Customer Rating:  
Summary: Plasma TV
Comment: Overall,I really like this TV. Great HD picture and seems to be a quality built product.
Cons for me would be the base and frame are a high gloss plastic that is impossible to keep clean, and the set-up could be a little more user friendly.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Super Nice !!!
Comment: Finally it's my turn to add my two cents in about this TV. I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said so I'll basically echo all the kudos that others have given this set. First off the set is sleek and good looking even when off. A lot of people have mentioned the glare issue. If you place this set in a room with a lot of direct sunlight or surround it with lamps and ambient light I could see how it could be a factor but in a room with that much light any set would have a problem.
Now on to performance. The picture is clear, crisp, vibrant and all the other brochure type adjectives included. The most impressive thing about this set is its black levels, they are AMAZING. Whether in the daytime or night nighttime scenes in movies look great. Colors are very vibrant. Watching the Planet Earth series Blu Ray on my PS3 I sat in amazement. I won't even mention how ridiculously good Ratatouille looked on Blu Ray. This set was an upgrade from my 42" Panasonic EDTV and I couldn't be happier. Regular cable looks good, DVD's look great and of course the ultimate is Blu Ray movies. Sound is above average when watching regular TV but of course the home theater comes on when it's movie or game time. Playing games on this set is awesome and not a hint of any burn in or motion blur.
Panasonic has outdone themselves with this line. This is definitely top tier quality for second or even third tier price. The only competition this set honestly has is a Pioneer. But even Cnet.com stated that the difference in black levels between this line and a Pioneer had to be measured with equipment to be noticed. To me that's not worth an extra grand or more. So if you're on the fence about this set don't think about it anymore. Click "Buy" or head to your local retailer, get it home then invite all your friends over and try not to rip your shirt while you poke your chest out.
P.S. Like I stated in my review of the Yamaha RX-V663 receiver I paired with this set, you do not need $100 Monster Cables. I have 3 HDMI cables total and the most expensive one was about $20. I get a full 1080p signal and full PCM recognition from my PS3.
Customer Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT NOT THE BEST!!!
Comment: Ok, here is my break down of this plasma. Hope you find it useful.
Plasma vs. Plasma:
Even though this is a good plasma, it is still inferior to the Pioneer. Not by much, but you can tell the difference. With Pioneer plasma, there is little to no noise when watching up close. With Panasonic TH-50PZ85U, you can see the noise within 6 feet. But then again, you might not want to watch it that close. You may probably wonder why I bought this plasma instead of the Pioneer. Very simple, the price! If I had the money, no doubt in my mind the Pioneer would be my first choice: better picture and better quality. Don't get me wrong, I still love this Panasonic. The color is much more real and vibrant compare to my LCD. I just don't have that kind of money to drop on a Pioneer. I also thought about buying a Samsung plasma, but it is too plasticky made. The glare is slightly worst than the Panasonic too.
Plasma vs. LCD:
In my personal opinion, I think plasma is more for night viewing and LCD is more for day viewing. With this TH-50PZ85U, I can see my own reflection when watching movies in the day time. I have a few windows in my living room, so it doesn't help much either. If you don't mind about the glare/reflection, or if you do most of your viewing at night, then this plasma is perfect for you. For the price, I think it is an excellent buy.
Happy shopping!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Love this HDTV!
Comment: I am very pleased with this product. The picture is beautiful! I had seen the product in a big box retail store and Amazon pricing was the best deal. It has totally lived up to my expectations. Also, the white glove delivery service was fantastic. This is my second time using this for a HDTV purchase and it was again flawless.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great value - Easy to install
Comment: Although advised to "have it installed professionally", I decided to try it myself. I spoke with the Tech support people who advised me that professional setup would also "tune the speakers". When pressed as to what this involved, I discovered that it simply meant adjusting the speaker placement and volumes so as to balance it appropriately. I may not have a concert hall ear, but I think I can do that, especially for the $200-$300 installation fee. If you have any technical savvy and can read a manual, you should be able to do it yourself as well. Be sure to read the manual for the cable box first. I tried to use the cable connection from cable box to the TV, but the manual clearly states "Don't Do That".
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