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Panasonic TC-P54G10
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: TC-P54G10
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- Bottom Line:
- Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54G10 offers superb image quality, plenty of features, and great value, making a strong bid for your big-screen buck.
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CNET editors' review
Panasonic TC-P54G10 price range: $1,599.99 - $1,999.95
- Reviewed by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 09/17/2009
- Released on: 03/15/2009
The good: Superb black-level performance with excellent shadow detail; highly accurate primary colors and grayscale in THX mode; great color saturation; uses less power than previous 1080p plasmas; VieraCast provides access to select Internet services.
The bad: Less-accurate secondary colors of magenta and cyan; slight yellowish tinge and limited light output in THX mode; skimpy picture controls; still less efficient than comparable LCDs.
The bottom line: Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54G10 offers superb image quality, plenty of features, and great value, making a strong bid for your big-screen buck.
For some people, a 50-inch HDTV just isn't big enough. Panasonic created its new 54-inch screen size, represented here by the TC-P54G10, for just those kinds of people. This set competes directly against the new 55-inch LCD size for your big-screen consideration, and occupies a nice middle ground between merely large 50-inch plasmas and truly gigantic 58- and 60-inchers. In our testing, the TC-P54G10 proved every bit the equal of its smaller brothers in the company's G10 series, which remain one of the best value propositions on the market for shoppers who prize picture quality.
Series note: In April 2009, we published a review of the three other sizes in Panasonic's TC-PG10 series, based on a hands-on evaluation of the TC-P46G10. We didn't review the 54-inch TC-P54G10 back then, despite its identical specs, because it was an entirely new screen size for the company. After testing the 46- and 54-inch members of the series, we observed very similar picture quality on both sizes, and as usual remarks from this review can be applied for the most part to all other sizes in the series.
Design
Editors' note: Many of the Design and Features elements are identical between the TC-P54G10 and the TC-P46G10 we reviewed earlier, so readers of the earlier review may experience some déjà vu when reading the same sections below.
Like most TV makers, Panasonic differentiates it less from its more-expensive model lines by blessing the latter with refined styling, and the step-up G10 series follows suit. It lacks the beautiful one-sheet-of-glass design found on the even-more-expensive V10 series, but makes up for it somewhat with a thinner frame around the edge of the screen; this is the thinnest-framed plasma we've reviewed, with the exception of the company's "professional" models like the TH-50PH11UK. Glossy black predominates, interrupted by a silver strip along the bottom that abuts the G10's signature design touch, a silver wash that fades into black after about a half inch. Comparison Panasonic shoppers may care that the more-expensive, otherwise-identical G15 models lack the silver accents.
Another big change from last year is Panasonic's new circular stand. It out-styles the rectangular version found on the step-down models, but unfortunately it doesn't swivel. Hidden speakers complete the G10 series' sleek look.
The remote also 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 mandated that an unnecessarily prominent trio of keys--Viera Link, VieraCast, and VieraTools--arc 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 none of the 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 (aka HDMI-CEC).
Panasonic's menus have a highly legible yellow-on-blue color scheme and navigation is basically unchanged. The main menu offers 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 and VieraCast.
Features
The main rewards for stepping up from Panasonic's basic 1080p lineup, namely the TC-PS1 series, include THX Display Certification and VieraCast, the company's interactive TV feature.
When you engage THX picture mode, the G10's color accuracy, shadow detail, and numerous other picture characteristics improve significantly--at the expense of a dimmer picture--without you having to make a bunch of adjustments. We'll go into the effects below.
VieraCast 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 capability 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 can interface with compatible networked cameras to use the system for household monitoring (we did not test this feature). Check out last year's in-depth look at VieraCast for more information.
These content offerings are solid, albeit not up to the level found on some interactive TVs this year, including the Netflix-enabled LG and (soon) Sony models. VieraCast also lacks the variety, and promise of future expansion, of Yahoo-widget-equipped TVs from Samsung. On the other hand, it feels more polished and certainly more responsive than widgets, and of course Panasonic can add more services to keep VieraCast in the future. May we suggest Netflix?
Compared with a lot of other name-brand HDTV makers, Panasonic offers far fewer picture adjustments. Yes, the basics are there, including Contrast, which the company was calling Picture for years. We liked that all four of the global picture modes, including THX and the dim-by-design Standard mode (see below), are adjustable and that the fifth, 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.
Beyond the basics, Panasonic lets you change the refresh rate to 48Hz, although doing so causes flicker (see Performance for more). There are also five color temperature presets, of which Warm2 came closest to the D65 standard. No further provisions for tweaking the grayscale exist. A "C.A.T.S." function senses ambient light and adjusts the picture accordingly; a Color management toggle 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 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, aka 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.
Panasonic touts the G10 series' power-saving chops, thanks to its so-called NEO PDP panel, but 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-PG10 series is perfectly adequate but not overboard, starting with three HDMI inputs, two on the back and a third 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 port 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
The TC-P54G10 delivers nearly identical picture quality to its smaller brethren, which makes it among the best-performing HDTVs we've tested this year, second only to the company's own V10 models. Its picture starts with deep black levels that lend realism and contrast to every scene, especially dark ones, and also offers relatively accurate color. On the downside, its video processing can't handle 1080p/24 sources properly, and color suffers from insufficient user menu adjustments, but neither issue spoils the 54G10's excellent overall picture quality.
As we saw on the smaller G10 models we reviewed, the TC-P54G10 requires certain compromises during picture setup that result from a paucity of picture control. The THX mode offers more accurate color and a low light output that cannot be increased, while Custom is less color-accurate yet can be made brighter. For what it's worth, THX on both the 46-inch and 54-inch G10 models we measured was virtually identical, to the point of topping out at a maximum of exactly 28.26ftl on both sizes. Primary and secondary colors were likewise within a hair's breadth of one another, and the secondaries of cyan and magenta were equally less accurate than the other colors, which were equally spot-on. Gamma in THX on the 54-incher was 2.14, compared to 2.25 on the 46-incher, and both came quite close to the standard of 2.2.
As before, we used THX for our critical evaluations because of its superior color accuracy, but our picture settings do include Custom, for people who want a brighter image and are willing to compromise color and gamma performance. We used the scant available user controls to calibrate Custom to our nominal 40ftl level and adjusted the rest of the controls as well as we could, but in the end the dimmer, albeit more color-accurate, picture of THX was still preferable. We wish Panasonic had allowed us to eke more light out of THX mode, or simply provided a choice of color spaces, gamma, and fine color temperature controls with all modes, like many manufacturers do, but that's not the case with the G10.
Our comparison of the Panasonic TC-P54G10 pitted it against a few 50-inch plasmas, including the company's own TC-P50V10, the Samsung PN50B850, the LG 50PS80, and our reference Pioneer PRO-111FD. We also threw in our favorite 52-inch LCD, the Samsung LN52B750. For our image quality tests we checked out the luscious "Speed Racer" on Blu-ray.
Black level: When the camera stopped long enough for us to appreciate them, it was clear that black levels on the TC-P54G10 were superb. The depth of black in the letterbox bars, the shadows behind the announcer in Chapter 2, and the recesses inside the car for example, all appeared darker and truer than on any of the other displays, aside from the V10, which was basically equal, and, of course, the Pioneer. Shadow detail also looked more natural than any of the others, aside from those two sets, from the hair in John Goodman's mustache to the side of young Speed as they both observe the race. Blacks stayed constant with no fluctuation we could observe in program material.
The G10's excellent gamma, which affected shadow detail as well as the appearance of bright areas, worsened considerably when we switched from THX to Custom, which made brightness progressions appear less natural, especially in side-by-side comparisons.
Color accuracy: In THX mode, colors on the G10 looked mostly excellent, although not up to the levels of the other displays in our lineup. Primary and secondary colors were spot-on for the most part, as evinced by the riot of reds and blues in the racing scenes. The G10's solid grayscale came through in shots of white and gray areas, like the test paper young Speed fills out in the opening scene or the white of Rex's car. We also loved the rich, lush color saturation of this film as reproduced by the G10, which matched that of any of the displays in the room aside from the Pioneer.
But like other Panasonic displays, THX mode on the G10 betrayed a slight yellow/green tinge, for example in the pale face of Christina Ricci as she watches the race at the start of Chapter 3. We still preferred that look to the bluer, paler look of Custom (the result of its less-accurate color temperature) and in Custom her red lipstick, for example, appeared inaccurate and less natural compared with THX and our reference.
Regardless of mode, we appreciated that blacks and dark areas on the G10 remained true, without veering into the bluish tinge seen on so many other displays, especially LCDs like the Samsung B750. The G10 also outdid the Samsung B850 plasma in this regard, although the difference was much more subtle.
Video processing: In our resolution tests, the TC-P54G10 performed very well, and matched the performance of its smaller brothers in the series. It delivered every line of 1080i and 1080p content with still resolution test patterns, properly deinterlaced both film and video-based 1080i content with the "3:2 pulldown" control set to "On" (a first for Panasonic in our experience, whose displays have always failed the film test, prior to this year) and passed all 1080 lines of motion resolution, matching other 1080p Panasonic plasmas and most other displays we've tested, including other plasmas, which hit between 800 and 1,000 lines at most. As usual, however, we found it basically impossible to discern any differences in resolution, motion or otherwise, between the Panasonic and the other 1080p displays in our test when watching actual program material as opposed to test patterns.
The company also includes a "24p direct in" setting that's available when the TV detects a 1080p/24 source, typically from a Blu-ray Disc. As with the other G10 sizes, choosing the "48Hz" setting, as opposed to the standard 60Hz setting, causes the display to refresh at 48Hz to match the 24fps cadence of film. And as with those sets, selecting 48Hz on the G10 causes flicker, more intense in brighter areas, but visible everywhere, that basically renders the image unwatchable. We don't expect any of the videophiles toward whom this setting is aimed to stand for the flicker, so we kept the G10 set to 60Hz. It's worth noting that the step-up V10 series refreshes at 96Hz, eliminates the flicker problem, and properly reproduces the cadence of film.
Bright lighting: The TC-P54G10 did a solid job attenuating ambient light and glare in our bright room--not quite as good as the Pioneer or Sony, but better than the highly-reflective Samsung LCD or the Samsung plasma. It uses the same antireflective screen as other 2009 Panasonic plasmas and handled bright lighting as well as those displays. The G10 did not preserve black levels in the bright light as well as any of the other non-Panasonic displays, however, and the Samsung in particular delivered better blacks in bright rooms.
Standard-definition: The Panasonic 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 Samsungs, for example. It did a subpar 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 moire from the grandstands behind the racecar.
PC: With an HDMI source and set to THX mode, the G10 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 1366x768, as the manual indicates, and the 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.
| Panasonic TC-P54G10 | ||
| TEST | RESULT | SCORE |
| Before color temp (20/80) | 6487/6696 | Good |
| After color temp | N/A | |
| Before grayscale variation | 198 | Good |
| After grayscale variation | N/A | |
| Color of red (x/y) | 0.637/0.333 | Good |
| Color of green | 0.295/0.61 | Good |
| Color of blue | 0.151/0.057 | 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: The Panasonic TC-P54G10 is the first 54-inch HDTV we've tested, so it's impossible to compare directly with others of its size. We have checked out one 55-inch LCD however, the Vizio VF550XVT, which, as expected, used considerably less power, but the rest of the models in our post-calibration comparison are different sizes. Like other Panasonic plasmas, the default setting for the 54 incher is quite a bit dimmer (29.19ftl) than our post-calibration setting (40ftl), which as in previous models is designed to help the TV achieve Energy Star status (and results in a "Good" overall rating in our system). No matter which way you slice it, however, the Panasonic TC-P54G10 is a power hog.
 Juice box |
|||
| Panasonic TC-P54G10 | Picture settings | ||
| Default | Calibrated | Power Save | |
| Picture on (watts) | 282.85 | 324 | N/A |
| Picture on (watts/sq. inch) | 0.23 | 0.26 | N/A |
| Standby (watts) | 0.13 | 0.13 | N/A |
| Cost per year | $61.03 | $69.90 | N/A |
| Score (considering size) | Poor | ||
| Score (overall) | Good | ||
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
User reviews
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Best HDTV I have seen so far
by KPMorgan on May 11, 2009
Pros: Excellent picture clarity, Brightest Plasma display, Thin bezel,
Cons: Manufacturing quality of bezel, lackluster remote
Summary: I have lusted after Pioneer's plasmas for some time but my wallet would not open wide enough to afford the TV of my 65" dreams. Enter the 54" Panasonic ...
Summary: I have lusted after Pioneer's plasmas for some time but my wallet would not open wide enough to afford the TV of my 65" dreams. Enter the 54" Panasonic G10!!!
Both more affordable and better sized for my room (50 Pio was too small / 65" too big) it does not dissappoint. Based on the strength of the online reviews I ordered my TC-P54G10 sight unseen direct from Panasonic. The promised delivery was the "Late May" but I was surprised when I received a note on May 7th that it had shipped and was already in a local distribution center.
It was delivered, unpacked, and the stand was assembled by Panasonic's white glove delivery team. They stayed to verify that it was functioning and cosmetically perfect before they left. They also left me with the reassurance that they deliver TVs for many manufacturers and have the fewest return calls on Panasonic. Good to note.
Performance:
After spending 3 days with this TV I am floored by its outstanding performance. Our room challeneges the brights TVs with plenty of ambient light. The Panasonic's picture brightness is very comparable with LCDs and easily tackles the challenge (THX modes does compromise this). It really shines with deep, detailed blacks that are beyond what I have ever seen on an LCD. Noise is extremely minimal with little to no color banding noted. Color accuracy appears very true, but I have yet to run a calibration disk yet. I'll update when I do.
Design:
The physical package of the TV is smaller than previous years and pleasing. To me the design of the housing should fade into the background. I always wonder why flat panel TV manufacturers do not take a cue from movie screens and make them a flat finish. I did not buy the TV to watch the bezel and it accomplished this with one exception. The bezel shows some manufacturing quality problems with waviness at the top of the frame. Hopefully they will improve this to bring it inline with the quality of the rest of the TV. The silver to black fade at the bottom of the frame is tasteful and the included piano black stand is nicely finished as well.
Features: Judging by the lack of heat coming from the TV, I would say the new neoPDP panel definitely reduces power consumption. I have yet to hook up a network connection so I could not truly evaluate VieraCast, but the menu looks easy to navigate once I have the network drop. I did play some photos through the SD card slot which it accessed and played some ~4meg jpg files with ease.
My only other issue was that there was some digital blocking occuring on some chaneels but I believe that it is my (old std def) cable box. I'll see if it resoves itself once I change out the box for a hi-def one this week.
I would highly recommend this set.
Move over Pioneer - Excellent job Panasonic!!!5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Just right.
by ravaughn on July 3, 2009
Pros: breathtaking picture
connectivity
ease of useCons: sound is a little tinny
could have used a usb portSummary: I bought this TV from the local Video Only for $1850 in late May, but didn't pick it up until the Friday before Father's Day (since I got ...
Summary: I bought this TV from the local Video Only for $1850 in late May, but didn't pick it up until the Friday before Father's Day (since I got it for my father), or install it until a week later. I've had it all hooked up (to 3 400 disc Sony DVD changers, Sony receiver, Psyclone source selector, Samsung DVD recorder, PS3, Linksys powerline adapter, Linksys router, CyberPower surge protector) for a week now. Sound can be a bit tinny, but if you want to watch a movie or concert on TV you can just use the optical audio out to your surround system. Standard definition TV looks ok. All the new channels we get thanks to the internal HDTV tuner are great. Standard definition movies look excellent, but Blu-ray movies from the PS3 are breathtaking. We tested it with The Fifth Element (remastered) and... WOW. The detail is astounding. For a perfectionist like me bass and blacks add the depth necessary for a true entertainment system. The black/color/detail this TV is capable of will meet all your needs, wants and then some. We have it set up in a room with a large window wall casting bright sunlight directly on the screen almost all day and there are no problems with glare/reflections obstructing or negatively impacting the view. One thing I would say, if you have to watch standard definition, you should be no less than 10 or so feet from the monitor. The lower the resolution, the harder it is to watch on a 54" screen. However, with quality Blu-ray and high definition video games you can be nose-to-glass and still enjoy the view.
I've been using this TV for months now and thought I should add something to my initial review...
I definitely recommend this product.
Updated on Sep 19, 2009
First off, the best full system 'show-off' piece I've come across so far is the lobby/helicopter scene from the Matrix on Blu-ray. Also, Watchmen on Blu-ray is absolutely gorgeous.
The Viera Cast weather has turned out to be quite useful, and my father has apparently become addicted to Youtube. I would like to see some sort of sports ticker replace Bloomberg (or just be added in general) and Netflix replace Amazon. As far as Amazon is concerned, the streaming quality seems to be related to connection speed, rendering it useless to me with my slow country connection.
I would like to point out that while glare is not a major issue, I have noticed that sitting in certain positions relative to the screen and windows in bright daylight or with other sources of light, can result in mild reflections during 'black' scenes. It's not that distracting, but if you look for it, you can see it.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Spectacular HDTV
Pros: Stunning Picture Quality
None of the "old" issues with Plasmas
Handles the full nuances of the entire color palette unlike LCDs
Handles fast action with no blurriness.
Handles cinema 24p very well.
Deep blacks are phenomenal.Cons: No wireless internet connection (but I'm reaching on this).
Black bezel is outstanding, but does attract little finger prints.Summary: I just got the TCP54G10. STUNNING! A little history. I have been looking at HDTVs for about 3 years, and looking at DLPs originally, then went into this year thinking ...
Summary: I just got the TCP54G10. STUNNING! A little history. I have been looking at HDTVs for about 3 years, and looking at DLPs originally, then went into this year thinking LCD is the way to go. I'm glad I waited, the inverse relationship between the technology and the prices is right this year.
Before you go buy an HDTV, do yourself a favor, look at this TV, and do some research. Read other reviews. It turned me around to plasma and to this 2009 model plasma from Panasonic in particular. I knew plasmas simply have a superior picture, but I thought the price and issues with plasmas were a detriment.
On the picture, another reviewer referred to perhaps a slight "green tint", I've not seen that at all, and frankly I've not seen that referred to in other reviews. My thinking is it could be the TV needed to be calibrated.
I came into this dead set on an LCD, most likely from Samsung, that was before I started doing research on the latest Plasmas. Picture quality compared to an LCD, it's simply stunning, LCD has nothing on the plasmas. The Panasonic G10 is nothing short of amazing. The upconvert DVDs on this are amazing, and our Pioneer Blu-Ray is jaw dropping.
While I knew the picture quality on plasmas can't be beat, I thought the issues outweighed the plusses. No they don't. A) No Buzzing, (we live in Colorado), B) wattage, very comperable to LCDs, negligable difference between LCDs, C) price, better than LCDs. D) This has a very sturdy, scratch resistant plastic screen. No Glass. E) Burn in or retention of picture. No problem there with this series. F) Price- lower than an LCD.
G) Heat, not noticeably hotter than an LCD (this is BIG).
(Oh the dirty little secret. The other manufacturers are getting out of plasma, why? Because Panasonic apparently owns the manufacturing plants, and they would have to pay Panasonic). Thus they can't compete on price.
This handles the true 24p nicely. It handles fast action with no blurriness no flicker (LCDs have just started to get around this with 120 hz). You'll read about the 600 HZ subfield drive on this latest model, and some threads that say "well it still doesn't handle true cinema completely... Yes, it does. Don't get too involved in the weeds with that. Suffice to say, it handles blu-ray action stunningly, and 24p just fine. No flickers, no blurriness. Stunning clarity. This is nice and bright (plus you can adjust this), and the deep blacks are stunning. An LCD looks, well, manufactured, and can only handle so many colors. Plasma can handle nearly infinite color palate so the pictures come out very natural, and you can see all the nuances of colors (like the Planet Earth series).
Bottom line, from someone who was dead set on an LCD: it's a stunning TV, you can't go wrong. We LOVE it. Panasonic has great reliability history.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing price and picture!
by SuperEnchi on September 25, 2009
Pros: THX Mode
Black Levels
Screen Size
Low price
VieraCastCons: No discreet remote codes for picture modes (that I can find)
Limited controls for adjustment compared to V10
48hz refresh mode vs 96hz for v10 (doesn't bother me)Summary: I am blown away by this TV. It is a great upgrade from my JVC HD-56G787 rear projection TV. It gets extremely bright, and is more watchable then my old ...
Summary: I am blown away by this TV. It is a great upgrade from my JVC HD-56G787 rear projection TV. It gets extremely bright, and is more watchable then my old TV in the daytime. At night with the shades drawn, THX mode rocks! It's plenty bright enough for a dark room, and there is no need for calibration in THX mode if that's not something you want to do. On really dark programs, like the night scenes on Lost, I could see tons of black detail I had been missing before. And the deep blacks remind me of my old CRT Sony set. My buddy has a 60" Pioneer Pro-151FD and I would say that while the G10 Series' blacks are not up to that level, the thousands I saved in comparison more than make up for it.
I really had to stretch for Cons above. As I said, the 48hz flicker doesn't bother me at all, and I only notice it in really bright scenes. Even then I prefer it for the smoothness wqhen watching movies on blu-ray. I recommend watching at least one movie all the way thru in 48hz mode before you decide it's real problem. I am willing to bet that by the end of the movie most people will not even notice the flicker anymore. I didn't tell my wife about the flicker and she has never even brought it up as a problem.
Otherwise, for the price you can find it for online with free shipping, this TV can't be beat right now IMO. Also the extra 4" is well worth the expense in comparison to a 50". That was just too small coming off my old 56" set, and 58" was too big for my setup.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Everything's a Compromise
by SColeman41 on July 11, 2009
Pros: Simply brilliant in most HD scenes.
Cons: Greenish hue when the TV's off which must be due to the anti-reflective glass. It's only bothersome in dimlit Blu Ray scenes with neutral colors--(ie. inside the U.S. Embassy in The Borne Identity).
Summary: My comparison is a 7-year-old Sony KV-36XBR800, one of the best (and last) CRTs ever made, an HD-Ready unit before there was HD content. It remains an amazing TV though ...
Summary: My comparison is a 7-year-old Sony KV-36XBR800, one of the best (and last) CRTs ever made, an HD-Ready unit before there was HD content. It remains an amazing TV though in letterbox the 36 becomes 31. For a long while, knowing the picture was better than nearly everything else available, I simply moved the seat closer to the screen. But after a speaker upgrade forced me to sit back 9 feet (and the flat panel quality/cost improved) I figured it was time to go larger (though it's not an upgrade in every way.) Having paid $3500 for the old Sony believing that relationship would last a lifetime, I didn't want to pay for the very best of current technology and figured the G10 was a good entry point. I might have chosen the V10 but found a 54 inch customer return for $1350. I've not compared the two but understand the anti-reflective glass is the same on both models (as well as on the Z10) so the limitations should be similar. The speakers (which I will never use) are also better on the V10.
I've watched several more Blu Ray discs and some TV. The color bias is well described in the CNET review on the 46 inch model and is not from the anti-reflective glass. The V10 might be better.
I settled on the THX mode at default settings fairly quickly. The subtle green tint is (I think) from the reflective glass and can't be eliminated. As I mentioned above it's only bothersome in dim scenes with pale neutral colors. It probably adds to the picture quality in bright scenes and outdoor shots as the ocean and city shots in The Borne Identity (Blue Ray) were some of the best images I've ever seen. The effect is a little like wearing sunglasses indoors/outdoors.
I'll learn to ignore it, but that would probably be easier if it were a small defect present in all scenes.
My understanding from other reviews (and from brief looks in the showrooms) is that the Pioneer plasma anti-reflective glass has a grey tint leaving the colors darker and slightly more true, possibly with a little less detail in some scenes.
Would I pay the price difference or consider an LCD which have their own drawbacks? If a 50 inch CRT (weighing 300 pounds no doubt) were available would I buy that instead?
No, it's a short-term relationship after all.
Updated on Jul 14, 2009
In THX mode the bias is most apparent (and bothersome) with dim scenes with predominantly neutral colors (tan becomes yellow) or with skin tones in those scenes. Watching "Planet Earth" is like watching visual perfection. Also, I was surprised at how enjoyable I found the rebroadcast of "The Civil War" (originally shot in 480i.) It's been digitally enhanced, but the details on the old photos including the imperfections of the original images are marvoulous.
I do like this TV and would make the same choice again. The trick will be to watch the content instead of the screen, though that is a bit harder since the problem isn't consistent.
I may have it professionally calibrated to see if that fixes things. I wouldn't have expected a THX certified set to need that, however.
Updated on Aug 16, 2009A month with this TV and I can recommend it without reservation. The thing I found distracting was the inconsistency in THX default mode. Scenes went from brilliant perfection to cloying green yellow--bright outdoor scenes being brilliant, dimmer indoor scenes (already made to look a bit yellow for effect) were over-the-top, distracting me from whatever I was watching. Blonde hair had a definite green tint.
I've settled on THX mode defaults turning the brightness up to 95. Then, depending on the source material, I switch color temperature between Cool 1 (Blu Ray, Sitcoms) and Warm 1 (Broadcast Sports).
To my eye I loose a little bit from the previously perfect scenes, but the defects are very, very small and more-or-less even across the different scenes.
Greart TV.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love this TV. Excellent for blu-ray and games
by jkx500 on June 30, 2009
Pros: Excellent picture
Amazing detail
No motion blur
100,000 hr half life - thats over 11 yrs if left on 24/7
THX modeCons: that i am ruined from watching regular tv.. and all my friends tvs look lame even in high def mode.. or maybe thats a pro.. lol
Summary: Got this TV for Fathers day, and have not been the slightest bit dissapointed. I wasn't sure what to pick.. All the tv's looked decent at the store, ...
Summary: Got this TV for Fathers day, and have not been the slightest bit dissapointed. I wasn't sure what to pick.. All the tv's looked decent at the store, but then when I saw this tv hooked up to its demo blu-ray I melted. just to make sure I had the salesman hook up the same blu-ray to another tv. But this panasonic was the nicer tv. Once home and hooked up, I put in a blu-ray and wow. I havent even tried the other modes, just left it on THX and was amazed at all the details. Truly stunning. Action scenes had no pixelization that i could see. The colors beautiful with no bleeding even in all black scenes with the white letters.. Some of the LCDs priced a thousand more had issues with that. Also movies look like movies instead of overly real behind the scenes shots like some of the LCD tvs.
I also have this tv as my main gaming tv, and it is fantastic. It keeps up with fast moving games, even when not set to Game mode.
Its a fantastic tv and I highly reccomend it. It definately feels good to spend about two grand and totally love your purchase. No regrets at all.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An in-depth review of the 46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10
by magussike on December 1, 2009
Pros: An in-depth review of the 46 inch Panasonic TC-P46G10
Cons: Superb black-level performance with excellent shadow detail; highly accurate primary colors and grayscale in THX mode; great color saturation; uses less power than previous 1080p plasmas; VieraCast provides access to select Internet services.
Summary: Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54G10 offers superb image quality, plenty of features, and great value, making a strong bid for your big-screen buck.
http://www.gadgettalks.comSummary: Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54G10 offers superb image quality, plenty of features, and great value, making a strong bid for your big-screen buck.
http://www.gadgettalks.com -
Excellent Value
by papsonk on November 29, 2009
Pros: Picture quality is excellent
Ease of setup
Very nice in appearance
No glare
Excellent viewing from all anglesCons: Doesn't appear that the remote will run other products unless they subscribe to the panasonic interface protocol
Summary: I went with plasma after doing research regarding the refresh issues with LCD. I like fast action movies and sports and did not want to become frustrated with a blurred ...
Summary: I went with plasma after doing research regarding the refresh issues with LCD. I like fast action movies and sports and did not want to become frustrated with a blurred image.
I purchased a blue-ray player and noticed little improvement on my older HDTV and therefore was moved to upgrade my TV to benefit fully.
I was looking at the V10 and S1 series. I decided against the S1 because of the lack of features, especially the ability to adjust the picture. I was close to purchasing a V10 but the cost was holding me back a bit. The decision was made for me when Video Only offered me the 54G10 TV for $1399.99.
I also considered the Samsung, but I read too many reviews of returns and people irritated with the buzzing (no buzzing with the Panasonic).
You would be splitting hairs to get the V10 over the G10, slightly better picture under certain circumstances.
Bottom line, unbelievable price for a plasma of this quality and size.
One note, I was considering the 58? because my old TV is a 57. Companies evidently don?t measure screen size the same. My new 54? is the same size as my 2002 57?, so I saved some money and went with the 54?. -
Nice for the price!!
by rick0859 on November 11, 2009
Pros: Price is excellent. Very good picture after you do some adjustments. Easy to hook up.
Cons: Sound from this TV is poor. It has to be hooked up to a surround sound system to enjoy quality sound. Picture is not quite as bright as my 40 inch Sony LCD.
Summary: I would by this TV again. It's not
Summary: I would by this TV again. It's not
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Loving it,.
by rareandfirst on November 4, 2009
Pros: Great picture, easy set up and impressive appearance.
Cons: Location of IR receiver.
Summary: I'm very happy with this purchase. I bought this for a HTPC I had built and it works great with Media Center and netflix streaming. BluRay looks great and ...
Summary: I'm very happy with this purchase. I bought this for a HTPC I had built and it works great with Media Center and netflix streaming. BluRay looks great and the adjustments are not as bad as the CNet review states.
As far as "bang for the buck" goes, I haven't seen a better HDTV out there.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: TC-P54G10
- Description: If you demand the best from your viewing experience, the G10 series of plasma HDTV was created just for you. They boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action - even Web entertainment. All made possible by the Neo PDP technology, which delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, and all with lower power consumption.
General
- Product type Plasma TV
- Diagonal Size 54.1 in - Widescreen
- Dimensions & Weight Details Panel with stand - 51.6 in x 15.3 in x 34.8 in x 90.4 lbs, Panel without stand - 51.6 in x 4.2 in x 32.8 in x 83.8 lbs
Display
- Technology Plasma (PDP)
- Resolution 1920 x 1080
- Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Image Contrast Ratio 40000:1
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio 2000000:1
- Widescreen Modes Full, Just, Zoom, Normal
- Total Pixels 2,073,600
- Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Pixel Pitch 0.624 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 Anti-Reflective filter, Viera Link, Viera Cast, Viera Tools, Viera image viewer
TV Tuner
- Digital TV Tuner QAM, ATSC
- Analog TV Tuner NTSC
- dbx Noise Reduction Yes
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
- Audio Controls Balance, Bass, Treble
- Response Bandwidth 150 - 16000 Hz
- Output Power / Total 20 Watt
Connections
- Connector Type 2 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) ), 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-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear
- Slot Provided 1 x SD Memory Card
Network & Internet Multimedia
- Functionality Digital photo playback, Digital video playback
Memory Card Reader
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card
Remote Control
- Remote Control Standard remote control - infrared - Infrared
- Supported Devices TV
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Power AC 120 V
- Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 0.2 Watt
- Power Consumption Operational 604 Watt
- Compliant Standards EPA Energy Star, UL6500/C-UL
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Width (Shipping) 57.5 in
- Depth (Shipping) 13.1 in
- Height (Shipping) 37 in
- Weight (Shipping) 105.8 lbs
Sustainability
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.9
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 41.6 in, 2000000:1, 40000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 46 in, 2000000:1, 40000:1, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
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Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: Plasma TV, 49.9 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
Accessories
- dreamGEAR Dreamline video / audio cable - HDMI - 6 ft (33543214)29.99
- XtremeMac XtremeHD video / audio cable - HDMI - 6.6 ft (32416821)15.50 - 18.39
- 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)499.00 - 549.99
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
