Panasonic's new 1080p plasmas priced & dated - now in 42-inch size
by Richard Lawler 
posted Mar 29th 2007 at 2:50PM
Panasonic has finally announced pricing and availability for its 2007 plasma HDTV lineup, including new 1080p models in 50- and 58-inch sizes. Bulking up the current PZ700U line is the PZ750U series, which adds a new "Studio Reference Mode" (to provide consumers with the exact same color reproduction used on reference monitors in film editing studios), a pro setting mode (to even further calibrate the set), 3 HDMI jacks, and a 'special' black chrome look. All that 1080p beauty will cost however, with the top of the line TH-58PZ750U carrying an MSRP of $5,499.95 when it hits with limited availability in June. If missing out on the reference quality color is acceptable to you, the TH-58PZ700U (pictured above) is due next month for a mere $4,799.95 Check after the break for a more complete list of models and prices -- but if you're Mark Cuban then don't bother, because the 103-inch TH-103PZ600U has not been updated for 2007, so no need to upgrade yet.Update: Looking for Panasonic's missing 42-inch 1080p plasma? Apparently so were they, the company has issued an updated press release, noting that the TH-42PZ700U will bring 2-million+ pixels this June for $2,499.95.
- TH-58PZ750U - $5,499.95 - June - 1920x1080p resolution, Built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, H.264 (movie playback) on SD, Studio Reference Mode, Pro Setting Mode, 3 HDMI inputs, EZ-Sync, Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating, Gallery Player
- TH-50PZ750U - $3,999.95 - June - 1920x1080p resolution, Built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, H.264 (movie playback) on SD, Studio Reference Mode, Pro Setting Mode, 3 HDMI inputs, EZ-Sync, Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating, Gallery Player
- TH-58PZ700U - $4,799.95 - April - 1920x1080p resolution, Built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, SD Memory Card slot, HDMI inputs EZ-Sync, New Cosmetic, Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating, Gallery Player
- TH-50PZ700U - $3,499.95 - April - 1920x1080p resolution, Built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, SD Memory Card slot, HDMI inputs EZ-Sync, New Cosmetic, Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating, Gallery Player
- TH-50PX77U - $2,799.95 - April - 1366 x 768 resolution, side firing speakers, SD Memory Card slot, 2 HDMI inputs, EZ-Sync, Anti-Glare coating, Gallery Player
- TH-42PX77U - $1,799.95 - June - 1024 x 768 resolution, side firing speakers, SD Memory Card slot, 2 HDMI inputs, EZ-Sync, Anti-Glare coating, Gallery Player
- TH-42PZ700U - $2,499.95 - June - 1366 x 768 resolution, side firing speakers, SD Memory Card slot, 2 HDMI inputs, EZ-Sync, Anti-Glare coating, Gallery Player Updated Specs: 1920x1080p resolution, Built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, SD Memory Card slot, HDMI inputs EZ-Sync, New Cosmetic, Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating, Gallery Player
- TH-50PX75U - $2,499.95 - March - 1366 x 768 resolution, SD Memory Card slot, 2 HDMI inputs EZ-Sync, Gallery Player
- TH-42PX75U - $1,599.95 - March - 1024 x 768 resolution, SD Memory Card slot, 2 HDMI inputs EZ-Sync, Gallery Player
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
a/v enthusiast @ Mar 29th 2007 3:22PM
1080p 58" plasma for below $4k??? Yikes. I can't wait to see what the 50" versions are going to cost (as that's already on the larger size of what my room would require), and what we see out of Pioneer this summer as well! (yes, yes, I know - most agree that Pio is a higher end product therefore more expensive, but I can't imagine that Panny's best plasmas wind up selling for half of what Pio's best plasmas in the same (or nearly the same) size range (I'd heard the Elite 1080p 60" plasma due out this summer/fall might be in the $10k range).
a/v enthusiast @ Mar 29th 2007 3:36PM
Looks like the author got it wrong - stating "If missing out on the reference quality color is acceptable to you, the TH-58PZ700U (pictured above) is due next month for a mere $3,999.95." but then below it lists "TH-58PZ700U - $4,799.95 - April"
It should've said "if dropping 8 inches of diagonal screen size is okay, you can get the TH-50PZ750U for $3,999.95" - or - "if dropping the reference quality color is okay, the TH-58PZ700U will set you back $4800 instead of the full $5500"
One other thing to think about - not sure how it'll play out in 2007, but at least in previous years, how long (if ever) have these things sold at full MSRP? Seems like every time you turn around, they're 10, 15, 20% or more off of list, and dropping like a rock. If you can get a high-quality, 50" 1080p plasma this summer for under $3k (maybe even under $2,500?) that would be pretty sweet.
Jeff @ Mar 30th 2007 3:03AM
Umm doesnt everything think that these prices are insanely high for panasonic? I mean they usually hit the internet at about 2k. This is double the price. Now LCD has really a step ahead because it can do the 1080p and its price is less.
Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52" LCD TV can be had for about 2k as well as Sony KDL46XBR3 46" BRAVIA XBR LCD TV for like 2.5 k.
a/v enthusiast @ Mar 30th 2007 3:26PM
Jeff,
I for one don't think the price is insanely high, for what you're getting. Pioneer Elite's 50" 1080p plasma monitor from last fall STILL is selling for 8 grand. The 750 series 50" Panasonic will likely have similar performance to that tv, for half the price.
BTW, Sony XBR and Sharp don't make 50" tvs, the closest comparison is a 52" - from a major authorized online retailer for both, the current gen (92 series) 52" Sharp was $5k, but just had a price drop to $4,500. The Sony XBR2 52" is $5k (XBR3 is $5300). Panasonic is a leader in plasmas, subjectively I'd put these model lines of theirs at "mid-high" grade overall, and a thin margin behind Pioneer Elites (high end I'd say are Fujitsu and Runco, low end plasmas are Vizio, etc.)
Yes, Panasonic makes lower-end, "mass market" HDTV model lines, but these particular models are not them (fyi, so does Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp, etc. - they all tend to make higher-end model lines as well - last year, for example, it was Sony's XBR2 and XBR3, Samsung's 96 series, etc - this year it looks like we'll see XBR4 and 81 series as their highest end products).
FYI: I do not own a Panasonic TV. I currently own a Sony XBR direct-view CRT, which has a phenomenal HD picture, the only thing is the size (tv is 32" 4:3, so HD is about a 29" equivalent screen size). I'm excited to see what comes out from all of these manufacturers this summer (esp. Pioneer, from what I've heard about their 2007 CES presentation).
Cheers - have a good weekend.