plasma

2010 Panasonic plasma TVs: still lose black levels, but should remain 'blacker' than competition

The most recent results of measurements taken by CNET confirm that after a few hundred days of on time, the company's 2010 plasma TVs do lose some of their ability to produce a deep shade of black, which is a major factor in picture quality. Even after the loss, however, both can still achieve comparatively deep black levels, and according to Panasonic that shouldn't change significantly after an initial period.

We've been testing two 2010 models, the TC-P50VT25 and the TC-P50G20, since we received the review samples from Panasonic earlier this year, and until now we haven't measured any increase in the brightness of "black" (known as MLL, or Minimum Luminance Level).

However, after being run for what amounts a small fraction of their expected lifespans, each TV has shown an MLL increase. "Black" on the VT25 went from 0.004 to 0.007 footlamberts (ftl) after 1,543 total hours (the equivalent of 297 days at the average daily rate of 5.2 hours), while the G20 increased from 0.007 to 0.012 after 2,411 total hours (464 days).

This behavior was expected, and explained by Panasonic as a normal part of its plasma TVs' operation when we first documented it with 2009 models. The company previously said in a statement that its 2010 plasmas would incorporate a "more gradual change in black levels over time" than the 2009 models.

Response from Panasonic This time around we were able to get much more specific information from Panasonic on the aging process. We spoke to Bill Schindler, a consultant and former vice president for the company, who told us that our 2010 review samples were operating within specification and, what's more, shouldn't change much more over the rest of their lifespans.… Read more

Wraparound plasma screen is one good turn

CHIBA, Japan--It turns out digital signs don't have to be flat.

Here at Ceatec, Fujitsu turned what looked like your standard building column into an interactive display by wrapping it with a plasma display and a motion-sensing camera.

The display itself is 1 centimeter thick and is available in much larger sizes--see the 200-inch one that's been installed at Japan's Kansai Airport.

The display uses cameras to sense a person's location and movements in reaction to elements on the screen. The camera on one side displays the person's interactions on both sides of the column, … Read more

Samsung PNC8000: The second-best TV of 2010

Ever since we tested the Panasonic TC-PVT25 series in June, we've been itching to compare it directly to Samsung's flagship 3D-compatible plasma HDTV for 2010. After finally getting the chance to review the Samsung PNC8000 series--the odds-on favorite, if there is one, to defeat the Panasonic--we can declare the verdict in this dogfight. Panasonic by a black nose.

The PNC8000 is an excellent performer, and deserves the silver medal among plasma TVs we've tested so far this year. In addition, we'd wager no other as-yet-announced TV will outperform either one in 2010. But the Samsung's … Read more

Panasonic VT25 plasma wins HDTV shootout

New York independent home theater retailer Value Electronics has published the results of its annual 2010 flat-panel TV shootout, which pitted six high-end HDTVs against one another in a side-by-side comparison. The unanimous winner, as voted by the attendees of the event, was the Panasonic TC-P58VT25 plasma TV.

Five other high-end 3D TVs were included, with the following overall results:

1. Panasonic TC-P58VT25 (plasma) 2. Samsung PN58C8000 (plasma) 3. LG 55LX9500 (full-array local dimming LED-based LCD) 4. Sony KDL-55NX810 (edge-lit local dimming LED-based LCD) 5. Samsung UN55C8000 (edge-lit local dimming LED-based LCD) 6. Sharp LC-60LE925UN (edge-lit LED-based LCD)

As may be expected when evaluating many picture quality parameters, this ranking isn't exactly strict. According to the Value Electronics Web site: "When the audiences voted on the best picture quality Panasonic was the unanimous winner. Voting on LCDs split the votes between Sony and LG. Sony has a better picture straight on, but quality goes down rapidly when you move off-angle; some judges rated it #2, but the audiences voted in this order." The site also stresses that numbers 2, 3, and 4 are "almost tied for 2nd," and 5 and 6 are "almost tied for 3rd, and in a few ways had superior attributes."

The voting audience wasn't exactly a bunch of noobs. It was composed of executives and senior engineers from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), National Association of TV Broadcasters (NAB), and manufacturers including LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, as well as "serious a/vphiles and leading members of their respected user forums."

The TVs were all professionally calibrated by well-regarded HDTV experts, namely Ed Johnson, Dewayne Davis (known on AVS Forum as D-Nice), and Kevin Miller, former TV reviewer for CNET and founder of TweakTV. Kevin breaks down many of the testing details in his blog post, which also includes links to benchmark test results for each TV. Robert Zohn, the founder and president of Value Electronics from the video after the break, stressed the unbiased nature of the shootout, and Zohn says he doesn't even sell the Sony NX810 entered into the competition.

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LG PX950 plasma first TV to get THX's 3D badge

Editors' Note, November 18th, 2010 CNET is in the process of reviewing the LG PX950 series, but the review has been delayed due to a bug with the TV. Click here for details.

Yesterday LG announced the PX950 series of plasma TVs will be the first 3D TV on the market with THX's new 3D display certification.

The series will be available this month in LG's traditional two plasma sizes--50 and 60 inches--for $1,999 and $2,999, respectively. That's a premium cost of at least $200-to-$300 more than the company's non-3D equivalent plasma TVs, the well-reviewed PK950 series.

Like the PK950 and many of LG's higher-end plasma and LCD TVs, the PX950 is also has 2D THX certification, meaning it passed a series of what THX describes as rigorous tests for image quality and signal processing.

According to THX, the certification for 3D is the first of its kind and incorporates hundreds of new tests and thousands of data points. "A THX 3D Certified TV must be capable of delivering consistent stereoscopic images with accurate color and clean processing," said Rick Dean, a senior vice president at THX, in a news release.

In person, the PX950 demo LG showed us consisted of selections from the "Under the Sea" IMAX Blu-ray, which will be included in LG's current bundle along with two pairs of glasses. The 3D effect looked good and had minimal crosstalk--a prominent artifact common to all 3D TVs we've tested that appears as ghostly doubled images around onscreen objects. Of course, we're anxious to test it side-by-side in our lab to get a better idea of how it compares with other 3D TVs.… Read more

3D 'Avatar' to Blu-ray in December; exclusive to Panasonic 3D TVs

Confirming the rumors, Panasonic has announced that the 3D version of the 'Avatar' Blu-ray disc will arrive in December as an exclusive available only to owners of the company's 3D TVs.

As first reported by TWICE:

At launch, running through an undisclosed period of time, the disc will only be available to consumers who purchase a Panasonic 3D Viera plasma TV. The promotional offer will likely take the form of a variety of bundles onto the purchase of Viera 3D TVs and related equipment, although exact details are still to be announced, the company said.

Currently available qualifying TVs … Read more

Tests of Panasonic black level loss negative so far

Aside from reader requests for a review of the Samsung PNC8000--before you ask, no, I still haven't received a sample, so there's no ETA yet for the review--the most common question I get these days is some variation of "Any update on the long-term tests of Panasonic's 2010 plasmas?" At the risk of reporting a nonevent, here's what we know so far.

After about 1,650 hours of on-time logged on our TC-P50G20 review sample, and 920 on our TC-P50VT25, we have measured no loss in black level, or "minimum luminance level" (MLL) as the kids from a certain forum like to say. At the average daily rate of 5.2 hours of on-time per TV, that works out to about 318 and 177 days, respectively.

The 1,650-hour mark is somewhat significant because it's higher than the both the 1000 and 1500 hour marks after which, with Panasonic's 2009 plasmas, we measured losses. Our new results lend credence to Panasonic's claim that its 2010 plasmas would incorporate a "more gradual change in black levels over time" than the 2009 models.

… Read more

New Panasonic 3D plasmas shrink prices, screens

Panasonic has announced the availability of two 3D-compatible plasma TVs as part of the new GT25 series. Both are less expensive than the company's current 3D TVs, the excellent VT20/25 series.

The 50-inch TC-P50GT25 carries an MSRP of $2,099.95, while the 42-inch TC-P42GT25 lists for $1,699.95. The 42-inch model is the smallest 3D screen size yet for Panasonic. Both sizes will be available in late August, according to the company.

While the new TC-P50GT25 does cost less than the existing TC-P50VT25, which is currently going for about $2,600 from authorized online retailer BestBuy.com, the same retailer has the nearly identical TC-P50VT20 selling for $2,100. For that reason, among others, we expect the actual selling price of the new TC-P50GT25 to be somewhat less than $2,000.

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Samsung update nixes dejudder on PNC7000 TVs

After publishing a mostly positive review of the Samsung PNC7000 series on July 14, 2010, I received a couple of e-mails from readers wondering why I didn't notice its overt dejudder processing.

The processing, which apparently cannot be defeated without engaging Game mode on the PNC7000, creates a smoothing effect that typically make film look more like video. It's sometimes called the "Soap Opera Effect" at places like enthusiast Web site avsforum.

I replied to the readers that I didn't see any dejudder on the sample I reviewed, but I promised to ask Samsung for an explanation.

The explanation came a couple of days later, when Samsung's representative said the company had sent me a review sample that contained firmware that was not yet available to the public.

The reply e-mail read:

"A firmware update is being released on Friday, 7/23 (v1026) and will solve your reader's dejudder issue, updates your review unit already contains." When I asked why, the reply was: "Your TV had the firmware update because it was already supposed to be out before Friday and we didn't want you to have to re-review the unit."

… Read more