Check Out Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Black for $1,249.88

Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Black Review

We purchased our Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 from Sears during a Black Friday sales event for under ,000.00, limited to inventory on hand and refundable shipping and installation (not yet received). The S1 will soon be replaced with the S2. For someone who grew up with CRT televisions, the picture is nothing less than amazing, and if in theory theaters have a potential resolution of 4000p or 4k, most experiences I've had, with poor prints and indifferent projection and screen design and set-up do not live up to that potential. In fact, I recall seeing the first X-Files Movie with such poor projection and print quality, including a hair that was stuck, that it was inferior to then Phillips 27 inch CRT we had.

We are using these settings, calibration to D6500K (perfect gray) modified according to the specific Blu-ray if necessary, provided by reviewer Jack Burden. [You can Google Search "Jack Burden Panasonic Viera" but be aware that you access any other Internet Site at your own risk, including CNET. Make sure your computer has the latest virus software and OS system upgrades; I recommend Firefox browser with Noscript add on for additional protection. Also, you'll have to ask Amazon why it won't allow links to non-competitor sites; I assume it's due to legal reasons, to protect themselves.]

Picture Mode Custom
Color Mgmt: OFF
Color Temp Warm2
x.v.Color: OFF
Brightness +74
C.A.T.S.: OFF
Contrast +75
Video NR: Weak
Color +45
Block NR: Off
Tint -2
Mosquito NR: Off
Sharpness +15
Black Level: Light
3:2 Pulldown: Off
HD Size: 2

Sharpness is usually set higher, and brightness in our darkened viewing environment is lower, sometimes in the 50s. However, personally, I am not obsessive compulsive about such settings. Remember that your home is not lit like a store showroom. For instance, the brightness must be set higher for a shot through dirty ditch water film such as the new Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (+ BD-Live) [Blu-ray] which of course is an exception. On the other end of the spectrum, District 9 [Blu-ray] was washed out, and brightness had to be reduced and color increased; then the picture was exceptional. I am using the Samsung BDP-1500 Blu-ray player with the latest firm ware update Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player; on its menu, choosing 24fps, and answering yes to retain current resolution (choose 1080p from the player menu) results in a picture of exceptional clarity. I am sensitive to flicker on computer monitors; I do not observe flicker, but the highest end Panasonic Plasmas with the 96fps menu choice supposedly correct any problems. Try the unit yourself first at these settings before purchasing.

The unit has no fan and never gets as warm as the much smaller refurbished Vizio Plasma purchased earlier from Tronicstrading (which still worked well, but can't compare to this set). It's Energy Star compliant.

Right now, the picture quality is exceptional. An LED LCD HD TV, which would have inferior off angle viewing, would have sold for three times the price we paid. I wish the remote were illuminated; it should be for the list price. The sound is adequate, but for most films, the output from the Blu-ray player goes to the stereo system. Interestingly, the zoom feature on the Panasonic is inferior in flexibility to the Vizio 720P plasma that this replaces.

Remarkable quality is apparent on the several films; even "bad movies" look amazing on the Panasonic. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Two-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray] I'd also recommend as both great films and for picture quality these Blu-rays:

The New World (The Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]The Last Emperor - Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]2001: A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray] (Of course, for 2001, a 54" screen is not Cinerama, but the quality is outstanding.) Howards End (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Moon [Blu-ray] The black levels on Moon are remarkable, the picture quality is superb.

However, there have been recent concerns about changing black levels on Panasonic Plasma televisions; the unit does not have over 500 hours viewing time. I will amend this review if I note any deterioration in black levels.

I would give this television my highest recommendation but I have the following caveat, unless you can find the television for under ,000 and are willing to take a chance. David Katzmaier has written on his CNET blog regarding Panasonic's reply to his e-mail on the Black Level issue:

"A quote included in my original report accords perfectly with much of Panasonic's eventual statement, enforcing that belief. In it a respected calibrator who goes by the screen name D-Nice, citing sources within the company, called the too-aggressive voltage increase a "goof" on the part of Panasonic engineering. The closest Panasonic has come to admitting as much is contained in its reference to an improved, more gradual change in new models."

He wrote in conclusion on CNET in the above post, which was dated February 4:

"My main job at CNET is to provide buying advice regarding TVs, and Panasonic plasmas were one of my go-to recommendations. The 50-inch G10 was the most popular TV on CNET during 2009, and the V10 series earned the only Editors' Choice award I handed out to any flat-panel TV last year. In fact, after I reviewed the 2009 models, my dad bought a TC-P42X1, two of my colleagues at CNET, Matthew Moskovciak and John Falcone, bought TC-P50G10s and another, David Carnoy, bought a TC-P65S1 (we're keeping tabs on the black levels of those sets, too). It's safe to say that many readers of this Web site did the same thing dad, John, Matt and David did: buy a solid-to-excellent HDTV for a good price, and be perfectly happy with the picture quality. Judging from reader reaction, that happiness may be in jeopardy.

"Nothing halts a shopper's reach for his wallet better than doubt, so I believe it's in Panasonic's best interest to answer those lingering questions. Until that happens, it's going to be hard for me to recommend the company's TVs without a degree of uncertainty."

Therefore, in the interim, I advise caution on purchasing current production units. Google "David Katzmaier Panasonic black levels" for his recent post to CNET and future updates.

Black level update February 10, 2010:

David Katzmaier, Senior Editor, HDTV of CNET posted on his blog dated February 9, 2010 "Panasonic does not plan fix for reported black level increases; that answer comes from Bob Perry, Senior VP of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, in reply to a follow-up question CNET asked in response to the company's February 3 statement addressing reports about the company's plasma TVs losing their deep black levels over time..." and that it could take years to see the problem. Again, with minimal hours on this set, I've not seen anything other than an excellent picture. Software will be upgraded on the newer models to be released later this year. Posts to the blog by consumers who have contacted Panasonic contradict Mr. Perry, indicating engineers are actively looking at the issue. My advice if you own any Panasonic Plasma and have experienced the issue is to do as Perry advised in his reply to the below question:

Q: What should owners do who are unsatisfied with the picture quality of their TVs?

A: There is no reason for dissatisfaction with a product that works as it was intended to and provides industry-leading excellent black level performance. However, customers do have access to the Panasonic Plasma Concierge Program, which can provide advice and assistance on all customer satisfaction issues.

Finally, if you can purchase a 2009 at a bargain price and are willing to gamble, you may do so. But it may be wiser to wait for the 2010 models or to continue to monitor David Katzmaier's CNET blog; I can't provide a link due to Amazon's legal policy but be aware Internet searching, as I discussed, is something the consumer can do at his or her discretion. I myself have not observed any issues, but if I'm still around in a few years, or as soon as any issues occur, I will update my review. Right now, I don't regret the purchase. You can consider Samsung plamas, but do be aware some have had buzzing issues, i.e., buzzing sounds from the unit. Katzmeier recommends Samsung PN58B860 58-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

UPDATE March 3, 2010

I contacted Panasonic Plasma Concierge online, and like a Blu-ray player, the firmware could in fact be upgraded via use of software downloaded to an SD Card. However, they have no plans to do so. Per the transcript, I got this reply:

"Yes we are aware of the AVS forum posting all of them but the issue was investigated and nothing has been found to be a service issue or firmware upgrade. At this point we don't know if an upgrade will be [made available] in the future".

However, the latest CNET blog post indicates there is an issue. Therefore, I suggest for anyone who has observed black level problems to contact Panasonic. However,I'll give Katzmaier the last word on the topic of black levels:

"Results from two aged Panasonic plasma TVs purchased in 2009 indeed show brighter blacks, and correspondingly reduced picture quality, compared with similar 2009 models with fewer hours.

"The two aged TVs were a TC-P50G10 owned by CNET Senior Editor John Falcone and a TC-P42G10 loaned to us by CNET reader Efrain Perez. Both had approximately 1,500 hours of use, which at the average rate of 5.2 hours per day works out to about 9.6 months of age, at the time testing was conducted. We also measured another 50-inch TC-P50G10 and a 50-inch TC-P50V10, each with about 500 hours.

"According to our measurements, the models with 1,500 hours both reproduced black at 0.023 footlamberts; the 500-hour models measured 0.008.

"Unfortunately we're still not sure about the true extent of the loss in black level performance. The sample size involved in our test is still quite small among the thousands of Panasonic plasma TVs sold last year. In addition, we have yet to observe or measure any substantial change in the models we're testing. The only way to know for sure how these TVs change as they age is to conduct a long-term test using more samples, something that's currently beyond CNET's resources.

"We contacted Panasonic with these test results but the company declined to comment because of pending litigation related to the issue."

I suggest if you have an issue you pester Panasonic; I don't think for them to release a firmware upgrade would be a big deal, unless the litigation has now fouled things up!

Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Black Feature

• 54" Plasma, 1080p, NEO PDP Panel which is brighter
• Full-time 1080p TV lines of moving picture resolution
• Native contrast ratio 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast infinite black 2,000,000:1
• 600 Hz Sub-Field drive for razor sharp moving images
• Viera Image Viewer, enjoy your photos on the big screen via SD card

Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P54S1 54-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, Black Overview

54" Plasma, 1080p, NEO PDP Panel which is brighter, Full-time 1080p TV lines of moving picture resolution, 3 HDMI, Native contrast ratio 40,000:1, Dynamic contrast infinite black 2,000,000:1, Game Mode, Anti Reflective Filter, 600 Hz Subfield Drive

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)
• Sanus VMPL50B VisionMount Tilting Mount For 30"- 56" Displays - Black
• SquareTrade 3-Year Plasma TV Warranty (50-1500 Items)
• Panasonic VIERA S1 Series TC-P42S1 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
• Techcraft HBL52 52-Inch Flat Panel Television Stand

Customer Reviews

Great set, no black issues yet - BSLC - Taylorsville, UT United States
I have had this TV since December 14th and have loved the picture quality, the sound isn't so hot but I knew this before I bought the TV. I've been reading about the blacks turning less black on the 2009 TV's and it hasn't happened yet. I really hope Panasonic stands by there customers on this issue. If this was a SONY they would just ignore the problem and bury it; and that's why I don't buy SONY. At the moment I am enjoying the great picture with its rich deep blacks, if that changes I will revise this review.






Panasonic TV - Linda E. Kramer - Minnesota, USA
We like the tv so far but time will tell, we were burned by our last purchase of a tv.



Great PQ - Michael Dinovi - Baltimore
Excellent set with a fantastic picture quality. Great value for the size too. Can't wait to see the Super Bowl next week!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 25, 2010 10:20:05