2010 Panasonic launch

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › 2010 Panasonic launch

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 9

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#336095 29-May-2010 15:23

We also seem to be getting shortchanged on the V20.

On my 50" V10, THX mode is the only decent mode. Every other mode is a compromise.
If the Australiasian V20's don't offer at least one mode that is equal or superior to THX on the V10's, then a VT20 will be the only superior 2010 model available in NZ when it comes to colour and grayscale accuracy.

Not only do Europe/UK get the G20, but both also have THX. I'm hoping its just a licensing cost saving choice and not a dumbing-down of the model.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#336166 29-May-2010 23:56

To hammersfan
No offense but judging a plasma tv, even against other plasma tvs in a typical electronics store is pretty pointless.
I have seen an X10, G10, U20 and X20 all in a dark room where a plasma should be viewed. I'm fairly familiar with panasonic's plasmas and I would definitely not call the U20 signifcantly inferior to the G10, I'd even go so far as to say it's blacks are better, they are definitely a step up from the X20 which is not too bad for blacks either.
If you plan on watching your tv in an environment similar to a store I recommend you go for an LCD instead.

While the THX mode was the most accurate on the 09 sets the main reason was not cause their logo was stamped on the sets. Plenty of tvs have had very accurate picture modes, see pioneer kuro for the best example without any THX support.
I'm personally going to wait til a decent review or til I get my hands on one before I make any conclusions.

Desktop: i7 920, GTX 275, asus P6T, antec 1200, 6gb ram, 1tb spinpoint f1, 1tb spinpoint f3, Logitech Z2300, Zero DAC, Shure SRH440
Laptop: Toshiba satellite, T5300, Go 7300
Home Theatre: 32" loewe CRT, Harmon kardon amp, dvd player, image 418 speakers, rega planar 25 turntable :)

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#336167 30-May-2010 00:03

samwooff:

While the THX mode was the most accurate on the 09 sets the main reason was not cause their logo was stamped on the sets. Plenty of tvs have had very accurate picture modes, see pioneer kuro for the best example without any THX support.
I'm personally going to wait til a decent review or til I get my hands on one before I make any conclusions.

I don't hold the THX name in high regard at all. Its basically marketing bollocks. It just so happens that the best mode is labelled 'THX'.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#336171 30-May-2010 00:27

lol glad we agree then

Hammersfan

16 posts

Geek

#336173 30-May-2010 00:33

samwooff: To hammersfan
No offense but judging a plasma tv, even against other plasma tvs in a typical electronics store is pretty pointless.
I have seen an X10, G10, U20 and X20 all in a dark room where a plasma should be viewed. I'm fairly familiar with panasonic's plasmas and I would definitely not call the U20 signifcantly inferior to the G10, I'd even go so far as to say it's blacks are better, they are definitely a step up from the X20 which is not too bad for blacks either.
If you plan on watching your tv in an environment similar to a store I recommend you go for an LCD instead.

While the THX mode was the most accurate on the 09 sets the main reason was not cause their logo was stamped on the sets. Plenty of tvs have had very accurate picture modes, see pioneer kuro for the best example without any THX support.
I'm personally going to wait til a decent review or til I get my hands on one before I make any conclusions.

We turned off the overhead fluorescent lights, as yes, you are not the only person who knows about this sort of thing. It was very obvious that the new U was not as good with contrast and blacks as the older G. The salesman said he had other customers observe the very same thing. It was that obvious that they tried calling Panasonic right there on the spot to ask why. They were running exactly the same image, same source. Both had the same factory settings. You don't have to work in a store to be able to see the difference, or know when an LCD would be more suited. And to suggest that you can only tell the difference in dark room is absurd. Plenty of viewing is done in rooms with lights on, or natural light present.

samwooff

219 posts

Master Geek

#336318 30-May-2010 17:08

Factory settings you say? That could be the reason, they do get much blacker once calibrated.
Did they manage to get anything out of panasonic?

I didn't say you can only tell the difference in a dark room it's just that plasmas' image quality changes vastly when in a dim room and some respond to changes in lighting more than others which may change your preference from one to the other. Judging any tv in a non optimum environment is not going to lead to a fair comparison. I even compare LCDs in a dark room too whenever possible.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#338492 5-Jun-2010 12:27

Saw the U20 and X20 yesterday and their lack of screen filter was an absolute killer. Of all the displays they were jammed in with, they were the most washed out looking (keeping in mind it was the worst of the worst viewing environment - a fluorescent lit store).

The V20 is most certainly silver/gun metal grey as I feared.

They (Silva park DSE) also had a VT on display which was a japanese import. The back sticker said 'VT2' and it had the bronze coloured frame. Much like the V20, this deviation away from black really bothered me. The blacks looked very very blue (which could be contributed to environment or calibration), it was very distracting. Not sure whether we will be getting the bronze bezel but I believe the UK has it so its probably true unfortunately.

The 3D effect was pleasant enough but I loath the glasses. They do not cover the top and bottom of your field of vision enough as they sit too far off your face.

Hammersfan

16 posts

Geek

#338497 5-Jun-2010 12:35

fahrenheit: Saw the U20 and X20 yesterday and their lack of screen filter was an absolute killer. Of all the displays they were jammed in with, they were the most washed out looking (keeping in mind it was the worst of the worst viewing environment - a fluorescent lit store).

The V20 is most certainly silver/gun metal grey as I feared.

They (Silva park DSE) also had a VT on display which was a japanese import. The back sticker said 'VT2' and it had the bronze coloured frame. Much like the V20, this deviation away from black really bothered me. The blacks looked very very blue (which could be contributed to environment or calibration), it was very distracting. Not sure whether we will be getting the bronze bezel but I believe the UK has it so its probably true unfortunately.

The 3D effect was pleasant enough but I loath the glasses. They do not cover the top and bottom of your field of vision enough as they sit too far off your face.

Yes, The U20's are crap. Very disappointed with Panasonic over this.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#338616 5-Jun-2010 19:45

Calm down - The U20 is a $1300 plasma (advertised in a couple of stores last week... don't know if the specials are still on?) not a $4000 TV.
Have you seen the TV in a home? Properly calibrated?

wmoore

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#338629 5-Jun-2010 20:53

Dunnersfella: Calm down - The U20 is a $1300 plasma (advertised in a couple of stores last week... don't know if the specials are still on?) not a $4000 TV.
Have you seen the TV in a home? Properly calibrated?

Yes calm down. Why do people still make their judgements based on seeing something in a store.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

Hammersfan

16 posts

Geek

#338722 6-Jun-2010 09:53

wmoore:
Dunnersfella: Calm down - The U20 is a $1300 plasma (advertised in a couple of stores last week... don't know if the specials are still on?) not a $4000 TV.
Have you seen the TV in a home? Properly calibrated?

Yes calm down. Why do people still make their judgements based on seeing something in a store.

Listen here, the next keyboard warrior who tells me to calm down is going to get a few choice words back. Just because I used the word 'crap' and 'disappointed', doesn't make me a hysterical person who needs you two nerds to tell me to calm down.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#338816 6-Jun-2010 16:52

I went into JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman today to have a look at these new Panasonic Plasmas (had to see what all the fuss is about) Both stores had a V20,U20,X20 and an old V10. Clearly they were all calibrated wrong way too bright. I was very impressed with the V20 looked a really good picture and it even looked brighter than an LG LED tv next to it. Noticably a step up from the U and X series not a big fan of the silvery bezel but the picture was pretty good. As far as the U20 and X20 go could not tell a difference between them really, and not hugely impressive picture, but i am not going to judge them based on that store experience because pretty much all the tvs looked rubbish with washed out colours with massively pumped up brightness. I would happily say the V20 plasma was the best tv they had in either store though.

I will soon be in the market for a 42" plasma so i am quite interested in all this, real shame there is nothing in between the U and V series $1400 -$2600 is a huge jump.

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#338818 6-Jun-2010 16:57

hazza87:As far as the U20 and X20 go could not tell a difference between them really,

How far away were you? The X is a 720p panel and its lower res compared to the U stands out like dogs balls to me.

hazza87

352 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#338819 6-Jun-2010 17:01

between 2feet and about 6. It was certainly not noticable possibly because of the terrible set up The U and X seemed a little blurry if anything.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#338845 6-Jun-2010 19:39

Hammersfan:
wmoore:
Dunnersfella: Calm down - The U20 is a $1300 plasma (advertised in a couple of stores last week... don't know if the specials are still on?) not a $4000 TV.
Have you seen the TV in a home? Properly calibrated?

Yes calm down. Why do people still make their judgements based on seeing something in a store.

Listen here, the next keyboard warrior who tells me to calm down is going to get a few choice words back. Just because I used the word 'crap' and 'disappointed', doesn't make me a hysterical person who needs you two nerds to tell me to calm down.

As Panasonic has clearly disappointed you, I'm guessing two 'nerds' and 'keyboard warriors' wouldn't stand a chance.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 9