Picture quality, inputs, size

Weight, tends to push reds. However I was able to run a test DVD and correct the problem. Must comment on the other reviews that mention sound quality. If you are buying this televison for its sound quality, save you loot and buy a normal 27inch TV. The only reason one would pay this much for a 27 inch television is for picture quality.

Great Television. Decided to purchase this television after a few months of looking. Choose the Panasonic over the Sony for a number of reasons however the primary one was picture quality. I found that after calibration the Tau has a terrific picture although calibration definitly was the key. The Sony, like most other Sony''s has an artificial looking picture that adjustments will not take care of. Dimensions also factored in to the purchase. I only had so much space to work with and the Tau was the better fit.

Good picture, connectivity and size

Pictue tube failure after 11 months and a lack of dealer/mfg. support for its replacement. I have made my last purchase at Tweeter.

I bought this Tau Flat screen as an alternative to the more expensive Wega. It''s price, dimensions, and features (I don''t use or want PIP) are what made up my mind. Picute quality was very good. Sound is decent, although it cannot compare to running through an A/V receiver. Plenty of inputs and outputs for my needs. The picture tube failed 11 months after purchase with only light to moderate use. Tweeter refused to replace entire TV even after very loyal repeat business over the last 10 years. TV was sent out by them to have picture tube replaced. It was not fixed correctly the first time and is now back again. Tube was under warranty, but did not include labor. So now my Panasonic has cost me more than the Wega.

Similar Products Used:

Sony & Toshiba

Picture quality is excellent, seperate picture settings for each video input, component video input, 3-line digital comb filter, flat screen, price.

Heavy, poor sounding speakers, could use one more input on the back of the set, not HDTV ready.

This is a review for the Panasonic CT-27SX11 Tau series 27" inch television.

I fell in love with the older model "CT-27SX10" when I first saw it, and I have had my eye on the Tau series of TVs for well over two years. After months and months of pathetic whining to my wife, she finally allowed me to purchase the CT-27SX11 a few weeks ago. Aside from needing another person to help get it into my apartment and on the stand, installation was quick and relatively easy. It took about an hour to tweak using a video test pattern DVD. The onscreen menu was pretty much identical to the Panasonic 27-inch TV that I was previously using so I didn't need to fumble through the poorly written manual to get things the way I wanted it.

On the back of the set, there is VIDEO 1 (component video OR RCA), and VIDEO 2 (S-video). There is also a single RF-input for cable channels. On the front of the TV is a VIDEO 3 (RCA). You can set the picture settings for each video input seperately. There is also a 2-channel analog RCA audio out for connecting the TV to an amplifier or receiver, which is a good thing because the TV speakers really do sound quite bad. I would prefer that the TV have just one more video input on the back of the set so I could connect my VCR's video to an RCA video input instead of the RF connection. But, since I hardly ever watch videos on the VCR anymore, it's a reasonable compromise. And since the front video inputs are concealed behing a little door, I prefer not to use these inputs because the set looks better with the door closed. Oh, by the way, there's a mini-plug for a pair of headphones on the front, right next to the VIDEO 3 inputs.

I have my DVD player connected to the component video inputs, and both my Nintendo 64 and my Dreamcast are hooked up to the S-Video input. DVD video through the component video input looks spectacular! The colors are bright and vivid with little to no artifacts. The DVD of "Shrek" even had a 3D quality to it! Video games through S-video are detailed and pixelization is minimal. Even N64 games look good! And normal cable TV programs look remarkably better than my previous set. The 3-line digital comb filter really makes things better.

Using the onscreen menu, I turned off my TV's speakers and am running the sound to my receiver through the Tau's audio output. I highly recommend this connection. Although one could live with the sound the Tau's speakers make, I would prefer not to. You can switch the TV sound to either variable audio out (meaning, you can control the volume using the TV), or fixed audio out (meaning, you can control the volume using your receiver).

On a side note, I decided not to get an HDTV monitor for a few reasons. 1) Price of the sets available. 2) Lack of programming. 3) Price of subscription fees.

I'm positive that I'll get several years of happy use out of this television before HDTV really catches on and more HDTV monitors become available at more affordable prices.

So, the bottom line...Do I recommend this set to you? Well, if you're like me and not enthused about the progress of HDTV right now, and if 27-inches is a large enough screen size for you, and if $540 dollars is in your price range, I highly recommend this set without hesitation.

It outperforms the similarly priced JVC I'Art series, the Sony Wega, the Sanyo 27-inch flat-screen, and basically every other similar NTSC 27-inch flat screen monitor. To get better performance out of a television, I truly feel that you would need to upgrade to an HDTV set, or expect to spend over twice as much on a reference level monitor such as Princeton Graphics.

Bravo panasonic!

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo

Update to review below

Update to review below

Second one was the same. As another reviewer said -- vertical geometry is a mess on these sets. Avoid at all costs!!! I've adjusted my rating accordingly.

Good picture, good sound.

Geometry!!! Terrible remote, not enough features

I ordered a ct27sx11 after my Sony sported unacceptable horizontal geometry flaws. I received the Panasonic today.

The horizontal lines are perfect. The vertical lines are wavy from top to bottom and the picture flickers noticably.

At the edges, the vertical lines break up, staircase like, while overall performing a gentle wave back and forth from top to bottom. In the center, what is supposed to be a line is simply a curve to the right.

ABT is sending another, and if the problem appears on that one I'm giving up on the flat screens altogether and going for a less expensive Sony KV27S42.

I'll follow up when I get the new set.

Similar Products Used:

Sony KV27FS13 (suffered similar geometry problems)

picture

geometry, red push, weight

After extensive research on flat screen televisions, I finally decided to go with the Panasonic over the Sony. You can imagine my frustration when the first television I brought home did not have any sound. I exchanged it for a new one and after a little tweaking was initially very pleased with the picture. Then I ran the THX optimization test included with Planet Of The Apes, and was very upset to see just how horrible the verticle geometry was. I attempted to fix this problem in the service menu, but there are no "true" pincushion adjustments to produce a straight line. I've returned the TV and have decided to wait for HDTV to drop in price. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this TV to anyone. The price is too steep to suffer from such a basic flaw. Also, if you are considering Sony, read the reviews on this site, and you will likely change your mind.

Stereo positioning of speakers greatly increases sound quality - Easy 2 use remote - awesome picture

apparently doesn't have enough memory to label > a couple dozen channels

This TV was at the top of my list for several reasons...the biggest was its compactness. Less than 28" wide and 25" high, it can fit in any reasonable entertainment center. Defintely a 2 person move, it did come with handy hand-holds in the back.

Straight out of the box, the picture was excellent. After turning on the surround sound emulation option, setup was nearly finished. The set has plenty of inputs, and will even let you enter on-screen labels for the 3 video channels.

Have read about problems with geometric shapes on other panasonic flatscreens, but this doesn't seem to be a problem here. After watching StarWars I through my Toshiba DVD, i had no doubts that this was my TV for the forseeable future.

All-in-all, an awesome deal. Don't pay the retail of $650 or more!