A Review of the Panasonic Viera TXP50G20B
Intro The most powerful recent offering from Panasonic, the Panasonic TX-P50G20B is a strong flagship product.
Panasonic really put everything into this upgrade; as the most internet-ready, HDMI-ready, and digital-ready plasma TV it's ever produced, it easily pays out its price in dividends.
If you don't dig the silly glasses required for 3DTV, this is the set for you, as the Panasonic TXP50G20B has chosen substantial features and lower costs over fledgling tech.
As you'll see, the Panasonic TXP50G20B is one of the best plasma televisions on the market today Aesthetic It is a common tactic for reviewers to bash Panasonic's standard piano black finish, but the fact remains that it goes well in any room.
This "boring" aesthetic is part of the secret to Panasonic's success, as the Panasonic TXP50G20B will go with any room décor.
The brand is not focused on whiz-bang outward appearances, but on internal features.
Let's just say that we remain huge fans of the boxy, black look that is SO five years ago, so let's just get to the important stuff.
Image Quality This is where the Panasonic TXP50G20 really shines: providing one of the best pictures money can buy.
Just two words: THX Certified.
Normally we think of THX as a sound certification, but the visuals on this machine are so close to cinema-quality, so close to the original image, that it earns this esteemed rating for its images.
It got this by virtue of its 24p frame rate, 5 million to 1 contrast ratio, 1080p resolution, and incredibly vivid colours.
For Blu-ray and HDTV that feel like you're hovering directly over the action, the Panasonic TX-P50G20 is your television to buy.
Next-Gen Internet The Panasonic TXP50G20B is the most internet-ready plasma television Panasonic has produced yet.
With Ethernet and WiFi capability and a service called Viera Cast, which allows you to connect to sites like YouTube and Dailymotion, this is easily the TV of the future.
Viera Cast itself is quite intuitive to navigate, which makes the innovation much easier to handle.
Audio Quality The audio on the Panasonic TXP50G20 isn't that great, but then again, no HD TV has ever had onboard audio worth its price.
If you're going to drop money for this top of the line plasma TV, you might as well get a sound system to match the visuals.
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about the poor audio.
Move on.
Freeview & Freesat Saving the best for last, built-in Freeview rounds out the Panasonic Viera TX-P50G20B.
This allows users to get HD channels for free, bypassing subscription fees charged by Sky and Virgin.
Freeview isn't available in every region, so this plasma TV also comes with Freesat, which lets you connect it to a satellite dish to get free satellite HD.
The Panasonic Viera TX-P50G20 is a television designed for HD, and Freeview only serves to benefit the experience of any HDTV enthusiast.
Easy access to HDTV through powerful visuals and Freeview should be enough to sell the Panasonic TXP50G20 to those who love the clarity, depth and immersion HD provides.
Final Report Old-school style, unmatched visuals, internet capacity, mediocre sound, and free HD? A definite buy!
Panasonic really put everything into this upgrade; as the most internet-ready, HDMI-ready, and digital-ready plasma TV it's ever produced, it easily pays out its price in dividends.
If you don't dig the silly glasses required for 3DTV, this is the set for you, as the Panasonic TXP50G20B has chosen substantial features and lower costs over fledgling tech.
As you'll see, the Panasonic TXP50G20B is one of the best plasma televisions on the market today Aesthetic It is a common tactic for reviewers to bash Panasonic's standard piano black finish, but the fact remains that it goes well in any room.
This "boring" aesthetic is part of the secret to Panasonic's success, as the Panasonic TXP50G20B will go with any room décor.
The brand is not focused on whiz-bang outward appearances, but on internal features.
Let's just say that we remain huge fans of the boxy, black look that is SO five years ago, so let's just get to the important stuff.
Image Quality This is where the Panasonic TXP50G20 really shines: providing one of the best pictures money can buy.
Just two words: THX Certified.
Normally we think of THX as a sound certification, but the visuals on this machine are so close to cinema-quality, so close to the original image, that it earns this esteemed rating for its images.
It got this by virtue of its 24p frame rate, 5 million to 1 contrast ratio, 1080p resolution, and incredibly vivid colours.
For Blu-ray and HDTV that feel like you're hovering directly over the action, the Panasonic TX-P50G20 is your television to buy.
Next-Gen Internet The Panasonic TXP50G20B is the most internet-ready plasma television Panasonic has produced yet.
With Ethernet and WiFi capability and a service called Viera Cast, which allows you to connect to sites like YouTube and Dailymotion, this is easily the TV of the future.
Viera Cast itself is quite intuitive to navigate, which makes the innovation much easier to handle.
Audio Quality The audio on the Panasonic TXP50G20 isn't that great, but then again, no HD TV has ever had onboard audio worth its price.
If you're going to drop money for this top of the line plasma TV, you might as well get a sound system to match the visuals.
Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about the poor audio.
Move on.
Freeview & Freesat Saving the best for last, built-in Freeview rounds out the Panasonic Viera TX-P50G20B.
This allows users to get HD channels for free, bypassing subscription fees charged by Sky and Virgin.
Freeview isn't available in every region, so this plasma TV also comes with Freesat, which lets you connect it to a satellite dish to get free satellite HD.
The Panasonic Viera TX-P50G20 is a television designed for HD, and Freeview only serves to benefit the experience of any HDTV enthusiast.
Easy access to HDTV through powerful visuals and Freeview should be enough to sell the Panasonic TXP50G20 to those who love the clarity, depth and immersion HD provides.
Final Report Old-school style, unmatched visuals, internet capacity, mediocre sound, and free HD? A definite buy!