Panasonic's 65-inch TH-65PV500B plasma TV reviewed

With the World Cup set to start in less than two weeks, it's time to extract the catheter, re-prioritize, and go big. Trusted Reviews just posted a giddy review of Panasonic's 65-inch Viera TH-65PV500B plasma TV calling it "one of the very few truly giant" sets designed for the "average Joe" with, uh 13 Gs to burn. This 1080i capable beast features HDMI (with HDCP) and component options for HD sources, a PC jack, and three SCARTs (2 x RGB), S-Video, and an SD slot. The 65PV500B also brings its own digital-tuner to the party with "all the bangs and whistles" you'd expect like a 7-day EPG with timer. But the picture's the thing boy, and this set delivers by slapping-up "outstanding" images by the standards of big plasmas with colors touting excellent vibrancy and subtlety. Blacks are "superbly dark" and pictures are "superbly free of video noise" even when sourced from upwardly scaled, standard definition feeds. After a review like this, you can just forget about that new kidney your doc's been droning-on about -- you need this TeeVee.

[Lee @ May 29th 2006 8:32AM]

1st comment

[fsjk85 @ May 29th 2006 9:03AM]

"With the World Cup set to start in less than two weeks"
since when is anyone that reads this interested in sports ?

[james @ May 29th 2006 10:09AM]

hey #2!

i cant wait for the world cup and wimbledon.

with the release of SkyHD my pioneer is never going to have looked better!!!

[monty @ May 29th 2006 10:21AM]

me too

[beanspants1 @ May 29th 2006 12:39PM]

dude, #2, checking out the gals in the first few rows in the bleachers during sporting events is the best reason to get HDTV in my opinion.

plus, when players get railed, you can see the cuts and the blood. that's cool too. much better than seeing that terry hatcher is actually somewhat frightening looking.

[Phi @ May 29th 2006 2:54PM]

What size room would you need to view this thing at optimal range?

[Justin @ May 29th 2006 11:16PM]

I would say as long as you can sit 6' to 8' from the screen, the room would be fine. Around 90" would be "optimal" with a 65-inch widescreen plasma (assuming near 180 degreen viewing angle).

[GoodOlClint @ May 29th 2006 11:38PM]

I saw that sitting next to the 103" plasma at NAB in Vegas in april.
I've never drooled that much in my life.

[pete @ May 29th 2006 11:57PM]

Feh - it's only 1366x768.
If you spend 10k on a tv that isn't 1080p you are either too rich or stupid.
Well actually both.

[Perrey Z. @ May 30th 2006 4:15AM]

Super late review of an OUTGOING model. the replacement which is set for U.S. released in mid August will use the same bezel, mask, speakers and stand is the TH-65PX600U {and TH-65PV600B For our friends in the United Kingdom} these sets will be 1920 X 1080p and the price will be around the same as the PV500B.

[Online Gambling @ Aug 29th 2006 7:56AM]

I am using this 65 inch plasma and enjoy it very much.
I do recommend this product.
Great.