5 comments about Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. This review is coming from somebody who has owned every top-of-the line plasma/lcd HD TV in the past 6 years, including the LED backlit $14,000 Sony Qualia 005. I have owned the PDP-5020fd for exactly 1 week now, and I am in video heaven. I haven't done any major calibrations yet (want to wait at least 100hrs before doing that), but the out-of-the-box video quality is unbelievable. The black levels undoubtedly set a new bench mark, without sacrificing on overall picture quality in terms of contrast, brightness and color fidelity which are all outstanding. I thought my Qualia 005 was amazing, but this Pioneer is something else. I also compared the Pioneer against the latest Panasonic offerings, but there is just no competition. Worth every extra penny if you are a videophile - especially if you like watching movies in a pitch dark environment. You have to strain your eyes to see the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen - something that has always, always bugged my eyes all these years. The blu-ray playback via my PS3 is spectacular. I purchased my unit through beyondplasma.com for a shipped price of $3075



2. I could not be more satisfied with this television. Last year I bought a 42" Vizio LCD for gaming because it was the only 42" I could find under $1000. However, after upgrading my home theater audio with a new receiver/speakers and buying a PS3 to watch Blu-ray movies, I really discovered what a sour piece of hardware my screen was. When you've spent the cash for a new player and bought a bunch of your favorite movies in Blu-ray format, the last thing you want to see is unnatural looking skin tones, lack of detail in dark and bright scenes, and awful video processing and motion blur!
   
   I got fed up and decided to do my homework this time and prepare to spend what it takes to get a true quality display. I read several critical reviews and message boards which directed my attention to the Kuro line of Pioneer plasmas. I finally got a chance to see one at a local A/V store and absolutely fell in love. They had SportsCenter on in HD, doing an interview with Coach K from Duke, and the black backdrop was so dark and the colors so perfect that it looked like he was sitting across the room talking to us. A friend was with me and his reaction was "Super Bowl at your place!"
   
   No one can deny the black levels and contrast on this TV, and that's what makes watching it so great. If it's completely dark in the room, you can still tell that it's on, but when you've got a widescreen movie on and there are black bars on the top and bottom of the screen, you can barely make out where the screen stops and the bezel begins. Colors benefit from the depth and it creates a 3D image, and you don't miss anything because everything is so clear. This screen makes me want to watch all my Blu-rays over again because you really haven't watched high definition until you've watched it on a Pioneer.
   
   For anyone who is feeling gun-shy, just pull the trigger and don't look back. You will surely be satisfied!!



3. Not happy with Pioneer. Got my 5020FD from Amazon last Monday and the box came with no screws or wires to attach speaker to display! I don't blame Amazon they've done there part well. Called Pioneer customer service and was told that screws and wires are backordered and would be available after July 31st! From my conversation with Pioneer's rep I realized that they know about this problem but don't really care and ship anyway. This is unacceptable. Stay away at least till August.



4. Here is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....according to my observations and general tests. I ordered this Pioneer plasma tv from Amazon on July 16th and promplty received it via CEVA trucking on July 18th. As soon as the delivery guys opened up the packaging and, to my immediate delight, I noticed that this plasma set comes with the stand pre-installed. At this time, I do not have any intentions of putting this plasma set on the wall; for those of you who want to install it on the wall please keep this in mind as you will now have to take the plasma stand off - screws and all. The manual states that all PDP-5020 sets have the stand pre-installed.
   
   *This plasma set is replacing a Samsung 56 inch DLP**
   
   Let the fun times begin: After turning on this set, it was apparent that this Pioneer PDP-5020 is the real deal. The black level is so deep and dark that I was left speechless for quite a few minutes. I tuned in to Cinemax HD and watched The Heartbreak Kid for 10 minutes.....WOW,WOW,WOW! The colors (popped) and the deep contrast made for a spectacular viewing of this movie. Ben Stiller's black shirt was really pitch black and the views of the ocean looked so realistic I was beside myself. I switched between other HD satellite stations and was very pleased with the results.
   
   Next, I hooked up the PDP-5020 to my trusty Panasonic blu-ray BDMP-30 to check out some of my blu-ray movies. Since I was so impressed with the Satellite HD broadcasts, you can now imagine my excitement as I turned my attention to Blu-ray. I wanted to test out a few of the worst looking blu-rays I had: Tomb Raider (read the Amazon reviews), Stargate (the dark scenes), Black Hawk Down ( alot of film grain ), and Big Fish ( alot of film grain).
   
   Believe it or not, the Tomb Raider Blu ray looked fantastic on this plasma. There was hardly any film grain visible on this plasma set at all, as I only sit 8 feet away. I could not believe how good it looked - a solid 8 out of 10 for the blu-ray. The dark scenes in the movie Stargate were also excellent and it was easy to make out small details that were not present before (on my 56 DLP) - again hardly any film grain. My final tests were done on the Black Hawk Down BD, Big Fish BD and the dark, night scene on Rambo BD (2008).....
   Would you believe me if I told you that all 3 discs looked fantastic? Black Hawk and Big Fish showed no signs of film grain and the night scene in Rambo was so visible I could not believe my eyes. This is a true testament of how great Pioneer plasma screens are. I now have a hard time believing any negative blu ray reviews from the pros since most of them are not using Pioneer plasmas for their reviews.
   
   Xbox 360 and PS3 games all looked great on this screen. The deep colors and the deep black really make the games a pleasure to look at.
   
   In case you are wondering, I didn't do any type of calibration to this set. I truly believe that no adjustments need to be made to it. It looks that great out of the box. Again, the deep black contrast is the major selling point. The color of grass looks the way it does in your back yard, not the fluorescent green you see on other plasma tv's.
   
   Should you buy a Pioneer plasma set? Absolutely!!! I can guarantee that you will be 100% satisfied with its performance and aesthetic appearance.
   Don't be fooled by all the other competitor's displays at the brick and mortar stores.....this plasma set is well worth every penny you spend on it. You will thank me for it!
   
   **UPDATE 7/23/08** I contacted Pioneer Electronics today to ask about a future calibration and was informed that these non-Elite models are already calibrated by Pioneer techs prior to shipment from their facilities. So, there is no need to spend an additional $300+ on calibration services.



5. I just recently purchased the Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020 from Amazon and I couldn't have been happier. I ordered the TV on a Monday evening and I had the TV in my house on the Thursday of the same week. It was less than 72 hours from clicking the mouse to clicking the remote on the TV, which I find amazing. The TV was delivered by Eagle/CEVA and the delivery guys were very helpful in getting the TV into my 2nd floor bedroom.
   
   I chose the 5020 Kuro after an exhaustive search of what TV would be the best for my room. I read many websites and AV forums and found the only thing people could agree on is that the Pioneer Kuro's have the best black levels out there period. Sure the Kuro is a little more expensive than sets from Panasonic or Samsung but over the life span of the TV the difference in price is minimal. So I say go with the best and don't look back.

5 comments about Sharp Aquos LC37D64U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. Choosing a new TV is not an easy task. There are so many of them these days. This one jumped out at me mostly because it looks nice. From the aesthetics standpoint I zeroed in on this Sharp, and one of the Samsung models. What about the size? I wanted something larger than 32 inch, but due to space limitation 40 inch was already too big, so this is why I settled on 37.
   
   So how did I break the tie between Sharp and Samsung? Well, it's the reviews about the quality of speakers. Samsung supposedly had weak sound. I wasn't planning on setting up a bunch of speakers in my living room, so I wanted the TV to have adequate speakers. I have to say the sound is very nice, so I'm happy with my choice here.
   
   By the way, since the pictures on Amazon are not the greatest quality, I actually went to Best Buy to get a better idea of how the TVs look. I recommend that you do the same. But then make sure to buy the TV through Amazon, because it will be $300 cheaper. If you don't want the extra $300, then you can send it to me :).
   
   The picture quality is amazing. So far I've been only watching cable, but am really impressed with where technology has gone. The colors are vibrant, and the viewing angle is really as advertised. Initially I was afraid that LCD on a TV might be somewhat like LCD on a laptop, where a slight deviation in viewing angle makes the screen invisible. TV is completely different, and the video quality rocks.
   
   I'm not a gadget junkie, so I can't give you too much detail here, but the bottom line is that I'm happy with my choice so far, and I recommend that you get this TV.



2. We purchased this set for my dad for Father's Day. The set was delivered exactly on time by CEVA who brought it in, set it up, and moved the old one for us. When we set it up, we were impressed right away. Very easy set up using the auto feature. We connected to the DVR HD box via an HDMI cable, set the box up for this, and we were off and running.
   
   The picture both on standard and hi def were impressive. Probably one of the best looking standard pictures I have seen on an LCD. As my dad said when we went to hi def, "it looks like you could peel the picture right off the set". Overall he said it was one of the two best sets he has ever had (the first being their first set in the 50's...a 10" black and white!).
   
   This set is highly recommended. Great picture, good sound, easy menu's, and nice settings. So far no con's at all. A definite winner!



3. This TV excels where it counts most, the screen. Out of the box it looks pretty good and with a little adjusting it looks fantastic. It's a shame most stations are still broadcasting the majority of their programming in SD but I guess it's only a matter of time before that changes. I was worried most about dead or stuck pixels but the one I recieved had none, the color reproduction is excellent and the contrast is very good, though not the best in the LCD world. All in all I can't really find any faults with the picture quality. Similarly, I love the elegant design of the case and it's one of the slimmest TVs available. I did quite a bit of research before I bought this and it seemed to offer one of the best screens around for the price, plus I just liked how it looked.
   
   There are, however, some areas I think Sharp could have done a better job on. I do not like the included remote, it feels cheap, it's unnecessarily long and doesn't utilize space efficiently plus the buttons are small and stiff. It's also lacking the ability to easily enable/disable some features which are only available by going through the menu such as individual sound input selection for those of you planning to hook your PC up to it. The TV is also fairly slow at changing channels and the menu for customizing them is cumbersome and lacking compared to my Sony tv.
   
   There's also no picture in picture or HDMI port on the side from which I understand the earlier models had, why were these removed? So while most HDTVs have at least 3 or 4 HDMI ports, this one only has 2. It would also be nice if they changed the VGA DSUB to a DVI, I don't understand why this isn't common place nowadays with everything going digital and the drive for communication between devices.
   
   If not for those mostly minor issues I would have given it 5 stars. Now blu-ray prices just need to drop.



4. I've had the LC37D64U for almost a month now, and I am very pleased with the TV. The TV's relatively light weight makes it simple to move around when wiring things up. The picture looks good right out of the box, and after some tweaking using a couple of picture calibration DVDs, it looks even nicer (there are a lot of picture control settings if you want to dig in). I get HDTV channels over an antenna and the 1080i broadcasts look amazing if the broadcaster hasn't compressed them too much. I don't have Blu-Ray yet, but my DVD player upconverts to 1080p and makes the movies look terrific. My Xbox 360 games look better than ever. The best part about this TV is that it is the narrowest 37-inch LCD on the market, which means it can barely fit into my entertainment center with a whisker to spare. I was almost resigned to buying a 32-inch until I happily discovered this model just in time.
   
   I send all the audio to my 5.1 surround receiver, so I can't comment on the quality of the TV speakers.
   
   One important thing you should know if you are sending 1080p signals to this TV via the COMPONENT inputs: the screen would occasionaly 'black-out' briefly when playing some content on my Xbox 360. Scouring some user-groups, I discovered that I was not alone, but there is a fix. Check the version number of your firmware in the menu. Mine was S0804011 or something similar. Sharp has another version on its website (version S0801101) that you can easily download, put on a USB stick and update your TV. The manual explains how to do it. Once I updated, the problem was solved.
   
   There are a couple of very minor things that could make this TV a bit more friendly:
   1. You can set it so the title of the TV program you are watching appears when you change channels, but there is no way to check the title again unless you change channels again. Ideally, this should appear whenever you press the 'Display' button on the remote.
   2. Channel changing is a bit sluggish.
   3. You can only name inputs to the preset names they have chosen. Unfortunately, they didn't see fit to put 'Game 1, Game 2," etc. as presets, so my game systems just get 'Input 1' and 'Input 2.' A minor annoyance, but it would help the members of my family figure out which input is which.
   
   Overall, this is a very nice TV with a great picture. Just put in Pixar's 'The Incredibles' and you will know what I mean. I did a lot of research before buying this model, and I have no regrets. Amazon had a very competitive price when I bought this, and with free shipping and their excellent 'white-glove' delivery service, it was a no-brainer purchase.



5. EVER SINCE I HAVE THIS TV, WATCHING FILMS, LISTENING MUSIC HAS BECOME AN EXPERIENCE. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PRODUCT, IT TAKES 10 OVER 10 FROM ME.
   
   METIN

5 comments about Panasonic Viera TC-37LZ85 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. Ok well this is my first review of anything here so off we go.... I purchased this TV a few weeks back and could not be happier. This is the first HD TV I have ever purchased so I did a lot of reading up on what is hit and miss. Big Hit! For a smaller living room, which we have it is perfect. I am hooked up to Suddenlink HD cable, getting Direct TV soon, a Panasonic up convert DVD player and my PS3. Amazing picture and a great value as well. I was on the fence at first but I tore that fence down and this TV is here to stay. Very user friendly, 3 HDMI inputs make connection a snap. Audio is typical for a TV but I have mine running through an Onkyo home theater receiver, so the marks are pretty good. I was really surprised how well SD channels looked; you know the difference but they looked just as good, even better that my old tube set. Watched "Night at the Museum" on Blu-ray and it was like the picture was so lifelike all my wife kept saying was "WOW" and I would have to agree. Also comes with a "game mode" which I love for the PS3 and "Call of Duty 4". I would recommend this TV to anyone wanting a great TV for a great value.



2. After reading other comments I can confirm that people don't read carefully and gave poor reviews to this item not because they want to comment on the item itself but on the "misleading advertisement" according to them... If you look at the "More Buying Options" part, several sellers have their price below $1000 and only Amazon and other few are above $1000.
   For the people that gave poor reviews: READ FIRST!! This is the place to review about the quality of a product and experience with it, not to complain about something that is not even true...!!



3. Bought it from Amazon and got it via CEVA in 5 days (could have been shorter as it was shipped from a warehouse just 500 miles from where I live :) I almost bought the 32LZ800 for almost the same price but decided to get this due to the matte screen, I dont like the glossy screens. Also I got a Panasonic due to the IPS panel instead of the PVA variants from most other vendors. Look at all the sets at a 45 deg angle before you decide :)
   
   Razor sharp pictures through a PS3, SDTV is not bad (after reducing the sharpness etc), no VGA input, adequate sound (though could have been a little louder).
   
   The factory default settings are not great but it can be tuned to display pleasing results. For a 2008 TV, I am unhappy that there isnt a separate RGB control. Another bummer is the lack of a VGA input: my older laptop doesnt have DVI/HDMI. Every 32-37" LCD I have seen has this input and I didnt check this before ordering :( With a VGA port and the RGB controls, I would have given it 5 stars.
   
   Overall its a good purchase. If you need a no-frills panel, this is a good choice, given that it was the cheapest 37" TV from Amazon when I bought it.



4. I just received this set today, after weeks of web and in-store research. I had always thought that the Panasonic LCDs looked a bit better than the Sonys and Samsungs at the stores, and looked very much better off-axis (important in our room). Well, all I can say is they must not have had the set adjusted very well in the store.... it looks way better at home that it even did there!
   
   I actually chose this set not only for what I had seen in the store (a little better picture, but not by a lot as I saw it there) but because I had read some reports on the net that the Panasonic IPS-Alpha screens generally do better on standard and analog TV than most other types. We have a lot of old VHS (such as home movies) and wanted a good quality set on which these would still be watchable. I'd say the old tapes look as good on this set as on the old CRT set, other than the expected results of the screen just being so much larger showing the lack of detail. A nice surprise, even analog over the air TV is completely watchable, no gritty lines or obnoxious blurs. On a whim, I connected my laptop to the TC-37LZ85 via the S-Video connector and brought up some old B&W shows on [...]. The ancient B&W Alfred Hitchcock shows look better in this set, through the low-res internet link, than they EVER did on analog TV.
   
   We don't have a Blue-Ray player to see what the highest resolution video looks like, so I slipped in a SD-card with some high res (5MByte) photos on it. These are just drop-dead gorgeous. Couldn't stop watching the slide show, I had never seen these photos quite like this, wish I could print them as well as this screen shows them.
   The only negative of the set (so far, hey it's just the first day) is that in my research I neglected to notice that this model does NOT have a VGA connector for computer video, so I can't see my laptop screen in its full resolution. Maybe the TC-37LZ800 would have been a better choice (for another $[...]), but maybe not, I don't know how often I'd do that anyway. :)



5. July 2008 Consumer Report rated this one of the top LCD's. Price at around $1500. But I bought it from Amazon for under $1000 including shipping (it came in a couple days. It is so excellent! And no glare!! I can finally open my drapes again. Very clear picture and colors and this is without HDTV! I can't wait to try it with HDTV but even regular TV is a heck of a lot better. And it's wide screen and about a million times lighter than my old TV.

5 comments about Samsung HL67A750 67-Inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV.

1. It replaces a 55"CRT RP Mitsubishi that I purchased in March of 2002 with an extended warranty from Sears it started rolling and after 3 new boards and 4 efforts to repair it they offered me up to 2K toward any TV that Sears sells. So I went online and found the Samsung for $2499 so I called the repair center and said I wanted it they called me the next day and said it would cost me $375since Sears had reduced it to $2375 so I gave her my credit card number and Sears delivered it the next day. They brought it in and took out my old one it took me about two hours and it was up and running with the factory settings and looks fabulous. The only problem was I had to go out a buy a TV stand which ran another $300, when I found I could not get the box out of my car called my son and told him my problem, he said OH NO you bought a projection, you should have got a LCD, but he did come over and help his stupid father take the table upstairs and put it together. He then said lets take a look at what you bought, he could not believe his eyes, and he said that is much better than my 50" Toshiba Plasma set. So I have only had it for a day and have not looked at the manual, but I have not found one flaw so far. I only have a Comcast HD set top box; a TivoHD and DVD player hooked up to it but all 3 have great pictures.



2. My TV arrived several days ahead of the anticipated delivery date. Delivery truck had two people and they did an excellent job bringing the TV into the house, unpacking it and setting it on the stand and then making sure it powered up. They suggested that I keep the box just in case I needed to return the TV in the next few weeks.
   
   I am very pleased with this television. I had read on some web forums about people having issues with bowing or the display being tilted but mine is fine and doesn't show either of those issues. This is my first HD tv and I am replacing a 61" Philips projection TV that had served me well since 1999 so getting another projection TV was not anything that I was concerned about. You get a lot of screen for less money than plasma or LCD. The difference in picture quality between the two is like night and day. The new Samsung's hi-def pictures are amazing. I have standard definition satellite and even that looks better to me than on the older Philips tv. I do not have a Blu-ray player but did buy an upconverting DVD player to play my 100+ collection of DVD's and the picture looks so much better than playing them through a standard DVD player that I can only imagine how things will look when I finally get a Blu-ray player.
   Overall, I would give this TV 5-stars.



3. The HL67A750 is replacing a Sony KDP65WS550 that I've had for three years that had some burn in and recently developed problem of shutting itself down and not coming back on for at least 24 hours. Other than the burn in I thought it had an excellent picture. Was I ever wrong. After using Avia 2 to set up the video, the picture, especially fed from my Toshiba HD-A30 is simply superb. I've got twice the tv I had, for 1/3 less.
   
   And it was delivered 5 days sooner than Amazon said it would be!



4. This tv is really great. The HD picture is the best and brightest I've seen. You can't go wrong with the TV the prices at Amazon were much lower than any store in my area. We love this tv so much we also have the 61" and my son has the 50". The 67" tv fit on my bedroom dresser and is just right for watching tv in the bedroom. It wasen't too heavy to carry up the stairs. And Super easy to set up.



5. I bought the Samsung HL67A750 67-inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV a few weeks ago and it is absolutely fantastic. I came very close to buying a Sharp Aquos 52 in LCD TV which is a great TV in in its own right, but took one last look. I saw the Samsung HL67A750 67-inch and was impressed. But when I received it from Amazon and set it up and watched it. There was not doubt in my mind. This was the absolutely best decision for a TV that I have ever made. First of all the price was relatively super. It is fabulous. It is like sitting in a movie theatre... "REALLY." And the picture quality is magnificent.
   
   I then bought a new ONKYO SR705 Surround Receiver to replace my old SX636.
   
   The Samsung TV and the Onkyo Receiver are one great combination. WOW!

4 comments about Samsung LN37A450 37-Inch 720p LCD HDTV.

1. I bought this TV for my bedroom. It is my third Samsung, but my first LCD. The other two that I have are both plasmas, the HPT5064 and FPT5084. I think that this is a great TV if you only care about 720p (which is all you need in a bedroom.) If you are on a $1000 budget or this is a secondary TV, I can't think of why you need more than 720p right now. This will absolutely change in the future, of that I have no doubt.
   
   The TV comes in a great package - very clean lines, not a huge bezel, the Samsung piano-black finish that you either love or hate (I love). This TV doesn't have the flat touch buttons of the 5084, but that is a much higher-end TV I guess. The LCD panel is not as matte as some that I have seen. It outputs a great picture out of the box, with minimal tweaking (though I am sure that you can teak it to your heart's content).
   
   It is a relatively light TV at ~45 pounds, so can easily be carried upstairs by one person. Sound quality is surprisingly good for a flat panel, though that is a relative measurement. The speakers face down on the bottom of the TV. Picture quality is bright, excellent contrast ratio (almost as high as the plasmas). The TV doesn't have the glowing blue lights on the front that the other Samsung's I own have, guess that was just a fad. The design is definitely a cross between the somewhat clunky 5064 and the more elegant 5084.
   
   Standard def output is as good as you can expect, but in 2008 you can really spend 80% of your time watching HD content unless you have a few offbeat or retro shows that you like. I have this TV hooked up to a DirecTV H20 DVR and it works like a charm. I output the native mode signal and the TV handles 720p or 1080i in very well. I don't have an Xbox or PS3 on this TV, but I can guess that they would look great based on the overall performance I have seen so far.
   
   I have ordered a Peerless wall mount for the TV, apparently it is in the gray area between 32 and 40" TV's and it falls into the higher side of that range as far as what size mounting bracket you need. In other words, look in the manual of the TV and look at the detailed specs of the mounting bracket before you pull the trigger to make sure that they adhere to the same standard mounting bracket size.
   
   This is a great TV at a great price and I highly recommend it for those in the market for great mid-size HDTV who don't feel a compelling urge to get 1080p. If I have problems I will update them here.



2. THE PROCESS WAS EASIER THAN I EVER EXPECTED. THE PRICE WAS GREAT...THE SERVICE WAS GREAT...DELIVERY WAS GREAT...INSTALLERS WERE GREAT...WHAT NMORE CAN ONE ASK FOR!!!
   THANKS...AMAZON!!!



3. I got this tv about a month ago. It's by far without a doubt the best tv I have ever had. It has the greatest picture and sound quality for the best price. The only thing that I didn't like about the tv is that it is a bit complicated to hook up a home theater system. The directions don't match what you have to do. It's like a puzzle that you have to figure out. But other than that the tv is awesome. All of the features and picture quality are well worth it. The picture quality is so much better than Sony, Phillips, & Vizo! It's so clear you won't believe your eyes! Just get it!



4. I couldn't be happier with the TV. Picture is beautiful, and it's plenty big for my living room. DVDs and Xbox 360 look great. Interface is slick.

5 comments about Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ85U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. Before deciding on the Panasonic 50" I did a lot of research checking out web site reviews, consumer reports, and going to some box chains to take a look at the picture quality for myself. I knew I wanted the 50" and once I narrowed it down to Panasonic, it came down to 2 models: the PZ80 and PZ85. Reading the Amazon feature chart entitled "Which is the right Viera for You" that lists all the essential characteristics of all Panasonic Plasma models, I decided on the PZ85. I then read the reviews from people who had purchased the Amazon PZ85 model where 31 out of 32 reviews were completely satisfied. I visited the local TV chain and when I saw that Amazon's price for the PZ85 was several hundred less; that was all I needed to make my decision. After having the set for a month now, I can say that I have not been disappointed in the least. I am very happy about the fast delivery, great picture quality, ease of set up, and EXTREMELY pleased with the price. I had never purchased anything of this value on a web site before this purchase, but I can tell you that it has been one of my "best buys" of the year! Thanks Amazon, for staying ahead of the competition, and thanks to Panasonic for another great hdtv product!!



2. I have had the TH-50PZ85U for several days at this writing. I purchased it based on seeing a live unit, and because of favorable reviews here and on the AudioVisual forum. It is connected to an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver which also came from Amazon, all with HDMI cables. I have a new Sony DVP-NS77H DVD player, and the upconversion thru the system is outstanding. I see no need for BlueRay until it gets much less expensive. I previously had a Toshiba rear projection HD that only lasted 6 years, so this is my first experience with Plasma. I am completely satisfied. The 50PZ85U does put out some heat, but I had read about this. Setup was okay, I am fairly technical, but I had to read the documentation carefully several times. The forums mention a 100 hr "breakin" time, but I see no mention of this in the Owners Manual. I am treating it carefully in any event. The picture settings published in the forum were right on the mark for my eye, although the out of the box picture wasn't too bad. I purchased thru Amazon even though others were slightly lower priced, and sure nuff, Amazon has already credited me for a nifty price decrease. The White Glove delivery was excellent, delivered much quicker than shipping email estimated. I highly recommend this Panny, and the same for the Onkyo.



3. This TV is awesome. The quality and price are great. We chose the tv after reviewing consumer reports, then found the best price here. Delivery was earlier than projected, but well communicated and efficient. Set up was easy.
   I would highly recommend this TV.



4. I have been the proud owner of the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U plasma TV set for about a month.
   This is my first flat-panel television and I switched from a 27 inch CRT Sony Trinitron.
   
   
   Pricing, Ordering and Delivery:
   
   I had been monitoring the price of this set ever since it got released earlier this year.
   I had many opportunities to look at the set with my own eyes at Best Buy and other retailers but the price from most of these retailers was a little high, when considering that I would need to add sales tax as well as shipping (I found out that the box with the television would never fit in my car!).
   So, when I saw the attractive price - with no sales tax - on Amazon, I jumped on it. Also, the free "while glove" delivery was a big plus as I had read too many horror stories about people getting a damaged or broken television and spending way to much time and energy to finally get a replacement.
   The price on Amazon was several hundred dollars less than most local retailers.
   
   Ordering was easy. I also ordered a Sanus VMPL50B tilt bracket (also from Amazon) to mount the display over my fireplace.
   I placed the ordered on a Thursday and the product was delivered the following Thursday. Not bad!
   
   The display was delivered by a shipping company called CEVA Logistics. Two persons carried the large box to the second floor of my condo where my living room is and unpacked the television so that I could make sure that it was in good condition, which was the case.
   
   
   Installation:
   
   I didn't use the stand provided with the television. Instead, I mounted the display on the wall over my fireplace using a Sanus bracket.
   Initially, I was going to use the Sanus VMPL50B but, because of the position of the studs behind the wall, I decided to exchange it for a longer, adjustable one. I picked a Sanus VMPL3B which is basically the same, with the difference that the plate is 10 inches longer, when fully extended.
   This way, I was able to mount the bracket using 4 studs instead of just 2 studs if I had gone with the VMPL50B. It gives me a peace of mind and I know that I am not going to find my plasma television broken into pieces anytime soon.
   The installation was fairly easy and took about one hour total. My wife helped me carrying the display and securing it on the wall bracket since it is pretty heavy (approximately 80lbs).
   The display sits only 2.5 inches from the wall but it was actually hard to tilt because of the HDMI connectors in the back. The problem is that the panel in the back where all the connectors go is not recessed enough. I just wish there was an extra 1/2 inch of space.
   What I did is that I purchased a couple of HDMI "right-angle" adapters (from an excellent Internet store called MonoPrice). This way, the HDMI cables run along the back of the plasma set and it is way easier to tilt the display.
   
   
   Operation and Picture Quality:
   
   I am truly impressed by the TH-50PZ85U. Not only it performs well but it looks great on the wall.
   The only connectors I have are HMDI. I have one HDMI cable running from my digital cable box (Time Warner - Scientific Atlanta) to the TV and one HDMI cable coming from my SONY DVP-NS3100ES DVD player (up-converting DVD player, not Blu-Ray).
   HD channels are simply outstanding, even in Standard mode. It is such a pleasure for the eyes to watch anything. I surprised myself at watching a full hour of an animal documentary on Discovery HD, even though I have never been a fan of animal TV show.
   The level of details is amazing.
   Standard cable looks very good too but obviously not as good as HD. My only concern is that currently I only have 22 HD channels (and 3 or 4 of those don't even have regular programming). Time Warner can't beat satellite in my area but I am not ready to switch yet. There are some reports that new HD channels will be added soon so I just need to be patient.
   
   
   The remote control is easy to use and it can also operate other devices such as a cable box, a DVD player and more. With my configuration, this is pretty much the only remote I use now.
   
   I like the fact that there are some extra video inputs (including HDMI) located on the side of the display. I use them to plug my video camera.
   Several settings for the sound can be adjusted as well (balance, treble, bass and some other effects I am not really familiar with yet). Overall, the sound is excellent but when watching a DVD movie, I use my home theater system (I have a 5.1 speaker system with a SONY STR-DA3100ES receiver).
   The great thing about HDMI is that it only takes one cable for both video and audio signals. I can always use the TV speakers while playing a DVD or watching a cable program. When I switch to the receiver, all I have to do is mute the sound from the TV.
   
   
   Note on "break-in" period:
   
   I know there are many forums talking about the 100-hour "break-in" period. There is no mention of it anywhere in the user's manual. So I went on the Panasonic website and I found some info. Basically, for the first 100 hours of operation, it is advised to watch television in Full Mode or Zoom Mode only (to avoid black bars on the side) and to avoid prolonged period of time of static image or channel logo.
   Since I had read many threads dealing with playing a "Break-in" DVD, I called Panasonic Technical Support direclty. The person told me that it was not necessary as long as the above rules were followed for the first 100 hours of usage and that it wouldn't make any difference in the end.
   SO I watched different shows in Full format mode as well as DVDs. Whenever I would watch a channel with a logo on the bottom-right corner for over 30 minutes, I would use the "Anti-Static Retention" feature for a few minutes (accessible with the remote in the Main Menu). What it does is that it displays a scrolling white bar over a black background.
   
   
   Bottom Line:
   
   The TH-50PZ85U is an incredible set for the price. I have been reading reviews and comparing with other existings sets (including LCD sets) for the past 6 months almost and I think that, for this size, this is the best option in terms of price and quality.
   Panasonic is a reputable manufacturer and no one can go wrong with this display.
   
   
   



5. I purchased this TV after reading the reviews and comparing several in the same price range at a local store. I purchased it through Amazon.com with their free shipping and white glove treatment. I was told that it would be a couple of weeks before delivery yet I was contacted within a few days by the shipping company and the TV was delivered less than a week after I ordered it. The white glove treatment was fantastic. They brought the TV into the house, unboxed it, and hooked it up to make sure everything was working. They also offered to take all the packing materials with them. When I ordered the TV, I thought I had got an incredible deal and ordered when the price was the lowest I had seen in a month. Immediately after I ordered, the price went up slightly and then started dropping. I would check the price daily and whenever I saw it was less than I paid, I would contact Amazon customer support and they would refund me the difference under their 30-day post purchase price guarantee. I have now had the TV for a month and the picture still blows me away. With the 30-day post purchase price guarantee, I have been refunded $111. So not only have I been able to enjoy an amazing TV for the past month, I have been making money while doing so. Overall, I would give both the TV and Amazon.com's white-glove treatment, free shipping and prompt delivery, and 30-day post purchase price guarantee 5-stars!!!

5 comments about Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ85U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. This tv graced our family room the moment we set it up. It has great colors and is very sturdy even just on the stand it came with on top of a console. The picture quality is great.



2. Like most everyone else I didn't take buying a new tv lightly, after all you're not talking about going to the local department store and grabbing something off the shelf for $300-$500 any more. Spending up to two grand on a tv makes you really want to get what you're paying for, and there are so many options in screen sizes, options, features and even the most basic decisons such as LDC or plasma that you'd better do some research to know what you're getting into.
   
   I had been looking to replace our old 32" tv for a couple of months, but didn't find the perfect screen size until Panasonic came out with this particular 46" model. I knew I wanted plasma, I knew I wanted a good brand name and I knew I wanted to be able to take advantage of the features like HDMI outputs, optical outputs and various other controls so that I could easily add a home theater system later. Amazon had the best deal going at the time so I bought it, and the white glove delivery was just fine. I was happy to get it all for under $1,700 when it would have cost me at least $300+ more at any local retailer.
   
   I haven't experienced any problems at all with the tv, it was in perfect shape right out of the box and instantly confirmed that I made a good decision with the 46". The picture on an HD channel is stunning in either 1080 or 720, and regular shows in 480 don't look as bad as I was lead to believe they'd be. The remote is very intuitive and easy to use. The sound from the tv speakers is fine, if a little flat and tinny, but I don't plan to use them much anyway. I've already received my Panasonic SC-PT960 Home Theater system and that should handle any complaints I have with the tv's speakers when I find the time to set it up. It's very easy to do, and with both the tv and the theater system having digital optical capability I'll be able to get the best sound possible from a HTiB.
   
   If you're looking for a really good buy on a plasma, you want something bigger than a 42" and smaller than a 50", and you want a smooth transaction and professional delivery this set deserves your attention. I really don't think I could be any happier with something else.



3. After weeks of research online and in stores, we finally purchased this TV. I was a little apprehensive about buying it online, but all the other reviews about Amazon's delivery were right on. I would have had it less than 7 days after purchase, but the delivery people were actually too fast as I was trying to time their delivery with the TV technician's appointment to upgrade to HD.
   
   We researched plasma vs LCD and finally picked plasma. The "drawbacks" of plasma (screen glare, not bright enough, burn in" arent a factor. We have our TV in a room with a large bay window; we dont notice any more glare than with our old tube TV and it is quite bright enough. Also, the Panasonic has multiple features to prevent and eliminate "burn in". I really wanted plasma for the fast motion and dark blacks, movies, etc. So far I have been more than satisfied. We watched some LCDs in the store and some of the shows just looked "fake" because the picture was so bright (though that could have been the store's settings).
   
   If this TV is even on your short list, dont feel bad about getting it. The price on Amazon was the cheapest we saw. It has some great features and is a great size (dont even bother with 42" - you will be sorry.) We could have gone up to 50" but the trade off for size vs price was right for this TV. I was a little apprehensive after reading the reviews on Cnet regarding the colors and some of the controls, but I havent even adjusted anything yet and the colors look fine to me right out of the box. I will probably work on tweaking it later, but am very happy with it right now. To the normal, average viewer it looks great.
   
   I highly recommend this TV and am very pleased after weeks of research!!



4. I ordered this Panasonic Viera Plasma HDTV late on Sunday, and it was delivered on the next Friday: 5 days for shipping. I read reviews about the shipping service, so I called the shipper to keep updated on the package location. The final, local shipping driver (Minnesota) was helpful to set this on its bracket and check to see if the TV worked -- I asked him to help.
   I compared 42, 46, and 50 inch Vieras at the nearest store, 60 miles from me, and when I saw a 46 inch next to a 50 inch, I knew this was the size for me.
   Works beautifully, evident on the digital channels we do get, and with a DVD playing. The bracket/stand is easy to mount: have a large, secure, padded surface to lay the TV on; you need a Phillips screwdriver, and two (three is better) people to turn/hold/attach bracket the HDTV.



5. I am glad that I purchase this Plasma TV, Very Nice product, good quality
   Very cinematic images, with terrific black levels and Screen is less reflective than most....
   one bad things is Noise reduction is not as effective as it could be..
   and Fewer picture controls than many other HDTVs
   
   Rest all wonderful...my family is enjoying now..
   
   Raj Makwana

5 comments about Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. Overall excellent HDTV and excellent delivery service by Amazon.
   Only negatives so far...the TV does not support a CableCard.



2. Set was delivered quickly by Amazon and unpacked, but delivery man could not help lift it up on TV stand (liability problems). After my son helped me lift set to TV - not really all that heavy - the set worked perfectly and the picture with all input sources was beautiful. I used PC Mag web hints on setting up controls for best picture, though I did not thoroughly calibrate it. Screen format options are excellent - help prevent any burn in (though set has built in pixel burn protection, anyway).
   Only minor complaint is that this screen shows more room reflections than my previous Samsung DLP rear projector, but I am extremely satisfied with this purchase overall.



3. I ordered this TV from Amazon with a little flutter in my heart and contrary to expectations it turned out even better than I expected. The delivery through CEVA was great too. Two guys came in last Saturday (July 12) and helped me dismount my old plasma and connect the new one too. They waited until they made sure everything was working. Fantastic!
   
   As for the TV itself, I liked the flat look and the ample connections. One word of caution though if you have DiSH HD, the HDMI connection from the DiSH DVR is not yet compatible and you can use only component video. Apparently, we have to wait for a software upgrade from DiSH until we can use the HDMI output. I played "There Will Be Blood" and "Passage To India" on a Blu-Ray player (PS3) and was absolutely blown away at the picture clarity. Make sure you have the display set to THX and I must admit, the factory default was perfect. As another reviewer suggested, I have to set the PS3 to play "Deep Color" and test it out.
   
   In short, you will not be disappointed!



4. Well. Finally traded a lot of worries for a fantastic piece of equipment. Got rid of a "big name" DLP with constant "light engine" problems that the manufacturer would not take responsibility for and after much research on CNET and other sources, settled on this unit. It is apparently well engineered and has the "bells and whistles" that I feel are important to ME. If the unit is in your price range, you simply can't go wrong. Accessorized it with a SONY PS3 for BlueRay DVD (and maybe a game or two), a set of KEF 5.1 speakers and a new Onkyo Amp. Now I'll just settle in for the upcoming football season.



5. I was a bit skeptical about buying a television on the internet, but Amazon's "white glove" service was great. Televsion arrived ahead of schedule, the men unwrapped it, attached the base, and took the packing with them. The picture quality is perfection, and the glare in a large window filled room is minimal. Got the best price, no tax, no delivery charge, and the product performs perfectly. If there was one thing I didn't like I would share it, but there isn't. Really like the large hidden area for plug-ins in the front. Use my HD camcorder with the television all the time now because it is so easy with the HDMI access.

5 comments about Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. WOW. It does everything previous reviewers said. I am very happy with this product.
   
   If you buy this thing, make sure you dump the cable and get DirecTV. I am blown away by how good the HD programming looks. And make sure you hook it up with an HDMI v1.3 cable. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but I was surprised how many times I ran across negative reviews for other TVs on Amazon and it was obvious the people writing the review had hooked the TV up with coax or RCA cables!



2. Stop right here. I've done your research for you. This is the one.
   
   BY FAR, the best TV under 2k.
   
   Get it while its hot.



3. I've had my Samsung PN50A550 now for three weeks. The picture is great. I have a comcast HD box and generally just watch the HD channels because the quality is just that much better. I am still using the factory color settings and they look pretty good to me. I would buy this TV again.



4. Like a lot of people, I did a lot of research into HDTVs before buying. I learned about LCDs, contrast ratios, refresh rates, blacks levels and read more CNET/ AVSForum reviews than any human being should.
   
   Was it al worth it? Absolutely - I love this TV. I was worried that fifty inches would be too big but it's perfect. If you're thinking about going for a 50 over a 46, do it. It's a perfect size for watching a blu-ray disc.
   
   I've seen countless TVs in person and I believe this set to be second only to some of the Pioneer plasmas but at a fraction of the cost.



5. This TV does everything very, very well. Its menu and other features are very extensive. One thing that I miss is 'variable audio out' which allows the sound volume fed to the home theater amplifier to be adjusted with the TV volume control. A minor complaint.
   
   The TV was delivered in two working days, un-crated in my den and turned on. All this included in the selling price.

5 comments about Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S4100 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. This is our first "big flat screen monster" and, while we are "Sony People" we were put off by their prices until these new models came out. The picture looks great, 1080 in particular of course. I have not noticed any of the not-quite-black issues others have talked about. The contrast is fine for me. I like the "piano black" much better than Sony's fancy glass models, and it costs less as well. If there is one and only one issue with the whole thing it is that the documentation seems skimpy; it's all about connecting the cables and not much technical detail about the TV. I already know how to hook it up... But if you're looking at a 40 inch this is a nice one.



2. Bought this at WalMart for two reasons, picture quality and inputs. Picture quality was outstanding considering it side-by-side with everything else they had at the store. That wasn't enough for me. I wanted connectivity options. This "TV" has 3 HDMI inputs (not 2 as the description says). One of the HDMI inputs is on the side of the TV so you can plug in anything you want, any time. It also has 2 VGA ports - one on the side. If that's not enough, there are two HD component inputs and optical and RCA audio outputs. But wait, there's an S-Video input too. Did I mention it also has an HD15 video monitor (from your PC) input? How about a 3.5mm audio input? WOWIE! Oops, it's got a coax input as well so you can use it as a regular old TV.
   
   Pitcure's great, blah, blah, blah... but did I mention the connectors? This TV doubles as an admirable PC monitor at full 1080P (assuming your video card supports it). Was able to play FPS games at full resolution. Wow again.
   
   Cons: Well, there are some. The first one is the minimalist remote control. Everything is menu driven, it seems, and it wasn't intuitive for me. I'd like more of it to be in shorter menus you can access from the remote. How about a universal remote? I have a Sony DVPCX995V 400-Disc DVD Mega Changer/Player that does HDMI 1080i upconverting (outstaning btw), a Sony home theater sound system as well. I have to have THREE different remotes for three Sony products. Arg. Then I have a satelite controller too.
   
   The other beef I have is the highly limited PIP. It's got that many inputs, but you can only use one at a time. The only PIP functionality is when you're in PC mode with the HD15 input. Of course, if you're using the HDMI for PC input it's gone. This function is highly limited being a small box you can't change positions of. It's also poorly described in the instructions.



3. This TV was a big upgrade for us. We've never had a flat screen/hi-def TV before. I was rather overwhelmed by all the options out there, and I am by no means an expert on such things. I chose this one based on good reviews and what seemed like a reasonable price. I couldn't be more pleased. This TV looks great, sounds great, and is easy to use.



4. I am familiar with this TV as I just set one up at a friend's house. Great picture, great quailty overall, and a very nice look.
   Multiple inputs making it easy to connect all your gear - a real "Run whatya brung" TV as it has 3 HDMI inputs Multiple PC and Component Inputs and it even supports the old S-Video and RCA connections.
   The menus are very basic and it lacks some of the advanced tuning that I am used to on my Sony 60 inch, but the picture quality is excellent and most users will find the menu of options more than sufficient. As someone else said everything is menu driven from the remote, with very few one touch functions.
   I purchased this on the Amamzon 36 month Interest Free Deal. Cant beat 33 bucks a month.
   
   Now the BAD - its delivering by CEVA who has no idea where my TV is? The last tracking scan was Newark NJ on Sunday - 22 miles away from my house... well today is Thursday - Hello? Anyone out there? I thought they would call me by now and when I call them - they thought it was picked up already? Picked up? Huh?
   
   Great Price, Great TV but Amazon needs to find a better Delivery service CEVA is horrible. If I had read the message boards about CEVA formelery EAGLE freight I would have never purchased this TV at Amazon. I hope I finally get my TV.



5. I've been waiting my whole life for this baby! I love it. It's a clean, elegant design which will now become a centerpiece to my livingroom. And I don't even watch TV!