Consumer Reports rates Panasonic plasma best flat screen ever tested

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

Annual Electronics Issue includes latest ratings of LCD and plasma TVs, DVD recorders, digital cameras, camcorders, laptops, printers, and smart phones

Yonkers, NY — Bigger, better, cheaper – those three words sum up the major trends in LCD and plasma TVs this year according to Consumer Reports Annual Electronics Issue. The latest round of testing turned up the best flat panel set that Consumer Reports has ever tested: the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U plasma TV. Additionally, the Panasonic brand of flat-screen TVs has fared well in Consumer Reports Annual Product Reliability Survey.

The Panasonic 50-inch TH-50PZ700U ($2,900) is one of the new breed of 1080p plasma TVs. It combines “full HD” — 1920x1080 native resolution, the highest currently available — with the characteristic strengths of plasma technology. In Consumer Reports tests, the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U reproduced the finest detail, rich vibrant colors and deep blacks that lent an almost three-dimensional look to images. It scored “Excellent” for HD, DVD, and standard-definition picture quality in Consumer Reports tests.

Consumer Reports has a comprehensive testing program for electronics. Consumer Reports tests more than 150 televisions, along with hundreds of other electronics products, annually in its state-of-the-art labs in Yonkers, New York. In addition to picture quality, Consumer Reports tests televisions for sound quality, and ease-of-use with the remote and the on-screen menu.
 

Consumer Reports notes that whichever type of TV consumers ultimately decide to buy, its best not to skimp on screen size. In CR surveys, many consumers said they would buy a bigger set if they could do it over. In the Annual Electronics Issue, Consumer Reports has outlined the benefits of LCD and plasma TVs.

Plasma TVs

• Get more screen for the money — inch for inch, plasma offers more bang for the buck than an LCD TV, so the same budget can buy a bigger screen.
• Enjoy a movie-theater experience — a good plasma TV’s deep black levels and high contrast can do justice to almost anything including, movies and TV programs with dark scenes.
• Get a wide viewing angle — with a plasma TV, the images onscreen look the same from almost any angle. That’s a big plus if a TV will be watched by a number of people sitting around a room.

LCD TVs

• For very bright rooms — LCDs are generally brighter than plasma TVs, and their screens are less reflective. That makes them better for daytime viewing in rooms with lots of windows or for nighttime use in rooms with bright lighting.
• For heavy use with video games or as a PC monitor — both types of flat panels can do the job but with an LCD, there’s no chance static images will burn in.
• For somewhat lower electric bills — LCDs tend to use less power than comparably sized plasma TVs. It doesn’t appear that the differences would affect electric bills by more than a few dollars a month in many cases, so it might not be a major decision factor. But there is obviously an environmental advantage to using a less power-hungry TV.

Consumer Reports has also identified situations when consumers may consider either type of television:

• For sports and action movies — While it’s true that plasma sets are better than LCD TVs at displaying fast motion, Consumer Reports notes that consumers are not likely to notice much of a problem on an LCD.
• For a long, useful life — Both LCD and plasma sets should last about10 years or more in normal use, according to manufacturer specifications.
• For wall-mounting — Both LCD and plasma panels can be mounted on the wall, but the mounts should be attached to wall studs to ensure adequate support.

The Consumer Reports Annual Electronics Issue also includes Ratings of DVD recorders and a First Look at the TiVo HD, Ratings of digital cameras, camcorders, laptops and printers.

The Consumer Reports Annual Electronics Issue is available wherever magazines are sold. Consumers can also access the reports online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this newspaper's web site.