238 of 238 people found the following review helpful:
Simply outstanding
I had researched new TVs for months prior to making this purchase, and judging from the first week of using this product, I feel confident in saying that I made an excellent choice. This TV represents a great combination of Picture Quality and additional features (VieraCast) that provides an outstanding value at this price point.
11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Has Fan Noise, but Picture is awesome
Pros: Awesome picture quality. Better than my old 720P plasma.
Cons: FAN noise is annoying at times. My previous plasma TV was silent, so I never even thought to look for this as a potential issue.
Summary: Had I known about the FAN noise I would have not purchase this product. I kept the rating at 3 since the picture quality is very good. If you...
This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I had researched new TVs for months prior to making this purchase, and judging from the first week of using this product, I feel confident in saying that I made an excellent choice. This TV represents a great combination of Picture Quality and additional features (VieraCast) that provides an outstanding value at this price point.
Being deployed to Iraq this past winter/spring, I had some time digest all of the available data and information without being tempted to make a large purchase before being really prepared to do so. In my months of periodic research, I changed my mind multiple times. At first, I was convinced that LCD was the way to go. Even though I have owned a 2nd generation 42" Sony Plasma for 5 years now, I fell into the LCD marketing-hype that said that Plasma was a "dying technology" and that LCD was the wave of the future.
After doing my own research, I will tell it to you straight...Plasma is NOT a dying technology. Plasma still has several advantages over LCD...including motion-handling, color accuracy, size, and off-angle viewing. Additionally, some of the legacy short-comings of plasma (image-retention and burn-in) have largely been addressed, and are no longer a major concern. For these reasons...I decided to go with another plasma. My old Sony plasma had treated me well, but it was only 1080i (no 1080p capability) and was feeling a bit smallish in my new living room.
Having researched the mid/upper levels of consumer plasma televisions, it became apparent that there are three primary players in the market: Pioneer, Samsung, and Panasonic.
PIONEER was the master of plasma televisions. Their "Kuro" series are quite expensive, but were widely viewed as providing the best pure picture quality of any HDTV. Unfortunately, I say Pioneer WAS the master because they have stopped making plasma televisions. Some are still available, but they will not last long...and I was a bit nervous about buying such a big-ticket item from a company that pulled the plug on their production line. Would it be difficult to get warranty work done on a Kuro if it were to be needed in the future? I don't know...but it concerned me. That uncertainty combined with the much higher price of the Kuro convinced me to look elsewhere. However, if you have money to burn, and are willing to take a risk to have the "best of the best", you may want to look at a Kuro.
SAMSUNG also provides a good picture. Depending on who you ask...Panasonic and Samsung are pretty much equivalent in terms of picture quality. However, looking through the various forums, there are alot of reports of Samsung plasmas having very noticeable "buzzing" and/or noisy fans which can detract from the viewing experience. I was also concerned about other reports of issues regarding general quality control and product support. So...I eliminated Samsung.
That left PANASONIC for me. All the reports I had read about the new Panasonics (G10 and V10 series) indicated that the picture quality was excellent (but not quite as good as the Pioneer Kuros) and there were no reports of any major issues such as with the Samsungs. The G10 and V10 were both much, much less expensive than the Kuros...so I decided to go with either a G10 (less expensive model) or a V10 (a bit more expensive).
The deciding factor for me between the G10 and V10 was the 96hz capability on the V10. Last years Panasonic models, as well as this year's G10 model do not have 96hz capes...only 48hz. Basically, for those of you who don't know...most movies are filmed at 24 frames per second. Having a TV that can process frames at a multiple of 24 (48/72/96hz on plasma TVs...or 120/240hz on LCD) allows these TVs to process what is called a "1080p/24" signal from Bluray players. This (in theory) allows the TV to provide a picture that is more accurate when compared to what you would see in a theater, and therefore more in line with what the director intended. The reviews and reports I read on the 48hz capability on the G10 and last years model indicated that 48hz resulted in a noticeable "flicker" that made it nearly unusable. The 96hz capability on the V10 apparently fixed this issue. Finally...I decided on the V10.
I purchased the 54" V10 from 6ave through Amazon on the first day it was available. "Team Worldwide" delivered the TV on time. The box was in perfect condition with no noticeable dents/scratches/compressions.
The Television comes with the pedestal not connected. Upon seeing this, I grumbled when I remembered what a PITA it was to remove/connect the pedestal to my old 42" Sony plasma. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to assemble on this V10 Panasonic. My wife and I assembled it in just a few minutes. The pedestal attachment is very well designed and so easy to install, that I'm sure a single person (of sufficient strength to lift the ~80lb tv) could do it themselves. The pedestal itself is rectangular with rounded corners. It does not swivel. If you need a swiveling pedestal...the smaller 50" V10 has one.
The TV itself looks very good. The 50 and 54" V10s have a single sheet of glass design that results in a very sleek appearance. Panasonic is expected to come out with 2 larger versions of the V10 (58 and 65") in the coming months, but they will not have the single sheet of glass design.
Ok, finally on to the important stuff...the TVs performance:
Over the past week, I have watched a wide variety of both HD and SD (standard definition) material, including Bluray, standard DVD, HD and SD cable via Cox, and SD and HD (720p) material downloaded via a Roku Netflix player. All of it has looked OUTSTANDING. I continue to be amazed at how far superior the picture is on this V10 when compared to my 5-year old Sony plasma. The technology has come far. The Blacks are much, much blacker, and the colors are much more vibrant. The overall contrast is quite stunning for someone like myself who has been a few years behind the technology curve. I think probably the most impressive thing, however, is the shadow detail. With this TV, you will notice things that you may not have noticed before, especially in scenes that are dark or that have wide range of lighting.
The SD-handling on the set has really impressed me, also. I wasn't expecting the picture on my standard DVDs to improve all that much, but it has. I have a DVD player providing a 480p picture via HDMI cable...and the picture was always been very clear on my old Sony, but the colors and (again) the contrast on this Panasonic are just so much better.
Watching Bluray, however, is where this set shines. I've watched Planet Earth, 300, Dark Knight, Ironman and Twilight so far. It's just awesome. Such clarity and detail...it's difficult to explain unless you've seen a true HD picture. The 96hz capability I mentioned earlier works as advertised. The V10 allows you to switch between 48, 60, and 96hz when it receives a 1080p/24 signal...I've tried them all, and it is true...48hz is basically unwatchable due to the flicker. 96hz, however, works flawlessly. It provides a very cinematic feel. It's not a huge improvement over the standard 60hz capability...so if the price of the V10 is out of your reach, I'm sure the G10 would be a solid choice. The G10 and V10 are practically the same TV outside of the 96hz capability and the improved cosmetic look of the V10.
My expectations for the "Viera Cast" feature were low, but I was pleasantly surprised. The weather and stock-quotes functions are of questionable value since I can get them with my laptop more quickly than through the TV...but the Picasa function is really neat. My wife and I both have thousands of high-res photos from our travels in the military...and it's really cool to be able to set up a slideshow to show the photos on the bigscreen. The resolution and colors are, of course, superb. It's really great for entertaining family, also...instead of passing around a scrapbook or crowding around a small laptop screen...we can just sit around the TV. Very cool. Picasa allows you to upload up to 1gb of photos for free, but you can buy more storage. I purchased the 10gb plan for $20/yr. The Youtube capability is ok...but a bit cumbersome. It would work well for playing your own videos...but surfing youtube on your TV like you would on your computer is out of the question because of the time it takes to type in searches using your remote. I have not used the TV to download Amazon video-on-demand...so I can't comment on that. To use the Viera Cast features, you'll need an Ethernet connection to the back (no wireless)...so just keep that in mind.
Ok...it's been almost purely positive to this point...but there are a couple of small complaints:
1. I'm not a big fan of the THX mode. It's just too dark to watch during the day. I think a properly calibrated and adjusted "custom" mode is more appealing.
2. During the day, or when there is a lot of light in the room, the dark scenes tend to lose some detail.
3. Issues when connecting with Onkyo A/V Receivers. There seems to be some sort of a disconnect between Onkyo Receivers and Panasonic TVs. There are multiple reports of HDMI syncing issues between the two of them when a 1080p signal is being passed... and I'm one of them. My Onkyo 706 reciever and this V10 have issues syncing with a 1080p connection. Cycling the power on the TV or Receiver usually fixes the problem...but it's an irritant. If you already have an Onkyo receiver and plan to do 1080p...you may want to look elsewhere, or wait to see if the issue is resolved via firmware update.
Overall, however, this is an outstanding TV that I highly recommend. For a relatively decent price, you are getting one of the very best HDTVs on the market right now. I have not been disappointed, and I don't think you will be either.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I have owned many plasmas, and currently have 3 Vieras with the latest being the Panasonic TC-P54V10.
This review comes from a hopeless movie and gaming geek, with many, many years professional experience in Video Production and 3d Modeling and Graphics Design.
I don't review items often. But I was so compelled by the huge gamut and wonderful richness of color that my eyes saw that I finally just wanted to communicate to others, this is a very special screen. This screen is simply amazing and I hope others will choose to allow themselves to indulge in a seriously big step up in viewing enjoyment and substantial advanced technological design.
Human eyes can see an amazing gamut of color. My other plasma and LCD screens look fantastic for the most part because I always try to buy quality display devices. BUT after seeing the V10, they really do PALE in comparison. The difference is not just more or higher color Saturation, but more colors, a lot more...to the point that your eyes and brain really "feel" the difference. It is just a unique joy to view.
Colors are so deep and vast and they simply provide an organic feast for your eyes. It "feels" fantastic just viewing this screen. Programs that looked great before will capture your attention by just how much better they look. It is truly mesmerizing. The screen has a vivid, rich 3d look, deep, vast and extremely satisfying.
The specs are outstanding as I am sure other will attest to in other reviews. The aesthetics of the screen are top notch, the 2" inch thick, full glass front design is classy indeed.
But the bottom line of what any screen should do is facilitate an enjoyable experience for the viewer and the V10 is by far the best viewing experience I have ever had. The V10 is just a joy to view every time I sit down to view it. It is sort of bitter sweet because now I want to upgrade my other screens to this level of quality, it is that significant.
You will not be sorry to spend the extra $$$, it is money very well spent and evident every time you have the pleasure to view this screen.
Lastly, I am a hopeless gaming and movie buff. Gaming is fantastic on the V10...this is a very quick screen and the depth and richness of colors just can't be overstated and must be seen to be fully appreciated.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
Mr. Krueger said everything I would have (and then some) in his excellent review. I also read everything I could find in audio/video magazines and internet sites for a few months on all flat panel 1080 TV's both LCD and plasma and chose this one and I also purchased it on the first day available. This is one truly great TV. Too bad it has trouble with Onkyo receivers - my high end Yamaha receiver works great with it.
I have not yet hooked it up to the internet and I will probably wait to do that when the firmware update is released to connect either this TV or my new Panasonic Blue Ray player to get movies from Netflix.
I am an ametuer photographer and I have some high end cameras and lenses and take a lot of landscapes. This TV is also amazing for viewing my digital photos which I have put on both a CD and a DVD (in the blue ray player) and which I have also viewed by hooking my lap top directly to the TV via an HDMI cable. I am totally surprised by the resolution of the photos and the quality of using the TV as a monitor for my computer. I expected poor quality resolution due to the 54 inch size but clarity and resolution is as good as a small high quality computer monitor whether the photo file is as small as 300KB or as large as 4MB. This is a bonus I did not expect and I never see mentioned in reviews. Now I don't even have to convert the origional RAW photo files to JPEG files to view them on the TV since I can view directly from the computer via HDMI and I even plan to edit the RAW files in Photoshop using this huge screen for the monitor...it is that good and that is saying something.
I believe from my research and my experience with this TV that since Pioneer is no longer making their Elite TV this is the best TV on the market - at least at under $3,000 or $4,000.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I am neither a videophile nor one of those technical guys to put all the jargon to write review. I leave it to them.I bought this TV based on exceptional reviews(CNET,HDGURU,AVFORUMS). It is very stylish with single glass and Neo PDP. very slim(of course not like samsung's LED ultraslim TV). Out of the box settings for this TV are really good for common viewing. I went ahead and used the calibrated settings provided by CNET(for P50V10 , both are same except for scree size), and the results are awesome. This system simply blows you out with the deepest blacks and the picture quality. No LCD not even the latest LED based TVs come close to this.I am not concerned with the audio quality as I have home theater system.
Pros-
-Easy to install and start over with
-Exceptional picture quality
-Excellent Off axis viewing. Even at 160-170 degrees the picture quality remains same. ofcourse at 180 you will
see two images(thanks to the glass screen)
-Easy menu settings
-Viera Cast was useful. Panasonic should have provided a means to have keyboard input.
-Picasa photos look amazing in this screen. I haven't used bloomberg or weather that much
Cons-
- There are no cons for this TV as such. But I would like to talk about something which many reviewers have not said about.
Judder:
This TV no doubt the best of the beasts out there in the wild. But it still has judder. Initially I thought there is something wrong with my system. So I started out with going with reocketfish cables and monster A/C filter (which reduces noise in current)and could still see the judder(It was me and my friend who were experiencing this .Others they didn't even observe it).Then I tested with different BDs(Planet Earth,King Kong,Hancock and Harry Potter). I really was concerned about my choice. Then I took all these BDs to my local BestBuy to test on different other TV sets including one with 240hz samsung and sony. Surprisingly even when the motion flow is high and all cylinders firing at 240Hz these TVs has the same judder effect(though it was a bit less than what I felt on my TV).I ran the demo BD on all these sets and there was no judder at all. Then I came to conclusion that it all depends on source(BD or cable) and my TV is the best of all these in terms picture quality and video processing.
Conclusion
This TV is the best at its class (50,54,58 and 65)as said by other expert reviewers. Don't simply go by marketing of LED's . Do your research before buying and know what each technology does. Plasma's are not bothered by Burn-in and life span(This TV has 100,000 hrs as life span. Best in market),light reflections(visibility during daytime is as good as LcD's) any more. Simply go and buy it, you will feel proud of your selection.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I concur with everything the previous reviewer stated, including my dislike for the THX setting, which many have touted as the most nearly perfect setting out of the box. It isn't, at least to my eyes. At $2,500, the TC-P54V10 is a good buy. The set weighs 90 lbs., so use the supplied stand, get a good mount and make certain it's solidly attached to a stud, or have it built in. The 54" screen is rather unique for a plasma that usually has no size between 50" and 60." It provides a nice increase in size without demanding a great deal more physical space.
Highly recommended.
I have a few negatives, but they are niggling. The remote has exactly two back-lit buttons, and they are the ones you will probably never use if the set is connected to a surround-sound system and cable or satellite. Viera Cast they could have omited and saved me the money. I also would have preferred, assuming it is possible to have done so, two more inches of viewing screen and two less inches of bezel.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
This display is outstanding in every way. I also have a Panasonic TH-PZ42700U plasma so I am not new to plasma. I have had the set about a month now and have no serious complaints. HD picture over satelite is great SD is also good. I am viewing at 9ft. Have the display hooked up to a ONKYO 705 and surround sound. I see no flicker or judder on blu ray at 24p playback 96hz. Single pane of glass design is visually pleasing and overall slim profile. No buzzing can be heard from the display. My only complaint is Panasonic should not have placed the remote sensor dead center of the set. Many people like to put a center channel speaker there.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I bought this TV as an upgrade to my 26 inch Sharp LCD in my family room. I also own a DLP 60 inch Toshiba that I purchased from Costco in 2007. This TV has a picture that really pops, its THX certified and simply put if you dont have windows directly facing the unit, this is the best TV to purchase period. I paired it up with a Samsung Blu-Ray player and Dish HD receiver, along with a Yamaha Receiver and Bose AM 10 Speakers, the thing really rocks!!. It put the 1080p DLP to shame, now I cant seem to watch it without thinking - this is HD?
As a con, the picture sometimes feels artificially colorful almost like super colors when some DVDs are played but pleasantly so...
The sound is nice for the high end but almost no bass so had to upgrade the sound with a home theater.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
I had a Samsung LCD TV (which is still have - moved to my bedroom) and wanted a bigger one for my Home Theater. I researched a lot of TV and was at first wowed by the contrast settings which is usually set to max in the TV showroom...I felt that something is different about the picture in LEDs and then I compared it to how movies are in the cinema hall.... And after I read about the Soap-opera effect of LED TVs, I started disliking the unnatural look in the faces..
Also, Panasonic does not give that look even in the full blown Vivid setting and also has a lot of tweaks possible to get to the natural setting... The THX mode is great if you get used to it. The blacks are best in this TV - try 'The Dark Knight' if you want to know what black is....
Overall a great TV - got a great deal in this TV and am very happy.
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
This is my 3rd lcd/plasma TV and all high end - I have to say colors appear much more warm and sharper picure on Plasma than on LCD. This one off-course works great with HD channles but also with non-HD channels it processes the picture very well. My favourite is vierra link and ability to watch amazon video and you tube without connecting another equiepment in-between is awsome - wish they had build in wireless connection option and also ability to add your own content/channels on vierra link.
Enjoy it!
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This review is from: Panasonic TCP54V10 54 inch Viera Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV
Pluses: Picture Quality; Sleek Design; Numerous Connections; Different Modes including THX; VIERA Cast; Shipping Carton.
Minuses: Back Light on Remote Control; Price; Size (Overall Unit frame); Sound (Lack of Bass); Lack of WiFi (just a wish); 606 Watts.
The TV arrived in a shipping carton that had four detachable plastic handles along the lower quarter. When these handles are removed the entire carton slides up to leave the TV securely standing in the bottom portion of the carton. Now the set can easily be removed.
Awesome picture quality! Enough said. (Oh, I hooked my Canon HF-S100 and the videos are truly appreciated on this set).
The 'Single Sheet of Glass' design makes the set looks good in any room even when it's off. Plenty of HDMI connections to hook up the Cable DVR, DVD Player, Home Theater System, and a game console.
The few minuses would be the price, which is high for a 54 inch. The sound, despite tweaking, was lacking in the low end. A little more bass would be nice. The "light" for the remote control is a joke. After you manage to find this button in the dark, pressing it will back light ONLY the 'Volume' and the 'Channel' buttons. These happen to be the two biggest buttons located in the middle. I'm sure most people can operate these function in the dark without the aid of back light. That is the only disappointment.
Overall, the pluses outweighs the minuses that I can live with.
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