Panasonic CT-32HX40 Standard Televisions
Panasonic CT-32HX40 Standard Televisions
USER REVIEWS
[Sep 26, 2002]
man02
AudioPhile
Strength:
I cant really remember if had any other than two components.
Weakness:
Its crap and is probably going to break if you use it at all! When I first saw this tv I Was amazed at the price, It seemed like such a bargin. When I got it home Inoticed a hissing sound coming from the tv whenever it displayed bright images. This was very annoying but I thought nothing of it. About three months later it broke down while I was watching a dvd. Panasonic had it picked up and taken to their authorized service people. I didnt see it again for month and when I did get it back it only lasted two weeks before it whent black again. Since then it has been back a total of five time. I'v called and ask panasonic for a new set, but they insist it is repairable. The store where I bought it was of no help. To this day I'v owned this set for almost a year but have had it for only about for months Oh yeah I forgot the last time they delivered it broke down as the delivery people were leaving. This is the last time I buy anytihg pansonic, and I dont recomend this product to anyone. I am currently pursuing a legal suit against them. Similar Products Used: 27" JVC D-SERIES you can actually turn it without fear of it breaking. |
[Sep 03, 2002]
JamesPH
AudioPhile
Strength:
Great picture, multiple inputs. So far no problems, but the set is facing due South, which may have eliminated geometric problems others have commented on.
Weakness:
Manual is weak, but adequate. Remote is large and learning or keeping in mind functions, especially for other units DVD, VCR, A/V Receiver, etc. can be a repeated push and learn exercise. Great picture. Multiple inputs, just great for home theater use, especially the 2 component inputs, necessary for DVD and HD set top box. I have been told many HDTV's have only one or one only with HD band width. It does take time and experience to adjust to taste and I found that this set is sensitive or exact in displaying programs. I kept trying to get an excellant picture all the time, but found it was not possible on all sources, all of the time. And I found the settings giving the best picture most of the time. Progressive Scan DVD's have been awsome and a recently purchased Hughes DirecTV, off the air, HDTV set top box, on most current movies has been the same. This was a replacement for an 8 year old Sony 30", I believe. Similar Products Used: Standard Sony TV. |
[Jul 02, 2002]
Nick Nishizaka
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
NONE!!!!
Weakness:
Everything!!! Technical support being rude, quality, terrible remote, too much red, sound quality. OK. I lost count on how many times I submitted a review on this. After wasting my time 7 or 8 times, having to take the days off from work, they decided that they want to take the TV back to the factory which is what I suggested 7 months ago. They never called back to arrange the pickup. Instead, I called them up and they were complete a**holes about it, telling me that I am never home. I told them I have something called a job and that it costs me money in the form of vacation days when I take days off to deal with idiots like him. So they are going to pick the piece of crap up. I hope they put a sledge-hammer through the useless piece of junk, cuz I can go out and buy me a real TV, a Sony XBR450 from my pocket money. I knew I should have never wasted my money with Panasonic. Similar Products Used: Sony XBR450 36", which is lovely. I will buy another to replace this sorry Panasonic TV. |
[Jun 06, 2002]
R Armstrong
Casual Listener
Strength:
Colour presentation and the number of outlets to plug in to. Good for DVD and VHS is ok.
Weakness:
The remote and the menu design is simplistic and awkward to use. Too much switching back and forth. I bought the set 2nd hand. I figured for 700 CDN I got a reasonable deal on a set which is not quite 2 years old. I enjoy nature shows and find the colours to be rich and vibrant with a Technicolor feel. Every thing is crisp and I am happy with the quality of the sound. I didn't get a manual and went on line to Panasonic Canada to see if there was something on their website. I wasn't overly shocked to find little if anything. Most of my searches indicated a manual would not be particularly helpful anyways. The action feature is a joke and had I payed full price I would have expected more linear and professional designs in the overall appearance. Similar Products Used: JVC 36 inch regular screen and a 32 inch Sony wega flat screen. |
[Jun 03, 2002]
D Popps
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
good picture
Weakness:
bad geometry, no correction I've got the geometry problem too. I've been meaning to call the warrenty dept, but after reading these reviews it looks like nothing can be done. I've got a very annoying green wedge running about halfway across the top of the screen. I hope panasonic will read some of these and become convinced that they messed up. If they admit it, maybe they'll figure out how to fix it. |
[Feb 14, 2002]
rushhour
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great Picture and plenty of inputs
Weakness:
Sound is only okay - but that is why I have a dedicated sound system. I have used this set for 8 months now and found the picture to be great. Granted if you have a poor signal coming in from the cable company it appears to be magnified - but when the signal is good or you are running a DVD (especially when you are using progressive scan) through the set - the picture is awesome. Like some of the other reviewers I had to take some time to get the color settings right - it does push to the red side. However, I have not had any problems with the geometry issue - hopefully it stays that way. The only real distracton I have noticed is that a small 1 or 2 pixel lines appears on and off at the top and bottom of the picture when it is in wide screen mode. It would be nice if the set had multiple memory options to retain the settings for different inputs - but I can live with this issue. I can''t address the issue regarding Panasonics apparant inabilty to answer and correct the other reviewers problems - since I have not had any yet. However, if the other reviewers are having such a hard time getting things resolved - maybe they should look to legal remadies. The bottom line is that the units do have warranties and Panasonic has to live up to their responsibilty. Similar Products Used: Toshiba |
[Jan 12, 2001]
Shane
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Fantastic picture,line doubler,Auto Anamorphic squeeze I was looking for an progressive scan capable 32" that would fit in my wall unit(forget the XBR-way too wide) and was amazed to see this one in the showroom before I had even heard about it. Fanatastic picture-bought it on the spot. Paid $2700 CDN taxes inc. I was also considering the 34" widescreen, but chose the 4:3 because all of the programming in my area is still 4:3(even with my digital cable service), I didn't want to ruin a widescreen by burning out the phosphors in the centre(i didn't like the stretch or the small picture that results from viewing 4:3), the 16:9 was almost twice the price, the 4:3 automatically performed the anamorphic squeeze, and even with a 16:9 you still get black bars on all movies with aspect ratios over 1.78:1. The picture after having set it up with avia is incredible, when playing anamorphic dvds on my Sony 9000es in prgressive mode the set automatically performs the squeeze and its really impressive. Also you can select that the set does not squeeze anamorphic material so that the picture is actually stretched to fill the whole screen-interesting but I personally don't like the effect. This set also has a decent line doubler. When comparing the progressive output of my dvd player to the interlace with the line doubler it's surprisingly close with few motion artifacts, but the colour and detail of the progreassive scan is noticeably better. Overall a fantastic set, and for half the price of the 16:9, with most programming still in 4:3, and the set's anamorphic capabilities it was a more logical coice for my viewing habits than the 16:9. Definately the best set I have ever owned. Similar Products Used: jvc,phillips |
[Aug 02, 2001]
Matt
Strength:
Great picture when viewed from a high quality source like DVD. Line doubler is awesome
Weakness:
Really bad picture when source program is bad. It seems to really bring out alot of inperfections from cable tv broadcasts. Remote is just OK. Manual is a joke. Excellent picture. Have not purchased a HDTV tuner yet. Comcast doesn't pass HDTV signals yet "bastards". Set needs |
[Feb 05, 2001]
Steve
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
HDTV capable, anamorphic squeeze, Flat screen
Weakness:
Manual, speakers, sensitive to signal noise from power cables, anamorphic squeeze does not work with all interlaced DVD players. This TV is the best bang-for-the-buck HDTV capable set on the market. It provides a beautiful picture for NTSC, DVD and HDTV sources. I have Dish Network and find the line-doubled picture very nice. DVD and HDTV are spectacular. Be aware that the anamorphic squeeze autodetect feature does not work with all DVD players. There is no option to manually select the 16:9 compression(except when it detects a 480p signal). It does need some adjustments out of box because the picture is very dark and there is a bit of a red tint to the picture. I couldn't be happier with what this TV provides for the dollar(especially, compared to the high dollar Sony XBR400). Highly recommended!! Similar Products Used: Sony 32XBR400 |
[Apr 04, 2001]
Braden
Audiophile
Strength:
Fairly good line doubler, 16:9 mode, 2 sets of component video inputs
Weakness:
No direct input access, 16:9 mode cannot be forced, slight red push, some geometry problems I know it looks like I have problems with this TV, but really, I like it a lot, however, liking a product and being critical are two different things. Since I am using this TV as a moniter only, I will not be commenting on its audio capabilities. Similar Products Used: Looked at Sony XBR's |