electronicsme - Electronics / Televisions made easy

Print this page

Panasonic TC-L32X1: Review

Posted to Televisions 2009-11-13

The Panasonic TC-L32X1 LCD HDTV is the latest 32 inch 720p model in Panasonic's VIERA X1 series of LCD HDTVs. The unit features 720p resolution, a contrast ratio of 12,000:1 and 3 HDMI 1.3a inputs. Also included are an iPod docking station, Panasonic's VIERA Link networking for controlling all of your VIERA link devices with one remote and an image viewer with built-in SD card slot.

Other features include a PC input, a game mode, which has faster response for fast action games and a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees. The unit features the VIERA Tools menu, which has convenient icons for selecting menu items and auto power standby and auto-off for power saving. The TC-L32X1 also features a fine black panel which reduces reflections by half for excellent images under all lighting conditions. The VIERA Link function can be implemented via HDMI or network cable between other compatible VIERA link devices.

Rating:

3.6 out of 5

Value

The TC-L32X1 represents an excellent value for the money at its street price. It has most of the features you would want in a medium large screen HDTV, and is surprisingly affordable. Image quality is very good, even in brightly lit rooms, and the wide viewing angle makes it easy to position the set in your room. The VIERA Link function is nice if you have other Panasonic components, and the included iPod dock is an added bonus at this price.

Features

The TC-L32X1 is strong on features. Built-in image viewer, VIERA Link, 3 HDMI inputs, PC input and game mode all add up to a very versatile unit. The image viewer allows you to view your digital camera or camcorder images or video in full HD resolution and the included SD card slot makes this function easy to use. For gamers, the game mode's faster response time means a better gaming experience, and the user interface is very intuitive and easy to use. About the only thing to complain about in the features category is the lack of network support, which is rapidly becoming a standard on medium and large screen HDTVs.

Summary

If you're in the market for a reasonably priced LCD HDTV, the TC-L32X1 makes a very good choice. It has most of the features you need, even for a home theater setup, and image quality and response time are very good. The 3 HDMI inputs provide for easy integration with your other digital components, and if those components are VIERA Link capable, using them is more convenient than ever. All in all a very good offering from Panasonic at a very reasonable price.

Pros

32 inch 720p LCD HDTV
VIERA Link
Built-in image viewer with SD slot
Included iPod dock

Cons

Lacks network support