Panasonic TC-P50S1

Many people wonder why Plasma TVs like the Panasonic TC-P50S1 are still produced despite the ongoing success of LCD displays demonstrated by the top TV manufacturers, including Panasonic. The reason lies on the fact that these plasma TV displays are evolving to be better and overcoming their weaknesses and limitations one step at a time.

The new Viera S1 Series Plasma really shows how far plasma TV technology has gone and one of the major breakthroughs is the amazing power-saving features compared to the other plasma TVs released prior to that. The new Neo PDP technology that is exclusive to the S1 Series is responsible for the power-saving features and performance enhancements.

Technical Features

The Panasonic TC-P50S1 delivers the full 1080p experience and it manages to go beyond what most other 1080p TVs bring to the table by maintaining the 1080 lines during fast motion processing demonstrated by high-speed scenes like action movies and intense sports. The 40,000:1 native contrast ratio allows it to reproduce some really deep black levels and more defined shadow details. Although the primary colors sometimes lack accuracy, the color saturation remains solid for a real good picture overall.

These specs pretty much equalize some of the good LCD displays in the market today and the sleek design really makes an impression. Three HDMI ports are also available in addition to two component-video inputs for plenty of connectivity possibilities.

Actual user review:
“I am amazed at its color accuracy. I did find my self making a few tweeks from the factory settings but once you get it to where you like the picture you’ll fall in love. Sports and movies shine on this set. I preferred the Plasma over the LCD because the movement on the Plasma TV was much more natural than the 120hz LCD displays. I sell TVs at Sears and after being around both for a while I find the plasma image much easier and natural to look at. I chose Panasonic because they seem to have mastered the Plasma technology and even a Samsung rep told me that he preferred Panasonic’s plasma to Samsung’s plasma. I should also note that the anti-glare filter works really well I wouldn’t be worried about glare issues.” – S.Howland (NH,USA)

 

Technologies

Lowering the power consumption was one of the biggest hurdles of plasma TVs and now the Panasonic TC-P50S1 manages to do it thanks to the Neo PDP technology. This attaches the “eco-friendly” label to the Panasonic TC-P50S1 and significantly reduces the power consumption. At the same time, it is also responsible for the crisp images on display even when the action quickens. The Neo PDP technology is just enough to consider your TV as a cinema TV making it great for watching big time movies and playing the latest next generation games. Combined with the 600Hz Sub-field Drive that enhances the image quality and performance even more, the overall output is really good.

There are also two other technologies that may be familiar to people owning Panasonic flat screen TVs in the past. The VIERA Image Viewer basically transforms your TV into a slideshow viewer that can display any images are stored in the SD card inserted in the built-in slot.

You get even added benefits if you own other Panasonic products including Blu-ray Disc Players and DVD recorders. VIERA Link makes it possible for the single TV remote to control all these devices including HD camcorders and sound systems as well.

Other Features

Other than the included game mode which basically enhances the TV’s performance during gaming sessions, there isn’t much else included in the Panasonic TC-P50S1. But the three technologies mentioned earlier are extra features in their own right and should be enough to keep HDTV lovers happy.

There aren’t many picture controls available the accuracy of the primary colors could be debatable, but the solid performance and power-saving features make this one of the best modern plasma TV displays to date.

• “This TV is great! I have been researching TVs for over a year to find the right one. I read all of the professional reviews (cNet) and this is the TV that I decided on. I am extremely picky about picture quality and this TV delivers an amazing picture! I was not going to get a plasma to begin with because of the supposed “image retention” which I have yet to notice. I am extremely glad that I got a Panasonic Plasma. The blacks are so deep, it almost looks as though the TV is off when the screen is black. The deep blacks make the colors pop! I have watched a number of blu-rays and played a couple of hours of games and I am in love already. I highly recommend this TV to everyone. Any LCD this size would be much more expensive and have a much lower picture quality.” – A.Weggeman (Wi,USA)
• “I received my Panasonic VIERA TC-P50S1 3 days ago. I was VERY nervous about making this purchase. Very expensive and on-line ordering. ALL my fears were for nothing. This is a FANTASTIC set and it arrived from 6ave in great condition & on the FIRST day promised. I was impressed. The picture quality is amazing. I did a LOT of research before purchasing this set. I read reviews, I talked to others that had a Panasonic, I even went to “Best Buy” (terrible experience) and compared this set to many others, and a few other electronic stores. It did look better that most other sets but I wasn’t sure if it was worth that much more. I have to say now it was worth it. Especially since buying it online I got a better price than the less expensive models. I think the need for more adjustments to the picture is a bit overrated. The settings that are available do just fine. The sound quality is also very good. Lastly the looks of the set are great. It is very sleek with the piano finish black trim and no gaudy trim to distract you from your viewing. And as a final “seal of approval” even my 92 year old mother when she saw the new set said it looked great and she was amazed by the picture.” – R.Hamilton (FL,USA)

Average User Rating:

 

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