HDTV Trends

Excellent HDTV
I did a lot of research before purchasing this TV as this is my first
HDTV purchase. I went to several retail outlets(best buy, hhgreg, circuit city, sears, etc..) to view picture quality and hear sound quality of several brand names. Boiled down to Samsung, Panasonic, and Sony. Finally made my decision based on customer and professional reviews and price. I paid 5 for my TV with no additional shipping cost or tax, had ground shipping and the TV showed up at my door two days, yes TWO days later on a Saturday. Really enjoyed watching football that weekend on the new set but had Direct TV come out the following Thursday and install my HD DVR reciever. WOW!!! I am totally satisfied with my purchase. HD picture quality is AMAZING on this set. Sound quality is great as well. I could not be any happier with the TV or the process of acquiring it.

Best standard-definition performance, anti-glare (matte) screen
For the price this 32" LCD TV has the best performance out there, you may find cheaper options (Viewsonic, Westinghouse or even Toshiba) but none of them can match the picture quality of this TV.

It's primary strengths are:
- Great overall picture quality with good black/contrast levels
- Best "Standard Definition" (i.e. non-HDTV) TV performance I've seen in this class
- Anti-glare screen - this TV has a 'matte' screen unlike may other manufacturers who are using 'glossy' screens resulting in glare while viewing

The only disadvantage I could find is lack of an analog (VGA / RGB) PC Input, this can be solved if you have a computer with DVI out and use a DVI-HDMI cable.

Not all channels out there are in HDTV, to some extent we are all going to watch Standard Definition (SDTV) TV for the next few years.

Keeping that in mind, and considering this TV has excellent SDTV performance it is a great buy at the current price of under 0.

Panasonic TC-32LX85 32-inch 720p LCK HDTV
I researched tv's both on-line and in-store. The price was less than at the local electronic store. I didn't pay taxes or delivery and didn't have the hassle of hauling the set home. I placed my order on a Tuesday morning and the set was delivered Thursday before 10:00 a.m. Perfect condition, exactly what I ordered, best price, at my front door. What could be better.

another great Panasonic product
I keep buying Panasonic products and keep getting great results with them. This TV is great. I did a lot of research before buying it and I think I made the right choice over Samsung & Sony. I buy Panasonic for their durability also so we'll see how this TV does in that regard.

Good TV
After seeing the Panasonic in Circit City and Best Buy, I decided it was the best deal over the Sony, Samsung and LG. All four were similar in picture quality but the Panasonic was more competitively priced. I then found this set on Amazon for 6, free shipping and no tax. It would have cost 0 plus tax at Circit City and Best Buy so I saved about 3. I am pleased with the TV so far (have had it about 3 weeks)

Great picture, not so great quality
Like a few of the other reviewers, we enjoyed this television for only a few months before it refused to turn on and displayed the dreaded blinking red light. Panasonic is going to send someone to our house in a few days. I wish that I didn't have to worry about how long this set will last.

blank after a few months
I bought this TV from Sears with extended warranty . I loved it until couple months later, It went blank after I turned the power on . I called Sears and the tech came 5 times to fix and he finally couldn't fix it . The problem has been going on for two months now and the broken TV is still at my house ...
Panasonic used to be a really good branch but not any more . I am very disappointed with the TV, Panasonic 1 year warranty service and specially Sears's 3 three years warranty service.
Will not recommend to any one .

Very satisfied.
My wife and I are very pleased with this t.v. The unit fits beautifully in our family room, the footprint on the same cabinet our old t.v. was on. The sound is probably average judging from what they say about sound on other similar tv's. I decreased the treble to lessen the "sss" effect in some of the speech.

Got it at Sears because they had a horrible price!
First of all let me say that this is a spectacular tv! I first wanted an lcd at first but when I saw the plasmas, they really caught my eye. After a lot of research I wanted the th-42pz700u but then saw it side by side with the th-42pz77u and was sold. The 77u didn't have the glare of the 700u thanks to it's anti-glare and anti-reflective surface. Plus the colors seemed richer in the 77u. So it went on sale at Fry's for 99 and Sears had it for 05. Sears has a price protection guarantee so I got it for 99 that Fry's had if for PLUS off of that for a total of 48. Sears gives you 10% of the difference in the price so the huge price difference worked in my favor! Love it!

Very nice
It took a long time but I finally made up my mind and bought one. I'm on Comcast with extended basic. The tv tuned in all the local HD feeds and they look great. I particularly like the PBS channel's HD feed, but all the major network's pictures are fantastic. The audio from the HD feeds is nice and full. Overall the experience when watching HD feeds is super. The standard channels look ok with the right screen setting, at least no worse than my old tube. The TV is a little slow to change channels when you input the channel directly, but it moves quickly when navigating up or down. The HD channels are all number dash number. For instance, ABC is on channel 7, but the HD feed is 7-1. To tune that station I have to navigate up from channel 7. Not a big deal but I cannot input it directly.
I hooked up a Phillips upconvert DVD player using a three dollar HDMI cable I also found on Amazon and the picture is fantastic. It was definitely worth the 60 bucks I paid at Sam's Club for it.
So, the picture looks great and the TV sounds good. I have the set in a very bright room and the antiglare does a nice job of eliminating reflections while not degrading the picture. My only regret is not getting the 50".

Rediscovery of TV viewing Panasonic TH-46PZ800U.
How many people turn the TV on and don't watch it. Whether reading a book, magazine, or using a laptop, I would have the TV on but barely pay attention to it. With the 46PZ800U in the room, TV viewing demands new respect. You won't have it on and be able to ignore it. Compared to my old 35" Sony CRT, this plasma is amazing. I didn't realize how dim and out of focus the CRT was becoming in its old age. Even with standard definition cable input, the picture is wonderfully clear and bright. Standard definition DVDs upconverted through my new Panasonic Blu Ray player (hdmi) are so clear and sharp, that paying that premium price for Blu Ray DVDs is nearly unnecessary. I say nearly, because, the two Blu Rays that I bought to test the system (Planet Earth and The Universe) are mind-blowingly sharp and lifelike. The picture presets in the menu are more than adequate to cover my viewing needs. The THX preset is best viewed in a darkened room but it is most filmlike. My living room is extremely brightly lit due to many windows, so the THX is a bit dim looking during the day, so other brighter presets are appreciated. I have found that reflections off the glossy screen are minimal, and generally overpowered by the bright picture. The 46PZ800U is a work of art with its solid one piece glass front.

Finally, I have to comment on Amazon's white glove delivery service (in my case, Pilot). First, the TV arrived days earlier than the estimated delivery date. Pilot called to ask permission to deliver it on the Wed. before Thanksgiving rather than the Monday after. No problem with that! They arrived on time (two men), unpacked the set, assembled it, set it up on my stand and offered to remove the box/packing (I kept it in case of problems). They recommended that I did not turn on the set until it warmed up (it was in a subfreezing truck and was very cold). I waited a few hours and then turned it on in all its glory. Kudos to Pilot and Amazon.

Excellent with HD, bad in SD
This TV is probably not for everyone. If you want eye-popping color, then go with and LCD. If you want your colors 'right', then this TV - in THX mode - is hard to beat. Beware what you see in the big box stores; they put all the LCD's in vivid mode and all the plasmas in standard mode. Put the plasma in vivid and they look about the same. My room is semi-dim (NW side of the house) and I just cannot ever use vivid mode. Another thing about LDCs- get a sense of the colors of the LCDs and then take a couple of steps to the side, you'll probably see the colors fade. Viewing angle is definitely a problem, and that's probably why most LCDs have a swivel stand. And you just cannot get the black levels this TV delivers. Also, when you see THX in the store you will think Panasonic really messed up by putting this TV on the market - but - at home, in proper lighting, it is just perfect.

With HD content, this TV makes every scene look like a painting, it's just phenominal. Although 720p is very good, I can tell the difference from 1080i. The sound is nothing to brag about. Some of the digital 480i channels are OK, depending on content, but in a few cases it's not good at all. In fact, there are a number of cases where I was better off with my CRT TV. That may be the fault of the local cable company.

So, 00 later, I actually have fewer channels I can (or want to) watch. HD spoils you quickly. BlueRay is very, very good. TV arrived in perfect condition. The container is very easy to unpack. I made my decision based on AV forums, CNET reviews and visiting stores; and while I probably didn't get the most eye-popping TV; I feel like I got the right one.

Value for money and more
I've owned this TV for the past 3 months. I'm totally satisfied with the TV's utmost quality and crisp picture. Watching sports telecast on this wonderful set is a real feast for the eye. Sad part, the price has come down by 40% since I bought it.

So far is fantastic
I have only had it a week, but we just love the TV. The picture is fantastic and the size is perfect for our space. If we had a bigger living room, I may have went with the 50 inch.

Used it with our new blu-ray player that at the time was free with the TV and we could not get over how amazing the picture was. Also, football, hockey, etc. is that much more exciting to watch.

And I was expecting the glare to be worse, but we have a lamp in the room and it is no worse than our old rear projection that was in the room.

I can't see there being a better picture for the money. Sure, side by side at Best Buy with a Pioneer, the Pioneer was a fraction better. But it also costs an small fortune.

Awesome Plasma!
I looked at HDTVs for almost a year and this is the one that caught my attention.I seriously considered Samsung LCDs and Pioneer Plasma and found this Panasonic delivers the best performance for the money. I have it hooked up to HD satellite and love it. Movies look great and HD football is amazing. Individual grass blades and clean motion contribute to my enjoyment of a terrific picture. The blacks are black and contrast is vivid, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I am looking forward to purchasing a Blue-Ray player to add to the fun. thanks

What I really wanted when I thought HD!
This is our second plasma monitor. Our first was a Pioneer, years ago, and made me wonder what the big hoopla over HD was about. This monitor helped me to understand! The picture is so sharp, even with non-HD programming. HD images are sharp with clear colors and flawless contrast. The black tones are true, without any greenness or inkiness (both problems with our old Pioneer). My favorite part about it is that I sometimes can't even tell that what I'm watching isn't in HD. It just makes everything look great.

I should add, though, that you need to take the time to set up the color saturation, brightness and contrast. When we first plugged it in and turned it on, the image was awful. My first thought was that all HD monitors were crap and that it was just a fad. But once my husband worked out the kinks in the image, I was sold. I could tell the difference the first time I saw it, before he even told me. So take the time to get to know your TV and learn how to make it work for you (or get someone that will do it for you) and you'll be thrilled!

And finally, you don't want it too close to your face. When we first got this monitor, we had a smaller set up for our living room. The screen was only about 8 feet from the couch. This was fine for our smaller screen, but with this one it made all the pixels way too obvious. Then we moved to a new place and the screen is about 12 feet from the couch. At first it's weird to be so far away from the TV, but it's just what was needed. Bigger may be better, but you need to have the proper distance. If you're closer than 10 feet to your TV stand, then be sure to get a smaller monitor.

Great picture, flawless operation
The picture on this set rivals the HD Sony we had that was a CRT. The TV even makes standard def look better. The picture is bright and the colors are rich, detailed and very natural looking. Not a single hiccup in three months. About the only thing I do not like is the weight, (140+ lbs.) but than it is a 58" TV.

Golfer
The Panasonic 58" Plasma is an excellent TV. The picture is incredible,sound is OK. Got a great price from Amazon Warehouse Deals.

The only issue was an "Out of the box" problem. After setup the TV had a 4" green stripe down the left part of the screen, but it cleared up after 3 days of use. Panasonic Service was excellent, they got a Service call scheduled immediately, which turned out I didn't need.

Beware Panasonic
I bought a Panasonic plasma 2 years ago and it died for no reason. It will now cost 00 for the board just to fix it. The TV repairman said he has never seen such a high cost for a replacement board. Multiple different board tried without luck. Still waiting.

Astounding Picture!
I am continually amazed by the picture quailty of this TV. I'm using generic HDMI 1.3 cables with an HDMI 1.3-compliant AVR, a HD DVR, a PS3 and an upscaling DVD player. In 10 months, I have had no problems with the TV (yes, the built-in speakers don't have decent sound, but if you can afford this TV, you shouldn't be using the built-in speakers). Previously, I had a 50-inch Panasonic plasma that died unexpectedly, shortly after the warranty expired. Panasonic customer service was pretty good. They asked me to get a repair quote and submit it to them (prognosis was a bad power supply board). They authorized the repair, and all I paid for was the initial estimate ( out of 5). Yes, I agree with generally everyone that there should be a 3-5 year warranty included with such a fine and expensive TV.

For the technologically challenged
One of the things I really liked and appreciated about this television set is the easy to read and understand menu and remote. Some other electronic appliances I have require me to read the manual everytime I have to reset something. This one is simple enough for even me to operate.

No Regrets
I wouldn't usually purchase an item like this on-line, but i'm very pleased I did. Great product.

Craft TV
This is the perfect bedroom TV. Consumer Reports rated this 26-inch TV #1 at this size and it lives up to that rating in every way. Great color and sound. Everything with the vendor was also 5-star. Arrived in perfect condition within 4 days of the order with standard shipping. You cannot go wrong buying this TV from this vendor.

Excellent TV - Excellent service from Amazon
What can I say besides that everything went perfect. Amazon is great - I ordered and a few days later I received the product. They had the best price. The product itself is great for our sitting room. It replaced a Sharp LCD HDTV and there was a major difference.

Panosonic TV
Product came on time, properly packaged and I was kept informed of its delivery status