Review: Panasonic TX-P50VT30E (50-inch plasma TV)

Power Plasma TV with great image

The TX-P50VT30E 50-inch TV, Panasonic offers huge 127 cm screen size. The XXL TV test convinced not only with the sheer size: class is also the image quality in 2D and 3D.

The plasma TV has an integrated 3D transmitter, two active and very comfortable shutter glasses are included. The 3D image of the TV proved to be correct in the test well: In 3D mode decreases while plasma typically clear the brightness of the panel, but it remains light enough for a good looking picture. Also the measured contrast values ​​convince through the glasses. The typical double contours in 3D rendering (crosstalk) are two to three percent, while overall very low for a plasma TV but still relatively high. Some of us already tested LCD TVs, such as the Samsung UE55D7090, which can become even better.

Panasonic TX-P50VT30E: Strong plasma TV for 2D and 3D.

TV good, even better HD
The TV picture of the four tuners (analog cable, DVB-C/-T/-S (2)) convinced alll in all. Tickers for SD channels are pretty sharp, jagged edges but every now and again easily. There is no motion blur, especially the picture preset "cinema" is particularly good. For HD channels (DVB-C and DVB-S (2)), the picture presents a total clean very well, super sharp and in motion. The only shortcoming a slight noise in monochrome, homogeneous surfaces now and then. The coloration darker image sequences from DVD and Blu-ray disc is above average, the TV shows a lot of detail here. However, strongly affects the reflective panel this good result a little. Color transitions seemed pretty clean in all test sequences, the total colors very natural.

Good values, rich sound
Also the static measurements confirm the good image quality. Plasma typically, the display shows very evenly lit, it offers a large color space and no restrictions on the point of view. The checkerboard contrast of 186: 1 is the average response time of the Panel with 2 millisecond good tip. The TV delivers a nice strong sound with deep bass and begins to echo to only close to the maximum volume.

Elegant Line: The VT30 is a nice plasma flat.

High-quality remote control
The supplied remote control has got great processed, this but also quite nice hard. Handy for use in the dark home theater: the main buttons of a total open-designed command generator let light be.
At the port, Panasonic relies completely on Earth: four HDMI jacks and various, usable by cable whips AV inputs (SCART, component, etc.) can be found in addition to an Ethernet interface on the back of the extremely flat TV stuck standing on its base. A Wi-Fi dongle is included it is too thick external dock included, for the "normal" three USB Sockets. About this, you can upload but, for example, the shutter glasses or connect external storage media.

Great media player
Speaking of external storage media: from the digital tuners delivered shipments of TV on external storage picks up and supports the programming via electronic program guide. The integrated media player plays from all popular formats including MKVs with DTS sound from external storage devices - also of NTFS-formatted disks. Multimedia files over the network can also play by DLNA, here the TV supports but not so many formats such as USB and SD(HC)-cardreader.

Come with Viera connect also the usual widgets from the Internet to the TV: various libraries, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and more. There is not a free browser for surfing on the Internet.

No power saver
The Gretchen question: Need the plasma TVs still so much power? Yes - the producers substantially reduced the consumption of their plasma devices in the past two years. But with an average 174 Watts, the Panasonic is still no power saver. A light sensor and various ECO modes exist although, hard to find but on the menu the latter.

Conclusion
The Panasonic TX-P50VT30E is a good plasma TV with great picture in 2D and 3D. When equipped Panasonic also makes no half measures - many interfaces, a great media player, a good remote control and four tuners mean second place in the ranking in this category. Only some of the high power consumption and the price of almost 2000 € dim the joy of this excellent little devices.

Alternative
The LG 55LX9500 at a price of around € 1600 offers five inches or 12.7 inches more screen size. Also, this TV dominates the 3D rendering, but with significantly more crosstalk. In 2D content but there's nothing to complain about - the picture is overall very good and the sound quality of full-LED-TV can be heard with deep bass well.

Display technology	Plasma
Diagonal	50 Inch
Resolution	Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
TV quality	well
DVD-quality	Very good
Blu-ray quality	Very good
Maximum brightness	n/a.
Contrast	Measurement with plasma screen TV not possible
Checkerboard contrast	186:1
Average response time grey-grey	2 ms
Horizontal viewing angle (50: 1)	> 179°
Vertical viewing angle (50: 1)	> 179°
Performance recording normal operation	174 Watts
Performance recording standby	< 0,1 Watt
Power saving mode	Yes
Real power switch	Yes
Remote control layout	well
Remote source selection	indicates list
Remote control DVD / video player	Yes
Ports easily accessible	Yes
Swivel stand	Yes
Tilt foot	-
Height adjustable	-
Tuner analog TV	Yes
Digital Cable Tuner	Yes
Tuner digital satellite	Yes
Tuner, digital antenna	Yes
Picture in the picture	TV and connected external sources
Input HDMI	4 Sockets
DVI-D input	-
DVI-I input	-
HDCP capable DVI input	-
Input SCART (total)	1 Socket
Input SCART composite	1 Socket
Input SCART, S-video	1 Socket
SCART RGB input	1 Socket
Composite (CVBS) input	1 Socket
Input S-video	-
Input components signal	1 Socket
VGA input	1 Socket
Input audio analogue	1 Socket
Input digital audio	-
LAN	1 Port
USB	3 Jacks
SCART output	1 Socket
Output headphone	1 Socket
Output analog audio	1 Socket
Output audio digital	1 Socket
Speakers	2 x 11 Watt (sinus), no subwoofer
Mass	120 x 77 x 34
Weight	35.0 kg
Memory card reader	-
Common interface	CI + interface