazing on my Samsung BD-P3600. I spent 3 hours watching You Tube after I first hooked it up. Great feature that I am sure to use often.
Cons: Very easy to put fingerprints on glass when I turn the TV on its swivel mount.
Summary: I was planning on buying this TV later in the year. I mentioned this to the manager of BB in La Quinta, CA. and without any hasle at all he ...
Summary: I was planning on buying this TV later in the year. I mentioned this to the manager of BB in La Quinta, CA. and without any hasle at all he offered the TV to me for $1799. How could I pass it up?
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: TC-P50V10
- Description: The V10 Series Plasma takes advantage of newly-developed NeoPDP technology, featuring a sleek thin profile and superb levels of brightness and contrast for industry-leading image quality. Designed for the discerning home viewer, the V10 Series meets the strict image quality and engineering standards required to receive the prestigious THX certification, and reproduces the maximum 1080 lines of moving image resolution with accurate color and luminance levels.
General
- Product type Plasma TV
- Diagonal Size 50 in - Widescreen
- Dimensions & Weight Details Panel with stand - 48.8 in x 15.8 in x 32.2 in x 79.4 lbs, Panel without stand - 48.8 in x 2.2 in x 30.5 in x 75 lbs
Display
- Technology Plasma (PDP)
- Resolution 1920 x 1080
- Display Format 1080p (FullHD)
- Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Image Contrast Ratio 40000:1
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio 2000000:1
- Widescreen Modes Full, Just, Zoom, Normal, Conventional 4:3
- Total Pixels 2,073,600
- Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Pixel Pitch 0.576 mm
- Display Menu Language French, English, Spanish
- Analog Video Signal Composite video, S-Video
- Comb Filter 3D-Y/C digital
- V-Chip Control Yes
- Additional Features Screen coating filter, Viera image viewer, Viera Link, Viera Cast, Motion pattern noise reduction
TV Tuner
- Tuner Qty 1x analog, 1x digital
- Digital TV Tuner QAM, ATSC
- Analog TV Tuner NTSC
Video Features
- Video Interface HDMI, S-Video, Component, Composite
- HDTV Ready Yes
- Input Video Formats 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- Parental Channel Lock Yes
- Closed Caption Capability Yes
Audio System
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Built-in - 10 Watt
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Surround Mode Yes
- Sound Effects BBE ViVA HD3D
- Audio Controls Balance, Bass, Treble
- Response Bandwidth 170 - 16000 Hz
- Output Power / Total 20 Watt
Connections
- Connector Type 3 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Rear, 1 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Side, Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, 1 x Composite video input ( RCA phono ) - Rear, 1 x Composite video input ( RCA phono ) - Side, 1 x S-Video input ( 4 pin mini-DIN ), 1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Side, 1 x VGA input ( 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - Side, 2 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear, 1 x Digital audio output (optical) ( TOSLINK ) - Rear, 1 x Network ( RJ-45 ) - Rear, 1 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, 1 x Serial
- Slot Provided 1 x SD Memory Card
- PC Interface VGA (HD-15)
Network & Internet Multimedia
- Functionality Digital photo playback, Digital video playback
- Connectivity Wired
- Supported Video Formats AVCHD, MPEG-2
- Supported Pictures Formats JPG
Memory Card Reader
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card
Remote Control
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
- Supported Devices TV
Stands & Mounts
- Stand Included Yes
- Stand Design Tabletop
- Stand Features Swivel
- Flat Panel Mount Interface Yes
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Power AC 120 V
- Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.2 Watt
- Power Consumption Operational 269 Watt
- Compliant Standards EPA Energy Star, UL6500/C-UL
Miscellaneous
- HDCP Compatible Yes
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Width (Shipping) 55.1 in
- Depth (Shipping) 11.2 in
- Height (Shipping) 36.5 in
- Weight (Shipping) 97 lbs
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 255.61 Watt
- CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 294.42 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power Save Mode power consumption 0.132 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.132 Watt
- CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 55.17 US Dollars
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.9
Product series
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 50 in, 2000000:1, 40000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 54.1 in, 2000000:1, 40000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma panel, 58 in, 2000000:1, 4000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:09, Black
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 65 in, 2000000:1, 40000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
Accessories
- dreamGEAR Dreamline video / audio cable - HDMI - 6 ft (33543214)29.99
- XtremeMac XtremeHD video / audio cable - HDMI - 6.6 ft (32416821)15.50 - 19.95
- ViewSonic ViewMate Cable Collection - video / audio cable - 6.6 ft (31482671)32.00
- ViewSonic ViewMate Cable Collection - video / audio cable - 10 ft (31482685)34.00
- VIZIO VMAX1000 - video / audio cable - HDMI - 6 ft (33397373)29.99
- ADCOM GFR-700 (31966032)1266.10 - 1999.00
- Adcom GFR-700HD (32082704)1599.00 - 2899.99
- Denon AVR-1707 (31987322)156.99
- Denon AVR-1907 (31987323)
- Denon AVR-1910 (black) (33650441)485.00 - 549.99
- URC Universal Remote Professional Line MX-810 (32912039)260.00 - 399.00
- URC Universal Remote Control MX-900 (32552106)279.00 - 449.95
- URC Professional Line MX-850 - universal remote control (32092938)409.99
- URC Professional Line MX-450 - universal remote control (33639921)239.95 - 249.95
- URC Home Theater Master MX-3000 - universal remote control (31337842)999.98
Manufacturer info
- Panasonic
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Panasonic products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.panasonic.com/
- Address:
One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 - Phone: 800/662-3537
