Q: Describe the picture of the plasma TV/LCD monitor in terms of clarity, color reproduction, contrast and brightness.
A: Clarity & Color Reproduction & Contrast and Brightness: On high-quality sources it is superb. It is also a real lesson in the psychology of vision. Numbers-oriented videophiles will say that with a native resolution of 852x480, this set isn't capable of "true" HD reproduction. By the eyeball test, however, it is the BEST HD picture I've seen on any 42" plasma (and I've seen them all.) The HD picture has the sparkling clarity and almost 3-dimensional feel that, to me, is what separates HD from even good SD. Also, the difference between real 1080i HD signals (e.g. CBS) and Fox's 480p broadcasts is dramatic even though the numbers types will say that you shouldn't be able to see a difference on a monitor with this resolution. This visual performace is probably the result of terrific contrast on this set and the fact that it reproduces a real, "hard" black, where the best most other plasmas can do is dark gray. The brightness is great. No problem using it in a brightly-lit room (a BIG change from the rear-projection set I upgraded from.)
Reproduction of DVDs, especially using the component inputs is about as close to HD as you can get from disks: lovely rich color and sparkling clarity in the details.
On lower-quality sources like satellite and tape, the picture is comperable to a very good direct-view set, though a little flatter in contrast than the badly over-driven look you see on most people's CRT TV's. When DirecTv chooses to give a signal good bandwidth, as they do with some of their movie channels, it gets close to DVD quality, and you really see the difference with this set.
Other than the contrast, the biggest difference between the Panasonic and other plasmas I've looked at is the absence of noticable "jaggies" or on regular NTSC signals. These are so bad on many plasmas that an outboard scaler is required just to get a viewable picture. The Panasonic picture, right out of the box, would thrill anyone but a very, very high-end perfectionist. (Not quite out of the box, actually. The factory picture settings are are a little washed out on SD pictures. Turn the brightness down quite a bit, the "picture' up a little and the sharpness up a lot, and you see what the set is capable of. For more discussion of optimum picture settings, check the threads in the Plasma section of AVSForum.com)
One other point along this line: certain NTSC sources - my old, but very high-end laser disk player, for example - produce a better picture on the Panasonic using their composite video output than they do from their S-Video output. (This is worth checking when you install it.) This indicates that the Panasonic uses better chips for things like Y-C separation than a lot of outboard gear.
Q: What are your general comments on your Plasma TVs/LCD Monitors? How do you like it?
A: I love it! It's more than just the great picture, it's a completely different experience from "TV". Part of it is the psychology of the picture just hanging on the wall like a painting. Part, I think, comes from the total lack of flicker. We don't realize how annoying that is until we see a picture without it. Part of it is that all titles and graphics - even on a bad picture - are ROCK SOLID, like they were painted on the screen. Overall, the experience of watching HDTV (and even some DVDs) on this plasma is as big a step up from regular TV as color was from B&W. It's just obvious that some day all TV will be like this
Q: How would you best describe the design and looks of the Plasma TV/LCD Monitor?
A: Unobtrusive. A plasma is pretty much a plasma as far as looks are concerned. It sure is a converastion stopper, though. EVERYONE who walks into our family room sees it hanging there and says something like "Is that one of those . . . ?" followed by the obligatory demo. Luckily, there's always something on the HD demo channel (#199) that just blows them away.
Q: Plasma TV Inputs used? A: 1 Composite, 1 S-Video & 1 Component using RCA - BNC Cables
Q: How long have you had the Plasma TV/LCD Monitor?
A: Less than 1 Month
Q: What is the Plasma TV/LCD used for?
A: Home Living Room
Q: Please explain how the Plasma TV/LCD Monitor was installed.
A: Hung on the family room wall using the flat wall mount, with all the wires routed through a hole behind it so that nothing is visible hanging down. The center-channel speaker is sort of disguised by some books and pictures on a table under it so that you really get the "hanging picture" effect. All the other electronics are several feet away inside a converted bar, and all the other speakers are mounted unobtrusively up near the ceiling. It other words, it's a "stealth" home theater, which gives it a very high WAF (wife approval factor)
Q: Where did you purchase your Plasma TV/LCD Monitor? How was your buying experience?
A: Plasma Depot. This was certainly the largest purchase I've ever made over the internet, and they were very reassuring to deal with. They called the next morning to confirm order details and my credit card, then they sent an e-mail with all shipping details including both tracking numbers and phone numbers for the shipping companies (the plasma and the mount came from different places.) Both shipments arrived ahead of schedule, and the company delivering the plasma was very good about calling first to arrange delivery details. Overall, it couldn't have been better.
The most important thing on the website is to show price and in-stock availability. I have no use for sites that ask you to call for this info. It's not just a convenience issue, having all the info on the site projects a sense of honesty and professionalism. (And they were NOT the cheapest price I found - you were the best combination of a good price with a site that felt like good people running an honest business.) Also, the references to your sales to business were very reassuring. I work in advertising, so I know that plasmas are selling at a furious pace for business settings, but I doubt anyone could run a reasonable business (yet) just selling these things to consumers.
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