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Panasonic TC-P50U1 plasma HDTV Review

Posted to Televisions 2010-04-28

The Panasonic TC-P50U1 is a 50" full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV with 3 HDMI inputs. It features a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1, over 900 lines of moving picture resolution and a 600Hz sub-field drive which lets you view full-HD motion and still images with 1080 lines of resolution. The unit also includes an advanced AR filter which keeps images sharp with minimal glare.

Other features include VIERA Link, which lets you control other VIERA Link compatible devices via the HDMI interface, and VIERA Image Viewer, which lets you view images and video from your digital camera or camcorder by plugging an SD card into the provided SD card slot on the TC-P50U1. The plasma TV also features a stated 100,000 hour panel life for years of HDTV enjoyment. And because Plasma TVs are self-illuminating, the TC-P50U1 provides a wide viewing angle so you can see a bright image no matter where you're sitting in the room.

Rating:

3.2 out of 5

Value

The Panasonic TC-P50U1 represents an excellent value in a 50 inch flat screen HDTV at its current street price. In fact, it's one of the best value for money 50 inch plasma TVs on the market, regardless of technology. Brightness and viewing angle are better than any LCD HDTV, and the native contrast ratio is respectable. The dynamic contrast ratio is an incredible 2,000,000:1. The VIERA Link feature means that the unit plays well with your other Panasonic components, and the built-in image viewer is an added plus.

Features

The TC-P50U1 has most of the features you would want in a large screen HDTV. The three HDMI inputs make for a versatile unit when hooking up all of your components, and the VIERA Link capability adds to this versatility if you have other Panasonic devices. With VIERA Link, you can control a Panasonic Blu-ray player, A/V receiver and camcorder, all from the same device. Network connectivity would have been nice, as this seems to be becoming a standard feature for large screen HDTVs. Also, input support for legacy devices is missing.

Summary

If you're in the market for a full HD large screen HDTV, it's hard to beat the current street price of the TC-P50U1. You probably won't find a better price on a 50" unit, and it has most of the features you're likely to need. As long as Internet connectivity and legacy support or not a problem for you, the TC-P50U1 is a very good offering from Panasonic.

Pros

50 inch Plasma Full HD 1080p HDTV
Native contrast ratio of 30,000:1
Plasma technology provides bright images and wide viewing angle
VIERA Link feature

Cons

No network or legacy device support

Recommended accessory:

Logitech Harmony 900 : remote with Full-color touch screen that Replaces up to 15 remotes