HDTV Roundup: 50-58 Inches : Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10
By
Digital Versus,
published on September 21, 2009
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4. Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10
Our Readings
| Black levels: | 0.05 cd/m² |
| ANSI contrast: | 2400:1 to 3300:1 |
| Average gamma: | 2.35 |
| DeltaE on PC: | 4.6 |
| Relative energy consumption: | 437 W/m² |
| Homogeneity of whites: | 5/5 |
| Clouding: | 5/5 |
| Light leak onto dark greys at 45° : | 0.02 cd/m² |
| DeltaE at 45° : | 4.6 |
We take these measuements using the best settings for watching a movie. Cinema mode is generally the one we use. Wherever possible, we set the white levels at 200 cd/m².
The Panasonic TC-P50V10 marks the arrival of the twelfth generation of the manufacturer's panel technology. In addition to this new hardware, the design has been updated to give a more complete television that we're expecting a lot from.
Hardware
With four HDMI inputs, a DivX-compatible SD card reader and an Ethernet port that can access both DLNA and Viera Cast content, the V10 has just about everything you could expect from a high-end TV. With Viera Cast, you can access online content via the Internet, as well as files from your local network (DLNA). You can watch videos from YouTube, for instance, or look at photos on Picasa. Web connectivity in televisions is one of the big trends for 2009, and Panasonic couldn't miss out on a feature that nearly all of the big manufacturers are now offering.
The settings menus are the same as on previous generations of Panasonic TVs. They're a little too functional and are beginning to look old-fashioned, but they work well. Navigating through the menus is easy, because they are all cyclic: as soon as you get to the bottom of a list of options, scrolling any further will take you back to the top. There are now onscreen indicators to show the level of different settings, which wasn't there on earlier models.
The remote control also seems to come from a different era. It's practical and easy to get used to, but its design clashes with the screen's, and it isn't backlit.
Image Quality
When we tested it in our lab, the results produced by the TC-P50V10 were quite simply excellent. Blacks were as dark as 0.05 cd/m² and can therefore easily be called 'very deep'. At the same time, whites varied from 126 to 158 cd/m², depending on the type of scene, giving a very high contrast ratio of between 2400:1 and 3300:1. To manage this, we had to turn the contrast up a little from its default setting, 30, to 45. Doing this doesn't have any negative effects on the gamma curve, so each color retains its ideal brightness compared to the others. Colors are also pretty good, if a little pale by default, and this setting can also usefully be increased from 30 to 45.
Of course, the best time to activate these changes is in either Cinema or THX mode, the only two that offer the best way of displaying movies. In Cinema mode, there is also the added bonus of the Intelligent Frame Creation Pro system (IFCP), which makes movies more fluid. This feature isn't available in THX mode, which shows the movie at the same framerate at which it was shot. Although turning IFCP on can be surprising the first time you use it, we were surprised to find that we got used to it after a few days. After that, films seemed jerky without it. It's up to you whether or not you use it, though. In the end, it's a question of taste.
Either way, the image quality is amazing, in both HD and SD. Upscaling of the latter isn't at all bad, but doesn't mark much of an improvement on what we've seen from the competition or on earlier Panasonic models. We've noticed that almost all of the manufacturers are neck and neck in this area. A Blu-ray reader still does better upscaling of a DVD than any television, and that's the best way to breathe a second life into your DVD collection.
Naturally, the viewing angles, response time and the brightness are all faultless--but that's the case with every plasma screen.
So: does the V10 represent the perfect television? Well, no ... or at least, it's no more perfect than any of the other great televisions we've tested. Although its plasma technology does bring certain advantages (viewing angles, response time, evenness, natural colors, deep blacks, etc.), there are also some disadvantages: the maximum brightness isn't as high as on an LCD, and the risk of screen burn makes using it with a console risky. With a plasma screen, you have to be careful not to display a static image for too long, and the interface on some console games can fall into this category. Plasmas are entirely unsuitable for use with a PC, unless you only plan to use your computer for playing movies. Finally, the V10's glossy screen makes it susceptible to reflections, so you'll need to avoid placing it opposite a window, a lamp or a light-colored wall.
The V10 isn't entirely without fault, then, but no more so than any other TV. It's certainly amongst the best of today's televisions, and if you consider one particular use--a Home Cinema in a dark room--possibly the very best.
Sound Quality
We have to admit that the sound produced by the speakers puts the V10 at the top of the table. That's not hard given how bad some of the competition is, and flatscreen TVs are very likely to produce a tinny sound. However, given the quality of the image, we think it would be a shame to not add a small Home Cinema Kit to make the sound even better--the V10 definitely deserves it.
Energy Use
The V10 might be reasonably economical on standby, but that's not at all the case when it's in use. Its energy consumption increases from 0.1 W to 301 W when you switch it on. It's certainly a lot, but it's still 25 percent lower than a plasma of this size from a few years ago.
With four HDMI inputs, a DivX-compatible SD card reader and an Ethernet port that can access both DLNA and Viera Cast content, the V10 has just about everything you could expect from a high-end TV. With Viera Cast, you can access online content via the Internet, as well as files from your local network (DLNA). You can watch videos from YouTube, for instance, or look at photos on Picasa. Web connectivity in televisions is one of the big trends for 2009, and Panasonic couldn't miss out on a feature that nearly all of the big manufacturers are now offering.
- VIERA TC-P50V10 50"...
The settings menus are the same as on previous generations of Panasonic TVs. They're a little too functional and are beginning to look old-fashioned, but they work well. Navigating through the menus is easy, because they are all cyclic: as soon as you get to the bottom of a list of options, scrolling any further will take you back to the top. There are now onscreen indicators to show the level of different settings, which wasn't there on earlier models.
The remote control also seems to come from a different era. It's practical and easy to get used to, but its design clashes with the screen's, and it isn't backlit.
Image Quality
When we tested it in our lab, the results produced by the TC-P50V10 were quite simply excellent. Blacks were as dark as 0.05 cd/m² and can therefore easily be called 'very deep'. At the same time, whites varied from 126 to 158 cd/m², depending on the type of scene, giving a very high contrast ratio of between 2400:1 and 3300:1. To manage this, we had to turn the contrast up a little from its default setting, 30, to 45. Doing this doesn't have any negative effects on the gamma curve, so each color retains its ideal brightness compared to the others. Colors are also pretty good, if a little pale by default, and this setting can also usefully be increased from 30 to 45.
Of course, the best time to activate these changes is in either Cinema or THX mode, the only two that offer the best way of displaying movies. In Cinema mode, there is also the added bonus of the Intelligent Frame Creation Pro system (IFCP), which makes movies more fluid. This feature isn't available in THX mode, which shows the movie at the same framerate at which it was shot. Although turning IFCP on can be surprising the first time you use it, we were surprised to find that we got used to it after a few days. After that, films seemed jerky without it. It's up to you whether or not you use it, though. In the end, it's a question of taste.
Either way, the image quality is amazing, in both HD and SD. Upscaling of the latter isn't at all bad, but doesn't mark much of an improvement on what we've seen from the competition or on earlier Panasonic models. We've noticed that almost all of the manufacturers are neck and neck in this area. A Blu-ray reader still does better upscaling of a DVD than any television, and that's the best way to breathe a second life into your DVD collection.
Upscaling of an SD source (left) is as good as we'd expect on most recent TVs. HD sources (right) are displayed perfectly. It's possible that you see some blurriness in these photos, but that's caused by the interaction between our digital camera and the plasma technology, and it isn't visible to the naked eye.
Naturally, the viewing angles, response time and the brightness are all faultless--but that's the case with every plasma screen.
So: does the V10 represent the perfect television? Well, no ... or at least, it's no more perfect than any of the other great televisions we've tested. Although its plasma technology does bring certain advantages (viewing angles, response time, evenness, natural colors, deep blacks, etc.), there are also some disadvantages: the maximum brightness isn't as high as on an LCD, and the risk of screen burn makes using it with a console risky. With a plasma screen, you have to be careful not to display a static image for too long, and the interface on some console games can fall into this category. Plasmas are entirely unsuitable for use with a PC, unless you only plan to use your computer for playing movies. Finally, the V10's glossy screen makes it susceptible to reflections, so you'll need to avoid placing it opposite a window, a lamp or a light-colored wall.
The V10 isn't entirely without fault, then, but no more so than any other TV. It's certainly amongst the best of today's televisions, and if you consider one particular use--a Home Cinema in a dark room--possibly the very best.
Sound Quality
We have to admit that the sound produced by the speakers puts the V10 at the top of the table. That's not hard given how bad some of the competition is, and flatscreen TVs are very likely to produce a tinny sound. However, given the quality of the image, we think it would be a shame to not add a small Home Cinema Kit to make the sound even better--the V10 definitely deserves it.
Energy Use
The V10 might be reasonably economical on standby, but that's not at all the case when it's in use. Its energy consumption increases from 0.1 W to 301 W when you switch it on. It's certainly a lot, but it's still 25 percent lower than a plasma of this size from a few years ago.
| Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
|
Quite simply, the image produced by the V10 is excellent. Any Home Cinema fan is certain to make an excellent choice with this TV.
I am so sick of everyone testing lcd and plasma only. Where are the dlp televisions. Mitsubishi dlp are in my opinion one of the best hd tv's you can buy. Accurate colors, black blacks, no burn in, no lag, and they are cheaper than the lcd or plasma alternatives. Not everyone cares if thier tv is flat. I would rather have a 70inch dlp than a 50inch lcd or plasma any day of the week.
Samsung has two remotes now? What an amazing idea. I hardly ever use my remote for more than turning the TV on or adjusting the volume, so this would be absolutely perfect.
The prices on the tested sets are way to high and as thackstonns says the Mitsubishi DLP's are great sets not to mention their new laser HDTV.
Why so little LG screens ? Only 2 ? There are alot better LG LCD's out there!
I found this article generally helpful but there are other brands/models I would have liked to have seen (Mitsu, Toshiba, Sony). Where are the rest tom's? Why 4 Samsungs and no Sony or Mitsubishi?
Hmmm I wonder which of this HDTV that is true 8 bits / color or 24 bits?
I agree with thackstonns. I have no beef with flat TVs, but my speakers are effectively 2 feet deep (if you count the space to the back wall), so a flat TV would look stupid in such a setup. Also, are there really people who would buy high-end TVs and not spend anything on audio? Who cares about the quality of built-in speakers?
I know Pionner has left the TV business, and that the very last models they made are now getting a bit on the old side. Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see how some of the TVs in this review stack up against a PRO-151FD or a KRP600A, especially when it comes to black levels, or the possibility of ISF calibration.
I am so sick of everyone testing lcd and plasma only. Where are the dlp televisions. Mitsubishi dlp are in my opinion one of the best hd tv's you can buy. Accurate colors, black blacks, no burn in, no lag, and they are cheaper than the lcd or plasma alternatives. Not everyone cares if thier tv is flat. I would rather have a 70inch dlp than a 50inch lcd or plasma any day of the week.
Right on, I completely agree.
thackstonns: DLP and LCoS TVs are always rear-projection (or front-projection, but then you don't call that a "TV"), not direct-view like LCD and Plasma and LED flat-screens. Personally, I've never seen a rear-projection TV that I've liked, they all suffer from hot-spotting which absolutely drives me nuts. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than watch a rear-projection TV.
I don't think plasmas still suffer from the burn in that is mentioned in each one of the plasma reviews. I have read on AVSforums that users have unintentionally left a static image on their Panasonic plasmas for hours at a time and had no ill effects. I'm not sure of other manufacturers, but Panasonic has somehow figured out a way to prevent it. So to say that it's not good for games and "entirely unsuitable for use with a PC" is false. If you disagree, maybe you should test for this while you still have your review units.
I also agree with cdillon. I have never seen a DLP I would ever consider over a plasma or lcd. The only advantage they have over plama and lcd is their screen size, and PQ is much higher on my list than screen size. And just because your speakers don't sit flush with your wall dones't mean that your flat-screen has to. Most people have their screens sitting on stands that house their A/V equipment and would not be flush with the wall anyway.
I gotta say I'm dissapointed with this article. 4 units from Samsung? Why? If you are going to do a review like this, be more specific in your product selection.
For your average reader, doing a review of the entry level models for 7 different manufacturers would have been more useful. Show me how Panasonic's entry level 50" 1080P plasma compares to Samsungs, or LG's LCD, or Vizio's. I want to know which model offers the best value, apples to apples, not 55"LCD versus 50" plasma.
Samsung not only has some of the best prices, but they also makes some of the best units. I have found Samsung to have the best value overall than any other brand. If he didn't show other brands, did you stop to think that maybe it's because they're not worth mentioning?
Samsung does make great TVs, but this article should have had another focus if they wanted to tout the company's products. Do an article where you compare Samsung's large panel lineup against the competition. To only have one plasma from Panasonice (the undisputed king of plasma now that Pioneer is gone) is suspect to say the least.
I am looking to purchase a large screen LCD or plasma in November, and this artcile is of little use to me. I want to know how the Panasonic 54" plasmas compare to equivalent sized LCDs from Samsung, LG, and Sony. I think most people who would get any value out of an article like this are going to be dissapointed.
If Tom's Guide wants to do an article like this, they have to make it more extensive. Do what Tom's Hardware does and make it far more in depth and then break it up into several pieces so they can publish it over a few days time.
The only thing this article did was make me want to subscribe to Consumer Reports so that I can get a real comparison of large screen TV's. At the very least I'm going to Google some more in-depth comparisons and ratings. All I can say is that I expected more from Tom's.
With all the talk of DLP, Plasma, and LED’s each one has its advantages and disadvantages. I hope that the new OLED TV’s come to market soon and at a reasonable price. While the 11” is now available from Sony at $2,500 Sony is working on larger models to be released in the future. There are several advantages of OLED TV’s , they are very thin – so thin the can be bent around curved surfaces , use very little power, contain no hazardous materials such as lead, have an extremely high contract ratios and wide viewing angle. For those interested one can go to YouTube and search for “OLED” to see presentations of the technology”. For now I am happy with my old projection set and converter box and will wait until the OLED TV technology is made available.
All I can say is that i use a 50" panasonic plasma connected to my HTPC at 1080 native. I have never had any burn in issues etc. May be a little image retention that is gone in seconds, but then again you get this on LCD's too.
I use it for Movies, gaming and evrything PC related.
No need to worry about issues with static images these days. An old problem, but not anymore.
Used to be a big fan of Tom's website. However, the quality of writing, limited scope, lack of focus, absence of comparison charts, etc on all their reviews has really turned me away. All of their stories feel like watered down advertorials. Somebody made a comment about Consumer Reports - it's sad when a jack-of-all-trades review publication can trump this site on a TV/tech roundup.
I would like to see toms hardware return to glory.
I agree with thackstonns. I have no beef with flat TVs, but my speakers are effectively 2 feet deep (if you count the space to the back wall), so a flat TV would look stupid in such a setup. Also, are there really people who would buy high-end TVs and not spend anything on audio? Who cares about the quality of built-in speakers?
Actually I know quite a few people that get a TV that fits their needs spatially but are perfectly happy with the sound they get.