Panasonic announced a
slew of Viera TVs at CES, and although we already knew when they'd be making their
Japanese debut, US info has been hard to come by. That's starting to change: pricing details are leaking out, and CNET and HDGuru have managed to assemble a pretty exhaustive list of what to expect and how much it'll cost. Of interest, Panny's still going strong on the plasma tip, so those of you aching for the best picture possible but unwilling to shell out for the dead-ended Kuro will still have plenty of options -- there's a set at every point between the 42-inch
720p X1 at $899, the 50-inch 1080p S1 with a
nicer NEO-PDP panel for $1,799, the 50-inch THX-certified G10 with VieraCast for $1,999 and the as-yet-unpriced,
one-inch thick wireless 54-inch Z1. As for LCDs, it's a similar story at smaller sizes: you've got sets ranging from the budget $499 720p 32-inch C12 to the $1,099 120Hz 1080p 37-inch G1 with Motion Focus and a 20,000:1 contrast ratio. Check all the info at the read links; we'll be scouring the wire praying for news that Panny's bought up the Kuro tech from Pioneer.
Read - HDGuru
Read - CNET
posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:02PM
Looks like Panny Plasma is next on my list
Where do you see the 50" S1 for $1399? The CNET article says $1799.
I must be way out of the loop. Kuros are going bye bye??
Seriously?
Those are disgustingly expensive for plasma sets now, especially Panasonics which still don't have a black level I'm impressed with. (No I don't expect a Kuro black, but come on, the current ones look glass-green even next to a Samsung!)
get you eyes checked, man. this is dirt cheap for any flat panel technology (1800 bones for a high end 50"?). that's why panny's still around- great pricing AND top of the line tech. the neo pdps will kick everything in the balls this year. unimpressive blacks? dude, they started the whole black level race! in fact- you'd need test equipment and a side X side comp to see how much darker a kuro is compared to a pz85u- see http://hometheatermag.com/plasmadisplays/1008panapz85u/index1.html (panny dosent cheat with extra- dark anti glare coatings). and please show me a samsung plasma that gets just as black (hint: its not the a650 plasma).
The article you linked to had this to say in reference to black levels....
"The Panasonic’s blacks were good. They weren’t the best I’ve seen or measured (that honor still CLEARLY goes to the Pioneer KUROs). "
Where does he mention needing test equpiment to tell the difference?
@Britboy are you nutz????
Why do you think these are expensive? What are you comparing these to Vizio or something??
These prices are pretty cheap and the will definitely be below the MSRP when in stores.
They have the best technology, deep blacks, and are going to be less than an inch thick!
Compare that to a Pio Kuro or Sony XBR 9.
i didnt quote the article with my statement. i think most people (such as britboyj) cannot physically see the diff between the 2 brands. theyd probably need a spectrometer.
"A set with deeper blacks will buy you additional richness on such material, plus a shade more subjective depth and dimensionality. But you’re not likely to notice the difference outside of a direct, side-by-side comparison in a fully darkened room."
i linked it to show how even a properly calibrated pz85 wont look very different from a kuro outside a direct side by side comp, even to a well trained eye.
I know the engadgetHD guys didn't ask panasonic about 72Hz, but maybe Nilay did?