Customer Reviews

Panasonic VIERA G1 Series TC-L37G1 37-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Panasonic VIERA G1 Series TC-L37G1 37-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
After researching the market for about a month I bought this product on 04/28/09 and it was delivered within 5 days. Overall I'm very satisfied with this product and can highly recommend it.

Installation and set up
Very easy within 20 minutes, excellent documentation and simple to understand. I own a Denon AV3805 and DVD 2910 and when you go through those manuals, it is painful!
The auto set up for digital and analog channels worked very well however it takes about 10 minutes to go through. The set up is pretty straight forward and the remote is easy to use with an ergonomic design. Feels solid and the numbers are bigger, so people can see them without glasses! Batteries for the remote are included.

Product features, picture and sound
The 1080p LCD HDTV has 3 HDMI connections and those work flawlessly. The SD card reader is a nice addition and works well too. The TV also offers component, video and optical connections. For surround sound I use my Denon receiver via a optical cable. The HD channels with the surround sound are an experience!
My main reason for chosing the G1 verses the S1 was the fact that this model comes with 120Hz, a better contrast ratio 20000:1, which produces deep black levels and the picture quality is superb. When you watch ABC in HD the digital quality is outstanding.
The sound of the speakers is pretty good, however in digital mode I use my AV.
The colors are more vibrant and natural compared to my old Panasonic TH32LX70. The contrast is excellent and the gray scale seems accurate and sport scenes are crisp.

While watching I'm about 8-9 feet away and that is a good distance for a 37" TV.
When connecting my Mac via a HDMI cable the screen is like a Apple display, crisp and sharp and much better compared to my old TV.

Panasonic has a good track record in terms of quality and reliability, my old TV has now 4 years of defect free performance , I hope that this one will be the same.

Hope this helps and if you are looking for a new or replacement HDTV give this one a closer look.
Have fun.

I bought this TV after seriously considering numerous manufacturers and models. If I could do it over again, I would probably do it over again.

Unboxing: What you'd expect. Easy enough if you have a flat, stable, clean, and non-abrasive surface to lay the TV on attach the stand on to. It comes with information about wall mounts that will fit, and setup is pretty easy.

Setup: Pretty good, with minor complaints. Automatic channel pickup takes longer than on a lot of digital TVs. One big quirk: I had a friend with an Insignia and it ignored digital channels that it could not receive (encrypted, cable box only). This box will add them to the list, and then when you try to watch it it will say that it won't display the channel- which may leave a lot of unusable channels clogging your lineup. No CableCard slot, so you'll have to do with OTA HD, unencrypted cable HD (usually only broadcast channels), or you'll have to get a cable box. This isn't a big concern- this TV has 4 HD inputs.

Picture Quality: Amazing. Color is stunning, ghosting is nonexistent. HD material looks amazing. Blu-Rays in particular look extremely fluid with 120HZ in the panel. I recommend you see it in person- I think the effect is positive, but some viewers don't like it. You CAN disable the technology, but at that point, you're spending a lot more money on this model (vs. Panasonic's other series).

Inputs: You get 3 HDMI outputs; 2 in the back, 1 in the side. The side input will become increasingly more convenient as camcorders, media players, and other devices use HDMI. Also on the side is are standard def inputs (S-Video, RCA Yellow/Red/White) and a headphone jack. The headphone jack automatically disables the speakers when a device is plugged in- convenient if you use it sporadically. If you have a set of wireless headphones though, it means plugging it in whenever you want to use them. Older Panasonic TVs had a seperate left/right audio out for purposes like this- I was negligent not to check, but I'm disappointed by the removal.

Back has the 2 previously mentioned HDMI inputs, a component video input with RCA L/R, an S-Video/RCA combo, and a VGA in with RCA L/R audio inputs. This is a 1080P TV; however, it will NOT ACCEPT 1080P OVER COMPONENT. I erroneously assumed it was; this is made clear in the detailed owner's manual, but not the product literature. Many newer TVs do support 1080P over component. It's not a problem, as most devices themselves don't support 1080P over component- a select few do. I'm an older Xbox 360 owner- no HDMI for me- so it's kind of disappointing.

Outputs: Headphone jack has been mentioned. There's also an optical out jack for 5.1 surround out from the TV. I haven't tested it- I can't tell you if audio from HDMI, etc. will pass along, or only cable/broadcast TV.

Sound: The built in speakers are not bad. However, they really are designed for a wall mount, in my opinion. The speakers fire downwards- if you have a stand, this really doesn't project the sound out. It makes the front of the TV look nice and clean. Still the speakers aren't bad- volume control is fine grained - 0 to 100 - and while it doesn't have the loudest speakers, it can still disturb the neighbors if you want to. The sound isn't tinny- just not the clearest, at least with the stand (haven't tried to wall mount it). I recommend you try it in person.

The random stuff:
-Stickers leave no residue (if you're a nut like myself).
-You can label the inputs with preset names (e.x. Cable, Game) or custom (e.x. PS3, Xbox). This is GREAT if you don't have a universal remote as it makes the inputs less confusing. The TV is in the Harmony database, everything's well timed and works great (turning on/off, volume, changing channels, changing inputs, etc.). -Unlike some HDTVs I've tried, it doesn't have HDMI handshaking issues (no video, going in and out, video but no sound, etc.).
-Included remote is decent- not the best, but very much usable with large print buttons. It does not glow in the dark, and it is not backlit.

IN CLOSING:
With a couple of (minor) complaints, I'm very happy with the decision and can easily recommend this TV.

[...]
[...]

I have this TV wall mounted in my home, and so far I'm happy with it.

As for picture quality, overall I'd rate it a "B":

- The contrast and black levels are very good, perhaps better than the Sony XBR I also own (but not even in the same league as the Pioneer Plasma I also own..if picture quality is your thing, go plasma or wait until OLED).

- Details are slightly "soft", even in high-def (especially compared to the Sony, which tends to be ultra-sharp). While this might sound bad, it's actually not, especially with standard-definition signals. SD content tends to look pretty good on the Panasonic, compared to other TVs I own. If you watch mostly HD content, you might not be as happy.

- The screen is a good mix of glossy and non-reflective. I watch in daylight and reflections aren't too bothersome as they are on some other brands.

As for usability and other features, I'd rate them a "B-" to "C":

I didn't think I would, but I find I use the SD support quite a bit. It lets you put some of your favorite digital photos on a SD memory card and use the TV to display them in a slide show.

Sound quality is okay, but not great. Specifically, in a large room, the embedded speakers aren't big enough to give enough volume, and there's a distinctly muddy sound to the unit.

I find the controls east to use and fairly straightforward, although the remote needs to be pointed directly at the TV sensor, and there tends to be an annoying lag between pressing a button and having it show up on the TV.

Hooking up HDMI devices worked well, and so far everything I've tried has worked flawlessly (unlike my Sony, which seems to be finicky).

I found wall-mounting the TV to be fairly straightforward, although many of the connectors will be blocked by typical mounting hardware.

Overall, I think for the price, this is a great TV that holds its own against most of what Samsung, Sony and so forth have to offer.

I purchased a Panasonic Viera TC-L37G1 from Amazon in October.
In December the HDMI port (connection) stopped working.
Since the TV is less than 42 inches, there is no on site support even within the first year. Panasonic web site says that you have to take it to a nearby service center.
I live in NY City and don't have a car. The nearest service center is in a different borough. The TV weighs almost 40 lbs. & is 27.8" x 47.7" x 9.0" in size.
I now need to rent a van to drive 30 miles or so to the service center to get this repaired!
The most frustrating part is in attempting to reach Panasonic. I have emailed 3 times with no response from Panasonic. I have called Panasonic 3 times and each time the call center (Philippines) can't connect me to the television department!

This is all very frustrating for a TV that is 2 months old.

This TV is simply the best of the non LED lit LCD TVs. Better than the Sonys and Samsungs with respect to picture quality. Panasonic Plasmas have great picture quality and deep black levels. With this TV, Panasonic has tried it's best within the limitations of LCD technology to get the best picture quality and black levels possible. The result is the best black levels you will see in any non LED back-lit LCD TV. There is even a black level adjustment setting in the menu. Once you fine tune the settings, the picture is really beautiful. As with all HDTVs, non HD images are not perfect, but still very good (above the average) in my opinion.

You have to do a few things to get the picture quality perfect: Turn color management OFF, A.I. picture OFF, video NR OFF, set Black Level to "Light", Backlight - set around 55, Brightness - set around 60, - Contrast - set around 60, Sharpness - set around 40, Color - this is your choice - my preference was 37, Tint 0, Motion Picture Pro3 - Strong... Hope this helps.

Only con, as pointed out by other reviewers, the TV speakers are not good, both w.r.to sound and placement. But I use my HT audio system so that is not a problem for me. Also, I wish it had more HDMI inputs. On the remote side, the VIERA Link remote is a bit useless as the functions are minimal - I can't even access the menu and other functions for a VIERA Link enabled Panasonic DVD Player.

All in all - this is the best small LCD you can buy!

I purchased the Panny 37" G1 a little over 2 months ago. It was bundled with a Panny Blu Ray player, so it was an easy decision-once I had committed to a 37" LCD TV. My space limitations dictated 37" was as big as I could go. I wanted to go plasma, but alas, no space. My next purchase will be a huge plasma, but I digress.
The G1 looks great. Form, fit and function are well thought out and executed. I will say that the engineers who designed the remote must have had small hands because a few of the buttons were placed in awkward places for my longer fingers to reach back and under to press. Not a problem, just an observation. The TV filled the need to replace a 35" tube TV which I loved. After adjusting the presets to the G1, I have a very pretty picture. The default settings will burn your eyeballs at 10 feet. Turn the brightness, chroma and contrast down! The other presets choices are fine, but probably will not use them. There are plenty of inputs, to accommodate almost everything you could want. I have an antenna for OTA, FIOS on HDMI , a Wii, Laserdisc player on S-Video , Blu Ray player on HDMI , and I still have a few sets of inputs left. FIOS TV is simply awesome. I have subscribed to everything offered...HD is breathtaking! My Wii is plugged into the component input and upconverted to 1080P. Mario Kart and Wii Sports in 16X9 are way better. The PQ on the set for Standard and High Definition is remarkable. The speakers on the TV are fine for daily TV watching and Spongebob-type shows. The speakers are down firing, which keeps the panel clean and neat, but at the cost of strong audio. To have committed to HD and not hook up to at least a 5.1 stereo system should be a crime. Once you hear the difference, you will understand. As a test, I watched an HD VOD offering from Verizon FIOS. No question that the sound is half, if not more, of the HD experience. I then put a Blu Ray disc in, outstanding picture and sound. Oh, using HDMI and same brand equipment, you can control the TV and Blu ray from one remote. Very handy! Not to sound snobbish, but it will be hard to go back to regular TV and DVD now. The TV has no banding, humming, flickering or dead pixels. I wanted to wait 2 full month to post a review to make sure I had pressed every button and adjust everything adjustable. This was unquestionably the best TV for me to have purchased to make the leap to HDTV. My life has changed forever. Next up, a Panny G10 54" plasma!!!

I ordered this set on April 20th, expecting not to receive it until May 7th. It was delivered two days later. I was incredibly happy. My biggest problem was switching it with my old 32 inch set that weighs a ton. My new g1 I can lift and haul on my own. Setup was incredibly easy and quick. Cable and power connections and I was watching programs. My plan to get a splitter so I can connect the building antenna and a cable to connect to my PC I expect to be just as quick and easy. The colors are great, I'm happy with the sound and the amount of space on the shelf is such a big difference. The menus are easy to maneuver and the remote is slim and easy. I'm very happy with my selection.

... designed to help others - like me - for whom non-professional/technical, unsolicited user comments weigh heavily in purchasing decisions.

I purchased the Panny TC-37G1 directly from Amazon (as I do very many other things) and am very happy that I did. The price was extremely competitive (best I was able to find) and the package arrived unopened, with the box in pristine condition and was obviously handled with care. The carrier Amazon uses (CEVA Logistics) are first rate. I got a phone call to set up a delivery appointment and a phone call the morning of the appointment to confirm and pin point actual delivery time. Moreover, the CEVA courriers gently brought the box into my house, unpacked it, attached the stand and plugged in the TV to ensure that it was working properly. I had never experienced any shipping issues for the multitude of products that I've ordered from Amazon so I did not hesitate to order up this large ticket item. If you've done your shopping and found that Amazon has the best deal, but nervous about ordering a TV on-line, let my experience serve to comfort you.

Set up was extremely easy and I find the Remote to be simple, intuitive and high quality. The HD picture quality is "Excellent"; the SD picture quality is "Good" (thus the four stars). Regarding sound quality, I guess this is a very subjective matter and also one of perspective. After reading some reviews here I braced myself for a potential huge dissapointment with the TV's built-in sound quality. Well, if you want to compare the quality of the TV's sound to the sound quality of an amplified surround sound system (in my case, a 5.1 system), one must say the the TV's sound system is not very good. BUT, I'm here to tell you that the sound quality - for a TV without any external attachments - is absolutely fine. The sound clarity, tone, etc. is perfectly fine and volume more than adequate. If you're looking for high fidelity surround sound, turn on your system or go buy one ... but IMHO (in my humble opinion) this issue should not, by any means, be a deal breaker in contemplating the purchase of this TV.

I would also be remiss if I did not report that - although I did not experieince any real issues - I did have occasion to contact Panasonic tech support with a few pre-sale and post-sale questions and they answer the phone quickly, are easy to communicate with/understand and provided - in all of my cases - the precise answers I was looking for.

Just wanted to post some comments quickly to begin to pay-it-forward, regarding adding some more relevant info to help folks like me who read these reviews to make their purchasing decisions. I will add to this review in the future as necessary and as I come by more experience with the product that I think would be helpful to others.

It actually started out being a search for a 37 inch HDTV that would fit in my existing cabinet...turned out this TV not only fit but the quality was amazing. I also connected a PC and THAT display was amazing as well. BluRay is awesome! I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed. If there is a "con" it would be that the sound is a bit less that my previous TV, but with the optical output on the back of the TV fed into my existing amplifier, that was quickly overcome. All inputs, including the analog tv is converted and fed out that output.

Pros:
Set up & Inputs. Easy hook up. So far I'm only using the 2 HDMI's in the back: one for the cable box the other one for a PS-3 Slim. Audio goes to the receiver via optical out.
Picture Quality. Outstanding. Thanks to the 120Hz and the 20,000:1 contrast ratio the picture is crisp,
renders beautiful colors and deep blacks (for an LCD)
Small frame. At 35.2" in width it meant I didn't have to buy new furniture
Only con:
Audio Quality. Speakers are adequate, but, I'm using my receiver so it doesn't matter.