Panasonic TH-50PX25U/P 50-Inch HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV

by Panasonic

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 170 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B00029D380
• Item model number: TH50PX25U/P
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,772 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Say goodbye to needless bulk and wasted 4:3 screen space, and say hello to widescreen, flat-panel excitement with Panasonic's 50-inch VIERA series TH-50PX25U/P. The 1,366 x 768-pixel gas-plasma TV offers a 16:9 widescreen dimension, photo-viewing SD and PC Card slots, and an HDMI input for direct-digital connection with high-definition sources. Its ATSC tuner pulls HD signals (480p/1080i) right out of the airwaves, however, and its QAM tuner is fully compatible with unscrambled HDTV cable reception. A standard analog NTSC tuner receives standard-definition (SD) programming, and 2-tuner/split-screen picture-in-picture gives you unparalleled viewing convenience with scalable image sizes. The set's authorized CableCARD ability means the set will also receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the TH-50PX25U/P is a mere 5.5 inches deep, perfect for desk or wall mounting. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems.

The TH-50PX25U/P's contrast ratio is rated at an extraordinarily lifelike 3,000:1, and the TV is capable of producing over 1 billion colors. Picture-enhancing technologies include the Mach Band Effect Enhancer, a Gamma Enhancement System, and Panasonic's New Real Black Drive System.

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) offers uncompressed digital data transmission between compatible devices, as between the TH-50PX25U/P and a DTV satellite receiver. Other connections include dual HD component-video inputs, 3 each composite- and S-video inputs, and front-panel AV jacks for easy hookup with external devices, including an RGB PC input (15-pin mini D-Sub) offering up to 720p resolution. A set of composite-video-based AV outputs simplifies hookup with an external AV receiver and speaker system.

The TV's internal 2-way, biamplified stereo speakers are powered by 13 watts total per channel and use 5 separate drivers per speaker for extra richness and clarity. BBE ViVA HD3D surround processing creates authentic-sounding 3D effects from stereo speakers and exceptional sound-stage imaging, helping to ensure optimal clarity for centrally staged audio material such as dialogue. Artificial intelligence sound automatically adjusts the volume level on your TV to prevent wide variations in sound between different TV stations and types of programming.

Other features include V-Chip Program lockout, on/off sleep timers, a remote control, and closed-caption decoding.

What's in the Box
TV, remote control, remote batteries (2 AA), a pedestal base, an AC power cord, F-type coaxial antenna adapters, ferrite cores, 2 clampers, a warranty card, a customer card, and a service-center list.

Product Description

Panasonic 50" Plasma Display - Inject some excitement into your home TV & movie entertainment with this large, widescreen plasma display. It's 50" big and has a 16:9 aspect ratio. You're television shows become larger than life, and movies look just like they do in the theater! It's also HDTV capable, supporting 480p & 1080i (780p via PC input only). HDTV is the next generation of television, letting you experience your favorite shows in amazingly lifelike quality. Mach Band Effect Enhancer Gamma Enhancement System Audio Inputs (for Video) - 2 rear/1 front Audio Input (for PC) - 1 front (shared input) Composite Video Inputs - 2 rear/1 front S-Video Inputs - 2 rear/1 front Component Video Inputs (Y, Pb, Pr) - 2 rear Front PC RGB Input BBE ViVA HD3D Sound 2 Audio Inputs (for component video) SD & PC Card Slots - for viewing digital pictures 2-Tuner Picture-in-Picture P-I-P Scalable Size V-Chip Program Lockout Timers - Sleep/On/Off Built-in Closed Caption Decoder Over 1 Billion Colors Unit Dimensions - 34.3 (h) x 52.3 (w) x 5.5 (d) Unit Weight - 125.7 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's hard to find many reviews on this model..., February 6, 2005

By 

Reviewer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic TH-50PX25U/P 50-Inch HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV (Electronics)

I did a lot of online and in-store research before buying this TV from Amazon, but I had a hard time finding useful information about it -- and no luck finding it displayed at retail electronics stores. So I thought I'd offer my thoughts here for those wanting more user feedback.

I chose Panasonic over other brands because among 42" plasmas the brand was consistently well reviewed, and though I found a lot fewer reviews of 50" plasmas, Panasonic seemed to offer the best price/performance mix for that screen size too. However, when I was researching 50" TVs three months ago (I bought mine in December 2004), one of the obstacles I ran into is that Panasonic seems to offer three different 50" plasma TVs, with unclear differences among them: this one (25U/P), the 20U/P, and a non-consumer model that is supposedly stripped-down in terms of functionality but well reviewed for performance. I bought the 25U/P because I wanted the full functionality of the consumer model, and because I assumed the 20U/P was an earlier model number than the 25U/P. That choice was an educated guess; I have no way of knowing whether the other models are better or worse.

All I can say is that, like another reviewer here at Amazon, I found an online review (possibly ZDNet) that said the 25U/P had a very washed out picture that was difficult to see in daylight. In my experience, that's not true. My "old" TV is an eighteen-month-old 36" Toshiba conventional tube model that was highly ranked by Consumer Reports. The Panasonic plasma seems a little less bright than that, but is perfectly easy to see in direct sunlight. (Some of the difference in brightness may be that the Panasonic has more lifelike, subtle colors than the brighter but slightly more cartoonish Toshiba colors.) The image quality on the Panasonic 25U/P, when connected to standard (digital) cable is nothing to brag about (no better or worse than the Toshiba), and a DVD it looks sharp on it, but not noticeably sharper than what I got from the 36" Toshiba.

Now that I've got an HDTV box from the cable company, though, I can say that the image quality on the HD channels is amazing. The contrasts and detail are superb. When I'm watching CSI on CBS-HD, I'm blown away by the picture quality on this TV. I'm pleased by other things too -- the design of the TV is handsome, and functionally it's pretty user-friendly -- but what really matters to me is picture quality, and I'm very happy with it.

The only thing I'll add is that I've done a lot of shopping at Amazon, and in the past I'd always had my purchases arrive before the estimated delivery date. This plasma TV was the exception. The company that shipped my TV for Amazon, Eagle USA, did not deliver the TV on time. In fact, the tracking number Amazon gave me did not even appear in Eagle USA's shipping database; when my estimated delivery date came and went, I called Eagle and Amazon, and no one could tell me what had happened to my TV or where it was within the shipping grid. Amazon was even starting to process a refund ... when, a week after my estimated delivery date, Eagle called to say they were delivering the Panasonic the next day. Once that happened, everything went off without a hitch: the delivery guys arrived on time, unwrapped the TV, set it up, and took the box and packaging with them -- and Amazon even refunded my shipping costs to apologize for the situation. But buyers may want to be wary about purchasing these big-ticket items from Amazon if arrival dates are time-sensitive; non-standard shippers may not be as reliable as UPS or FedEx.

Other than that, I have no complaints about this TV.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful television, January 27, 2005

By 

James L. Jones (jacksonville, fla) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic TH-50PX25U/P 50-Inch HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV (Electronics)

I own this set. We were hooked when we saw it in a local high end stereo shop, for around $8 grand. I bought it on line for $5,000. The picture is amazing.

Downsides: It is heavy. If you wall mount it, you should either have a professional do it, or be prepared to do some serious carpentry. I did my own. It's not hard. Best Buy wanted a grand to install it, that is ridiculous.

Be very careful taking it out of the box, you need help, it can fall out of the box on the floor, not good. Two adults at a minimum.

Zdnet.com gave this TV a bad review, based on brightness and the lack of a true 720 input. I don't think either are a problem.

Pro's. The picture is amazing. It has a cable card input and so you can get rid of the cable box. It is quite thin, and wall mounted takes up very little space. You don't need the $3,000 ugly entertainment center, so in the end you save money (use that approach on your spouse) The remote is adequate.

I haven't really compare this to other sets, the online reviews are almost all outstanding.

My wife loves it, enough said.

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice for it's time, but it's time has passed, February 27, 2009

By 

C. Tanner "Tech Reviewer" (Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic TH-50PX25U/P 50-Inch HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel Plasma TV (Electronics)

I have owned this TV since 2005 or so, Although I loved it when I got it, I didn't realize how limited it was until I bought my second HDTV. The fact that this TV doesn't support 720p is simply inexcusable. 720p actually can be obtained if you use the PC connector (which was placed on the front of the TV.) but not for regular viewing. If you decide to connect a media center to this TV, you will have to keep the front connectors door open. Panasonic was very careless not to place the PC connector on the back of the unit

Sometimes the TV tuner overheats and completely shuts down the tuner, the tv remains on, but you will get snow until it cools off (turn off the set). Although this doesn't happen often, it has happened to me on several occassions.

Another issue I have with this TV, I used a component to HDMI adapter to connect my media center to this tv. Whenever my media center turns off the display due to inactivity, the TV doesn't wake up when you move the mouse or use the remote. If you change modes to TV or something else, the tv still functions fine, however when you return to the HDMI input, the TV will not have noticed the the computer is awake and will not display a picture unless you restart the computer. BUMMER!

Because of these problems, I would not recommend this TV.