Amazing Picture, number of inputs, extensive menu of options, good sound for a TV

price

I've been looking for a 32" TV for some time. I upgraded from an old 27" TV not worth mentioning, and in my search I compared the 32SF37 with all the Sony models, from the basic Trinitron to the Wegas to the Wega XBRs, and have to say I like the Panasonic picture the best. It is amazing to look at, seems almost perfectly flat from straight on (though it doesn't "suffer" from the concave appearance of the perfectly flat Wegas), and has every manner of input one could want. I can't recommend this TV enough. The complaint below about Panasonic service seems unwarranted as well, as I've had a good experience (in the past) with them and I've found that buying through a reputable dealer will make service all the better. One note, the picture definitely shines with a digital image, but if you have an analog source that is in any way poor the TV will show it despite all of the AI settings.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega, Trinitron

Amazing Picture Quality

None

I have a 60inch Sony (2 years old) as part of my main home-theater system but I prefer using the Panasonic CT32SF37 which is in my bedroom because the picture is so damn clear and the colors are so good.

I also ran the s-vhs out from my computer video card to the TV so now its possible to download online MPEG-4 encoded DVD rips and play them back with very good quality.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 60inch

3D Y/C filter
Tuner
Dimensions
Y Pb Pr inputs

No easy 16:9 mode
so-so speakers

The main reason to get this one over a cheaper set would be the video filter. It's good at eliminating dot crawl, noise, and generally cleaning up the image. What it's amazing at is turning static text into rock solid, perfect lettering. Box scores look like they're coming from a digital signal. This isn't an accident, if you poke around in the setup menu you can set parameters on what constitutes a static symbol and the filter will just decide to represent that as a solid line. I've never seen it mess up and cause an artifact yet with the default settings.

Another reason would be the overall size. As others here found, this will fit where only a few 32" sets will. And if it comes down to 27" vs. 32", more inches is more better.

You can get it to do anamorphic squeeze manually with the setup mode, but it takes a minute or so to get it in or out of that mode, and it clears all of your settings whenever you do it.

The speakers are fairly lame, but if you care about that you're probably going to use external speakers anyway. I tried using the TV as a center channel. That was easy to do, and you can drive the TV's speakers from an external amp, but they still sound cheezy, so I'm running in 4.1 mode now.

If you're only going to watch digital TV or DVDs, you can probably get a cheaper set that will work as well or a set with better features, but for analog NTSC, this is a very good choice and I'd buy it again if I had it to do over.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega

good picture

mediocre audio

I don't know if this set is worth the premium for being 'flat' since it really isn't completely flat. The set has had none of the pre-settings problems that I was worried about, but I wonder if I would have been just as happy with a 32" Panasonic or Toshiba for $599. The sound is mediocre for a premium set. The artificial intellegence for sound doesn't seem to work because I get loud variances in sound when I flip from station to station. If I had to do it agan I'd probably get a non-flat set and a dvd player.

Similar Products Used:

panasonic 27"

Good picture, component video input, 3D Y/C filter

None so far

I was looking for a decent 32" to replace my old 25". My wife wanted a flat-tube TV so our first inquiry was the Sony Wegas. Video Only has this set with Wega side by side so we do our comparison viewing.

When compared with Sony Wega models, it's not as flat as Sony but still acceptable. The picture for both were excellent and comparable. The Wegas were >$1000 while the Panasonic is on sale. We decided on the Panasonic.

After calibrating with Video Essentials, watching DVD using component video takes a whole new realism.
Considering the picture quality and price, I really recommended this set.

Cabinet Dimensions, Variety of Inputs/Outputs

Somewhat Muffled Sound and Washed out Color

If you have a 36" Wide Cabinet, which is pretty standard for most Wall Furniture Systems, There really is no choice but this PanaFlat 32" or a smaller 27" T.V. I had a 27" Phillips, and simply could not find any 32" T.V. that would fit in my Wall Unit until this Panasonic model came along. I have no complaints at all, accept the sound is a bit muffled. This is because there is very little Frame between the edge of the picture tube and the edge of the chassey to accomodate speakers. This is really no big deal since many don't use their T.V. speakers when they have a 5.1 Surround Sound System. The T.V. speakers can be adapted to act as the Center Channel Speaker which saves you even more cabinet space, and from getting one of those expensive shielded center speaker units. If you don't have or plan on getting a 5.1 Surround Sound System, a great idea is to buy the Cambridge SoundWorks TVWorks 250 for an additional $100. This unit is a center channel speaker looking device 5"h17"w8"d, that simply plugs into the L-R RCA Out Jacks from your Panaflat, and provides you with a Virtual Surround Sound system that beats any sound indiginous to way more expensive T.V. So if you are considering the Wega for sound, but know the width of that Sony unit won't fit in your cabinet, then go with this Panaflat&TVWorks combination. You'll be VERY Glad you did!

Similar Products Used:

comperable 30-32" T.V.s

Picture picture picture, channel & input labeling, quantity of connections

Glare potential compared to completely flat screens

Previous reviews and recommendations did not disappoint. In my opinion, it delivers a high-end picture comparable to any brand (excluding HDTV models of course), and for the best price point. I haven't seen any model with a 3D/YC digital filter for less, and it does seem to make a difference. Sound quality and AVL are so-so.

This is more of a generic comment regardless which TV you choose, but I highly recommend a setup DVD such as the Ultimate DVD Platinum to fine-tune your video settings.

Appearance, construction, clarity

pixels easy to see, speakers suck, factory settings poor, too bright

Picture is much better than my previous 27" Zenith. However, I was somewhat surprised that I can see the Pixels so well on the screen. It almost looks like I'm looking at the TV through a screen window, even from 6' feet away. I don't recall being able to see the pixels so easily on my Zenith. I am running a standard cable signal in to it. Maybe if I had a satellite dish or Digital Cable it would help. I've only had the TV for a few days so I need more time with it.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega, Toshiba, Zenith

style, picture, size

great picture and colors. just as nice as the sony wegas i looked at and alot cheaper. having some problems with lettering at the bottom...rolls off to the right lower corner...just the graphics and not the picture though.
waiting for a service man to come out and tweak.

Similar Products Used:

mitsubishi 10 yr old 27"

Picture, Clarity, Size, Black cabinet

Electromagnetic Shielding?

I love the picture clarity, enjoy the color and find the multiple a/v inputs useful. I give this set the highest marks for picture; looks great (after adjusting from the preset factory calibration - are those guys color blind?)

Here's the problem. The picture seems to be about 1 to 2 degrees slanted (higher on the left, lower on the right). Cambridge Soundworks delivered a new unit and it has the exact same problem. (Props to them for great customer service, btw).

After getting the first unit back to the store, they couldn't duplicate the problem. I've moved everything I could suspect away from the unit and don't seem to be able to get a level picture.

Any ideas? Comments? Similar experiences?
The previous cheap Toshiba set didn't have any problems like this.
After extensive (and picky) in store viewing to pick the right model at the right price, this is killing me.

I dislike the thought of having to settle for a different set.
(And I'm not a fan of the silver cabinet TV's that seem contagious these days after Sony infected Panasonic.)

Thanks.
5 star value 5 star picture crispness 4 star features
1 star picture straightness / magnetic shielding.
(perhaps i live in a magnetic anomaly)

Similar Products Used:

Inexpensive Toshiba 27"