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Panasonic TH-50PH10UKA 50-Inch Dual HDMI Plasma HDTV by Panasonic

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Magnificent!, May 15, 2008

By	Ghenghis (Monvolia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic TH-50PH10UKA 50-Inch Dual HDMI Plasma HDTV (Electronics)

Panasonic has cured the only issue with this professional model, and that was the shortage of HDMI ports....the 10UK model had one (1), this model has two (2), and the new HDMI add-on modules have 2 ports now so you can easily upgrade this unit to 4 HDMI ports which is more than most people will ever need...I think!

This 50" 720p/1080i plasma panel is rated #1 by Consumer Reports, and is far superior to its closest competition which is Pioneer and Samsung. Right now this TV is a bargoon for people who plan to use a satellite tuner or cable box/DVR, and you will find the Split Screen/PIP feature to be a great option that is not included in Panasonic's 58PZ700U/1080p model for twice the money so thats a nice bonus.

Now a word about 720p vs. 1080p.... no argument here that 1080p is technically superior, but if you research the difference in these two formats you will find there is an "optimal" distance from the TV that allows you to enjoy and actually see the benefits of the 1080p picture. For a 58" plasma, the THX recommended distance is .....drum roll please.....5.5 feet! Other distance calculators you find on the web will put the optimal viewing distance for 1080p at 6.5 feet, and the max distance at 9'. Before you spend the extra money on a 1080p set you may want to check your living space to make sure your room will allow you to sit close enough to take advantage of the extra resolution provided by the new 1080p format.

Another thing to consider is this.... right now cable/satellite HD programming is delivered in stunning 1080i. If you've seen these broadcast signals in your own home then you already know they are spectacular. The likelihood of future 1080p broadcasts is very slim, too many technical hurdles to clear relative to bandwidth and this would also require the cameras at source to be upgraded so the obstacles are many. I seriously doubt you'll see any change in the current format for another 10 years at least so that leaves us with the only 1080p medium today, other than video game platforms being BluRay discs, which are double the price of standard DVDs which can be upconverted rather inexpensively to 720p/1080i. So, there are a lot of considerations on where best to spend your money. Personally, I opted to buy this 58" plasma for all the reasons above, and I don't need the stand or tuner so it was sort of a no brainer. Plus, I already own two Panasonics, one being the 42" Professional model so I know what I can expect. And those of you worried about reliability....don't. Panasonic has the best record of service and reliability in the business, and my first 42" model has been in continuous service for 4 years without missing a beat, and the picture is still just as crisp without a hint of burn-in.

One more note... if you're not using a home theater setup and don't plan to mount this tv on the wall, you will need the optional speakers and stand. If you are a smart shopper you can find them at reasonable prices on the web.

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