Panasonic TH-50PX600 50 Review
Panasonic have been stood at the ringside watching the continuous fight between LCD and Plasma TVs, but they are staying firmly on the side of the latter. With their latest TH-50PX600 50” Plasma TV, Panasonic are really out to impress with futuristic connections and alluring design. Design |
| Sticking to the Viera style, the TH-50PX600 design is classically matt silver and black, in our opinion it’s unfortunate that the silver areas looks like something you’d expect to see on a budget TV. To improve the situation there is an optional stand if you want to fork out. The TH-50PX600 slimline dimensions are 1266 W x 802 H x 138 D mm. |
| Features |
| Packed full, the TH-50PX600 boasts the perfect recipe of features to provide the best viewing experience. It has digital and analogue tuners along with the Freeview 7-day Electronic Programme Guide. It has a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 and a massive 10,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s got Panasonic’s V-Real Picture Processing System, which works on native 720p and 1080i signals and is claimed to possess a colour count of 29 billion. It also sports Panasonic’s new HDAVI communication via the HDMI system; this allows 2-way communication between the TV and compatible Panasonic items like the new digital recorders. The TH-50PX600A’s noise reduction systems assists in providing a clearer picture while the deep black filter works at reducing on-screen reflections. We love the SD card slot, which allows you to watch JPEG stills or MPEG4 movies, you can also record onto it too. As we’ve come to expect, it has the normal Picture-in-Picture tools making life that little bit easier. In the area of picture performance, the TH-50PX600 is not short of features, and neither is it sonically. It boasts the Advanced Smart Sound Speaker audio system, which claims to improve clarity and bass through the twin passive radiator woofers. We are all up for a good-looking TV and good picture processors but if the connectivity is not up to scratch it gets a thumbs down from us. On this occasion, the TH-50PX600 gets a massive thumbs-up, however. In terms of connectivity, this TV is the most equipped that we have come across to date. With 2 HDMIs, component video input PC VGA input, a headphone jack, 3 scarts (2 RGB enabled), an RF input and, take a breath, an S-Video input input. |
| Performance |
| Wit-woo. We love this Plasma. Standard definition pictures were so impressive on this TV that we had to double-check that we weren’t watching HD. Thanks to the digital remastering circuit adding extra fine detail it was a real pleasure to watch. It’s a shame to admit, but there was a tiny amount of noise but it really didn’t impair the picture enough to worry about it. High Definition programmes were something else. Panasonic have definitely lived up to their 10,000:1 contrast ratio claim. Black levels were impressive with equally as clear detail. We loved the amount of colour given out by the TH-50PX600, watching Planet Earth on HD it provided us with some strongly realistic blues and greens. Panasonic have hit the nail on the head with their sound system, the powerful volume is supplied with excellent clarity and clear dialogue, and just as Panasonic promised, bass is not a problem for the TH-50PX600 either. |
| Overall Opinion |
| We are more than happy with the current plasma situation, it seems the bigger the TV, the better the resolution. No question about it, the TH-50PX600 is the best HD performer and great SD performer that we have seen for a while. Its processors are doing a great job at ironing out any threat of noise, and therefore providing us with an awesome viewing experience. |
| By Lisa Malyon |
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Pros + 7-day Electronic Programme GuideV-Real Picture Processing System + HDAVI Communication + SD Card Slot + Excellent Connectivity |
Cons - Slight Noise on SD Pictures |
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Sound Quality 9/10
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Picture Quality 9/10
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Connectivity 10/10
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Future Compatibility 10/10
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Ease Of Use 9/10
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Overall Rating 
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By Lisa Malyon
9/10/2006 at 11:54:38am
9/10/2006 at 11:54:38am
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