Picture Quality, Pitch Blacks, Fun Universal Remote System!

Remote doesn't support "select" for Toshiba 3109 DVD player.

I narrowed my sights to a 27" because I wanted something that doesn't weigh as much as a refrigerator. It came down to the Sony Wega and the Panasonic Super Flat. I must admit that the Sony captures image subtlety such as the shadows in the folds of the news anchors dark shirt, but at the same time the image has a somewhat unnatural looking digital characteristic. Alas, it came down to the one thing that swayed my opinion. Blackness! The Sony just doesn't create the pitch blacks that the Panasonic PanaBlack tube does! "Bladerunner" in really dark gray? Hell No! I'll take the Panasonic. Cheaper too. Excellent picture quality, vivid colors and still a natural look. The remote is used to control an on-screen graphical display for TV setup. Comes with a lighted, well designed, ergonomic universal remote. This would be all I need to control all my equipment were it not for one thing - it's not coded to support the "select" signal for my Toshiba 3109 DVD player. Ughh! How could they! I resigned to buying a learning remote, so it's a non-issue now. Bottom line - Panasonic get a 4.99 for this baby. Less 0.01 for not supporting my Toshiba.

Great Picture. Nice Feature Set (Clock, Auto Turn-On, Auto Turn-Off, Two Tuner Picture-In-Picture, Etc...). And lastly, the remote control is also easy to understand and easy to use. Oh yes, did I mention that I also have a set of "Component Video Inputs" on the back of the set??

Only two "S-Video" inputs. No "S-Video outputs, and no jacks on the front panel (man, that sucks!!!!).

This review is about the Panasonic CT-27SF37 (the last "SuperFlat" ever made):

After years of looking for a quality set to be the centerpiece of a small, but a high quality home theater system for my bedroom, I have found this set to offer me the best picture for the money and one of the nicest feature sets money can buy. And all of that for a reasonable price of $600.00. The picture is about as good as it gets aside from the picture that I am bound to get from the bigger and more expensive Sony XBR's. And it is on par with some of the best sets I have seen from Samsung. Only HDTV can top it as far as picture quality is concern. Connect it to a good DVD player (using the component video outputs on the back of the DVD player and the corresponding inputs on the back of the set), and the picture is nothing short of astounding. The sound is also pretty decent, but it's no world beater. The TV's sound system is okay if you are watching network TV, cable TV, or anything of the sort. However, when you are watching movies or sports, I think it is better to have it hooked up to a good sound system. And by any circumstances, don't use the "Spatializer" setting on the set (I have it switched off on my set). All that it does is create a slight dropout on certain signals when you are watching movies or watching sports. The "Two Tuner Picture-In-Picture" is quite convenient also. I tend to use it when I am watching news and TV programing at the same time. And it is definitely useful when I am watching sports.

I believe though, that this set is discontinued, and thus, this set may become hard to find pretty soon, if it isn't already. But if you by any chance happen to run into one and can get it at a good price, I jump on it immediately before they are gone forever. The next replacements I believe, will be their new "Tau" (which by the way, compete with the Wega sets from Sony, but they are available at much better prices) sets. But that's another story in itself. The reason I say that is because, the next TV that I will buy, will be a "16:9 Aspect Ratio, Widescreen LCD" set. But in the meantime, when it comes to watching sporting events or movies, the CT-27SF37 is where it's at. And it is DEFINITELY unbeatable for the price. If you can find one, snap it up immediately. If you have one already, hold on to it until HDTV becomes more commonplace.

My Home Theater System:

Television/Monitor: Panasonic CT-27SF37

DVD Player: Toshiba SD-1600 (but I am seeking a Toshiba SD-9000 or SD-9100 (used))

S-VHS/Hi-Fi VCR: Sony SLV-R5UC

Audio/Video Receiver: Harman/Kardon AVR-210

Headphones: Sennheiser HD-580

Speakers: TBD. They will be added either this fall or early next spring.

Similar Products Used:

I have compared it to the 27-inch versions of the Toshiba "Cinema Series" sets (picture quality is okay, but nothing to brag about), and the 27-inch Sony Wega (nice picture, nice sound, and a decent picture set, but they cost too damn much)

GREAT PICTURE, good sound even using the TV's speakers (vs a speaker systtm), good connections

manual is not very thorough

I'm no technology guru, but I love this TV! It took me a while to get everything set up properly, but I was trying to do it while friends were visiting. The manual could be a little easier to follow, but other than that...

The only problem I've had is with some of the programming features (setting channels, etc.), but that's a given when you have to deal with Time Warner cable in NYC. I don't know anyone in my neighborhood that hasn't had the same problems.

This is the perfect TV if you know you want something good, something that your little computer-nerd brother or know-it-all boyfriend won't laugh at, something that you can use for several more years and technology develops, but at the same time don't have the money/time/space or inclination to set up a whole mini-theatre in your living room.

Amazing picture, and no annoying glare from ceiling lights and windows.

None yet

I love this screen and the picture. It's amazing. I have lots of windows and all my old TVs had glare and you could see reflections on the screen.

Not with this baby.

I paid $650, and was very satisfied with what I received for my money.

Similar Products Used:

Just about every other TV you can name

This set is crisp, clean, and brilliant visual. Inputs galore, great lit remote with joystick, nice on screen configuration.

Whites are too bright and bleed slightly. Example, the white collar of a shirt may blend in with the shirt losing definition of where the collar begins and ends. Can't seem to nail a perfect setting for contrast yet. On my set there doesn't seem to be a contrast setting.

This is the best 27 set out for the money. Except for the contrast problem, this set is a kick ass five star. Even with the contrast problem, looking at the other TV's in the showroom makes this set shine. I won't trade it for a overpriced Sony.

HDTV sets are too expensive still.

Similar Products Used:

Many

GREAT picture quality, especially on DVD, aesthetically pleasing, a ton of features (most of which I don't use), pretty good remote.

No component video inputs. Programming channels is a royal pain.

I've had this TV for almost 2 years now, and never had a problem with it. The picture quality is as bright and sharp as the day I got it. I like the picture because it isn't too sharp, like on the Sony Wegas...maybe I have sensitive eyes. I must admit, it makes TV look decent, but I think the real strenghts are playing DVD movies and game consoles...then the picture quality really shines.

I don't know much about the sound quality, as I don't watch much TV and have always used my home theater for sound.

I don't know about Panasonic's customer service, either, I've never had to call them. To me, that's the best kind of service.

Overall, I've been very pleased with this TV, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to set up a home theater in a midsized room, like an apartment.

Similar Products Used:

None, but I shopped around a lot.

Picture quality, sound

None

Awesome picture. I was between this and the Sony Wega in the store and looking at the two of them side by side, this one had the better picture. A more natural feel. Just beautiful! I had an initial problem when my roomates supposedly shielded speakers caused a problem. I needed to degauss the screen manually but it cost too much money. Therefore, I left it alone and somehow the problem went away by itself. DVD picture quality is superb. The sound is great as I used it initially before I got into surround. I recommend highly!!! This is expensive for a 27inch TV but is a good deal when compared to the more expensive Wega.

Similar Products Used:

none

Easy of use, 3 dimensionality of picture, versatility

Lack of component input, blooming white level at times

I have lived with this TV for some time now and I love it. Other reviewers have covered the white level issue so I will avoid it here for sanity's sake. The only problem I really have with the set, which is my fault for buying it, is the lack of component inputs. A TV with this high of a resolution should definitely had component inputs included in its feature set. Oh well. The comb filter does have the bursts of white level problem when playing video tapes, but I use the VCR so infrequently now that I just toggle it off when I watch a tape. Not a big issue with me. I did pay too much for this set, but at the time this was the cheapest that I could find, so 4 stars for value and five for overall.

I must say that I do have a problem with people reviewing a product over and over again with "updates" to their original review stating the same problem and giving it a 1 star rating over and over. Please quit skewing the actual number for this product. It does not give an accurate representation of the actual rating.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Mitsubishi

Nice design.

Picture Distortion

This set has serious problem of geometry which can be really annoying when watching DVDs. Service repair came home to fix the problem leaving the set with less serious, but still unacceptable, problem of geometry. It was the best they could do!
I had a chance to compare this set with my neighbour's Toshiba 27 set and for $300 less the Toshiba was far superior than the Panasonic: vertical lines look vertical and the quality of the picture was excellent. By the way if you have the Panasonic turn off all the feature that are supposed to enhance the picture ... they are not working!

Also Flat screen I think requires much more attention from the manufacturer to get a picture right ... I will now avoid them in the future...