Panasonic TC-P50S1 Reviewed
Plasma televisions are known for having better images and colors than LCD televisions. Unfortunately, they are also known for consuming about twice the energy of LCD TVs and suffering from screen burn-in. This is not a problem, though, with the Panasonic TC-P50S1, which offers the pros of plasma technology with as little of its cons as possible.
Picture Quality
The Panasonic TC-P50S1 delivers excellent picture quality, making it at par with many high-end models. The black levels are especially worth mentioning, since they are the deepest that Panasonic has been able to produce so far. The shadow detail is also impeccable and the colors are saturated and vibrant, seemingly bursting all over the screen, which is why they are still great in spite of the less than accurate color temperature – a common problem with Panasonic panels.
Even moving images appear crisp and clear on the screen of the TC-P50S1 – a feat achieved by the combination of its 600Hz sub-field drive and its Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution. This means that the TC-P50S1 shows all 1080 lines even during fast-moving scenes, compared to some HDTVs which temporarily reduce the number of lines to keep up with the pace.
Design
The TC-P50S1 has a simple and elegant design similar to other models, sporting logos, buttons and an indicator light that blend in nicely with its glossy black frame, which also comes with gently rounded edges and a thin silver strip at the bottom. It also has a glossy black stand. What sets the TC-P50S1 apart, though, are its hidden speakers, which add style and appeal.
Remote
The remote control of the TC-P50S1 is neither infrared nor equipped with a backlight, which makes it not as good as many TV remote controls. Still, it has soft buttons which come in different colors, sizes and shapes, making them easy to find and use even in the dark.
Inputs and Outputs
There are a lot of devices that you can connect to the Panasonic TC-P50S1, though not as much compared to high-end models. It has three HDMI inputs where you can plug in your Blu-Ray player, DVD player and game console, as well as your computer, if it is HDMI-capable, since this HDTV does not come with a VGA input like some. While it does not have a USB slot, it has an SD card slot, and several other inputs and outputs which make it satisfactory when it comes to connectivity.
Power Efficiency
As mentioned earlier, the TC-P50S1 does not consume as much electricity as most Plasma TVs, which consume around two times the electricity used up by LCD televisions. This is because it has an innovative plasma display panel and a default picture setting that is slightly dimmer than others. Because of this, the Panasonic TC-P50S1 earned an Energy Star 3.0.
Other Features
Another great feature of the TC-P50S1 is something called the Viera Link, which allows you to turn all your HDMI-capable devices on, all at the same time. Imagine your Blu-Ray player and surround sound speakers turning on with just the press of a button so you don’t have to leave your seat. As mentioned earlier, the Panasonic TC-P50S1 also has features to prevent and treat screen burn-in, which means you won’t have to worry about static images sticking to your screen. You can just sit back and enjoy all that the Panasonic TC-P50S1 has to offer – which, with its relatively low price, is definitely more than what it’s worth.
Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes lcd tv reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Panasonic TC-P50S1 plasma or check out the latest Philips HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com