CNET: TC-P50V10 is "Panasonic's best plasma yet"

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 9th 2009 at 12:56PM

As Pansonic's latest plasma HDTVs proceed down the review gauntlet, it appears CNET is the latest to be impressed by the TC-P50V10, between its slick design, smooth handling of 1080p/24 by way of its 96Hz image processing, deep black levels and good color reproduction. The 96Hz features plus more adjustable picture settings are some of the improvements the V10 offers over the G10, but is it enough to satisfy the Kuro faithful, or attract buyers away from LCD? It appears the reviewer was convinced, give it a read and see if you are.

Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, Plasma

Tags: 96hz, cnet, panasonic, plasma, review, tc-p50v10, v10, viera cast, VieraCast

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

skimrn @ Jun 9th 2009 1:08PM

Will this thing finally topple the world's most beloved Pioneer Kuros for the best flat panel?
I personally don't listen to Cnet's reviews. They are not accurate.

I'd rather read reviews from Ultimate AV, Hometheater Magazine, or Sound and Vision since that's
their specialty. Home theater equipment.

Highest Ranked

Bozster @ Jun 9th 2009 1:47PM

I don't even know why people buy LCDs. These plasma displays smoke the crap out of the LCD ones. I have several TVs in my house and they are all plasmas. They are so much more superior than LCDs in every way (blacks, colors, playback).

LCD is again that thing, where CEs manag to rip people with worse quality that is easier for them to produce and then hype the 120hz or 240hz features as something great where it's actually just a thing to catch up to plasma quality since plasma's don't have refresh rate problems.

I'm glad Panny is making these. If I were getting a new set it would be this one.

Lowest Ranked

Multi-format-mayhem @ Jun 9th 2009 2:46PM

I think it's easy to see why the mass-market went for LCD and not Plasma.
You only have to look at this review.

"The bad:
Expensive; less accurate primary and secondary colors in non-THX modes; somewhat limited picture controls; still less efficient than comparable LCDs".

Most don't care that Plasma is (at the very nth degree) 'better'.
Most of the time LCD is close enough not to be a big deal.
Most just have their TV for watching TV (most of the time) and your average reality/soap type TV garbage just doesn't need an expensive TV.

LCD matches a price and performance which for the majority is (easily) 'good enough'.

When they start shelling out OLED at LCD prices and lower I think it's then that we'll see average quality jump in the mass-market.
But I think it's pretty obvious that (aside from the a/v enthusiast who isn't bothered by the higher price or higher running costs) Plasma has failed in the mass market and is going to see out the rest of its days as a high margin niche product.

Whilst I personally could buy one if I wanted to I just would never do so, in the same way that my buying a gas-guzzling car is just never going to happen.
Further, I look forward to us gradually banning such energy inefficient devices
(and devices which are disproportionately energy intensive to produce), something some US states are beginning and the EU is starting to do also.

Highest Ranked

skimrn @ Jun 9th 2009 4:39PM

I STRONGLY agree with you. General public has a mentality that LCDs have better picture quality
than plasma TVs. Of course this this totally a false statement.

Many of LCD TV owners' excuse is that plasmas has that famous permenant "burn" effect.
Again, they have no idea that plasmas don't have this problem anymore (Unless you freeze the
screen for a day or something).

Anther excuse I heard is that they eat more electricity. This is true, but I think it's worth extra $1-2
dollars a month for better picture quality.

So final verdict:

The fact is that plasmas are cheaper AND have better picture quality. This is a win win situation!

This is a no brainer. End of story...

Neutral

Ironhide @ Jun 9th 2009 6:39PM

It would also be a point of order to mention that plasma 'operation' costs are more or less the same as an LCD. With a dark movie a plasma is more efficient than lcd but on the flipside, a bright movie uses more energy. Thus making the debate a wash overall. That being said, the new lines of plasmas from Samsung and Panasonic both claim significantly lower energy costs (40% less according to the specs) which would put the plasma technology on par with any lcd ( light and dark movie performance) out there not sporting led lighting.

Neutral

corey smith @ Jun 9th 2009 2:43PM

"the V10's spec sheet includes mention of a 600Hz subfield drive. Our best advice is to ignore this spec--it has no visible bearing on picture quality, aside from a slight improvement in motion resolution that's extremely difficult to see."

instead of telling readers to ignore this spec, i wish they wouldve explained exactly what it does. consumers and sales clerks are probably the only people who read and trust cnet's reviews, and that comment doesnt help anyone.

anywho, it vexes me how cnet doesnt adjust any settings for their test displays (outside of the user menus) and can judge these with a straight face...

Highly Ranked

normychas @ Jun 9th 2009 2:51PM

I think testing with out of the box settings is totally a fair way to rate tv's. Kuro's come nearly perfect out of the box. Although you can go through the settings with a reference disc but a full professional ISF calibration costs in the range of about 400 dollars. I dont think its unreasonable to assume that most consumers are not going to modify their television very much. I for one would like to see more of this. Far too many TVs come set to torch mode which for all the crap Plasma gets for its energy rating is way worse for your energy rating than any other factor. I understand how somebody could be frustrated by cnet not modifying their tvs but i think its on the OEM's to do a better job putting their tv in a setting that is ready to look good in your home.

Neutral

Ironhide @ Jun 9th 2009 6:42PM

From my observations on the floor of my big box store, the 600hz motion seems noticeably smoother than previous (last year's) plasmas, without the blatant ultra smooth look that the 120hz and 240hz tvs sport. In essence, it preserves the fluidity without making a movie look like it was shot on a Handycam in someone's garage.

Neutral

Richard @ Jun 9th 2009 4:12PM

I might get this one return back my LG50PS60 on fry's it will cost about $255 more, but i like the 96hz, since 48hz cause dizz in 24p source. Also better black and thx mode that actually can custom, the LG thx mode is awful way too bright and lack of color.

Neutral

ChrisH @ Jun 9th 2009 4:52PM

The Panasonic doesn't have a THX mode that you can adjust (only the Brightness can be adjusted in THX mode, which just affects the level of black), but the custom mode can be tweaked using the user available controls to get a better picture than the THX mode has by default.

Neutral

corey smith @ Jun 10th 2009 1:17PM

there are approximately zero adjustments you can make with your naked eye and user menus that can best the thx mode's accuracy. if you really want to tweak the thx mode (which actually can be done), you gotta drop a few hundred bucks on a calibration.

Highest Ranked

KJ4GR @ Jun 9th 2009 6:19PM

Still no Kuro Killer

Neutral

Richard @ Jun 9th 2009 7:11PM

Actually

this is better than all kudos except the Elite Kudos which is cost 2x than this one.

Highest Ranked

skimrn @ Jun 9th 2009 8:18PM

What the hell is a Kudo?

Highest Ranked

KJ4GR @ Jun 9th 2009 11:04PM

A Kudo is a term meaning that you can't afford a pioneer Kuro and have to settle for a Vizio

Neutral

skimrn @ Jun 10th 2009 12:09PM

Haha! That's some funny sh*t KJ4GR!

I think Vizio is definitely one of the lowest quality brands on the market.

Neutral

kickyourLCD @ Jun 21st 2009 12:20AM

What Is Multi-fomat-mayhem talking about? Plasma higher cost? To operate I'll give him that, slightly more. But To purchase? they cost LESS then LCD.
"Most don't care that Plasma is (at the very nth degree) better". Not an nth degree better, night and day better! Also it's not just the a/v enthusiast who see this almost all photographers having a keen eye for natural not overstated contrast, color depth, richness, and shadow detail. It is funny when people see my plasma they always ask the same thing " What kind of LCD is that, It looks Amazing!" I always enjoy giving the response "It's a Plasma". I sell electronics for a living and always cringe when I hear the " I don't want plasma". some listen to me and see the light, the ones that don't I take solace in knowing I sold them a lesser TV for more money.

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