Product: Panasonic TH-50PZ77U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV
Manufacturer: Panasonic
MSRP: $2,799.95
Lowest Historical Price: $1599 [History]
Introduction
Buying a new television these days can be a tough job. There has been a definite shift from Plasma to LCD, with some manufacturers exiting the Plasma arena entirely. However, if you're looking for a TV above 42-inches, Plasma can still be a regret-free choice. Here we review one of Panasonic's latest entries into the large Plasma marketplace, the Panasonic TH-50PZ77U 50" 1080p HDTV.
Specs
50" Class (50.0" diagonal), 1080p 1920 x 1080 Full HD Resolution
1080p/1080i/720p/480p Compatible, Up to 10,000:1 Contrast Ratio
Integrated ATSC Tuner, SD Card Slot for Photos, EZ Sync HDAVI Control
Inputs: 2 HDMI, 2 Component, 3 S-Video, 3 Audio. 20W Stereo Speakers
Why Plasma?
Plasmas are generally known to be more capable of reproducing deep black levels that are a challenge for LCDs. The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U is no exception, as it has exceptional blacks that enhance the look of other deep, dark colors. [Wikipedia]
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Shiny Screens = Bad
One of the main concerns that we had while shopping for the television was that the TV should have a capable anti-glare filter, as there are windows in the back of the room. Few things are as annoying as having your viewing obscured by the reflection of your own gut. The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U sports an Anti Glare Filter that virtually eliminates reflections from the backlighting in the room. The screen itself has a somewhat matte texture, more akin to LCDs than to shiny glass Plasmas we've seen in the past.
Picture Quality
A full compliment of inputs, both HD and SD, allow you to hook up your home theater & entertainment devices to the TH-50PZ77U. Video delivered over HDMI was glorious at full 1080p 1920x1080 resolution, and upconverted videos were handled easily as well. While we usually avoid SD programming (something perhaps learned from our previous HDTV that didn't fare so well with SD signals), we were pleasantly surprised by how the TH-50PZ77U handled these low resolution signals. You can adjust the display mode to appropriately stretch the displayed image to eliminate letterbox bars, etc.
HDAVI Control
The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U also sports a nifty new initiative called HDAVI Control. Aside from being a scheme to get you to buy all compatible Panasonic products for your HT, it allows you to control your entire HDMI interconnected system with one button. Think of it as Harmony functionality natively integrated into the components. Like most users, we do not have the compatible equipment and so this feature went untested.
Form Factor
The TH-50PZ77U comes with a basic tabletop stand, but we opted to wall-mount the TV for a more integrated look. It weighs over 100 lbs (111.3 lbs according to Panasonic) so you're going to want to have at least two guys to move it around, or three if you plan to hoist it up for wall mounting. The display itself is about 4" deep so it does protrude from the wall quite a bit, especially if the wall mount you choose adds significant offset.
Conclusion
This TV happened to be an exceptional price ($1599) when we picked it up, and the regrets are really non-existent. When compared to the TV it replaced, the 3-year old Panasonic TH-50PHD6, the upgrade factor is immediately apparent. The blacks are deep, contributing to excellent contrast unseen in LCDs, the anti-glare filter greatly reduced reflections from the screen, and the black bezel gives it a contemporary, sleek look. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this set to anyone who is over their fear of Plasmas and is looking for a 50-incher with full 1080p capability.
Image Gallery
Compare Prices
Manufacturer: Panasonic
MSRP: $2,799.95
Lowest Historical Price: $1599 [History]
Introduction
Buying a new television these days can be a tough job. There has been a definite shift from Plasma to LCD, with some manufacturers exiting the Plasma arena entirely. However, if you're looking for a TV above 42-inches, Plasma can still be a regret-free choice. Here we review one of Panasonic's latest entries into the large Plasma marketplace, the Panasonic TH-50PZ77U 50" 1080p HDTV.
Specs
Why Plasma?
Plasmas are generally known to be more capable of reproducing deep black levels that are a challenge for LCDs. The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U is no exception, as it has exceptional blacks that enhance the look of other deep, dark colors. [Wikipedia]
    Â
Shiny Screens = Bad
One of the main concerns that we had while shopping for the television was that the TV should have a capable anti-glare filter, as there are windows in the back of the room. Few things are as annoying as having your viewing obscured by the reflection of your own gut. The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U sports an Anti Glare Filter that virtually eliminates reflections from the backlighting in the room. The screen itself has a somewhat matte texture, more akin to LCDs than to shiny glass Plasmas we've seen in the past.
Picture Quality
A full compliment of inputs, both HD and SD, allow you to hook up your home theater & entertainment devices to the TH-50PZ77U. Video delivered over HDMI was glorious at full 1080p 1920x1080 resolution, and upconverted videos were handled easily as well. While we usually avoid SD programming (something perhaps learned from our previous HDTV that didn't fare so well with SD signals), we were pleasantly surprised by how the TH-50PZ77U handled these low resolution signals. You can adjust the display mode to appropriately stretch the displayed image to eliminate letterbox bars, etc.
HDAVI Control
The Panasonic TH-50PZ77U also sports a nifty new initiative called HDAVI Control. Aside from being a scheme to get you to buy all compatible Panasonic products for your HT, it allows you to control your entire HDMI interconnected system with one button. Think of it as Harmony functionality natively integrated into the components. Like most users, we do not have the compatible equipment and so this feature went untested.
Form Factor
The TH-50PZ77U comes with a basic tabletop stand, but we opted to wall-mount the TV for a more integrated look. It weighs over 100 lbs (111.3 lbs according to Panasonic) so you're going to want to have at least two guys to move it around, or three if you plan to hoist it up for wall mounting. The display itself is about 4" deep so it does protrude from the wall quite a bit, especially if the wall mount you choose adds significant offset.
Conclusion
This TV happened to be an exceptional price ($1599) when we picked it up, and the regrets are really non-existent. When compared to the TV it replaced, the 3-year old Panasonic TH-50PHD6, the upgrade factor is immediately apparent. The blacks are deep, contributing to excellent contrast unseen in LCDs, the anti-glare filter greatly reduced reflections from the screen, and the black bezel gives it a contemporary, sleek look. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this set to anyone who is over their fear of Plasmas and is looking for a 50-incher with full 1080p capability.
Image Gallery
Compare Prices
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Ben, are these pictures from inside your house? Couldn't you get my mom to stand by the TV or something, to make the pics more interesting?
how much did panasonic pay you to do this, ben?
sell out...
Plasma is too expensive now.
Not bad. I really would like to see how well the anti-glare works.
whats with the cloudiness of the picture and the awful skin tones in your photos? I hope its not like that in person.
I have the 42" version of this TV and love it. Anti-glare works exceptionally well. I've a window that would create some pretty intense glare (as is evident in the gloss black frame around the matte screen), but on the screen itself, it's just sort of an evenly diffused lighter area. Quite nicely done.
if you are going to buy plasma, panasonic is one of the best choices. Pioneer is going to be better, but price will be a huge issue of course.
Way to expensive!!! Plasma is goign to way of the Dodo..
Looks like a track home with that pathetic paint color...Add some color to your life.
There is NOTHING "appropriate" about stretching 4:3 content or zooming 2.35:1 content.
OAR, damn it!
I have the 50" 720p version! Got it last month for $1300. For all you "it's got to be a 1080p" people out there, do some research. A 50" 720p screen viewed from 9' away will appear exactly the same as a 1080p screen, even when using 1080p content like Blu Ray. This is because the human eye can't resolve the resolution difference with 20/20 vision at that distance. Resolution is actually 4 or 5 down on the list of important things to focus on. 1. is contrast and so on. Look it up. Anyway, Pioneer and Panasonic make the best TVs /Plasmas on the market today! The anti glare thing helps a little, but it is glass just like a tube...LCD's look like a computer monitor to me...not TV!
Plasma is very pricy, and it may not last as long as LCD. I agree, hands-down plasma offer the best pictures, better than LCD.
SED> OLED > Plasma > LCD.
LCD is popular cause its cheap, not because its good.
We got the 42" version of this tv a couple months back. It's an amazing tv and i'd buy another one in a heartbeat.
#5, I was thinking the same thing. The PQ of the TV in the image gallery doesn't look good.
#11, sounds like someone has buyers remorse on not getting the 1080p.
Plasma is nice for sucking all the power from the electric grid, 2 to 3 times that of LCD. If you want a nice heater, that is what you'll get with the plasma power consumption. Also, tell us about plasma and gray scale?
Right now would be a good time to buy last year's 720p Panasonic plasma. The new models are just coming out now.
#7, If you want a Pioneer plasma, you better get one now , if you still can. Pioneer has already announced they are getting out of plasma and going to LCD. Pioneer plasmas are already hard to find.
#17, go hug a tree, and quit wasting energy.
I took it one step further and I live in a tree house in central park. I steal power from #19's house.