Panasonic TH-50PH9UK 50" Plasma Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am really happy with this purchase. Here are the reasons:

PROS:
- Reasonable price for a 50" plasma. Great value.
- Great picture quality/color/detail (see caveat below)
- Appealing enclosure. Simple, clean. (This was big for me. I find that plasma case designs tend to draw too much attention to themselves. This TV has a slim dark grey, almost black frame. I like it since the plasma is dominated by the image and not by the unit itself. Also, a 50" TV is not a small appliance by any means and this allows it to not overpower a room.)
- DVI or HDMI inputs sold separately, as easily installed module. (This can be viewed as a 'con' but I like the idea of not paying for bell-and-whistles that I don't need. I only needed the DVI input)

CONS:
- Stand sold seprately.Now having espoused how great this plasma is, it must be said that this TV is not for everyone. Internal processing (upscaling or rendering of standard definition and DVD content) is not as good as say the Pioneer 5070. In my research I found that the quality of video processing varies with each different model. This was an issue for me since a lot of what I will be watching will be standard def DVD's. So a lot of the TV's out there may display HD content fine, but SD content is all over the map.

So my solution was to treat the TV plasma as if it were a monitor and do the scaling/upscalingthorough a separate external video processor. The external video processor can render better quality SD content than most plasmas out there (even high end).What this allowed me to do was to invest less in 'built-in' processing and put that money towards a better video processing solution (I chose the DVDO iScan VP30). You end up paying more money in the end, but keep in mind that when I upgrade plasmas in a couple of years, I keep the video processor for the new monitor. I liken it to the choice between getting an all-in-one computer, like the iMac, vs a CPU/monitor set-up. You get the flexibility to upgrades the 'wheels' and not have by a whole new 'wagon.'

Ultimately, for me it comes down to picture quality (especially for SD content) and value, and this combination has it in spades!

(Also, the plasma/ext VP combination also allows for displaying video at the native resultion of the TV, which for this model sits somewhere between 720P and 1080i. The results make a big difference.)

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Product Description:
Panasonic combines the very best in image quality, customization and size selection in its new Professional Series plasma family. With an up to 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 3,072 shades of gradation and industry-leading 16-bit color processing, the TH-50PH9UK delivers significant image quality improvements to produce an unforgettable visual experience. Panasonic's multi-function input slot system offers seamless integration in virtually any AV, PC or interactive environment, so it can be used in the widest range of vertical or horizontal display applications. This 50" panel is more lighter and more energy efficient than the previous generation, and its ultra-stylish design looks ultra sleek even when the panel is turned off. Taken as a whole, the TH-50PH9UK is a stunning 50" high definition professional plasma display that delivers the elegance and superb image quality for any installation, while providing full integration in an automated environment, making it equally at home in the broadcast studio, a corporate boardroom, or on the set. The TH-50PH9UK comes standard with PC Input, Audio Input (for PC), Serial Control (RS-232C) Input, BNC Component Video/RGB Input and Audio Input, BNC Composite Video Input, S-Video Input, and Audio Input (for Video). There is an available slot for an optional terminal board. Or, the standard boards can be removed to allow up to three optional boards.

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Samsung FPT5084 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my initial review of this television after owning it for about three days.
What I love:
Watching Blu-Ray in 1080P is just spectacular! I own a PS3 and have a 1.3a HDMI cable for connection and the picture is superb. I watched "The Prestige" and "Casino Royale" in 1080P and was blown away. No pixelation or judder during fast-moving action scenes and the colors and details were impressive. This is clearly what this TV was designed to do. No complaints
I played Ninja Gaiden Sigma(720P) on PS3 and it looked amazing. The background was so beautiful I couldn't even play the game. I was just staring at the details and vivid colors. Once I have broken-in this TV (at least 100-200hrs) I will play more games. I get nervous about image retention. However, this TV comes with "Pixel Shift" which is supposed to help prevent this problem. Also, there are several built-in programs that will help alleviate the problem if, God forbid, there is image retention. I like that very much and it is a nice feature. I talked to an ISF-trained tech from a local store and he told me with these new plasmas that you would have to leave an image for several hours for "burn-in" to occur. He also said that there is no "break-in" period like I said above, but that I should NEVER use the DYNAMIC picture setting because it will turn your plasma into toast. So take this for what it's worth. I am being very cautious with my $3000 newborn.

What I like:
I have DirecTV HD service and the picture is VERY NICE. There is some pixelation during extremely fast action or explosions, but trust me that is the crappy satellite feed and NOT the plasma. No complaints here.

What I think is OK:
The SD channels are good, but not great. It definitely varies from channel to channel and this, again, may just be DirecTV. Don't get me wrong they are MUCH better than on my Samsung LCD, just not amazing or anything. I am so spoiled. It's funny, you'll be watching a show in SD and the picture is not so good and then it goes to commercial and they look awesome. I guess what they say is true "Garbage in, Garbage out."

Other observations:
I only listened to the sound for about 10 minutes because I have 7.1 surround, but it sounded good and that is all I will comment on that.
I read that the pevious model Samsung 5054/64 has problems with judder or skipping frames with tickers(CNN,ESPN,etc.) on the bottom of the screen. I don't see this problem and I am LOOKING for it big-time. Nothing that I can detect. Do not worry about this cause it is not a problem.
Sorry about the long review, but I know there is not much out there on this one. I can't wait to see what the fellas/gals at CNET or CR have to say. Good Luck and feel free to ask me about anything specific.
Update Jan. 7, 2008
I have had this tv for 6 months now and I have no regrets. I will say that it can get very hot and doubles as a heater. Especially after watching for several hours. But it is a minor annoyance.
The picture is still fantastic and I would put it up against a Pioneer Kuro anyday. It will absolutely destroy a Panasonic. They are very good plasmas, but I would go with SAMSUNG everytime. I saw the price has dipped below $2000 for this set now. People, if you want a 50" 1080p Plasma, DO NOT WAIT. THIS IS YOUR SET. I love it and it is my baby...You can thank me later.

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Product Description:
Samsung's 50" HP-T5084 offers full HD 1080p resolution. Watch its astonishingly crisp picture from any angle - even in a brightly lit room, thanks to its Ultra FilterBright- anti-reflection filter. Enjoy the dazzling color array of 18-bit processing; a 15,000 contrast ratio reveals the deepest blacks, the whitest whites, and every detail in between. Samsung-s powerful anti-burn-in technology assures a long screen life. SRS TruSurround XT- technology and 10-watt per channel audio amplifiers deliver sound through bottom speakers.

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