So, is Panasonic's low-end TC-P42S1 worth the relatively small asking price (around $1,000)?
CNET reviewers sat down to find out exactly that, and they concluded that while it wasn't perfect, it's apt to be plenty awesome for the average HDTV viewer. For starters, it consumes a good bit less energy than previous PDPs, and it also sported black levels that "nearly rival" Pioneer's heralded
KURO. Other praises include excellent shadow detail, solid color saturation and a decent array of ports. The only real knocks were the less-than-accurate primary colors / color temperature and the skimpy picture controls, but as we mentioned, these aren't likely to matter to the non-enthusiast. Overall, critics found that this here set struck a great balance between price and performance, but we'd still recommend putting your eyes on one before pulling the trigger.
posted Mar 14th 2009 8:01AM
Finally the Panny are getting reviewed... cant wait for the review on the G and V series!
I'm really looking forward to seeing the G Series. It adds THX certification and the SD slot will read AVCHD video from HD Camcorders.
I like the idea of putting the TV into a THX mode and having it 90% of the way to calibration without having to pay someone $300 to do it.
90% is just not good enough. It's not even close... You could find numbers on AVSforum and be better.
Blacks that rival a KURO? CNET is out of their mind. I've seen this tv and at best it rivals a Westinghouse. Low end Panny's suck. Shell out some cash and get a 850 or something nice like that and get off the Panasonic bus. They should stick to microwaves and High-end tv's. You want cheap, buy Vizio. But dont complain when it breaks. I'm tired of people always posting reviews or comments when they know nothing about which they talk. The high-end panny plasmas are great. Anything entry level (with the exception of the belated Pioneers) are crap, hence entry level.
Shout out to Andy P. and Joe C.
Btw... thx mode is crap too. On any tv
What a joke. Cnet reviewers clearly have no idea what they're talking about. I've seen the TH65VX100U, which is Pana's $10,000 reference for those not familar with the model, and even that PDP can't reproduce blacks like a KURO. And that isn't just my opinion. The April 2009 issue of Home Theater Magazine felt the same way which is surprising considering how much cheaper it would be to purchase a 60" PRO151 or 141.
Well the 65" panny is bigger then the Pioneer Kuro and the Company is going to continue making TV which I think is a good thing. Pioneer is getting out of that business. Of course I do agree the Pioneer Kuro rocks.
Having deep blacks is really just another gimmick like 120hz LCD's. How does it feel to have spent thousands on a TV that is now outdated and EOL'd????
cnet should just review computer-related stuff. None of the current and near-future Panasonic panel can touch even previous generation Kuro.
Mind you, however, that PAnasonic panels are not bad at all, but equating them with Kuro? that's laughable
WOW! The 3 posters above are complete and total douchebags. Kuro's aren't all that great. Funny how Pioneer Kuro is going out of business and Panny is selling plasma like it was going outta style. My Panny 85u's black levels are perfect and I paid only $900 for it. Now go home and whine to your little mommies.
Do you actually have a KURO...? Or watched the same movies on a Panasonic vs a KURO in totally dark environment? To tell others to go home and while to their comments while not having owned the product or performed a side by side comparison is just ignorant... I have a KURO and during credits at the en of a movie, you cannot even tell where the panel and the panel frame meets... While on any Panasonic I have seen, you can clearly see where the panel ends and the panel frame starts during the credits. KURO is really that much darker than Panasonic..
Why would anyone call any one a douche bag if you do not even have the product at home or have done a side to side comparison...?
One more thing.. I know the above because I often help my friends (and friends' friends) do very simple AVIA and Digital Video Essentials disc calibrations in totally dark rooms, so I have seen many, many Panasonic and KURO sets with optimal contrast and black levels according the calibration discs... KURO sets are significantly blacker than Panasonic sets, hands down.
video master my a$$.......
Video Master 2. You amaze me with your complete and total lack of knowledge. These are typical comments from a Panasonic owner who can't afford an Elite panel. What are you going to say next? "Ya my Civic can out perform your Corvette because General Motors is in financial troubles now and my car is cheaper." You are a very ignorant person who doesn't know his facts. Pioneer had no choice but to get out of the video business due to the fact that people convince themselves a $900 television delivers as good as picture and with the state of our economy, many people can't afford to buy a television at a higher price. It has nothing to do with the performance of the product. If Porsche was pulling out of the consumer automotive industry, should they have just built cheaper cars, or keep the reputation and heritage of the company as being a car company that built better products then they're competitors?
KURO.....R.I.P. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Panasonic is taking over now!!!! hahahhaha
damn- why is it every time a panny is mentioned on this site (even a relatively cheap one), the comments are full of fanboys who probably didnt even know about pioneer before they coined the word Kuro? I gotta agree with videomaster above; Kuros were great TVs, but to see the diff between a panny 850 or even a director's series hitachi would be outside the scope of someone who stands in bestbuy and waits and squints to see a black screen. (hint- they use a darker anti glare coating AND drop the black level when the screen goes black!) contrast isnt the end all spec! its only a couple of guys who really tell it like it is and here's a link to one of his articles:
http://hdguru.com/panasonic-premiere-th-65vx100-the-new-king-of-flat-panels-exclusive-first-review/276/
also the only guy who didnt literally blow the xel-1 when he reviewed it:
http://hdguru.com/sony-xel-1-finally-a-critical-review/242/
The Kuro displays were awesome, particularly the deep blacks, but they were not perfect. Color accuracy was never a strong point - the Panasonics were consistently better in that regard.
Chris, have you ever even seen a 111 or a 151? the colors are near perfect and the black levels out of the box are Outstanding. Any panasonic thats out of the box has grey blacks and terrible color. and btw corey smith. i've been selling pioneer kuros (before they were kuros) and elites (since they came out). I know Jeff meier personally. hes came to my store location numerous times. so yes, i know what im talking about. you should ask Jeff what he thinks about panasonics lol. and Alan Lindsey, Outstanding comment. 100% dead on. and although contrast doesn't mean everything on a set, when i look at the overall picture, i would take a 5020 (entry level pioneer) over an 850 (higher end) any day. Pioneer is as good as it gets. hand down. the hitachi director sets were comparable like 3 years ago. the 111/151's smoke any tv out there.