Panasonic's TC-P54V10 plasma crowned king, so sayeth the HD Guru

Panasonic's run of critical acclaim for its NeoPDP panels, and the V10 series in particular, just keeps rolling along. Given the positive reception the HD Guru gave Panny's G10-series set, it should come as no surprise that the higher-spec TC-P54V10 model came through its review with flying colors. The Guru blew right past the "sheet of glass" aesthetic and added color spaces that will largely go unused and got right into the good stuff. Sure, the 96Hz mode delivered on its promise of judder-free 4:4 pulldown, but most surprising was the V10's black level performance, which fell below the test equipment's ability to measure -- the review guessed it to be about half as bright as the G10's black level. That's in spitting distance of the Kuro performance, and the V10 managed to pull a little more dark detail as well. Yeah, it's a winner -- so much so that the Guru had to break out a fifth heart in its rating. The Kuro is dead, long live the Kuro.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2009 9:18PM]

I'm so happy that Panasonic continued to improve the plasma technology this far and now is bringing some great models right up at Kuro levels. I guess next year's plasmas will be now even more impressive. Long live the Kuro. Welcome Panasonic. Eat that LCD!! ;)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2009 10:06PM]

Glad to see Panasonic improving. With the Kuro series no longer, this is apparently the heir apparent to people who want great black levels, accurate colors, and fast motion reproduction.

Plus, you can find these at much more reasonable prices than comparably sized local-dimming LED LCD sets.

Keep that plasma flame alive, Panasonic!

[plyx Posted Jul 26th 2009 10:37PM]

I heard over at AVS forum that HD Guru's biggest advertiser is Panasonic. I wonder if they might be biased.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2009 11:25PM]

you would think so, but look through their review archives and you'll see some pretty diverse articles, including the review of the samsung luxia 8000, which they also raved about.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:13AM]

More then likely because people who actually read reviews are more likely to pick a high end plasma then the 'bright' LCD in a store.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:43AM]

Advertising may play a factor in reviews on HDguru, but Gary Merson, who use to be video editor for The Perfect Vision Magazine is an expert and veteran in the field, while neither can not be said for David Katzmaier at Cnet.

Cnet is very polite in their review scores for some televisions, especially lower priced LCDs. This is clearly done to appease the manufacturers who supply them with products to review. So are they any less biased than HDguru?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:50AM]

I don't buy the black level being twice as good as the G10 model. Many people at AVS have these sets and have measured the black level to be the same between the two, and Cnet said black level was the same between the two.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:39PM]

Yea the black level bit is puzzling. No other reviews or professional calibrators (see AVSForum) have given a significant MLL advantage to the V10. Maybe someone should bring that to HDGuru's attention so they can double check their findings. Perhaps Panasonic themselves should look into this cause that goes way beyond accepted unit to unit variation and kind of craps all over any semblance of quality control.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:10AM]

I love the V10 to death, and for the $, it's a fantastic bargain. But, after watching it side-by-side with the the 111FD, it's still not there yet. Black levels on the 111FD are extremely inky and have much more depth than any other TV I've ever seen. Although still not there yet, the Panasonic V10 comes closest to matching the PQ of the best T.V. ever made.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:46AM]

Well deserved praise, IMO. I also still give the edge to the Pioneer Elite Kuro plasmas from last year, but the Panny V10 models are darn close and their price point is very competitive. Dollar for dollar, I consider the V10 plasmas to be the best televisions out there at the moment.

On the black level issue - one thing to consider is the anti-reflective screen surface. The Pioneer Kuro had a more effective anti-reflective screen, which also retained better black level performance and shadow detail under brighter lighting.

[HC Posted Jul 27th 2009 1:52AM]

Have you tested out this years Samsung 850 series plasma?

I saw it at my buddies' video store and it looked amazing when fully calibrated. It's like 1" inch thicks and really amazed me. I'd say it had amazing black levels as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 6:26AM]

Samsung definitely stepped up their plasma performance this year - I agree. I also really appreciate that Samsung has delivered accurate colors for several years now with both their plasmas and their LCDs. The big down side for me with Samsung displays though is their apparent love of mirror-like, super glossy screen surfaces! I honestly find it confusing because I find the glossy screens completely unwatchable.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 9:11AM]

And I, for one, welcome our new Panasonic overlords

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 9:13AM]

Please, I'll put the V10 and a Kuro up against my Dynex Plasma anyday. Black levels, who needs that when you can get a natural beauty for gray.

[Slarity Posted Jul 28th 2009 10:10AM]

Haha, thanks for making me smile. I really need it at work most days.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 9:32AM]

BestBuy.com has this one on sale too. I couldn't pass the deal up, $300 off.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 12:51PM]

For value get the Samsung b550 plasma save you half

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 5:31PM]

Hopefully Pioneer will sell Panasonic the extreme contrast plasma patents and we will see a 65" in 2011. I want a 10g pio, even if it says panny on the front.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 27th 2009 7:00PM]

This sounds like a very good HDTV. I hope Panasonic does well with it.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 25th 2009 10:11PM]

I have recently bought the TC-P54V10 and am having a smart friend over to fine tune it.
I asked the store where I bought the machine and they said they didn't use calibration discs.
My smart friend said the store doesn't know what their doing?? He's bringing over a blu ray
and he's going into the THX and the end result will be that my machine performance will
probably go up as good a setting as possible. I've read a lot of information on the 54V10
and I asked my friend to google and read. His attitude was pay attention to your visual sight
of the image with your own eyes. My friend is a professional photographer and is very hands
on and can really help me get the best performance for the buck.
I'd like to write tomorrow at this time ? He's coming by at noon.
96 hz definetely
I was informed that Pioneer Corporation is going to stop plasma production soon so it was
very nice of the Pioneer Corporation to get involved with the Z1 as well as the 54V10.
CNET gave it 8.3 out of 10. It should have been at least 9!!!!!!!!! Out of six reviews, one
wrote a tale of disaster with his Panasonic. He claimed Panasonic didn't explain the answer
to his questions. He gave the V10 1 * out of five. As more and more people acquire this machine I'm sure people will truly see. This is The New King of Plasma HDTV.
I'm looking to blu ray movies and my satellite station movies in 1080I. So I'll have true high def through the blu ray and high definition on my HD channels. Let's hope that soon
all channels are high definition.Oasis, Discovery, Rush, Treasure are photographed so
well that when they truly present generally excellent image.
Michael Norris 25-08-09

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 26th 2009 8:49PM]

Michael Norris
I wrote a thread on the internet last night. Since then my friend came over and fine tuned
my TC-P54V10. He put in a blu ray and used THX to fine tune the video. Now my blu ray movies that I rent or buy will be spectacular. He mentioned that there was a comparison between
Panasonic 54V10 and Samsung 8000 led backlit. The thread said they were both around the
same quality but the Samsung is 5,500.00 in Canada before taxes . I paid a lot
for the TC-P54V10 because I live in Canada and saved 2,500 dollars by buying the Panasonic
rather than the 8000 led Samsung.
Maybe some day far in the future, Canadians will get the same deals as you get south of
the border in the U.S?????????????
I'm very happy with my 54V10 and hope to watch it forever or until I an get an OLED
55 inch for 2,500.00. I might have to wait quite a while. LG has a 15 inch OLED out and
it's just a matter of time before they figure out how to make them and make them so they
last a long time.