» Panasonic VIERA 50 inch TH-50PZ850U, 46 inch TH-46PZ850U, 58 inch TH-58PZ850U and 65 inch TH-65PZ850U Plasma 1080p Full HD TV Review

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Editor's HDTV Pick

HP 47 inch MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV "Out of the box" digital media platform. Enjoy videos, pictures and music from home network + digital media delivered over your broadband Internet connection + 3 x HDMI

HP 47 inch MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV on Amazon

LCD or plasma interactive flat panel overlay

June 17, 2008

Panasonic VIERA 50 inch TH-50PZ850U, 46 inch TH-46PZ850U, 58 inch TH-58PZ850U and 65 inch TH-65PZ850U Plasma 1080p Full HD TV Review

The Panasonic VIERA 1080p Full HD plasma PZ850U models (TH-58PZ850U, TH-46PZ850U, TH-50PZ850U and TH-65PZ850U) are the top of the 2008 range of Panasonic plasma HDTV models. The PZ850 models are referred as the Web Enabled models as they come with VIERA CAST which provides broadband Internet access to some of the most popular content sites on the Internet – YouTube, Google’s Picasa Web Album, Weather Channel and Bloomberg. The PZ850 series also offers extensive picture adjustment features. However, it should be noted that the Panasonic PZ850U models do not have the THX Display certification of the PZ800U models.

Panasonic VIERA 46 inch TH-46PZ850U

The PZ850 models same base specification (see below) as the recently reviewed, entry level PX80U models with the following additions and differences.

Video

higher 1080p vs 720p resolution
Higher contrast ratio of 30,000:1 vs 15,000:1
Increased shades of gradation 5,120 equivalent vs 4,096 equivalent which means that there is less likelihood of false contouring (like tide lines) which comes from transitions between shades of color which are too sharp.
24p Cinematic Playback is a special mode for showing 24fps movies at the speed they were shot for smoother motion. See the testing notes in the Resources section below.
Digital Cinema Color Re-Mastering provides more accurate color reproduction for movies
Pro Setting Menu allowing further fine adjustments of picture controls such as contrast and brightness.
Studio Reference Mode allows you to obtain a Studio Reference picture just the way the film’s director intended it to look on reference monitors in editing rooms.
VIERA Cast Internet TV (IPTV) Capability provides broadband Internet access directly from your HDTV. No longer will you have to watch YouTube on a computer monitor.

Audio

Four speakers, passive radiator, Woofer x 2 (L, R) / 23 mm-slim Speaker x 2 (L, R) 31 W (10% THD) (Woofer: 6 ohms, 55Hz - 200Hz, Speaker: 8 ohms, 200Hz - 17kHz)
BBE VIVA HD3D Sound enhancement technology (featured in the BBE Sonic Maximizer range of professional audio signal processors) is licensed by BBE Sound to consumer electronics manufacturers for incorporation into their products. See fact sheet in Resources section below.

Connections

3rd rear HDMI connection to make 4 in total
RS232C
PC Input Mini D-sub 15-pin x 1 (rear)

Other Features

SD Memory Card Slot (SDHC Compatible) with Photo Viewer/Gallery Player as with others but, (AVCHD/MPEG2 playback). Also features H.264 codec (provides good video quality at substantially lower bit rates than earlier standards) making it possible to enjoy HD video content from a HD camcorder by loading an SD memory card.
(AVCHD video is recorded by Panasonic’s HD SD card camcorders.)
swivel base

Resources

CNet have tested the Panasonic VIERA PZ800U models (same panel spec as PZ850U but with THX Certification) and concluded that they are some of the best performing plasmas they have ever tested. CNet were impressed by the new anti-reflective filter. They didn’t however, believe the black levels of the Pioneer Kuro plasmas were matched.

One negative point was some noticeable image flicker when testing the 24p Cinematic Playback mode.

If you don’t mind not having the VIERA Cast IPTV Capability, Studio Reference Mode, Pro Setting Menu, RS-232C conncetion, AVCHD/MPEG2 playback, H.264 codec and Digital Cinema Color while picking up THX Certification then you should look at the Panasonic PZ800U models.

If you’re happy to also drop the swivel base, THX Certification, 24p Cinematic Playback, BBE VIVI HD3D Sound, a HDMI input, increased shades of gradation and one sheet of glass design then consider the PZ85U models.

Dropping back to 20,000:1 (from 30,000:1) contrast ratio and not have the PC input gives you the Panasonic PZ80U plasma models.

If a still well featured base model plasma with 720p resolution and 15,000:1 contrast ratio will fill your needs then the PX80U models are for you.

Compare the specifications of the PZ850U, PZ800U, PZ85U, PZ80U and PX80U side-by-side.

Brochure on VIVA HD3D Sound BBE (PDF)

TH-(46/50)PZ850U Owners Manual (PDF 6.4MB)

User Reviews and Price Comparisons

Visit the following online retailers to get competitive prices comparisons. Also look at the product ratings and hands on reviews by customers. The 58 inch and 65 inch models are due out in fall 2008.

Panasonic TH 50PZ850U - 50″ VIERA plasma TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV

Panasonic TH 46PZ850U - 46″ VIERA plasma TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV

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