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Entered CNET Catalog: 09/03/2005
SKU: 0037988240869
Manufacturer: Panasonic
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Manufacturer description
At business meetings, presentations and other situations calling for powerful visual impact, you can count on this 50-inch high-definition plasma display. An optional touch panel adds sophistication and ease. The system can be upgraded to display handwritten notes for even greater persuasive power.Product summary
The good: Relatively inexpensive; excellent black-level performance; accurate color decoding; solid video processing with 2:3 pull-down; independent memory per input; versatile PIP function; extensive picture adjustments; customizable inputs.
The bad: Does not include a stand, a tuner, or speakers; sparse input selection; doesn't include a digital input; cannot change aspect ratios with HDTV sources; floats blacks.
The bottom line: Although it's missing a couple of inputs, the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK surpasses any 50-inch plasma we've reviewed in terms of image quality and overall value.
Average user rating: from 40 users
4.0 stars
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/11/2005
Even with these missing features, the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is the best value for plasma shoppers who value image quality foremost. It offers more picture adjustments than its consumer brethren, the TH-50PX500U, which helps increase its overall performance for those who take the time to properly set it up. If you'd rather not worry about purchasing a stand or extra inputs, then it might not be for you, but if all you want is a spectacular picture with no frills and maximum customization options, the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is the class of the 50-inch plasma pack.
Note: Since these plasmas are usually not available from traditional vendors, salespeople may try to tell you that, as "commercial" devices, they emit a higher level of radiation. That's not true. Panasonic's professional-series plasmas are Class B digital devices approved for residential use, the same as most other electronics. When we say no frills, we mean it. The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is basically all screen, with an inch and a half of black masking and a charcoal-gray frame between the edge of the picture and the edge of the panel on all sides. Only a subtle Panasonic logo along the bottom and a red-and-green power indicator on the bottom left mark the frame. We really like the clean, modern look, but some people might find it too minimalist.
While most plasmas include a tabletop stand, the TH-50PHD8UK is usually sold BYOM (buy your own mount). It also lacks speakers, although you can purchase Panasonic's matching speakers if you'd rather not mate the plasma to an external audio system. The cost of accessorizing does add up: the speakers cost about $250 online, and the round-base stand (pictured) costs about $150. For a full list of stands, accessories, and speakers, check out Panasonic's Web site. Without a stand, the TH-50PHD8UK measures approximately 48 by 29 by 4 inches (HWD) and weighs 95 pounds.
Panasonic's remote is completely redesigned from last year and now includes a numeric keypad--although we don't understand why a TV with no tuner needs number keys. We liked the new clicker, although we would've liked it more if it were backlit. When programming our universal remote, we especially appreciated Panasonic's four direct-access input buttons. The television's menu system is bare bones and completely text-driven, and if you want helpful explanations, you won't find them here. But it offers a range of options not found on many consumer plasmas and overall isn't especially difficult to use. We do wish, however, that instead of separate menus for picture, sound, and setup, that the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK had a menu home page that allowed access to all options. Like most 50-inch plasmas, the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK has a native resolution of 1,366x768, which allows it to display every detail of 720p HDTV material. All sources, including standard TV, DVD, computer, and high-def, are scaled to fit the pixels.
As we mentioned earlier, the TH-50PHD8UK is missing a tuner and speakers, so you'll have to connect an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box or even the tuner in a VCR, to watch television and an external audio system or the optional speakers to hear anything. It also skips all of the tuner features, such as favorite-channel lists, electronic program guides, and the like.
The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK does offer a few conveniences, such as a versatile picture-in-picture function that includes inset, side-by-side, and picture-outside-picture (POP) options. This is one of the most flexible PIPs available, with the ability to show pretty much any two inputs, including PC and HDTV sources, simultaneously. On the other hand, we were disappointed to find that, while the plasma could switch between four aspect-ratio mode choices with standard-def sources, it couldn't change aspects with HDTV sources.
We really liked the TH-50PHD8UK's range of picture-enhancing options. Each of the three picture presets are fully adjustable and independent for each input, effectively offering three color-temperature presets. Advanced options, uncommon in most consumer displays but very welcome to picture tweakers, include custom color-temperature controls in the user menu, adjustable gamma, and even horizontal and vertical position and size controls for all inputs, not just for PC.
The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK presents numerous screensavers for preventing and removing image retention, a.k.a. burn-in, including a scrolling white bar on a timer, an inverse color setting, and a mode that shifts the entire image slightly over time. And while any 50-inch plasma is a power hog (this particular beast is rated at 440 watts maximum consumption), we did like the several power-saving modes, including a peak brightness limiter and standby-mode power saving.
The sparse selection of video inputs is the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK's Achilles' heel. It can connect to a total of four sources and ships from the factory with three inputs: a fixed, VGA-style PC RGB input; a removable board with composite- and S-Video ports (only one is usable at a time); and a second board that can accommodate RGBHV or component-video sources. Note that you'll need inexpensive BNC-to-RCA adapters to connect standard RCA cables. The VGA input can handle PC resolutions up to the full 1,366x768 at 60Hz. Unlike the company's consumer panels, the professional series can accept PAL and SECAM TV signals through its video inputs.
Panasonic's removable boards, however, can help alleviate the paucity of inputs. There's an unoccupied fourth slot that can be filled with an optional input board--for example, the unit we reviewed was equipped with an HDCP-enabled DVI input, and an HDMI board is available (both list for $145). The full list of boards is available at Panasonic's Web site. People with lots of sources will have to resort to an outboard switching solution, such as a component-video or HDMI-switching receiver, to connect everything to the plasma. In short, the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is the best-performing plasma we've reviewed. Its image quality starts with its depth of black, which contributes to more powerful color saturation and extra "pop" in demanding home-theater viewing situations. Watching dark DVDs such as the excellent Batman Begins really showed off its strengths. The night sky above Gotham and the letterbox bars above and below the picture area looked suitably inky. We saw plenty of detail in shadows, such as the subtle bat logo and the fine stitching of Batman's suit.
We did see evidence of an inability to hold a consistent level of black, however, which contributed to some loss in shadow detail. With our setup, we noticed this loss mainly in scenes with roughly equal amounts of dark and light material. One good example occurred when Batman leapt out the window, covered in bright flames; some of the bricks in the buildings in the foreground were swallowed in shadow.
The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK's color accuracy is excellent, characterized by color decoding with no red push, which allowed us to keep the color control set properly without sacrificing the fidelity of skin tones. The set's primary colors were off somewhat however: it evinced a slightly orangish red and yellowish green, compared to the standard for HD. Its color temperature before calibration in the warm setting was average with brighter grays tending toward the blue end of the spectrum, but after calibration, the grayscale was close to perfect. Another of the TH-50PHD8UK's strengths is a smooth, accurate gamma, which resulted in flat, neutral grays at all brightness levels.
Compared to most other plasmas we've reviewed, the Panasonic reproduced difficult, often noisy areas relatively cleanly. The fog and mist in the background, as Batman races through the alley after being set on fire, looked smooth and free of major false contouring or video noise. Like all plasmas, the TH-50PHD8UK does reproduce some video noise in near-black areas, which appears as minute greenish or reddish specks, but it was essentially invisible from normal seating distances of, say, seven feet or more.
Naturally, HDTV looked even better than DVD. We watched a few HD basketball games on TNT, and the images' crispness and detail were superb, from the sheen of sweat on players' heads as they stood at the foul line to the intricacies of the wood grain in the floors. Graphics and text in particular were rock-solid, and colors had punch and vibrancy. The panel resolved component-video and DVI sources equally well according to our HD signal generator, and no sign of edge-enhancement was visible after we'd reduced sharpness to minimum. Comparing football games on a Sunday afternoon, we observed that ABC's 720p sources looked best, and although CBS's 1080i broadcast appeared a bit softer, it was still superb, a testament to the TH-50PHD8UK's excellent scaling.
Geek box
| TEST | RESULT | SCORE |
| Before color temp (20/80) | 6,481/7,895K | Average |
| After color temp (20/80) | 6,426/6,531K | Good |
| Before grayscale variation | +/- 952K | Average |
| After grayscale variation | +/- 82K | Good |
| Overscan | 3 percent | Good |
| DC restoration | No stable pattern | Poor |
| 2:3 pull-down, 24fps | Yes | Good |
| Defeatable edge enhancement | Yes | Good |
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 User Rating: 
10/10
anyone know the difference between this model and the next one TH-50PHD9UK
Pros: seems to be better than this year's model
Cons: last year's model
Review: please help!! I am so lost. how is this model more expensive than this year's TH-50PHD8UK? it has a couple of extra features but contrast is worse. I always try to buy the latest model but this is something strange. what to do? which model to go for? thx
User Rating: 
8/10
Excellent TV!
Pros: excellent PQ, unobtrusive design, tons of features
Cons: lack of outputs, power hog, no stand
Review: Have had this tv for a little over a month, researched for a few months before picking this, and so far i'm very satisfied. all teh features u could possibley want are here, only wish it had hd outputs, or video for that matter, and a stand. buying the accessories to make this functional, stand/mount, hdmi port, etc does add up, but customization comes ata cost i guess, no regrets though. i bought mine from tiger direct, and it still ended up pretty competitive.
recommended!
recommended!
User Rating: 
9/10
Fantastic picture, with ability to tailor desired extras
Pros: Picture is fabulous; lack of extras can be overcome
Cons: Somewhat confusing for a non techno-geek like me
Review: After conducting exhaustive research, I bought this one as my first-ever HDTV six months ago. I love it! Thus far I've had ZERO problems with its performance, which was GREAT right out of the box. The limited inputs can be easily overcome by purchasing a HDMI panel. And why pay for mediocre TV speakers most other HD's come with? I'm purchasing a new surround sound system. Now all I need is the popcorn!
User Rating: 10/10
Great TV 4 ME! My first "real" Big Screen!
Pros: Great picture (720p/1080i), expansion opportunities! (slots), interesting menu options, came with Component and Composite, and great when mounted!
Cons: Not 1080p but I couldn't tell the difference when compared with Samsung plasma and Blu-Ray that my buddy has.
Review: At first I was leary of purchasing plasma for computer operations/gaming and console gaming; however, I've christened it with both and it is absolutely awesome. Paired with the digital interface (DVI-HDCP, since there aren't any speakers it doesn't matter HDMI or not) and grab the gold BNC-RCA adapters from Radioshack presto. Mounted using Premier extendable mount awesome. Together both weigh 200lbs so you'll need help mounting.
User Rating: 10/10
Amazing picture
Pros: Beautiful screen, great price, nice features
Cons: Need speakers, HDMI input
Review: I spent several months visiting the local Fry's, searching online for reviews, doing my due diligence and considering all options. I settled on this set, and I am 100% happy with it. I got the HD channels with Directv, and I will never go back. The crispness and clarity make me want to watch TV again. Some of the shows are breathtaking on this set.
I bought a wall mount and a HDMI input, and I already had a surround sound system, so I didn't need any built in speakers.
One thing I would caution people on, as I did a lot of research on retailers - there are a ton of upsell scams and shady suppliers in New York. Check BBB records before you spend $3k for a damaged/refurbished set. I went with Visualapex.com, and they were excellent.
I bought a wall mount and a HDMI input, and I already had a surround sound system, so I didn't need any built in speakers.
One thing I would caution people on, as I did a lot of research on retailers - there are a ton of upsell scams and shady suppliers in New York. Check BBB records before you spend $3k for a damaged/refurbished set. I went with Visualapex.com, and they were excellent.
User Rating: 10/10
Better than I could have imagined
Pros: Unreal picture quality
Cons: not enough inputs, not 1080p
Review: Before I set off to shop for an HDTV, I heard many people talk about how wonderful the HD world is. I didn't believe them at first. I would look at my regular TV and say "this picture looks pretty sharp to me."
But it was time to get something bigger and that could hang on the wall. I decided that 50" was the size for the room we have, and that at that size, plasma technology is the way to go.
While I was shopping around in Best Buy and a few other stores, I definitely saw the difference in picture as opposed to regular TV, but I wasn't truly blown away. I saw every type and brand of HDTV out there. I generally preferred the Pioneers. Then one day I saw the consumer-model Panasonic. The colors just stood out from everything else. I did some research on the net (including here) and found out about this industrial model. Without having seen it in person, I went ahead and bought it based largely on the reviews it got here on Cnet, as well as a few other places. (http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/panasonic-th42phd8uk-review.html)
I am not exaggerating when I say I was stunned (and three months later, still am) at the picture quality and performance of this HDTV. NOTHING I saw in stores previously, some costing twice as much and some which were 1080p, came even close to matching this. Three months later, my jaw is still on my chest sometimes when watching this thing. It has transformed the way I watch TV much like the iPod transformed the way I listen to music. Watching HD programming on this Panny is like living the moment. I end up watching incredible documentaries on DiscoveryHD, inHD, and PBSHD just because the scenery is so beautiful and lifelike. Basketball games are insane. You can see what people in the stands are doing in their laps in the very corner of the screen, 20 rows up in the stands. At night, with all the lights off, this TV looks positively 3-D. As if there is no screen, just a digital diorama of visual bliss.
Unfortunately, Blu-ray isn't out yet (and HD-DVD WILL be the Betamax of the two), so it's ironic that watching normal DVD's on this thing is actually a step down from HD programming on TV. However, I got a Sony 1080i-upconvert DVD player for very cheap (like $150) that comes close enough to the real thing for the time being until Blu-ray comes out.
I bought this TV right as 1080p came out. I kind of wish I had waited, but then again, not really. The difference between 1080i and 1080p from all accounts is very small, and those 1080p's will be very expensive for at least another year. If you need any proof, just try to tell the difference between 720i and 720p. You can't. Now, if the lines of resolution change soon from 1080 to 1400 or something, then THAT's reason to wait.
Only fault I can find with this TV is (as you've read), the limited number of inputs. I got a HDMI board in February and that's what the cablebox is going through. I have another HDMI board ordered, but Panasonic has run out. Literally, no store in the country has them. I've been on back-order for almost 2 months now. They didn't plan that out very well, but apparently this TV is getting pretty popular. Whenever I get that, I will run the DVD player through. Then the third slot has a component board for my XBOX 360 and the fourth slot has a VCR plugged it. That's it, no more options. While that's probably enough, I think 5 or 6 inputs would have been better.
This TV is simply perfect if you are in the following situation:
1- Value picture quality above everything else. A few other models might match this TV, but none surpass it. And the ones that might match it will cost you thousands more.
2- Want to hang it. There are stands available, but this TV is just made to be hung. Very thin, very sleek.
3- Have external sound. Although, I can't imagine anyone who's in this ballpark would even think about running sound through TV speakers, so this is probably a moot point.
4- Have a cable/satellite box.
5- Don't have money to waste. I'm sorry, but as amazing as this TV is, it is a luxury that no one really needs. For the average guy like myself, spending $5000 on a TV is insane. However, forking over $3000 and knowing you are getting the best technology out there is simply too good to pass up. And trust me, after you see this thing in your den, you'll never regret one penny you spent on it.
But it was time to get something bigger and that could hang on the wall. I decided that 50" was the size for the room we have, and that at that size, plasma technology is the way to go.
While I was shopping around in Best Buy and a few other stores, I definitely saw the difference in picture as opposed to regular TV, but I wasn't truly blown away. I saw every type and brand of HDTV out there. I generally preferred the Pioneers. Then one day I saw the consumer-model Panasonic. The colors just stood out from everything else. I did some research on the net (including here) and found out about this industrial model. Without having seen it in person, I went ahead and bought it based largely on the reviews it got here on Cnet, as well as a few other places. (http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/panasonic-th42phd8uk-review.html)
I am not exaggerating when I say I was stunned (and three months later, still am) at the picture quality and performance of this HDTV. NOTHING I saw in stores previously, some costing twice as much and some which were 1080p, came even close to matching this. Three months later, my jaw is still on my chest sometimes when watching this thing. It has transformed the way I watch TV much like the iPod transformed the way I listen to music. Watching HD programming on this Panny is like living the moment. I end up watching incredible documentaries on DiscoveryHD, inHD, and PBSHD just because the scenery is so beautiful and lifelike. Basketball games are insane. You can see what people in the stands are doing in their laps in the very corner of the screen, 20 rows up in the stands. At night, with all the lights off, this TV looks positively 3-D. As if there is no screen, just a digital diorama of visual bliss.
Unfortunately, Blu-ray isn't out yet (and HD-DVD WILL be the Betamax of the two), so it's ironic that watching normal DVD's on this thing is actually a step down from HD programming on TV. However, I got a Sony 1080i-upconvert DVD player for very cheap (like $150) that comes close enough to the real thing for the time being until Blu-ray comes out.
I bought this TV right as 1080p came out. I kind of wish I had waited, but then again, not really. The difference between 1080i and 1080p from all accounts is very small, and those 1080p's will be very expensive for at least another year. If you need any proof, just try to tell the difference between 720i and 720p. You can't. Now, if the lines of resolution change soon from 1080 to 1400 or something, then THAT's reason to wait.
Only fault I can find with this TV is (as you've read), the limited number of inputs. I got a HDMI board in February and that's what the cablebox is going through. I have another HDMI board ordered, but Panasonic has run out. Literally, no store in the country has them. I've been on back-order for almost 2 months now. They didn't plan that out very well, but apparently this TV is getting pretty popular. Whenever I get that, I will run the DVD player through. Then the third slot has a component board for my XBOX 360 and the fourth slot has a VCR plugged it. That's it, no more options. While that's probably enough, I think 5 or 6 inputs would have been better.
This TV is simply perfect if you are in the following situation:
1- Value picture quality above everything else. A few other models might match this TV, but none surpass it. And the ones that might match it will cost you thousands more.
2- Want to hang it. There are stands available, but this TV is just made to be hung. Very thin, very sleek.
3- Have external sound. Although, I can't imagine anyone who's in this ballpark would even think about running sound through TV speakers, so this is probably a moot point.
4- Have a cable/satellite box.
5- Don't have money to waste. I'm sorry, but as amazing as this TV is, it is a luxury that no one really needs. For the average guy like myself, spending $5000 on a TV is insane. However, forking over $3000 and knowing you are getting the best technology out there is simply too good to pass up. And trust me, after you see this thing in your den, you'll never regret one penny you spent on it.
User Rating: 9/10
Great image, Great esthetics
Pros: Stellar looking commercial grade monitor w/no unncessary features
Cons: Stellar looking commercial grade monitor w/no unncessary features
Review: Panasonic intended this monitor for the non-consumer market, hence the BNC connectors and lack of speakers or tuner. Reviewers shouldn't diss it for missing these consumer features; If you want a great looking monitor w/a great looking picture at a great price, then it is worth buying some special cables and adapters. All you'll need to hook up your component video device is some BNC to RCA adapters. Also, you can use the VGA input as a 2nd component video input with just the addition of an HD15 to BNC cable. Yes, if you are hell bent on using DVI/HDMI, and it is highly debatable whether you are going to be able to see the difference in the image, you will need to buy that card to go in the monitor's accessory slot.
User Rating: 
7/10
Help needed
Pros: cost, ease of use
Cons: no tuner or speakers
Review: I've seen this TV before and it looks great. I just got mine and have it hooked up with HDMI from the Denon reciever to the TV and one from the sat box to the receiver. However, my pic in HDTV doens't pop like it should. Are there some configurations changes i should make? What should i check? Any ideas? Can someone please help?
User Rating: 8/10
Great monitor; some obvious shortcomings
Pros: Configurable blade-style inputs; good picture; no uneeded tuner/sound
Cons: reflective glare; limited calibration; no apsect change in some viewing modes
Review: I have had this monitor for a month. I like it but I guess I expected more.
I agree with most of the good points mentioned already so I won't repeat them. I am keeping my monitor. That should tell you the pros outweigh the cons for me.
There are a few annoyancs that few people seem to notice. I'll list them:
1. Reflective glare. I use this monitor in a living room / family room. Window glare and back lighting are more noticable than other LCD monitors I ownm
2. HMDI. Sorry Panasonic but HDMI has won over DVI. Time to put HDMI(s) in the box.
3. No screen resize on HD material. It's probably an internal processor limitation but resizing 720p content is not impossible.
4. Can't get to calibration commands with standard remote. The time has come for high-end displays to offer better calibration options. People who buy this device can handle it.
OK some other small things I like.
The remote control has explicit on / off commands. Great for unified remote / Harmony users. No tuner or builtin speakers: My remote sets the amp, DVD, satellite and monitor for each viewing activity. Not having to disable these unused "extras" on the TV is very nice.
I agree with most of the good points mentioned already so I won't repeat them. I am keeping my monitor. That should tell you the pros outweigh the cons for me.
There are a few annoyancs that few people seem to notice. I'll list them:
1. Reflective glare. I use this monitor in a living room / family room. Window glare and back lighting are more noticable than other LCD monitors I ownm
2. HMDI. Sorry Panasonic but HDMI has won over DVI. Time to put HDMI(s) in the box.
3. No screen resize on HD material. It's probably an internal processor limitation but resizing 720p content is not impossible.
4. Can't get to calibration commands with standard remote. The time has come for high-end displays to offer better calibration options. People who buy this device can handle it.
OK some other small things I like.
The remote control has explicit on / off commands. Great for unified remote / Harmony users. No tuner or builtin speakers: My remote sets the amp, DVD, satellite and monitor for each viewing activity. Not having to disable these unused "extras" on the TV is very nice.
User Rating: 9/10
Sweet BIG plasma for a great price
Pros: interchangable inputs, no speakers, streamlined
Cons: wish it did have a glossy black frame
Review: This is a killer plasma. I totally recommend it. The size is perfect for my space. The rule of thumb I used was 2 1/2 times the screen size is the optimal distance from the tv. Don't go too big unless you want to watch tv like watching a tennis match. Be prepared to wait a long time for shipping when ordering it from a store online.
User Rating: 9/10
It is a plasma display folks
Pros: Picture - Quality - Future Proofed
Cons: hmmmmm After HDTV - Don't like DVDs as much anymore
Review: Got it almost a month ago.
Does what it says. No Tuner here its a display
Did research for 2-3 months - best bang for buck.
No regrets - Great out of the box. Love my 50" Pc monitor after hooking up to HTPC.
Purchased for about $3400 including HDMI, stand and shipping (HDMI @ $145, Stand @ $170)
Beautiful picture - HDTV is mind blowing
Wish there were more HDTV media out there - Never knew I could outgrow DVDs. I guess this happens to old technology with every advancement.
Finally - This display is quite future proof with slots available for any future cards. Enjoying it.
Does what it says. No Tuner here its a display
Did research for 2-3 months - best bang for buck.
No regrets - Great out of the box. Love my 50" Pc monitor after hooking up to HTPC.
Purchased for about $3400 including HDMI, stand and shipping (HDMI @ $145, Stand @ $170)
Beautiful picture - HDTV is mind blowing
Wish there were more HDTV media out there - Never knew I could outgrow DVDs. I guess this happens to old technology with every advancement.
Finally - This display is quite future proof with slots available for any future cards. Enjoying it.
User Rating: 9/10
Oh My God HD has arrived!
Pros: Exceeded my Expectations
Cons: None thus far
Review: I just had my 50 inch plasma set up by a professional. Let me just first say, DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS BY YOURSELF! It took him over 12 hours to mount on the wall and place 5 Bose surround sound speakers inside and 2 Bose speakers in backyard. The HD channels exceeded my expectations, WOW! I am the hit in my neighborhood. Of course, I have been inviting all the neighbors in so they can salivate.
User Rating: 10/10
What TV is supposed to be!
Pros: Where do I start, picture is unbeatable, simple design!
Cons: Have not found one, I'm in TV Heaven.
Review: I pulled the trigger on purchasing the TH-50PHD8UK in January 06 after months of online research and visits to stores like Best Buy where you can only see the consumer models, my timing was poor because by the time I decided to buy the word was out and the set was badly back-ordered. I was nearly scammed by one of these high pressure sales companies named USAphotonation.com out of NY. NY. where they advertise the lowest price, but then try to tell you that you have to pay extra for a warranty or the TV needs special delivery that has a much higher than advertised shipping cost. Fortunately I got out unscathed and found a reputable company called Bottom Line Telecommunications at shopblt.com that gave me a great price and kept me informed during the back order wait time.
I?ve had the TV for about 2-weeks so far and the excitement of my purchase is far from wearing off. I decided that if I was going to spend $3K on a TV that I would not skimp on the program provider or accessories so I did get the HDMI Blade & cable for my video signal and had to go with an optical audio cable since my home theater system did not have an HDMI input for audio. My service provider is Direct-TV with their top-end HD DVR which does have an HDMI connection. The picture on this TV in HD is so incredible that it almost appears you are watching shows in 3D, incredibly life-like with crisp clear quality! The TV looked great right out of the box with few adjustments made by me, even the packaging was great with a double box and pull-out handles that allow the inner box to be removed from the outer box without cutting tape and bending flaps out of the way. I had seen some reviews where people said the TV actually looked great even when it was off due to its simple design and black frame, until I saw it slip out of the box I couldn?t understand what they meant since a simple black frame seemed like the commercial model might look a bit boring compared to the consumer model, I was wrong, it?s simplicity is very elegant and helps promote its awesome picture.
Keep in mind this is a monitor, there is no tuner or speakers on this set so you will need a sound system (home theater) and by getting cable or satellite service you will receive a tuner from them. These are good things; you pay less for this set than what you would pay for the consumer model due to these items being absent, but who wants to listen to some puny built-in TV speakers with such an unbelievable visual experience when you should already have a surround sound audio source anyway. Your service provider will provide the tuner so paying extra to have one built into the TV is over-kill and a waste of money. This is my first flat screen TV and my first HD experience and all I can say is that I now know what TV is meant to be, I feel this is the best $3K I?ve ever spent and if you buy this TV I believe you will feel the same about your purchase!
I?ve had the TV for about 2-weeks so far and the excitement of my purchase is far from wearing off. I decided that if I was going to spend $3K on a TV that I would not skimp on the program provider or accessories so I did get the HDMI Blade & cable for my video signal and had to go with an optical audio cable since my home theater system did not have an HDMI input for audio. My service provider is Direct-TV with their top-end HD DVR which does have an HDMI connection. The picture on this TV in HD is so incredible that it almost appears you are watching shows in 3D, incredibly life-like with crisp clear quality! The TV looked great right out of the box with few adjustments made by me, even the packaging was great with a double box and pull-out handles that allow the inner box to be removed from the outer box without cutting tape and bending flaps out of the way. I had seen some reviews where people said the TV actually looked great even when it was off due to its simple design and black frame, until I saw it slip out of the box I couldn?t understand what they meant since a simple black frame seemed like the commercial model might look a bit boring compared to the consumer model, I was wrong, it?s simplicity is very elegant and helps promote its awesome picture.
Keep in mind this is a monitor, there is no tuner or speakers on this set so you will need a sound system (home theater) and by getting cable or satellite service you will receive a tuner from them. These are good things; you pay less for this set than what you would pay for the consumer model due to these items being absent, but who wants to listen to some puny built-in TV speakers with such an unbelievable visual experience when you should already have a surround sound audio source anyway. Your service provider will provide the tuner so paying extra to have one built into the TV is over-kill and a waste of money. This is my first flat screen TV and my first HD experience and all I can say is that I now know what TV is meant to be, I feel this is the best $3K I?ve ever spent and if you buy this TV I believe you will feel the same about your purchase!
User Rating: 9/10
Absolutely superb resolution ... stunning!
Pros: Picture quality, expandability.
Cons: Minimal connectivity.
Review: I bought this plasma display after weeks of Internet research ... and I ultimately based my decision on the many positive reviews on cnet.com. The monitor worked perfectly right out of the box. The convenient handles on each side of the unit really helped facilitate effortless mounting. But best of all, the video resolution is without parallel ... absolutely stunning ... the best I've seen using an HDTV receiver. I could not be more pleased. One more word of advice ... do not buy the standard side-mounted speakers; they're overpriced and underpowered. I bought a JVC TH-C6 home theater system that produces 1002 W of crystal-clear, digital, sound and works flawlessly with this monitor. The superb video produced by the TH-50PHD8UK and the audio power from the JVC TH-C6 are a winning combination that can't be beaten. The only downside I noticed is that the remote that comes with the set is not exactly intuitive; it requires some considerable study.
Updated
I searched the Net far and wide before deciding to buy the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK Plasma monitor, and I finally selected it based on the CNet ratings. I have not regretted my decision. It is no doubt the best available for the money! The video resolution is nothing short of stunning ... breath-taking ... especially using the digital HDTV cable input signal, but the video from DVD's is excellent as well, even though I currently have to use the composite video input cables ... I hope to get the HDMI board soon. I had some reservations about what I had read in some reviews about the limited audio capabilities of this monitor ... but not any more! Integrated with my JVC TH-C6 home theater system, the sound from live TV broadcasts is as amazing as the video ... it literally blew me away the first time I turned it on. All, in all, I love my system, even though, as some reviewers have pointed out, the connectivity options are a bit limited.
I searched the Net far and wide before deciding to buy the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK Plasma monitor, and I finally selected it based on the CNet ratings. I have not regretted my decision. It is no doubt the best available for the money! The video resolution is nothing short of stunning ... breath-taking ... especially using the digital HDTV cable input signal, but the video from DVD's is excellent as well, even though I currently have to use the composite video input cables ... I hope to get the HDMI board soon. I had some reservations about what I had read in some reviews about the limited audio capabilities of this monitor ... but not any more! Integrated with my JVC TH-C6 home theater system, the sound from live TV broadcasts is as amazing as the video ... it literally blew me away the first time I turned it on. All, in all, I love my system, even though, as some reviewers have pointed out, the connectivity options are a bit limited.
User Rating: 10/10
Very Satisfied with TH-50PHD8UK!
Pros: Excellent color, contrast and sharpness. Best black level I have viewed!
Cons: Can't adjust aspect ratio with HDTV signals.
Review: I kept on reading Plasma market reviews since the first Plasma came out. I waited for so many years until the price has dropped to my goal, i.e. < $3000. I bought a Th-50PHD8UK from PCCONNECTION.COM for $2998 with only $100 shipping fee! It arrived in perfect condition with heavy double boxes!
I am glad that this plasma performs as well as all the reviewers mentioned! It looks excellent already right out of box! The color, contrast and sharpness are all to the best from all plasmas I have viewed in various stores. It works as an stunning PC morntor too! The digital pictures I took with my Canon 20D have never been seemed so life-like! The dark faces in some under-exposed pictures become clearly viewerable and the bright spots in the picture are simply more bright! The brightness seems go beyond my Sony CRT TV or Sony CRT PC mornitor. I feel like seeing much much more details from this Plasma than from my 17" Sony CRT monitor. The pictures from my bright 24" Sony CRT TV (Brighter than my huge 32" Sony tube TV) look washed out, as if you had turned the brightness all the way up without adjusting the contrast! I thought the Sony's picture was excellent! When I looked at the pictures again from my Dell 700m Laptop, my goodness, I felt like viewing black and white pictures! I can no longer stand the low color and low-contrast pictures from my 700m! I will need to change a Laptop!
My Denon DVD 5900 makes this plasma almost like it is playing HDTV when it plays DVDs. Notice that you do not need DVI upscale input for DVD viewing if your DVD player is a high quality one! 480P pictures performs as well as (even better sometimes) the DVI. No shark-teeths from edges at all! By the way, this combination looks obviously better than a cheap Toshiba DVD player with upscales output + a Zenith 50 plasma in my friend's home. I use my Toshiba DST3000 to feed HDTV signals to this plasma and it looks as good as it should be. But since Toshiba does not output 720p, the picture is not as sharp as I see from those displayed in stores. However, the low-resolution LD or Hifi VCR signals play so clearly on this Plasma that sometimes I thought it was playing videos from the DVD!
This is a monitor. So you should not complaint that it does not have a TV tuner or cable card slot. I use a comsumer Panasonic TV stand (floating everywhere for $25-$50) for this plasma, which fits as well as the one built for this plasma. I would say this plasma is the best buy of my life on the electronic products!
Only wish it can adjust the aspect ratio for HDTV (component) signals. But I can do it on DVD player or Toshiba TV tuner!
I am glad that this plasma performs as well as all the reviewers mentioned! It looks excellent already right out of box! The color, contrast and sharpness are all to the best from all plasmas I have viewed in various stores. It works as an stunning PC morntor too! The digital pictures I took with my Canon 20D have never been seemed so life-like! The dark faces in some under-exposed pictures become clearly viewerable and the bright spots in the picture are simply more bright! The brightness seems go beyond my Sony CRT TV or Sony CRT PC mornitor. I feel like seeing much much more details from this Plasma than from my 17" Sony CRT monitor. The pictures from my bright 24" Sony CRT TV (Brighter than my huge 32" Sony tube TV) look washed out, as if you had turned the brightness all the way up without adjusting the contrast! I thought the Sony's picture was excellent! When I looked at the pictures again from my Dell 700m Laptop, my goodness, I felt like viewing black and white pictures! I can no longer stand the low color and low-contrast pictures from my 700m! I will need to change a Laptop!
My Denon DVD 5900 makes this plasma almost like it is playing HDTV when it plays DVDs. Notice that you do not need DVI upscale input for DVD viewing if your DVD player is a high quality one! 480P pictures performs as well as (even better sometimes) the DVI. No shark-teeths from edges at all! By the way, this combination looks obviously better than a cheap Toshiba DVD player with upscales output + a Zenith 50 plasma in my friend's home. I use my Toshiba DST3000 to feed HDTV signals to this plasma and it looks as good as it should be. But since Toshiba does not output 720p, the picture is not as sharp as I see from those displayed in stores. However, the low-resolution LD or Hifi VCR signals play so clearly on this Plasma that sometimes I thought it was playing videos from the DVD!
This is a monitor. So you should not complaint that it does not have a TV tuner or cable card slot. I use a comsumer Panasonic TV stand (floating everywhere for $25-$50) for this plasma, which fits as well as the one built for this plasma. I would say this plasma is the best buy of my life on the electronic products!
Only wish it can adjust the aspect ratio for HDTV (component) signals. But I can do it on DVD player or Toshiba TV tuner!
User Rating: 9/10
Best 50" Plasma for the money
Pros: Black Level Performance, Excellant Color
Cons: HDMI/DVI Card Sold Seperately, Fixed Aspect Ratio for HD
Review: I don't think I need to I need to praise this model any more then it has been in previous posts. Understanding there are undoubtedly superior models to the TH-50PHD8UK, there are none that come close for the money. Especially if you exclude the "consumer oriented" features in the consumer models. I have a full Home Theater system with THX 7.1 capability, as well as external HD Tuner (where I can adjust the aspect ratio), so I have no need for consumer models. The plasma's appearance is simple and elegant (black bezel)...just how I like it.
Given that this is a Professional Model, it is understandable that it will lack many consumer features (see Cons), as it's market audience is much more diverse and so most of these options are sold seperately. However, I do believe a Digital Input (HDMI/DVI) should be standard in future models, as this is used almost everywhere. The interesting advantage to "Input Cards" are that they should allow the user to expand the features/capabilities of the system as they become available.
Hooked up a progessive scan DVD (via HDMI), and tested with movies such as Gladiator, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings....I can only say excellant! I am looking forward to viewing the new high-def DVD formats when they standardize.
One last note, as everyone who shops online must consider, the vendor to purchase from. I don't usually plug vendors, but I have to recommend TV Authority for price and service (http://www.tvauthority.com). They had the best price, and the service was honest and excellant. As this model was out-of-stock EVERYWHERE (alot of vendors lie about availability), they do not charge your credit card on pre-orders, only when the unit is shipped. The website does not provide online tracking of orders (at least that I could find), but they were very prompt in keeping me informed on the status of my order. The shipment arrived in great condition, and they allow 48 Hours to return the unit (unlike many vendors who take no responsibility after shipment has been accepted).
A great plasma, for a great price! Gave it a 9 only because it lacks the digital inputs as standard.
Given that this is a Professional Model, it is understandable that it will lack many consumer features (see Cons), as it's market audience is much more diverse and so most of these options are sold seperately. However, I do believe a Digital Input (HDMI/DVI) should be standard in future models, as this is used almost everywhere. The interesting advantage to "Input Cards" are that they should allow the user to expand the features/capabilities of the system as they become available.
Hooked up a progessive scan DVD (via HDMI), and tested with movies such as Gladiator, The Matrix, and Lord of the Rings....I can only say excellant! I am looking forward to viewing the new high-def DVD formats when they standardize.
One last note, as everyone who shops online must consider, the vendor to purchase from. I don't usually plug vendors, but I have to recommend TV Authority for price and service (http://www.tvauthority.com). They had the best price, and the service was honest and excellant. As this model was out-of-stock EVERYWHERE (alot of vendors lie about availability), they do not charge your credit card on pre-orders, only when the unit is shipped. The website does not provide online tracking of orders (at least that I could find), but they were very prompt in keeping me informed on the status of my order. The shipment arrived in great condition, and they allow 48 Hours to return the unit (unlike many vendors who take no responsibility after shipment has been accepted).
A great plasma, for a great price! Gave it a 9 only because it lacks the digital inputs as standard.
User Rating: 10/10
The best HD monitor I've seen
Pros: Sharp looking design, great HD picture
Cons: Needed stand, only 1 component input, (but I knew that)
Review: Worked great right out of the box. I hooked it up to my Onkyo HT780 (Home theater in a box system). HD cable TV & DVD VCR combo unit hooked up to the Onkyo HT780. Great HD picture and sound. Regular cable tv is also bright and sharp.
*CABLES* I didn't use expinsive cables. 6'component BNC to RCA, 3'component RCA with toslink digital audio, 3' component with audio (5 RCA), and 3' digital coaxial audio all for less than $50. Picture is great! I also used the speaker wire that came with Onkyo HTIB. Sounds great!
*CABLES* I didn't use expinsive cables. 6'component BNC to RCA, 3'component RCA with toslink digital audio, 3' component with audio (5 RCA), and 3' digital coaxial audio all for less than $50. Picture is great! I also used the speaker wire that came with Onkyo HTIB. Sounds great!
User Rating: 9/10
Outstanding picture quality & value
Pros: No wasted space on the front, outstanding picture quality, no wasted features with satellite or cable, can order module for HDMI
Cons: A little shy on inputs
Review: Great value especially when used with a satellite or cable since you don't pay for unused features.
User Rating: 9/10
Simply the best 50 inch HD Plasma - bar none!
Pros: Excellent PQ for DVD and HD (1080i) - accurate colors, deep blacks
Cons: problems with 720p (HDTV), SD TV simply ok
Review: While not perfect. The 50 8UK is close.
- I looked closely at the Pioneer 5060 and NEC 50 XR5, before settling on the Panasonic. The picture on this set is not as bright as the other two, but colors are more accurate and blacks are deeper. In a home setting this is the most comfortable for the eye as colors don't pop out at you. The Pioneers are great for viewing in a store or at a distance (due to their brighter pictures). If you watch a lot of DVDs and other HD content on TV this is simply the best set.
However, I do believe that the Pioneers may be better for viewing 720p HDTV (ESPN) and regular TV due to different video processing technologies.
- I looked closely at the Pioneer 5060 and NEC 50 XR5, before settling on the Panasonic. The picture on this set is not as bright as the other two, but colors are more accurate and blacks are deeper. In a home setting this is the most comfortable for the eye as colors don't pop out at you. The Pioneers are great for viewing in a store or at a distance (due to their brighter pictures). If you watch a lot of DVDs and other HD content on TV this is simply the best set.
However, I do believe that the Pioneers may be better for viewing 720p HDTV (ESPN) and regular TV due to different video processing technologies.
User Rating: 10/10
Fabulous TV/Monitor
Pros: Picture, Picture, Picture!!!!
Cons: Have to order HDMI blade
Review: I researched for a month, ordered, then I waited 3 months for this TV. I have had it now for 1 week. Worth the wait! Truely amazing quality! Bought the HDMI blade and have Comcast HD box hooked in. HDMI input from Sat/Cable is the way to go. Wait for HD-DVD or Blu Ray, because I have an HDMI up-convert Sony DVD and it pales in comparison to true HD. My only con is inputs because I have an older receiver and need to get a HDMI switch. I know I could have ordered any inputs I wanted, but still would have been a bit of a pain. This is absolutely the best 50" plasma you can get for the money, especially if you already have a surround sound set-up. Do the research. I did. I believe Panasonic is finally speeding up their manufacturing line and these will become more available.
User Rating: 10/10
Best Picture of All Plasmas
Pros: Outstanding Picture
Cons: None, but does not come with sound
Review: Plasma was delivered last week and I have to say it has the best picture of any HD set that I have ever seen. This was a replacement for a 42" Panasonic that I purchased 3 years ago and I was very happy with but there is absolutely no comparison between the 2 sets. Even the professioanl installer to check out the set (the plasma needed only minor adjustment out of the box) told me that it is the best picture he has ever seen over any other plasma, rear projection, projector, LCD or any other set. There is a reason that every plasma store on the web was out of this plasma for the past 2 months.
User Rating: 9/10
No Audio Output is a major problem, but fantastic picture quality.
Pros: Outstanding picture quality
Cons: No audio output
Review: I've had the TV for about two weeks now and I have to say I'm loving my decision to buy it. The picture quality is even better than I thought, but this is my first HDTV so I really don't have any frame of reference for comparison.
I did a lot of research, and was aware of its limited inputs and no speakers (that's why I didn't include these in the cons above). But I did not realize that the TV has no audio output. This is especially troubling considering the TV doesn't come with speakers.
My dilema now is that I was planning on buying the HDMI terminal board, but the HDMI hookup runs audio & video through the same input. Therefore, I can't get audio on my plasma using the HDMI source unless my stereo has an HDMI input (which it doesn't) and an HDMI output or I buy the speakers for the TV.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions around this?
I did a lot of research, and was aware of its limited inputs and no speakers (that's why I didn't include these in the cons above). But I did not realize that the TV has no audio output. This is especially troubling considering the TV doesn't come with speakers.
My dilema now is that I was planning on buying the HDMI terminal board, but the HDMI hookup runs audio & video through the same input. Therefore, I can't get audio on my plasma using the HDMI source unless my stereo has an HDMI input (which it doesn't) and an HDMI output or I buy the speakers for the TV.
Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions around this?
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent Monitor
Pros: Custom inputs are great
Cons: Still needs two more digital inputs
Review: I have the TH-50PHD7UY (model year before, It's
a great monitor, life like picture quality, the
custom inputs are great,allowing for any combination (future use). Remember it's a monitor and not a TV so you don't need a TV tuner.
a great monitor, life like picture quality, the
custom inputs are great,allowing for any combination (future use). Remember it's a monitor and not a TV so you don't need a TV tuner.
User Rating: 9/10
The quality of this unit's picture continues to dazzle all who see it.
Pros: Picture clarity, brilliant colors, settings retention, extensive picture customization control.
Cons: Requires a lot of fine tuning per input source, digital inputs have to be purchased separately.
Review: I also did a lot of research before making my purchase and like many others had a hard time finding it once I decided to buy it. You definitely want to plan ahead with this unit in terms of what devices you want to plug into it. In my case that meant buying an HDMI I/O card and cable for DirectTV's HD tuner and a DVI I/O card for my Oppo DVD player. Since my Yamaha sound system only has one optical input I also had to get a digital coax, with RCA jacks, cable to enjoy digital sound with each of the above mentioned sources. Even if you want to use component cables you have to pick up 3 bnc to rca converters for most devices to connect. Fortunately, Buy.com had the input cards for a lot less than most others(>130.00ea.) and most of the cabling/converters as well. I chose Sanus System's VMPL2-B wall mount stand for it and once again Buy.com had it for far less than anyone else...>$90.00. While it took some planning and then some fine tuning to get it right, I'm exceedingly happy with the end result. Everyone, and I mean everyone, who has seen it says it's the best picture they've ever seen. This is not a consumer model display however, so be prepared to spend some time planning for it and adjusting it once you get it. If you're willing to do that...you won't be disappointed.
User Rating: 9/10
So far, excellent!
Pros: Outstanding HD picture quality. Clean packaging. Input flexability.
Cons: Some limitations on aspect controls.
Review: Got it Wednesday and hooked it up on Friday to a new DishNetwork box set at 720P using component inputs. Discovery HD takes my breath away! I have seen one small flaw with some noise in a deep blue section of sky, but that was likely the signal. Otherwise, it is like having a window to a new world. SD signal is decent - I set my receiver to 1080i for that and liked it better than 720P.
Waiting on the wall mount and HDMI card to finish the job. Glad I don't have speakers and tuner and all that stuff. Will update in a few weeks.
Waiting on the wall mount and HDMI card to finish the job. Glad I don't have speakers and tuner and all that stuff. Will update in a few weeks.
User Rating: 8/10
Very good for the Price.
Pros: Very simple to use, straight forward, good picture quality
Cons: Poor remote, need to add HD video board extra charge to acheive best picture, Panasonic's customer service very poor.
Review: I purchased this monitor December 2005 along with a HDMI video card. One month later video card went out, Called Panasonic customer service and have been getting the run around since. I'am angry that they can't just replace the video card. Other than that the monitor works flawless.
Great picture for the price.
Great picture for the price.
User Rating: 
2/10
Best Picture on the market hands down ...If it works.
Pros: Great picture for your home entertainment system
Cons: Too technically difficult to diagnose any problems for most TV repair shops
Review: I too have had numerous problems.
Out the box on the wall it worked great for about a month. Then it shutdown! Blinking red indicator light was all I had to look at. Two power supply boards have been changed out and still not working properly. I get about 20mins of viewing time before it shuts itself down. I have to power down the unit and wait.... Then I get another 20mins. FUN! Its back in the shop where it lives. A REAL DISAPPOINMENT on what is supposed to be the best 50" plasma on the market. For those who get it to work, use a HDMI board w/ the plasma to get your best picture.
Out the box on the wall it worked great for about a month. Then it shutdown! Blinking red indicator light was all I had to look at. Two power supply boards have been changed out and still not working properly. I get about 20mins of viewing time before it shuts itself down. I have to power down the unit and wait.... Then I get another 20mins. FUN! Its back in the shop where it lives. A REAL DISAPPOINMENT on what is supposed to be the best 50" plasma on the market. For those who get it to work, use a HDMI board w/ the plasma to get your best picture.
Updated
Got my mine back the Friday before the super bowl and what to report that is has been kicking butt since! A great plasma monitor that you must have for your entertainment home theater system!
Has anyone else watched hours and hours of DiscoveryHD?
Got my mine back the Friday before the super bowl and what to report that is has been kicking butt since! A great plasma monitor that you must have for your entertainment home theater system!
Has anyone else watched hours and hours of DiscoveryHD?
Updated
Got my mine back the Friday before the super bowl and what to report that is has been kicking butt since! A great plasma monitor that you must have for your entertainment home theater system!
Has anyone else watched hours and hours of DiscoveryHD?
Got my mine back the Friday before the super bowl and what to report that is has been kicking butt since! A great plasma monitor that you must have for your entertainment home theater system!
Has anyone else watched hours and hours of DiscoveryHD?
User Rating: 9/10
It's All About The Picture Quality!
Pros: Picture Quality Second To None / Blacks are BLACK!
Cons: HDMI Input Would Have Been Nice
Review: Let me start by saying I began seriously looking at HD displays 3 years ago knowing that I would take whatever time necessary to make an informed decision on the competing technologies BEFORE I made a decision. Additionally, I recognized that prices would most likely fall dramatically during that time so I hoped to benefit in that respect as well by waiting.
Man, am I glad I took this approach in my selection quest! When I began my research, I naturally started like many do...stopping by the home theater departments in all the larger mass market retail stores trying to get a sense of picture quality comparison. And, this was a good first step...but ultimately was inconclusive. I did learn that asking "informed" sales staff was less than informative as welll. Most didn't know as much as I did and really didn't care.
So, I began in earnest to research the Internet, Consumer Reviews, home theater magazine articles...anything I could get my hands on to become more enlightened about the technology differences between Plasma and LCD since I knew one of the two would be the most logical fit given budget and viewing room size.
Man, am I glad I took this approach in my selection quest! When I began my research, I naturally started like many do...stopping by the home theater departments in all the larger mass market retail stores trying to get a sense of picture quality comparison. And, this was a good first step...but ultimately was inconclusive. I did learn that asking "informed" sales staff was less than informative as welll. Most didn't know as much as I did and really didn't care.
So, I began in earnest to research the Internet, Consumer Reviews, home theater magazine articles...anything I could get my hands on to become more enlightened about the technology differences between Plasma and LCD since I knew one of the two would be the most logical fit given budget and viewing room size.
Updated
But, my foremost driving selection criteria was centered around one element...PICTURE QUALITY...regardless of price differential, which would include brighness and viewing angle. It's always been about the brightness and quality of the picture for me, and this unit delivers a better picture than ANY other display I viewed in the past 3 years regardless of price.
Though the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK was not even available when I began my research, but it's predecessor, the TH-50PHD5UY was. The best price I could find 3 years ago was around $5500, so waiting for the 8UK (which has even better picture quality) was a real plus given the price I paid was less than half that amount! I'd also like to add that I can't recommend a better online store for service and price than rapidplasma.com, which is where I purchased my 8UK. These guys know their stuff and are extremely professional and helpful, not to mention having the best price and lowest shipping cost on the Internet.
Remember, the 8UK is a "no-frills" commercial model display, so that IS the reason it doesn't come with all the extra inputs, speakers, stand, etc. that you get with its consumer model cousins, the TH-50PX50U and TH-50PX500U. But, the display itself is the same as consumer version models. And if you won't use the speakers or tuner, why pay for them? I'll soon add the HDMI board to my 8UK as I upgrade my DVD player, so yes, it would have been nice to have had this already included.
So, yes, you'll have to purchase extras...either a wall mount or pedestal stand. And yes, you'll have to buy BNC to RCA adapters for your component video cable. And yes, you'll have to purchase good quality component cables. Skimp here if you want, but I bought the best cables available from Monster. Did I mention it's all about the picture quality? I viewed many a display over the past 3 years with "noisy" signals due to crappy cables or poor connectors.
Once I had my display set up, I arranged my appointment with Comcast to install HD Digital Cable service. Once hooked up, the installer and I stood back and "pulled the trigger". His reaction was..."WOW!" "I hook up a lot of plasmas, but this is awesome!" And, he was right...the 8UK looked better in my living room than any store in which I had viewed the same display. Now, three months later, I'm still amazed at the depth of textures and colors...especially blacks (which can be a bit dull or grey on other models I've seen). The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is the only TV I've ever owned (and I'm 53)that I didn't have to make a single tweak in color or any other picture adjustment. The picture is simply perfect as it comes "out of the box".
But, the real acid test was my wife. As a long term skeptic, she simply refused to believe there could be "that much difference" to justify paying "that much money for a TV". Her skepticism was not only quieted, but she has become a raving fan of our new plasma. My greatest rebate for all my research and waiting was hearing, "Honey, you were right!" Finally, I'm right about something. And, oh by the way...did I mention it's all about the picture?
Regardless of what you take from my opinions within this review, I hope you are ultimately as pleased with your decision and purchase as I have been with mine.
But, my foremost driving selection criteria was centered around one element...PICTURE QUALITY...regardless of price differential, which would include brighness and viewing angle. It's always been about the brightness and quality of the picture for me, and this unit delivers a better picture than ANY other display I viewed in the past 3 years regardless of price.
Though the Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK was not even available when I began my research, but it's predecessor, the TH-50PHD5UY was. The best price I could find 3 years ago was around $5500, so waiting for the 8UK (which has even better picture quality) was a real plus given the price I paid was less than half that amount! I'd also like to add that I can't recommend a better online store for service and price than rapidplasma.com, which is where I purchased my 8UK. These guys know their stuff and are extremely professional and helpful, not to mention having the best price and lowest shipping cost on the Internet.
Remember, the 8UK is a "no-frills" commercial model display, so that IS the reason it doesn't come with all the extra inputs, speakers, stand, etc. that you get with its consumer model cousins, the TH-50PX50U and TH-50PX500U. But, the display itself is the same as consumer version models. And if you won't use the speakers or tuner, why pay for them? I'll soon add the HDMI board to my 8UK as I upgrade my DVD player, so yes, it would have been nice to have had this already included.
So, yes, you'll have to purchase extras...either a wall mount or pedestal stand. And yes, you'll have to buy BNC to RCA adapters for your component video cable. And yes, you'll have to purchase good quality component cables. Skimp here if you want, but I bought the best cables available from Monster. Did I mention it's all about the picture quality? I viewed many a display over the past 3 years with "noisy" signals due to crappy cables or poor connectors.
Once I had my display set up, I arranged my appointment with Comcast to install HD Digital Cable service. Once hooked up, the installer and I stood back and "pulled the trigger". His reaction was..."WOW!" "I hook up a lot of plasmas, but this is awesome!" And, he was right...the 8UK looked better in my living room than any store in which I had viewed the same display. Now, three months later, I'm still amazed at the depth of textures and colors...especially blacks (which can be a bit dull or grey on other models I've seen). The Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK is the only TV I've ever owned (and I'm 53)that I didn't have to make a single tweak in color or any other picture adjustment. The picture is simply perfect as it comes "out of the box".
But, the real acid test was my wife. As a long term skeptic, she simply refused to believe there could be "that much difference" to justify paying "that much money for a TV". Her skepticism was not only quieted, but she has become a raving fan of our new plasma. My greatest rebate for all my research and waiting was hearing, "Honey, you were right!" Finally, I'm right about something. And, oh by the way...did I mention it's all about the picture?
Regardless of what you take from my opinions within this review, I hope you are ultimately as pleased with your decision and purchase as I have been with mine.
User Rating: 10/10
Work Great with HTPC. A Must for HTPC
Pros: Easy to Use, Excellent PQ. Noiseless. Simple, Slim and Clean design.
Cons: Heavy Mass! 110lb feels like 200lbs. Wall Hanger Beware
Review: I got mine last week from Visual Apex below 3K. Manufactured in Nov 2005. Crubside delivery to me in durable and heavy duty double box cartons. DHL driver help me to move into garage. Open it the next day and everythings are sealed tight and intact. One more commendation on Visual Apex. They even throw in 4 pcs of BNC to RCA connectors for this model so you would not have to worry. Rate 10 for buying experience.
Next, this Panny is too heavy even for 2 people to carry around. I and my wife exhausted after moving it to 2nd floor. I guess the mass is so much for such a compact design causing this, but still OK to handle it. This is the only negative that I found. Be sure to have enough blanket to cover or let it lay flat on the floor when handling it.
Now, the best parts of this Panny is functionality and PQ. I expected it would be a struggle to have it work right at the frist startup. To my surprise, it works right out the box instantly. I use HTPC on VGA input and DishNetwork STB on component input. All fire up instantly and this Panny does an excellent job on automatic adjustment for different inputs. I do not even have to do any picture positioning. My HTPC use ATI AIW 9600XT and I just pick 1280 x 768 @ 85Hz and it was scaled rightly on the display crisp and clear. It even scale many games automatically in full wide screen like KOTOR. Some does not though but a simple flip of aspect ration makes it no problem.
Many says plasma display is not for HTPC because of burn in issue. Now I do not seems to worry about it any more. I does dial not contrast, brightness, and sharpness below 50%. This Panny still display as bright and as sharp to be usable. The screen wabble feature also help reducing burn in and is not annoying. I did not changed my usual viewing habbit, and watch a few DVD movies in 2.34:1 format with top and bottom black bar. My HTPC has 3D Aquarium 3D and 3Deepspace screensaver runing fullscreen at 10mins idle. I notice no screen retention, no after image of any sort after 1 week of regualr use. Though I would try to view all materials in full screen or gray bar, but I do not even bothers to use every burn in preventions in Panny menu.
PQ is absolute amazing. Color is almost perfect right out of the box even without 3/2 pulldown. As i have said before, euqipped with 3D screensaver with HTPC not only last the display but also give my living room a stunning gallery. Screen refresh is also excellent and never cause delay to AIW but instead speed up the whole HTPC operation quite a bit.
Another postive about this Panny is absolute quietness. No fan and surprisingly minimum heat front and back.
Aesthtically this Panny is also a beauty. No switch or plug in the front expcet a LED and a logo and a brand gives me a non-intrusive feel yet subtle frame for picture display. As a strong supporter of HTPC, I would never recommend display with useless speakers. Save the crap and get yourself a 6.1 or 7.1 high end THX HTiB.
Talking of interfaces. Yes it does not have HDMI, but if you use progressive DVD drive in HTPC, you do not need HDMI. VGA in is not that much inferior to all digitals. In fact, any lost during AD/DA conversion is not as much impact to real use. But rememeber this Panny is interfaces swappable and expandable. So it can accomondate future better than most others on the market. Even component is still usable today for 720p. Unless everythings is 1080p and all digital, this Panny can still do remarkable HD job for you.
If you do not want to hang this on the wall as in my case. The STK08 stand will cost you extra $200 about and 30 lbs more. It looks good in person than in picture, and is all metal contruction, plus it hide those wires in the back pretty well.
Last I would recommend is research, research, and research. Goto and look up every discussions at www.avsforum.com if you worry about problem down the road. AFAIK, this 8th Gen Panny plasma does not have quality issue unless it is a lemon. If you want a reasonable TV table stand for this beauty, I recommend Stormark brand at IKEA under $60. Why pay $200-300 worth for made in China at may places?
Next, this Panny is too heavy even for 2 people to carry around. I and my wife exhausted after moving it to 2nd floor. I guess the mass is so much for such a compact design causing this, but still OK to handle it. This is the only negative that I found. Be sure to have enough blanket to cover or let it lay flat on the floor when handling it.
Now, the best parts of this Panny is functionality and PQ. I expected it would be a struggle to have it work right at the frist startup. To my surprise, it works right out the box instantly. I use HTPC on VGA input and DishNetwork STB on component input. All fire up instantly and this Panny does an excellent job on automatic adjustment for different inputs. I do not even have to do any picture positioning. My HTPC use ATI AIW 9600XT and I just pick 1280 x 768 @ 85Hz and it was scaled rightly on the display crisp and clear. It even scale many games automatically in full wide screen like KOTOR. Some does not though but a simple flip of aspect ration makes it no problem.
Many says plasma display is not for HTPC because of burn in issue. Now I do not seems to worry about it any more. I does dial not contrast, brightness, and sharpness below 50%. This Panny still display as bright and as sharp to be usable. The screen wabble feature also help reducing burn in and is not annoying. I did not changed my usual viewing habbit, and watch a few DVD movies in 2.34:1 format with top and bottom black bar. My HTPC has 3D Aquarium 3D and 3Deepspace screensaver runing fullscreen at 10mins idle. I notice no screen retention, no after image of any sort after 1 week of regualr use. Though I would try to view all materials in full screen or gray bar, but I do not even bothers to use every burn in preventions in Panny menu.
PQ is absolute amazing. Color is almost perfect right out of the box even without 3/2 pulldown. As i have said before, euqipped with 3D screensaver with HTPC not only last the display but also give my living room a stunning gallery. Screen refresh is also excellent and never cause delay to AIW but instead speed up the whole HTPC operation quite a bit.
Another postive about this Panny is absolute quietness. No fan and surprisingly minimum heat front and back.
Aesthtically this Panny is also a beauty. No switch or plug in the front expcet a LED and a logo and a brand gives me a non-intrusive feel yet subtle frame for picture display. As a strong supporter of HTPC, I would never recommend display with useless speakers. Save the crap and get yourself a 6.1 or 7.1 high end THX HTiB.
Talking of interfaces. Yes it does not have HDMI, but if you use progressive DVD drive in HTPC, you do not need HDMI. VGA in is not that much inferior to all digitals. In fact, any lost during AD/DA conversion is not as much impact to real use. But rememeber this Panny is interfaces swappable and expandable. So it can accomondate future better than most others on the market. Even component is still usable today for 720p. Unless everythings is 1080p and all digital, this Panny can still do remarkable HD job for you.
If you do not want to hang this on the wall as in my case. The STK08 stand will cost you extra $200 about and 30 lbs more. It looks good in person than in picture, and is all metal contruction, plus it hide those wires in the back pretty well.
Last I would recommend is research, research, and research. Goto and look up every discussions at www.avsforum.com if you worry about problem down the road. AFAIK, this 8th Gen Panny plasma does not have quality issue unless it is a lemon. If you want a reasonable TV table stand for this beauty, I recommend Stormark brand at IKEA under $60. Why pay $200-300 worth for made in China at may places?
User Rating: 
1/10
Would be great if it worked.
Pros: Supposed image quality.
Cons: Thousands of people like me dealing with shut down issues.
Review: Turned it on yesterday for the first time. It played for about a half an hour then screen went black and power light started blinking. Checked web forums and learned that this happens to MANY MANY PEOPLE. Spent thousands of dollars and IT DOES NOT WORK. Beware Panasonic. It breaks your heart and wallet. Google away on the subject. I'm not alone.
User Rating: 9/10
This was my panel of choice after 2 months of careful looking
Pros: Incredible picture, great response when calling tech support, quiet, bright against sunlight, great at drastic viewing angles, great looks, prices coming into reach for us all!
Cons: Have to buy seperate HDMI card, bezel and dead zone make up 2" unviewable area around the picture (only a problem if using multiple screens together), Was out of stock when I ordered
Review: I received this TV almost a couple months ago, so you are reading from someone who's lived with the unit for a while. I bought the TV online, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. It arrived via freight box truck double boxed. The guy from the trucking company was really cool about helping me get the box into the house. They don't have to do that. He said he's been delivering a lot of 50" panels lately (Nov 05)
I looked at a lot of Panels, and a lot of other technologies before I spent my hard earned cash on a new TV. The TH-50PHD8UK is what I decided on in the end, and I am glad I did it.
I absolutely LOVE it. This puppy makes it look like I'm looking through a window when I watch Discovery HD. I have run it with several different inputs. First with the S-Video (onboard) second with the Component video (onboard) and then I bought the $150 TY-FB7HM card for HDMI. Note? the card is for the 7UY (last years model). I called Panasonic to ask about this as there are a couple sites selling the TY-FB7HM (HDMI) board saying it is only for the 7UY model. It is, in fact compatible with the 8UK. Panasonic says they will have a new HDMI board in the future? but this one works fine for me. The Picture next to picture feature was nice to compare how the different inputs looked. There was a HUGE difference going from S-video to Component video. The black levels go from dark grey to black very noticably, and the contrast is much more defined and precise in the Component signal. The different from Component to HDMI wasn't quite as noticable, and I have very good vision. I think most people won't be able to tell much difference? even though the manual says you go up to 4000:1 contrast ratio when you hook in the HDMI board. At first when I hooked up the HDMI board to my DSS Hi Def reciever, I could only see Hi Def broadcasts. I didn't have this problem with the Component or S-Video signals. I found that if I told the DSS reciever the display was not capeable of displaying 480p signals, everything worked fine.
I wall mounted this Monitor with a Universal tilt mount to the wall above the fireplace. I'm a pretty big guy, but after attempting to get it halfway there by myself, I decided to get my neighbor to give me a hand. This thing is 100lbs, and you aren't supposed to touch the screen when you are lifting it due to the antireflective coating that Panasonic uses. There are lag bolts that go into the studs, and it feels very secure. I like having it tilted a bit. Also I noticed when lifting the handles at the top back of the monitor didn't feel sturdy enough to pick the unit up by alone. I felt them give a bit and quickly decided to try and get some bottom support to the panel. It just doesn't really work that well trying to lift this by yourself. Note that hiding the cables and power cord is something you really don't think about until you have the thing on the wall and they stick out like a sore thumb. I was quite pleased that Panasonic aims all connections down and gives you enough room to bend them all into a straight bundle before they become visible. This made hiding the cables quite a bit easier than I first thought.
Care must be taken in setting up the streach modes if your reciever also converts the signals to streach. The TV and DSS reciever did some battle for the signal a couple times.
I run the sound through a Marantz reciever in surround sound, so I don't need the TV to have sound. Having a high resolution audio system and this monitor really makes for a sensory feast. This Monitor is just great.
As a word of caution, I had heard a couple of salesmen say the 8UK was supposed to have only a 1/4 inch bezel around the perimeter of the screen. There is, in fact, a 1 and 1/8th inch framing bezel, as well as a 7/8inch dead zone perimeter around the screen.adding up to a grand total 2 inches of non viewable area around the screen. If you plan to use these in a multiscreen setup as some sports bars do... you will have 4 dead non viewing inches between screens. That seems like a lot. The diagonal viewing area of the screen is more like 49 inches rather than the touted 50 inches. That is one of only 2 criticisms I have for this unit. The other is that I feel Panasonic could have put the HDMI input onboard and made a card for the S- video instead of the other way around. All that said, and I still love this TV.
I looked at a lot of Panels, and a lot of other technologies before I spent my hard earned cash on a new TV. The TH-50PHD8UK is what I decided on in the end, and I am glad I did it.
I absolutely LOVE it. This puppy makes it look like I'm looking through a window when I watch Discovery HD. I have run it with several different inputs. First with the S-Video (onboard) second with the Component video (onboard) and then I bought the $150 TY-FB7HM card for HDMI. Note? the card is for the 7UY (last years model). I called Panasonic to ask about this as there are a couple sites selling the TY-FB7HM (HDMI) board saying it is only for the 7UY model. It is, in fact compatible with the 8UK. Panasonic says they will have a new HDMI board in the future? but this one works fine for me. The Picture next to picture feature was nice to compare how the different inputs looked. There was a HUGE difference going from S-video to Component video. The black levels go from dark grey to black very noticably, and the contrast is much more defined and precise in the Component signal. The different from Component to HDMI wasn't quite as noticable, and I have very good vision. I think most people won't be able to tell much difference? even though the manual says you go up to 4000:1 contrast ratio when you hook in the HDMI board. At first when I hooked up the HDMI board to my DSS Hi Def reciever, I could only see Hi Def broadcasts. I didn't have this problem with the Component or S-Video signals. I found that if I told the DSS reciever the display was not capeable of displaying 480p signals, everything worked fine.
I wall mounted this Monitor with a Universal tilt mount to the wall above the fireplace. I'm a pretty big guy, but after attempting to get it halfway there by myself, I decided to get my neighbor to give me a hand. This thing is 100lbs, and you aren't supposed to touch the screen when you are lifting it due to the antireflective coating that Panasonic uses. There are lag bolts that go into the studs, and it feels very secure. I like having it tilted a bit. Also I noticed when lifting the handles at the top back of the monitor didn't feel sturdy enough to pick the unit up by alone. I felt them give a bit and quickly decided to try and get some bottom support to the panel. It just doesn't really work that well trying to lift this by yourself. Note that hiding the cables and power cord is something you really don't think about until you have the thing on the wall and they stick out like a sore thumb. I was quite pleased that Panasonic aims all connections down and gives you enough room to bend them all into a straight bundle before they become visible. This made hiding the cables quite a bit easier than I first thought.
Care must be taken in setting up the streach modes if your reciever also converts the signals to streach. The TV and DSS reciever did some battle for the signal a couple times.
I run the sound through a Marantz reciever in surround sound, so I don't need the TV to have sound. Having a high resolution audio system and this monitor really makes for a sensory feast. This Monitor is just great.
As a word of caution, I had heard a couple of salesmen say the 8UK was supposed to have only a 1/4 inch bezel around the perimeter of the screen. There is, in fact, a 1 and 1/8th inch framing bezel, as well as a 7/8inch dead zone perimeter around the screen.adding up to a grand total 2 inches of non viewable area around the screen. If you plan to use these in a multiscreen setup as some sports bars do... you will have 4 dead non viewing inches between screens. That seems like a lot. The diagonal viewing area of the screen is more like 49 inches rather than the touted 50 inches. That is one of only 2 criticisms I have for this unit. The other is that I feel Panasonic could have put the HDMI input onboard and made a card for the S- video instead of the other way around. All that said, and I still love this TV.
Updated
I have now had this unit for 6 months, and I love it more than I did when I first wrote the review. My only added cry is the local channels in "hi def" won't streach then they broadcast the news, and those side bars bother me. Other than that, this unit is rock solid. I 100% believe I bought the right panel! I built a wood frame out of cedar for it, and it really looks classy above the mantle. Everybody loves it!
I have now had this unit for 6 months, and I love it more than I did when I first wrote the review. My only added cry is the local channels in "hi def" won't streach then they broadcast the news, and those side bars bother me. Other than that, this unit is rock solid. I 100% believe I bought the right panel! I built a wood frame out of cedar for it, and it really looks classy above the mantle. Everybody loves it!
User Rating: 9/10
Best plasma I've ever seen
Pros: Picture, clean lines
Cons: Need to buy a stand, HDMI blade
Review: I looked everwhere for this plasma at my local big box and "mom and Pop" appliance retail stores but being an "industrial" model it was not to be had. Ultimately I bought it online at VisualApex and found that buying it a very nice experience. Make the effort to get this monitor because it is truly the best of many I've seen. A stunning picture with great clarity and brightness. Set up was easy although it does weigh a ton. I'm not sure why Panasonic gives it's best to the "industrial" rather than "consumer" side but this is the way to go if you don't need al the extras such a a tuner or speakers (although the latter can be added). Don't let the brick and morter stores scare you away from this monitor becasue it's "industrial", it's the best out there in a 50" display and I've seen many.
User Rating: 10/10
Better than I thought.
Pros: Great Picture, Minimalist design, Great bang for the Buck
Cons: Not as many inputs as consumer model.. can't just"run out and get it"
Review: The cons listed above should be taken into perspective, as they can easily be avoided by buying the consumer model. For this reason I give it a 10.. it's not fair to give it a point off (9/10) becuase it's missing options that are only missing because I wanted to save money and didn't need them. Sure they could add speakers and a HDTV tuner.. but they already make that version, it's the consumer model.
This TV exceeded every expecatation that I had. Paying around 3K for this was difficult considering that the 1st time I even saw this set was when "mine" arrived.
That being said I am glad that I listened to the numerous recomendations that this set recieved on the various A/V sites. The picture is fantastic out of the box, even better once you get it set up. You'll need BNC-RCA adapters (radio shack about $20 for 3 gold connectors) or one of the available DVI or HDMI cards.
For someone like me (who has a home theater and a HDTV STB) this is a great way to get the ultimate in picture performance (under 5K anyway) without paying for speakers / HD tuner that would be redundant in my setup.
The minimalist design is exactly what I was looking for, I didn't want all that cheap looking sliver plastic that seems to infect most "consumer" displays. I like that it looks like the serious piece of AV equipement that it is, not like a clone of the companies' DLP and LCD projection sets.
It took me a few weeks to get, but it was worth the wait.
If you have "The Jones" and need an HDTV that you can buy today and use tonight with minimal set up, this may not be for you.
On the other hand, if you take a purchase of this size very seriously and don't mind a minimum of inconvience (ordering online, buying a mount ect..) this is the best bang for the buck out there.
The picture is 110% amazing.
A+
This TV exceeded every expecatation that I had. Paying around 3K for this was difficult considering that the 1st time I even saw this set was when "mine" arrived.
That being said I am glad that I listened to the numerous recomendations that this set recieved on the various A/V sites. The picture is fantastic out of the box, even better once you get it set up. You'll need BNC-RCA adapters (radio shack about $20 for 3 gold connectors) or one of the available DVI or HDMI cards.
For someone like me (who has a home theater and a HDTV STB) this is a great way to get the ultimate in picture performance (under 5K anyway) without paying for speakers / HD tuner that would be redundant in my setup.
The minimalist design is exactly what I was looking for, I didn't want all that cheap looking sliver plastic that seems to infect most "consumer" displays. I like that it looks like the serious piece of AV equipement that it is, not like a clone of the companies' DLP and LCD projection sets.
It took me a few weeks to get, but it was worth the wait.
If you have "The Jones" and need an HDTV that you can buy today and use tonight with minimal set up, this may not be for you.
On the other hand, if you take a purchase of this size very seriously and don't mind a minimum of inconvience (ordering online, buying a mount ect..) this is the best bang for the buck out there.
The picture is 110% amazing.
A+
User Rating: 9/10
Best Picture Out There
Pros: HD looks stunning, slim profile great for hanging on a wall
Cons: Vertical bars are grey when watching in 4:3 mode
Review: After reading tons of reviews & visiting the local stores about 20 times, I finally decided to purchase this TV site unseen. My main concern about Panasonic was the way the consumer model rendered green colors- it looked very artificial to me in the store.
The picture on this industrial model really is better! Skin tones look natural, all colors seem very accurate right out of the box. The only TV that came close in my opinion was a 50" Pioneer Elite model for $6k. But this picture is better!
My only complaint is that in "normal" mode (4:3 aspect ration) the vertical bars are grey. I would prefer them to be black, but it's definitely a minor complaint.
The picture on this industrial model really is better! Skin tones look natural, all colors seem very accurate right out of the box. The only TV that came close in my opinion was a 50" Pioneer Elite model for $6k. But this picture is better!
My only complaint is that in "normal" mode (4:3 aspect ration) the vertical bars are grey. I would prefer them to be black, but it's definitely a minor complaint.
User Rating: 10/10
Smallest overal size for a 50" picture. No unnecessary borders.
Pros: Most versatile in terms of being able to add any input. I added HDMI with a $125 plug in module.
Cons: I don't have any place to put a second one.
Review: I have a cable TV tuner, and a surround sound system with speakers, and I wanted the smallest footprint on the wall, and this was perfect. One of the best pictures available, plus it's more "tunable" than the consumer models. For the right situation this is a bargin.
User Rating: 9/10
Just the right size
Pros: Picture quality great for the price
Cons: Need to buy HDMI module, and or speakers
Review: Just about the best price per image quality on a 50" screen that you can find. Nice black frame, Easy setup. Quiet operation.
User Rating: 9/10
Best Plasma For The Price
Pros: Outstanding Picture
Cons: Extras start to add up
Review: I recently purchased this plasma a couple of weeks ago for about $2999 @ plasmatv4less.com (great service). I picked it up myself so I can't review their shipping. I also bought a universal tilting wall mount from them for about $90, which worked perfectly. Mounting took about 15-20 mins, most of the time was just in putting the 4 huge screws in the studs. I would definitely recommend two people for attaching the plasma to the mount.
Right out of the box the color settings and contrast were a bit off, but after some minor tweaks the picture was amazing. The HD channels looked so good on here that I didn't want to leave the room. I also found that regular digital cable channels didn't look as bad as they do on other models. DVDs also look amazing, but HD is where this puppy shines. Football in HD on this thing just pops. You could see so much detail that I saw blades of grass through the small holes of a referee's jersey. I bought an extra "blade" with an HDMI input which I have running to my cable box. Installation of these blades is a cinch. They have a lot of cool things like a wireless presentation blade that let's you stream 4 separate pcs to the monitor.
I got a 15 foot HDMI cable from cablesforless.com for 17 bux which has worked like a charm. Don't get suckered into one of those $130 monster cables, definitely not worth it.
Overall this was a great decision. Why pay extra for crap speakers, worhtless tuner card, and inputs that you may/may not need. This plasma is da BOMB. Do expect to spend about an extra $3-400 for extra blade/mound/cables.
Right out of the box the color settings and contrast were a bit off, but after some minor tweaks the picture was amazing. The HD channels looked so good on here that I didn't want to leave the room. I also found that regular digital cable channels didn't look as bad as they do on other models. DVDs also look amazing, but HD is where this puppy shines. Football in HD on this thing just pops. You could see so much detail that I saw blades of grass through the small holes of a referee's jersey. I bought an extra "blade" with an HDMI input which I have running to my cable box. Installation of these blades is a cinch. They have a lot of cool things like a wireless presentation blade that let's you stream 4 separate pcs to the monitor.
I got a 15 foot HDMI cable from cablesforless.com for 17 bux which has worked like a charm. Don't get suckered into one of those $130 monster cables, definitely not worth it.
Overall this was a great decision. Why pay extra for crap speakers, worhtless tuner card, and inputs that you may/may not need. This plasma is da BOMB. Do expect to spend about an extra $3-400 for extra blade/mound/cables.
User Rating: 10/10
Best HDTV/Computer monitor on the market
Pros: 1. Best HDTV picture on the market 2. Wide viewing angles 3. Connectivity options 4. Mounting options 4. Panasonic reliability 5. PIP with any combination of inputs
Cons: 1. 60 inch version expensive 2. No HDTV tuner
Review: This HDTV is by far the best available. The picture is outstanding right out of the box but can also be easily modified for each input as well. Researched many of the new 1080p projection TV?s and they just don?t compare to this plasma. HDTV and 3D computer games look stunning from any angle!!
Need to remember to purchase a mounting option and any additional connectivity cards such as HDMI or DVI. Includes Component/S-Video/Composite and PC input cards. Could not be happier w/ my purchase!
Need to remember to purchase a mounting option and any additional connectivity cards such as HDMI or DVI. Includes Component/S-Video/Composite and PC input cards. Could not be happier w/ my purchase!
Updated
The black level performance of this TV is outstanding. Grey levels also look great.
To really see what this TV can do make sure to use a good HDTV source such as cable, OTA or a HTPC. This TV really shows the why cable and OTA HDTV signals are superior to satellite.
The black level performance of this TV is outstanding. Grey levels also look great.
To really see what this TV can do make sure to use a good HDTV source such as cable, OTA or a HTPC. This TV really shows the why cable and OTA HDTV signals are superior to satellite.
User Rating: 9/10
Top of the line
Pros: unmatched picture quality
Cons: no hdmi input
Review: I watched Prison Break in HD on this television and i could see every pore on the actors faces. I have never been more inside a video game since wolfenstein. I played Half Life 2 on this thing I had to put on the lights. This 8uk replaced the 7 series and it definatly does it justice. There isnt a better TV out there. I saw this TV at best buy for like $5500 and then went home and searched. I got it from rapidplasma.com for over 2 grand less and i got the extended arm wall mount and I havent been happier. If you go to that site ask for a guy named Joe he really helped me out. This is a PC gamer's/ sports fan/ movie buffs HEAVEN. To summerize this tv in one word: Astounding!
User Rating: 9/10
Best Picture! No extras :(
Pros: You can't beat the picture.
Cons: Extras add up!
Review: I put this monitor beside four other brands and could easily see the industrial model Panasonic had a clearer and more vivid picture. Very pleased. Be sure and have RCA to BNC adapters. You'll also need a sound system and may need to buy an HDMI board too. Stand is also extra. But picture is what counts and this monitor wins hands down.
