Panasonic's 50-inch TX-P50VT20 plasma reviewed: 'The best 3D TV to date'
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 12th 2010 10:29AM
posted May 12th 2010 10:29AM
posted May 12th 2010 10:29AM
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even as a tech geek I still can't see past the novelty of this whole 3D thing, sure its neat but thats it nothing overly exciting about it. Now engadget, wheres those posts about 200k dollar belt driven watches, and other completely silly products.
@spaz4322
"It's a 50-inch, 1080p plasma that excels as an HDTV" it happens to do 3D as well... so what´s the problem if 3D dies?
@rj7855
its plasma :)
all kidding aside im sure you could find a better TV for cheaper then paying the price premium for 3D on this specific set.
Would be interesting to know how much 3D media for TV is actually out there right now. Why would someone buy this TV if you only get the chance to watch 3D once a year?
Does anybody know some stats on this?
@spaz4322
There is no price premium.
First, 3D is a feature being included in higher in models (hopefully it won't be too long until we start to see it in mid-range models)
- and those highend model cost no different to last years equivalent model.
(For example, an LE50B830 may be upgraded to a LE50B850 the following year. That's a Samsung example, where "LE" denotes LCD, "50" the diagonal screen size, and "8" the series (Bigger number = Higher end) I have no idea if thats a real model number or not, it was just an example)
I normally blow my money on any new tech but this whole tawdry 3D cashgrab by the CE industry cheapens us all.
It redefines gimmick. I hope it dies a fiery death and no one buys into the hype.
The dirty little secret of 3D peddlers is THERE's NO CONTENT and there won't be 3D Blurays till the end of the year at earliest.
@spaz4322 I kind of want 3D for the World Cup :S
Panasonic's Plasmas are 1000X better than samsung's
@XRX
I agree with your statement out of the box, but it didn't stop me from buying a samsung to replace my stolen panny after I found out the newer models had the black levels all screwed up after a few months. Sorry, that's just a little too evil for me.
@sweet greggo
And while I would agree with your decision 100%, I find it worse that Panasonic took the position that their existing, and not fleeing, plasma customer base can go fly a kite and buy into their competition.
And like you, I'd do the same. Panasonic's attitude is now one in which they sell so many plasmas that they can and are willing to lose whatever percentage of customers that care about black levels.
@XRX Buddy you're totally right. Actually what you have said is what I want to say.
@sweet greggo The newer models u refer to are last years and the low end model of this year. the VT20 and VT25 has its internal fixed on the rising black level issue. They got rid of the pre-ignite technology.
Yup... if I were in the market for a 50" TV, I'd love for one like this to be on my short-list... except that the issue with the black level shifts and Panasonic's subsequent handling of that issue really turn me off of the idea of buying a Panasonic product.
I just can't get past that bronze bezel. :(
You know I was never a big fan of Pannys...I've always been more of a Samsung guy...
More an LCD person...
But I honestly can't ignore the great reviews that Panasonic has been getting lately. I'm starting to think that I should give them a chance and perhaps look into Plasma when I'm ready to buy a new set...
@TheLondonExchange
I highly recommend you do. Absolutely incredible value when it comes to price:performance.
@TheLondonExchange Lately? Panasonics have rocked at plasma since, like 2004. It would take a mighty fine TV to make me consider anything other than Panasonic.
@pdiddy Agreed, ever since Pioneer bowed out, Panny's been stepping up their game to fill the void. As much of a gimmick as I think 3D tech is right now, I owe it thanks for revitalizing interest in plasma displays, as they're far better suited for 3D display than LCD panels.
only when they make glasses free 3dtv's mainstream.
hate having to wear glasses over glasses, especially when said glasses are both very fragile and have a noticeable flicker when you're not looking at the tv.
Panny does make some nice plasmas.
Panasonic does make some really nice plasmas, I first purchased mine like 2yrs ago a Viera 1080p 50inch and it still does the job today, everyone who visits always talks about my TV's clarity compared to the display ones in the stores, I am about to purchace 3 more flat panels for my bedroom, and kids rooms and trust me they will be Panasonic.
@buffalosolja42
Awesome. I recently bought a 54" Panny plasma and am loving the black levels, color vibrance, viewing angle, and general clarity. Wouldn't trade it for any LCD.
Damn it Panny makes that VT20 series in a 42" in the US!
"We can see a time in the future, the very near future, where reviews of 3D HDTVs will lose their novelty. But, for now, they're still rare enough to warrant some attention"
um, fwiw, this is the kind of info I hope for from my gadget blogs. I mean, I don't see buying a 3DTV for another few years, but still, I'd like to know what's going on.
@rafoh One of the many reasons why we offer hd.engadget.com, which you can be sure will continue to cover everything in the HDTV realm.
Panasonic user here. P50X10 though. 50" 720p. Awesome image quality for SD content and it murders most LCDs, even 1080p ones in everything but sharpness (when viewing 1080p content).
Any word on if the black levels are still set to rise over time?
@lakersin2025 Currently unfortunately all of the low end models such as the C, S, G are still using the same type of panel from last year. However, the V series has had some new technology implemented into them this year which takes out the preignite. Which also will void out the Black Level Rising issue. Of course this will need more time and further testing to confirm, but good news is the fix is on the way.
@onep What's your source of this info? VT25 sets have already been tested and shown to have the black level rise issue.
@CanyonCarver
also the VT25s have not been tested! Where did you get that bs?
@CanyonCarver You were probably referring to the G20 or last years V series. This year has not been tested and proven to be raising in black level. I got my informations from Panasonic Reps.
it's more 3D-er than the others
Three words;
Black Level Rise
@CanyonCarver Three words: Get Over It.
@UnnDunn No one needs to get over anything. Initially Panasonic refused to acknowledge this issue and then made it out to be a non issue and then later says they've "improved" the issue for 2010.
Other sets don't have this issue.
You shouldn't spend $2500-$4300 on a new top of the line Plasma TV and then have to worry that in as little as a year or so your picture quality will be noticeably degraded.
@CanyonCarver
this issue cracks me up. Even with Panasonics black level rise, the tenth of a percent it increased still surpasses any of the competition. LCDs and LED LCDs lose 30% of brightness after 10,000 hours. No matter what tech you buy the image will degrade over time why isn't anyone talking about that?
@ap99 Black level rise is not the same thing as what you are describing.
It's a change in the contrast level of the set.
Samsung and LG (and Pioneer) sets do not have 30% contrast changes occur after just 1,000 hours on the clock. You are correct that over the 20+ year lifespan of a TV it will become less bright. That is not the same as the black levels and contrast of the set changing. Contrast is a measure of the difference between 0 and 100 as displayed on screen. This value can remain constant even if the overall set brightness diminishes as the panel ages.
It is also debatable if the Panasonic still looks "as good" as competitor sets after all of these voltage changes are applied over the first 1,000 hours on the set.
As I said, other manufacturers don't have this problem, just Panasonic.
@CanyonCarver You are describing an issue that still persist on the lower end of Panasonic, I don't understand your intentions but the V series im sure has been taken care of. As for the 20+ year lifespan of TV becoming less bright, you are correct but here's a add on. It can be as little as THREE years and the LCD TV can reduce brightness more then 50%. yes, half of the brightness after just few years. Just throwing that out there. Also $2,500 for an 50" High end "3D" Plasma is not expensive at all, you can easily find mid end LED for the same price for 52" or so.
@onep This is misinformation. Even lower end LCDs today have half life values of over 30,000 hours. The typical user puts 1,000 hours per year on a TV so the TV after three years would be no where near 50% brightness.
It's also misinformation that the VT25 series does not have black level rise problems. Several calibrators and owners at AVSForums have tested their sets and demonstrated that the contrast change is still happening on these top of the line sets.
Hopefully by the time the 58 and 65 inch sets begin to arrive the issue will be resolved.
If not, next year maybe.
I have a bunch of Panasonic products (including an older 42" 720P plasma in the bedroom) and am not out to bash them. These are premium priced TVs and people shelling out this kind of money deserve to know what they are getting and that the TV might not be performing nearly as well after just a year or two as it did when it was new.
Interestingly enough Panasonic sets made before 2008 did not have this problem... so apparently Panasonic did something in the newer models to crank up the contrast that required this bizarre voltage tweak that eventually causes the set to lose contrast over 1,000 hours of initial life.
Final point. Panasonic at CES made an awful big deal about their "infinite black" 2010 panel which is supposed to rival the Pioneer Kuro sets. They didn't mention the fact that the infinite black will fade over time, whereas the Kuros (or Samsungs, or LGs) don't.
I am in the market for a 65" TV and would like to buy the VT25, but I will not reward Panasonic for these shenanigans. When they fix the panels on the TVs and eliminate this black rise issue I will gladly buy the VT25 (or successor) series TV.
avoid panasonic plasma like the plague until they have come out and make an official statement on how they are regulating the voltage issue. cause blacks will not be blacks after some time period. and they have yet to come out and make an official statement. AVOID...
Im sure this TV is better than the samsungs, but the samsungs have that new feature where it can automatically convert 2D content to 3D, and while its not perfect (And in my usual opinion, keep post processing away from my TV) I got to see the 2D avatar blu ray at best buy on one of those samsungs, and I couldn't believe how accurate the automatic 3D mapping worked, I am not sure how it works, but it works pretty well, especially considering people will want to watch a lot of 3D stuff with a new 3D TV and there isn't much content out there.
LaserTV still has the best 3D. Besides, we want them screens Glasses Free
Panasonic blows
@metric
And the others suck ?