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Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1

*Est. $750

Reviewed

July 2009

Pros

Good value
Great black levels
Good overall picture quality

Cons

Not as energy efficient as other plasma TVs
Few features

Where to Buy

for $1,420.75

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For those on a budget, it's hard to find a set that delivers better bang for the buck than the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1. At 720p, the TV doesn't deliver the full resolution of pricier 1080p sets, but many experts say viewers won't notice the missing pixels at typical viewing distances. A picture artifact that showed up as a pattern of faint grey lines in lighter regions of an image has been fixed in TVs manufactured since early summer. Otherwise, picture quality is solid, with blacks that are deeper than those on more expensive plasma TVs from other makers. Color accuracy could be better, but picture quality is described as solid by most experts and owners. The TV is also available in a 50-inch screen size. If you have a little more to spend, the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50G10 (Discontinued) delivers blacks that are just as solid, throws in advanced features such as THX certification and interactivity, provides full 1080p resolution and is more energy efficient. In between, the Panasonic Viera TC-P50S1 (*Est. $1,050) offers the same picture quality and energy efficiency as the TC-P50G10, but strips out most of the features.

Professional opinions on the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 are split. Those who consider value as part of the equation, such as CNET, recommend the TV for those who are on a budget. Some sites, however, such as PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com, are more unforgiving. ConsumerReports.org also weighs in with its opinion. User reviews and discussions can be found at AVSForum.com, BestBuy.com and Amazon.com.

Where To Buy

Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
(77 reviews) Buy new: $999.95 1 New from $1,420.75

Our Sources

1. CNET

The Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 is the only current set on CNET's list of top "cheap" plasma TVs. Though the editors find plenty of flaws, including an on-screen artifact that shows up as faint lines (since fixed), those are overcome by an "otherwise commendable picture," highlighted by terrific black levels and great value.

Review: Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1, David Katzmaier, April 22, 2009

2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

ConsumerReports.org includes the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 among the plasma TVs reviewed in its current update. Testing is comprehensive and unbiased. Discussion is more detailed than in the past, but falls short of what can be found elsewhere.

Review: Plasma TVs, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

3. PlasmaTV Buying Guide.com

Write-ups here are not as slick or detailed as other sources, but good technical information is provided and conclusions are drawn based on testing. Though the price of the Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 is compelling, the reviewers are disappointed with the overall picture quality.

Review: Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 Plasma Review, Jack Burden and Robert Wiley, Summer 2009

4. AVSForum.com

At a count of more than 2,300 posts and growing, this is a great resource for potential and current owners of the Panasonic Viera TC-50PX1 to glean information about the set. Problems, fixes and more can be found, including opinions about the TV right after purchase and after periods of use.

Review: The Official Panasonic TC-P50X1 and TC-P42X1 Owner's Discussion and Information Thread, Contributors to AVSForum.com

5. BestBuy.comDetails/Subscribe

More than 60 user-written reviews of the 50-inch Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 can be found here. User satisfaction is high, with more than 90 percent saying they would recommend the TV to a friend. Individual reports tend to be brief, but there are enough of them to give some weight to the overall rating the TV receives.

Review: Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1, Contributors to BestBuy.com

6. Amazon.com

The pattern of satisfaction among users is similar here to that at BestBuy.com. Most give the Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 either 4 or 5 stars out of 5. Two complain about sets that were damaged in shipping. One comments on a TV that is clearly another model.

Review: Panasonic Viera X1 Series TC-P50X1 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV, Contributors to Amazon.com

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Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1 Review

Panasonic Viera TC-P50X1