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Panasonic TH-50PZ850: Review

Posted to Televisions 2009-02-07

The Panasonic TH-50PZ850 VIERA is Panasonic's top of the line Plasma TV. It measures 50 inch diagonally and features a resolution of 1080p. Additional specs include an aspect ratio of 16:9, a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1 and a dynamic contrast range of 1,000,000:1. The unit is jam-packed with features, including built-in surround sound utilizing 4 speakers; a sub-woofer and 31W total power output, and an SD memory card slot.

The 850U also sports 4 HDMI inputs, analog audio and video inputs, a PC input (standard VGA connector), and analog and digital audio outputs. The unit features an Ethernet connection with support for VIERA Cast, an online web service run by Panasonic. VIERA Cast users can watch YouTube video, view Picassa web albums, and get online stock, sports and weather news. The 850U also features VIERA Link, which allows you to control all of your compatible HD audio/video devices with the VIERA remote by connecting them via HDMI.

Rating:

4.4 out of 5

Features

The 850U has more features than you're likely to use. VIERA Cast makes this Panasonic's first web-connected TV. Connectivity options continue with the direct PC VGA input and you can view the output of your digital camera or camcorder directly from the device's SD card. In addition, the unit features a game mode that allows you to quickly select the output from your gamebox. The unit also features component video inputs. While the VIERA Cast may seem a bit gimmicky (ala WebTV), it is a nice feature and Panasonic promises more content in the future.

Performance

The 850U's picture quality is extremely good, with the contrast ratio being among the highest available in a Plasma TV. The number of connectivity options is unequaled. Pictures are crisp and clear even in bright light. The 50 inch size and built-in surround sound provide a true home theater experience, especially when you consider the ability to control all of your other HD components via the 850U. And the VIERA Cast service, though still somewhat limited, performed flawlessly.

Summary

If you want to build a top of the line home theater system, the 850U is a good starting place. If you can do without the VIERA Cast web feature, the 800U is essentially the same device without the web interface plus a little bit better picture quality. The 850U does have a few more connectivity options, however, which is one of the things that really set this unit apart from the crowd.

Pros

50 inch Plasma Display
16:9 aspect ratio, 1080p resolution
Built-in web service via VIERA Cast
Built-in surround sound system
Huge number of connectivity options

Cons

There are no cons for this product