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Technical Details
Size: 50-Inch
- Brand Name: Panasonic
- Model: TC-P50S30
- Display Technology: led-lit
- Display Size: 50 inches
- Speaker Count: 2
Product DetailsSize: 50-Inch
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Product Description
Size: 50-Inch
Amazon.com
Internet-Ready Television (US Only)
Internet-ready TVs use your broadband connection to deliver dynamic content, whether it's streaming video from Netflix, new music from Pandora, or a quick glance at today's weather forecast.
Although there is overlap, each manufacturer offers a unique bundle of free or paid services, including streaming video and music, social networking apps, online photo galleries, news and financial updates, weather info, sports scores, and a variety of other smartphone-like applications.
Manufacturers continue to add new content to their offerings, keeping customers current through firmware updates, and making a bit of research a prudent step in your buying decision.
Learn more about Internet TVs, how they work, what services are offered by different manufacturers, and exactly what you'll need to get started at our Internet TV 101 customer center.
Note: Panasonic's EASY IPTV™ television applications are embedded and no new apps can be added. Currently available services in Canada are CinemaNow, SHOUTcast Internet Radio, and Facebook.
Napster/Netflix/Pandora/Amazon Instant Video available in US only.
(March 2011)
EASY IPTV
Simply press the VIERA Tools button on the remote control to directly access a variety of Internet services. Enjoy online music and movies with ease.
Note: In Canada only Facebook™, CinemaNow™, and ShoutCast™ are available.
VIERA Image VIEWER™
Equipped with an SD card slot, VIERA makes it easy to view full-HD photos and motion images that you shot yourself. Simply insert the SD memory card into the slot, and you're ready to view your photos and full-HD videos on the big screen. You can make your slide shows even more impressive by adding background music and attractive frames. With VIERA's big screen and superb image quality, family and friends will love sharing your memories.
VIERA Link™
VIERA Link simplifies the operation of a variety of AV devices, so you can operate them all using only the VIERA remote control. Setup is easy--simply connect the devices to each other via HDMI cables.
600 Hz Sub-field Drive
Panasonic's 600Hz Sub-Field Drive technology optimizes the input signal at the sub-field level to achieve a remarkable increase in motion-image rendering performance. The addition of Panasonic's new phosphor and redesigned panel structure further improve clarity in moving images.
Deep Colour
VIERA faithfully reproduces all the colours inherent in today's most advanced image sources, such as Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. Use an HDMI cable to connect VIERA to the playback device, and you'll enjoy the kind of rich, vibrant colours that make viewing such a pleasurable experience.
Years of Beautiful Images—Long Panel Life (up to 100,000 Hours)
One important way consumers can protect the environment is by choosing high-quality products and taking care of them so they last for a long time. A high-quality VIERA HDTV can help. Thanks to a newly designed phosphor and panel, our plasma panels last for up to 100,000 hours before the brightness decreases by half. That's more than 30 years of viewing 8 hours a day.
Mercury and Lead Free Plasma Panel
Panasonic is committed to making our products friendlier to the environment. In line with this commitment, all VIERA plasma display panels are free of both lead and mercury. This reduces impact on the environment years down the road when the TV is recycled or retired from use.
x.v. Colour
VIERA models with x.v.Colour compatibility reproduce all of the vibrant colour in images recorded by wide x.v.Colour gamut compatible camcorders. These rich, vivid images are a feast for the eyes.
DLNA / Wi-Fi Ready
Connect a DLNA-compatible VIERA and DLNA-compatible AV equipment to your home network, and you can watch movies, listen to music, and view photos from any room in the house. VIERA's Wi-Fi capability gives you even more layout flexibility.
Key Specifications
| Connections
Dimensions
|
Panasonic 2011 Plasma HDTV Comparison
| Series: | GT30 | ST30 | S30 | X3 |
| Models: | ||||
| Full HD 1080p |  | | | -- |
| HD 720p | -- | -- | -- | |
| 3D Ready | | | -- | -- |
| Motion Picture Resolution | 1080 Lines | 1080 Lines | 900 Lines | 720 Lines |
| THX Mode | | -- | -- | -- |
| VIERA Connect | | | -- | -- |
| EASY IPTV | -- | -- | | |
| DLNA | | | | |
| Wireless LAN | Ready | Ready | Ready | Ready |
| Ethernet | | | | |
| HDMI | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Component (Y/Pb/Pr) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Composite A/V | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Digital Audio Output | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| PC (DSub) | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
| USB 2.0 Port | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| MP3 Playback | | | | |
| JPEG Playback | | | | |
| MPEG Video Playback | | | | |
What's in the Box
Panasonic S30 series Plasma HDTV, removable stand, remote control (with batteries), operating instructions, quick start guideProduct Description
The VIERA Plasma S30 series introduces four VIERA 1080p models - TC-P60S30, a 60-inch class HDTV (60.1" measured diagonally); TC-P50S30, a 50-inch class HDTV (49.9" measured diagonally); TC-P46S30, a 46-inch class HDTV (46" measured diagonally) and TC-P42S30, a 42-inch class (41.6" measured diagonally). Fast Switching PhosphorsVirtually eliminates motion blur, making sports, movies and video games look amazing.Easy IPTVEnjoy great Web entertainment with just a click of your remote.VIERA Image Viewer (Photo & Movie)View your digital photos and videos on your VIERA HDTV.DLNAEnjoy content from your PC and other home network devices on your VIERA HDTV.Features600 Hz Sub-field Drive1080p Full HD ResolutionGame ModeVIERA LinkTM3 HDMI2 USBMercury and Lead-Free PanelLong Panel Life (up to 100,000 Hours) TC-P50S30 Specifications Video Screen Size Diagonal (in) 49.9Aspect Ratio 16:09Number of Pixels 2,073,600 (1,920 x 1,080) Moving Picture Resolution 900 lines Shades of Gradation 6,144 equivalent HDTV Display Capability (1080p, 1080i, 720p) Y EDTV Display Capability (480p) Y Aspect Contro 4:3, Just, Zoom, Full, H-fill Louver Filter - 600 Hz Sub-field Drive Y24p Cinematic Playback -24p Playback (2 : 3) YDeep Color Yx.v.Color YTHX Mode -ISFccc -Pro Setting -Super Resolution Y3D Color Management YSub Pixel Control -Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Y Full HD 3D 3D Panel -3D 24p Cinema Smoother -2D-3D Conversion -3D Image Viewer -3D Active Shut
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
389 of 400 people found the following review helpful
Size Name:46-Inch|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you read the 3 star product review, you might think twice. This individual actually sounds convincing. That is unless you've done your homework. I'd like to clarify a few incorrect points that have been made.
- Fast switching phosphors are used in all Full-HD VIERA models for 2011. By reformulating the phosphor materials, afterglow has been minimized and luminous efficiency has been increased. This enables crisp, clear rendering of motion images. A level of efficiency that exceeds our 2010 panels also increases picture quality while lowering power consumption.
Only the top of the line 2010 3D models ($2K) had the fast switching phospors. The neoplasma is literally a promotional "tag". The 2011 3D TV's have a different rib structure in the panel as needed for the seperation of 3D images, specific cross talk cancellation processors to minimize 3D double images, and a specific louvered filter (infinite black) to help keep glare down while keeping the two 3d images clear.
Panasonic streamline the production lines by sharing internal components for 2011.
Cost leader is the 2D 720 "X" model. High end 1080 2D is the 2D "S" model. The only 1080 3D line is the "ST" model. That's it. It's cost effective.
Note that "X" and "S" do not have the pro mode picture setup like the 3D models but don't let that scare you. The 3D models need it to fine tune double imaging.
The 720 "x" model is a fine choice however you will notice a difference in edge glow with blueray IF you know what your looking for. Since most HD TV channels are 720, you'll never know the difference. A lot of people read the old CNET report and live by it and a lot of it is valid. But a one size fits all review between 720 and 1080 is flawed. The old comparisons between LCD and plasma is no longer an issue as power consumption is now equal.
Panasonic plasma has always been choosen as best picture over Samsung and LG. Do your homework and make sure your looking at a review within the last two years. Panasonic wins period. Far more natural colors, especially over LED-LCD which makes movies look like they were filmed with video tapes.
I have no need for 3D as its not receiving the support expected. Soon 3D screens without glasses will be standard just like the new handheld games systems that have just been released. They just have to get past the headaches...
My old Panasonic was one of the first 1080s on the market and has been through 4 rough home moves and is still kicking strong. That earns a bit of brand loyalty from me.
I went with the "S"46 model for a very simple reason. $768 delivered.
Thinner, better design, better picture technology than the 2010 Panasonic models and 1080 for bluray. Lovin it.
[...]
Panasonic VIERA TC-P46S30 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
- Fast switching phosphors are used in all Full-HD VIERA models for 2011. By reformulating the phosphor materials, afterglow has been minimized and luminous efficiency has been increased. This enables crisp, clear rendering of motion images. A level of efficiency that exceeds our 2010 panels also increases picture quality while lowering power consumption.
Only the top of the line 2010 3D models ($2K) had the fast switching phospors. The neoplasma is literally a promotional "tag". The 2011 3D TV's have a different rib structure in the panel as needed for the seperation of 3D images, specific cross talk cancellation processors to minimize 3D double images, and a specific louvered filter (infinite black) to help keep glare down while keeping the two 3d images clear.
Panasonic streamline the production lines by sharing internal components for 2011.
Cost leader is the 2D 720 "X" model. High end 1080 2D is the 2D "S" model. The only 1080 3D line is the "ST" model. That's it. It's cost effective.
Note that "X" and "S" do not have the pro mode picture setup like the 3D models but don't let that scare you. The 3D models need it to fine tune double imaging.
The 720 "x" model is a fine choice however you will notice a difference in edge glow with blueray IF you know what your looking for. Since most HD TV channels are 720, you'll never know the difference. A lot of people read the old CNET report and live by it and a lot of it is valid. But a one size fits all review between 720 and 1080 is flawed. The old comparisons between LCD and plasma is no longer an issue as power consumption is now equal.
Panasonic plasma has always been choosen as best picture over Samsung and LG. Do your homework and make sure your looking at a review within the last two years. Panasonic wins period. Far more natural colors, especially over LED-LCD which makes movies look like they were filmed with video tapes.
I have no need for 3D as its not receiving the support expected. Soon 3D screens without glasses will be standard just like the new handheld games systems that have just been released. They just have to get past the headaches...
My old Panasonic was one of the first 1080s on the market and has been through 4 rough home moves and is still kicking strong. That earns a bit of brand loyalty from me.
I went with the "S"46 model for a very simple reason. $768 delivered.
Thinner, better design, better picture technology than the 2010 Panasonic models and 1080 for bluray. Lovin it.
[...]
Panasonic VIERA TC-P46S30 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
120 of 124 people found the following review helpful
By G Smart
Size Name:50-Inch|Amazon Verified Purchase
The picture quality of this TV is simply excellent. Compared it with more expensive Panasonic "Infinite Black" G model and it's impossible to see the difference in real video content. You need to be in total darkness and have very high quality, low noise signal with large swatches of black and put them side to side to notice a slightly darker black in G models. Of course, just watching TV you will never think I wish blacks were deeper.
I've watched HD programs over the air, from blu-ray, Netflix from Roku, and from PC over HDMI. All modes 480/720/1080 progressive and interlaced displayed perfectly, and TV did a good job upscaling lower resolution to native 1080. No problems with motion, no blurring, no color fading or runoffs. TV does have a slightly lower moving picture resolution 900 lines (vs 1080 lines in top models), but it's quite impossible to notice that without measurements. So sports viewers will be satisfied. Also, on a positive side, the screen is not as glossy as the majority of other plasmas, so reflections are subdued.
I've been using this set for a few days now, so I can't comment on "image retention" problems that previous generations had. Supposedly the phosphors used in this set are improved from previous year, and reportedly they last longer. Just be sure you turn on the "pixel orbiter" to avoid burning in the logos and avoid prolonged display of static images. You can also run "scrolling bar" once a day for 15 minutes for the first week to age the phosphors evenly. Not all plasma owners believe a break-in period is necessary for the later generations of plasma TVs, and no plasma manufacturers now suggest their sets require break-in.
The description Amazon (and it looks now they removed it) seemed to suggest that TV had a built-in Wi-Fi. It doesn't, you need to buy a separate Wi-Fi USB adapter for that. Due to lack of adapter I cannot tell if IPTV and DLNA are working as expected. The other negative is common to all plasmas, which is high power consumption. You don't find this information advertised anywhere, because this set is rated at a whopping 339W. The built-in audio is weak, it has two tiny 10W speakers. It's fine for casual watching TV programs, but if you want to watch movies you probably want to invest in a separate audio system.
This TV may lack all the bells and features you can find in more advanced models, but it does deliver an excellent picture at a very reasonable price and that what matters most.
Edit 5-8-2011. I installed USB Wi-Fi adapter (Netgear N600) to test the Viera Tools. I didn't find them very useful though. It has Netflix client, but picture quality is poor (compared to Roku on the same network). Then there is CinemaNow, which I never used. Amazon Video on demand looks OK. I don't have any use for Pandora, Napster, or Facebook, so I can't comment. There is also Media Player for SD and USB cards, works pretty well. I popped in an SD card from Panasonic camcorder and picture was pretty good, no conversion was necessary. And finally, there is DLNA client, which I couldn't make to work. I does find the DLNA server, but connection always fails.
I've watched HD programs over the air, from blu-ray, Netflix from Roku, and from PC over HDMI. All modes 480/720/1080 progressive and interlaced displayed perfectly, and TV did a good job upscaling lower resolution to native 1080. No problems with motion, no blurring, no color fading or runoffs. TV does have a slightly lower moving picture resolution 900 lines (vs 1080 lines in top models), but it's quite impossible to notice that without measurements. So sports viewers will be satisfied. Also, on a positive side, the screen is not as glossy as the majority of other plasmas, so reflections are subdued.
I've been using this set for a few days now, so I can't comment on "image retention" problems that previous generations had. Supposedly the phosphors used in this set are improved from previous year, and reportedly they last longer. Just be sure you turn on the "pixel orbiter" to avoid burning in the logos and avoid prolonged display of static images. You can also run "scrolling bar" once a day for 15 minutes for the first week to age the phosphors evenly. Not all plasma owners believe a break-in period is necessary for the later generations of plasma TVs, and no plasma manufacturers now suggest their sets require break-in.
The description Amazon (and it looks now they removed it) seemed to suggest that TV had a built-in Wi-Fi. It doesn't, you need to buy a separate Wi-Fi USB adapter for that. Due to lack of adapter I cannot tell if IPTV and DLNA are working as expected. The other negative is common to all plasmas, which is high power consumption. You don't find this information advertised anywhere, because this set is rated at a whopping 339W. The built-in audio is weak, it has two tiny 10W speakers. It's fine for casual watching TV programs, but if you want to watch movies you probably want to invest in a separate audio system.
This TV may lack all the bells and features you can find in more advanced models, but it does deliver an excellent picture at a very reasonable price and that what matters most.
Edit 5-8-2011. I installed USB Wi-Fi adapter (Netgear N600) to test the Viera Tools. I didn't find them very useful though. It has Netflix client, but picture quality is poor (compared to Roku on the same network). Then there is CinemaNow, which I never used. Amazon Video on demand looks OK. I don't have any use for Pandora, Napster, or Facebook, so I can't comment. There is also Media Player for SD and USB cards, works pretty well. I popped in an SD card from Panasonic camcorder and picture was pretty good, no conversion was necessary. And finally, there is DLNA client, which I couldn't make to work. I does find the DLNA server, but connection always fails.
178 of 192 people found the following review helpful
Size Name:42-Inch|Amazon Verified Purchase
**Please note that I am reviewing the TC-P42S30. I feel obliged to mention this because in some cases, Amazon has migrated the reviews of a particular product to the newer version's page. I just want to avoid confusion--and snippy comments.**
I am the ecstatic owner of a Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock, so when it came time to move up to a 42" set for the living room (and move the 32" to the bedroom to replace the 27" tube TV), I mostly confined my search to Panasonic. I had considered the previous version of this unit because it was highly rated on Amazon, as well as slightly less expensive, but I decided to take a chance on the newer model--even though it's so new that it has no ratings or reviews. (As of 3/27/11, however, this unit is less expensive.)
I ordered this TV on a Saturday and received it via delivery truck on Wednesday. Setup was painless (it is pretty heavy, though). I was pleasantly surprised to see that it supports Internet connectivity (although it wasn't something I was looking for, the concept has really grown on me), but less pleasantly surprised to learn that the wireless dongle (Panasonic DY-WL10 Wireless LAN Adapter for select Panasonic Viera HDTVs and Blu-Ray Disc Players) is another $99. For that much, I think I'll run a LAN cable. [I did; see below. Also see the comments for another wireless alternative.] I'm using the three HDMI ports for my Verizon FIOS set top box, Apple TV 2, and JVC XVBP11 Blu-ray Player. A set of RCA audio/video inputs takes care of my Pioneer laserdisc player. (Yeah, I'm old school.) I don't foresee using the SD card slot for anything but firmware updates, but I like having USB ports so we can watch our Flip movies in full HD glory--once I learn how to do it, that is.
I was very happy with my LCD TV even in the middle of the day; maybe that's why I never realized just how bright our living room is. The first time I tried to watch this TV from the couch, the reflection from the skylight was terrible. Around noon, the glare was nearly unbearable.
In late afternoon/full dark, this TV looks fantastic. It's so good, in fact, that I couldn't tear myself away from 2 Fast 2 Furious, which says a lot. The problem is that I do most of my viewing during the day, so I'm not sure that it's going to work for me in the long run. I'll have to give it a few more days. The preset color modes aren't perfect, but they're fairly accurate right out of the box. Both Netflix and iTunes movies streamed over the Apple TV look great. When I have some time I'll run Video Essentials to get the levels dialed in.
The speakers are adequate at low volumes, and there are separate bass and treble adjustments, but at normal volumes, certain low frequencies rattle the cabinet. It was particularly bad while I was watching Inception, but my wife even noticed it during "Top Chef." I know I'll eventually have to upgrade my 15-year-old Sony receiver (it has only RCA input, and the TV has only digital audio output), but it's a little irritating that I have to do it just to watch TV without annoying rattles. If the sound quality were better, I would be happy to give this TV a full 5-star rating. (If it were just about the picture, I would.) Additionally, I need to jack up the volume when I use my Blu-ray player--a problem I also have with my 32" TV. I suspect that the player's audio output level is lower than the DVR and Apple TV. NOTE: After the first few days of viewing, the rattles disappeared. Also, I wired up the DVR box and the BD player to the receiver, so I have big sound when I want it (unless I'm using the ATV).
One feature I will never use is called C.A.T.S., which adjusts the TV's brightness according to the room's light level. Evidently it's set to On in Standard picture mode, which I discovered by accident. After exploring the settings, I found it and turned it off. I want my TV to stay at a consistent brightness level no matter what the room light is doing. (I'll bet this is why the picture looked so bad at high noon. We'll see.)
So all things considered, am I happy with my purchase? Yes. The detail and clarity blow my mind. I'll test it with some more Blu-ray movies over the next few weeks and see how it performs during the day, but I think we have a winner. Welcome to the family.
Update 3/19/11: I ran a 50-foot ethernet cable (BluCables 50 ft CAT 5e LAN Network Ethernet Cable 350MHz) from my Verizon FIOS router to the TV. I wasn't able to connect automatically; after a few failed and frustrating attempts that made me consider buying the dongle, I manually input the network settings for the TV (the trick was finding and assigning an unused IP address) and bingo. Bonus: firmware updates over the 'net. I might move the Apple TV to the 32" in the bedroom, but the Viera Cast selections are limited. Netflix is essential and Amazon VOD is nice to have, but I really want Hulu. I'm still very pleased with the TV; my only minor gripe is the amount of heat it puts out. (I understand that this gets better. I hope so.)
Update 3/25/11: For those of you who, like me, are interested in getting Hulu via Viera Cast, I received this from Panasonic: "Thank you for your inquiry. This Model TCP42S30 includes a feature called EASY IPTV. Easy IPTV includes and is limited to: Netflix, Pandora Internet Radio, Cinema Now, Facebook, Napster, & Amazon Video On Demand. Hulu is an application featured in Viera Connect which this TV does not have. The TVs that have Viera Connect & Hulu capabilities are:
PLASMA: TCP65VT30, TCP55VT30, TCP65GT30, TCP60GT30, TCP55GT30, TCP50GT30, TCP65ST30, TCP60ST30, TCP55ST30, TCP50ST30, TCP46ST30, and TCP42ST30.
LED: TCL37DT30, TCL32DT30, and TCL42D30
[Some models are not available yet and are still awaiting release in Late Spring / Early Summer 2011]"
Why there would be a difference between models, I have no idea. But there you go.
Update 4/14/11: I moved the Apple TV into the bedroom with the 32" TV and have been using Viera Cast to watch Netflix movies. I haven't noticed a single stutter so far. Picture quality appears to be the same as with the ATV. My only gripe is that there's no search feature, and the recommendations in each category are limited in number. The best way around this, I've found, is to use my computer to put movies into my Watch Instantly queue and move them to the top. I also replaced my BD player with an all-region JVC XV-BP10 so I can watch my Region 2 Godzilla movies. ("Godzilla vs. Megalon" didn't look this good in the theater!)
Update 7/10/11: I hate to say this, but I wish I'd gone with an LCD TV instead. This thing puts out so much heat it's like a radiator, which is no fun when you have no AC and it's already 80 degrees in the house. (Ideally, I wouldn't have it inside an armoire with nowhere for the heat to go but forward and up.) And I would really prefer a brighter screen. But at this point, I'll just have to live with it. Could be worse, you know?
I am the ecstatic owner of a Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with iPod Dock, so when it came time to move up to a 42" set for the living room (and move the 32" to the bedroom to replace the 27" tube TV), I mostly confined my search to Panasonic. I had considered the previous version of this unit because it was highly rated on Amazon, as well as slightly less expensive, but I decided to take a chance on the newer model--even though it's so new that it has no ratings or reviews. (As of 3/27/11, however, this unit is less expensive.)
I ordered this TV on a Saturday and received it via delivery truck on Wednesday. Setup was painless (it is pretty heavy, though). I was pleasantly surprised to see that it supports Internet connectivity (although it wasn't something I was looking for, the concept has really grown on me), but less pleasantly surprised to learn that the wireless dongle (Panasonic DY-WL10 Wireless LAN Adapter for select Panasonic Viera HDTVs and Blu-Ray Disc Players) is another $99. For that much, I think I'll run a LAN cable. [I did; see below. Also see the comments for another wireless alternative.] I'm using the three HDMI ports for my Verizon FIOS set top box, Apple TV 2, and JVC XVBP11 Blu-ray Player. A set of RCA audio/video inputs takes care of my Pioneer laserdisc player. (Yeah, I'm old school.) I don't foresee using the SD card slot for anything but firmware updates, but I like having USB ports so we can watch our Flip movies in full HD glory--once I learn how to do it, that is.
I was very happy with my LCD TV even in the middle of the day; maybe that's why I never realized just how bright our living room is. The first time I tried to watch this TV from the couch, the reflection from the skylight was terrible. Around noon, the glare was nearly unbearable.
In late afternoon/full dark, this TV looks fantastic. It's so good, in fact, that I couldn't tear myself away from 2 Fast 2 Furious, which says a lot. The problem is that I do most of my viewing during the day, so I'm not sure that it's going to work for me in the long run. I'll have to give it a few more days. The preset color modes aren't perfect, but they're fairly accurate right out of the box. Both Netflix and iTunes movies streamed over the Apple TV look great. When I have some time I'll run Video Essentials to get the levels dialed in.
The speakers are adequate at low volumes, and there are separate bass and treble adjustments, but at normal volumes, certain low frequencies rattle the cabinet. It was particularly bad while I was watching Inception, but my wife even noticed it during "Top Chef." I know I'll eventually have to upgrade my 15-year-old Sony receiver (it has only RCA input, and the TV has only digital audio output), but it's a little irritating that I have to do it just to watch TV without annoying rattles. If the sound quality were better, I would be happy to give this TV a full 5-star rating. (If it were just about the picture, I would.) Additionally, I need to jack up the volume when I use my Blu-ray player--a problem I also have with my 32" TV. I suspect that the player's audio output level is lower than the DVR and Apple TV. NOTE: After the first few days of viewing, the rattles disappeared. Also, I wired up the DVR box and the BD player to the receiver, so I have big sound when I want it (unless I'm using the ATV).
One feature I will never use is called C.A.T.S., which adjusts the TV's brightness according to the room's light level. Evidently it's set to On in Standard picture mode, which I discovered by accident. After exploring the settings, I found it and turned it off. I want my TV to stay at a consistent brightness level no matter what the room light is doing. (I'll bet this is why the picture looked so bad at high noon. We'll see.)
So all things considered, am I happy with my purchase? Yes. The detail and clarity blow my mind. I'll test it with some more Blu-ray movies over the next few weeks and see how it performs during the day, but I think we have a winner. Welcome to the family.
Update 3/19/11: I ran a 50-foot ethernet cable (BluCables 50 ft CAT 5e LAN Network Ethernet Cable 350MHz) from my Verizon FIOS router to the TV. I wasn't able to connect automatically; after a few failed and frustrating attempts that made me consider buying the dongle, I manually input the network settings for the TV (the trick was finding and assigning an unused IP address) and bingo. Bonus: firmware updates over the 'net. I might move the Apple TV to the 32" in the bedroom, but the Viera Cast selections are limited. Netflix is essential and Amazon VOD is nice to have, but I really want Hulu. I'm still very pleased with the TV; my only minor gripe is the amount of heat it puts out. (I understand that this gets better. I hope so.)
Update 3/25/11: For those of you who, like me, are interested in getting Hulu via Viera Cast, I received this from Panasonic: "Thank you for your inquiry. This Model TCP42S30 includes a feature called EASY IPTV. Easy IPTV includes and is limited to: Netflix, Pandora Internet Radio, Cinema Now, Facebook, Napster, & Amazon Video On Demand. Hulu is an application featured in Viera Connect which this TV does not have. The TVs that have Viera Connect & Hulu capabilities are:
PLASMA: TCP65VT30, TCP55VT30, TCP65GT30, TCP60GT30, TCP55GT30, TCP50GT30, TCP65ST30, TCP60ST30, TCP55ST30, TCP50ST30, TCP46ST30, and TCP42ST30.
LED: TCL37DT30, TCL32DT30, and TCL42D30
[Some models are not available yet and are still awaiting release in Late Spring / Early Summer 2011]"
Why there would be a difference between models, I have no idea. But there you go.
Update 4/14/11: I moved the Apple TV into the bedroom with the 32" TV and have been using Viera Cast to watch Netflix movies. I haven't noticed a single stutter so far. Picture quality appears to be the same as with the ATV. My only gripe is that there's no search feature, and the recommendations in each category are limited in number. The best way around this, I've found, is to use my computer to put movies into my Watch Instantly queue and move them to the top. I also replaced my BD player with an all-region JVC XV-BP10 so I can watch my Region 2 Godzilla movies. ("Godzilla vs. Megalon" didn't look this good in the theater!)
Update 7/10/11: I hate to say this, but I wish I'd gone with an LCD TV instead. This thing puts out so much heat it's like a radiator, which is no fun when you have no AC and it's already 80 degrees in the house. (Ideally, I wouldn't have it inside an armoire with nowhere for the heat to go but forward and up.) And I would really prefer a brighter screen. But at this point, I'll just have to live with it. Could be worse, you know?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Panasonic is failing me with their plasma products
This is the second and probably last Panasonic TV product I would purchase. First one made it to 3 years before what I assume is the power supply failing. Read more
Published 27 days ago by kduit65
1.0 out of 5 stars
Went bad in 11 months!
Screen developed horizontal lines. Got progressively worse. I was told it was not repairable. Fortunately, extended insurance paid for new set.
Published 1 month ago by Ed doctor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Plasma TV
I have wanted a large TV for some time, and didn't tell my husband when I order it. I waited until I saw the delivery mand wheeling it up to the door, the asked my husband to take... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Amy
1.0 out of 5 stars
LOUD BUZZ THAT JUST WON"T GO AWAY
I actually hate this TV. At first the plasma was fantastic but within a few months a dreaded loud buzzing occured. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dr J
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Issue Known by the Manufacturer
I purchased this television in May 2011, and have enjoyed it for the past almost two years. However, two days ago the red power light started blinking and there was no picture at... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mary Jane Liverman
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stopped working after 14 months!
When it works it looks great. But the TV mysteriously stopped working after 14 months which is two months after the warranty. The cost to repair was $300! Read more
Published 2 months ago by zoil16
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
I purchased this TV a little over a year ago and I have been terribly disappointed by it from day one. Unfortunately, I was too lazy/busy to return it or request a replacement. Read more
Published 2 months ago by James G McKay
1.0 out of 5 stars
7 blinking lights of death
I purchased this TV 18 months ago and it worked great and I loved it. Turn it on one day and nothing... Got with tech support and they said sorry, call a repair guy. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Roth
1.0 out of 5 stars
Panasonic Plasma=CRAP
One month out of warranty, almost to the day, our Panasonic Viera 50" Plasma TV (after working perfectly fine the day before) at random wouldn't turn on and flashed seven blinking... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jess
4.0 out of 5 stars
Problem with audio and Nexus 10
I am mostly satisfied with this television. But there are a few negative issues that potential buyers might want to be aware of. The sleep timer needs more options. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kahni
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