Panasonic TC-L55E50

Pros: Netflix App is great
4-HDMI ports, which is really nice
Colors are rich and the viewing angles are super wide
Motion looks great on this TV

Cons: No 3D capability or built-in wifi

Summary: We were looking for a replacement for our ~16 year old rear projection TV. We are not gamers nor are we interested in 3D display. We chose this Panasonic product after lengthy research into other brands, models and sizes. We almost opted for another, less expensive Vizio model, but by the time we were able to dispose of our old TV, the Vizio model was out of stock. We had seen several Panasonic HDTVs and had never been disappointed with the Panasonic, so it was next on the list.

After assembling the TV stand, we unpacked the TV. There is a diagram on the side of the box, that the HDTV is shipped in, that has artwork on one side of the box indicating the unpacking procedure. The procedure is very easy for two people. There are 4 plastic latches that allow the top section of the box to be lifted away from the monitor. We chose to mount the monitor on the pedestal, as opposed to a wall mounting. The mounting procedure is clearly indicated with an exploded diagram found in the owner's manual.

The assembly screws are found in 2 different plastic packages. There are 2 different screw sizes used for mounting the monitor to the pedestal. One size screw (4 each) attaches the bracket to the base. The other size screw (4 each) attaches the monitor to the bracket. The bracket fits precisely into a slot in the monitor and when the monitor has been seated on the bracket the screws line up perfectly. The assembly procedure is easy to follow and well engineered.

There is a characteristic that the purchaser will want to know about. The base has a raised integral mount that the bracket attaches too. This raised integral mount is apparently designed to yield slightly and pitches slightly with the weight of the monitor. Since the model we purchased has a 55-inch monitor, and is naturally top heavy, this presents a bit of unease with monitor stability. We found the azimuth orientation we preferred for the monitor and haven't moved it. There is no swivel to the base, so azimuth orientation means moving the entire base.

After attaching the cabling, which is also clearly indicated in the owner's manual, we powered on via the remote and followed eHELP, which is essentially a built-in manual that is always available and performed a first time set-up.

One thing that I have noticed about the remote is that I unintentionally keep reformatting the display. The format button is immediately above the number buttons, and I am connected to cable TV, so I have not yet trained myself to tactilely discriminate between these buttons.

We love the picture display, and the audio is acceptable. We will edit this review to provide more set-up information in the near future.We are currently using the HDTV, although we haven't settled on the set-up yet. Lastly, you can check for low price of this tv at: ipsledlcdtvs.blogspot.com/p/panasonic-viera-tc-l55e50.html

Hope this review is helpful.