HDTV Trends

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