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- My rating: 0 stars
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19 out of 19 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Remarkable TV for a fantastic price."
Pros: First off the 480 Hz processor quadruples the competing power of the Sony XBR4 and Samsung 4071 LCDs and is 8x faster than the competing Pioneer plasma processors. The anti-glare technology diverts m
Cons: The biggest downfall by far is the 720p resolution; this becomes clear when compared to the competing 50? Pioneer KURO series (which retails for well over $3,000) or the 40? Sony XBR4 (retailing at sl
Summary: Let me start by saying I have worked for a major electronics retailer as a home theater specialist since late 2006 and have heard my fair share of promises from plasma venders trying to compete with the latest LCD technology, so when a Panasonic representative came to our store this evening talking about the 480 Hz processor in their new PX80U and PX85U televisions I was skeptical; however, the more he explained the technology the more it made since.
Regular televisions address an image 60 times per second. 120 Hz TVs, like the Sony XBR 4 and Samsung 4071, merge frame 1 and 2 together and just stick it in at 1½ in order to create its 120 FPS and stop the motion blur that plagues LCD?s. Panasonic takes a different approach, since motion blur isn?t the main concern (cleaning up the picture is) the new Panasonic lines use their faster processor to thoroughly scrutinize the image displayed on the screen 480 times per second. It does not merge frames like the LCD?s do so the image maintains its ?film like? quality.
Two of the biggest complaints we get with 120 Hz TVs are, when you hook them up to a Blue Ray player, people seem to be stuck in front of the background and special effects seem fake or forced. Since the Panasonic doesn?t attempt to change the native 24 fps the film is displayed in, the film maintains its ?movie? quality and special effects keep their wow factor intact.
Panasonic?s new glare-deflecting screens also work beautifully. When set side by side with a Pioneer 4270 there was a distinct difference between all the light reflected by the pioneer and the relatively glare free Panasonic PX80U. Another difference noticeable right away was how bright and colorful the Panasonic was when compared to both the Pioneer and the Sony XBR 2 it was sitting between. With its 15,000:1 native contrast ratio (1,000,000:1 dynamic) Panasonic has succeeded in making one of the most brilliant Plasma displays I have ever seen in this price range.
Panasonic has given me very little to say bad about the PX80U, the picture can appear slightly grainy on regular HD programming, and only being 720p is kind of a let down but if you want a 1080p the PX85U is to be released sometime in the near future with all the bells and whistles of the PX80U but with full 1080P
I would highly recommend this TV to anyone looking for a great Plasma, whether they are on a budget or not; if you?re really want the 1080P wait for the PX85U but if the 720P doesn?t bother you the $1199.99 price is something you just can?t turn down.
-Graviti
Where to buy
Panasonic Viera TH-42PX80U:
$1,300.00
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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