progressive scan anamorphic squeeze line doubler during video games floor-model price

line doubler watching satellite TV not HDTV-ready

I purchased this TV as a floor model while looking at the Sony Wegas and Panasonic Taus. I brought it home and calibrated it using the Video Essentials DVD. This is one of the few non-HDTV-ready TV's that support 480P progressive scan and anamorphic squeeze. Watching DVDs through the Panasonic RP56 progressive scan player, the picture is flawless in 480P. I get none of the white lines mentioned in other reviews. Playing video games on PS2 using the S-Video connection proves to give a superior picture to my roommate's Sony TV. I also watch TV through Dishnetwork satellite using an S-Video connection and sometimes the line doubler works to your disadvantage. When there is a lot of action on the screen, the picture becomes somewhat distorted.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega

None

Expensive and discontinued parts - Should last more than 2 years of casual use.

What a piece of crap. I purchased it and it started getting colored distorted lines on the picture. The service center said it needed a whole component chasis which costs about $1200.00 and that Panasonic don't make it anymore. Enough said. Not a good TV for how much it cost either. There are much much better. No more Panasonics for me. I'm going SONY.

Progressive scan component input, 16x9 DTV mode, flat screen

Line doubler for cable TV is OK but not great; screen is highly reflective and subject to glare; needs some service menu adjustments to get the best picture; only one component input

I wanted a digital TV to get the most out of DVDs, but it didn't seem worth it to get an HDTV... there isn't much HDTV programming yet. I decided to get this TV since it has a progressive scan component input, 16x9 mode, and it costs far less than an HDTV. These features along with my Toshiba 5109 progressive scan DVD player yield the best possible picture for viewing DVDs. Movies on DVD look incredible on this TV!

This TV did require some adjustment of the service menu items in order to get the best picture. I ordered the service manual and was able to make all of these adjustments myself. I turned off the "scan velocity modulation" (big improvement) and adjusted several geometry settings. The picture looks nearly perfect now (for DVD that is). For cable, the line doubling isn't bad, but I can sometimes see the effect of deinterlacing errors (e.g., jagged edges on things).

I was in Best Buy the other day and I looked at their TVs. I think my TV looks better than every TV they had. They had the RCA 36" digital TV connected to the HDTV receiver, displaying a progressive scan picture. It was calibrated fairly well by an RCA representative. It looked pretty good, but I still thought that my TV looks better.

This is a follow-up to my earlier review. Lots of people have asked me how to disable scan velocity modulation, so here's how.

First get a copy of the service manual. If you call 800-833-9626, you can order one from Panasonic for about $12.

There are two settings to disable SVM, both are called "VM Amp Gain" -- the option codes are "S 17" and "S 1E." Set these both to 0.

I've also improved the picture quite a bit by adjusting the geometry, moire, and color cutoffs/drives. Video Essentials has lots of test patterns to help setting these.

Progressive scan doubler, component video input, incredible picture quality

Price

When considering a new TV for our main family room I looked at the Proscan, Sony WEGA, and this Panasonic. I initially went in thinking I'd walk out with a Sony but thought the image on this set was far superior to the Sony 32" WEGA XBR. That, combined with the black finish (vs silver metallic on the Sony) on the Panasonic, sold me. I have not regretted the purchase since!

The picture quality is good when viewing regular cable but is absolutely fabulous when viewing an image from a DVD player (Panasonic A320) via the Component Video Inputs. People who see the image just can't believe their eyes! This, combined with a Yamaha RX-795a AV Receiever and some older Vandersteen front channel speakers brings the home movie experience to a whole new level! This is without center and rear channels (yet).

The only drawback is the price - $1700 list - can probably get it for about $1450. That's why 4 stars for value rating. But, price aside, I think it is one if the best TVs out there. Supposedly it is upgradeable to HDTV with an external decoder but I didn't get it for that purpose.

progressive scan line doubling, anamorphic wide setting option, overall looks... why won't Sony go back to black? (Panasonic wins hands down on the looks... like the sony's of yesteryear). Last channel recall calls up & cycles between inputs as well.

With my current Pioneer DVL-91 combination player, when viewing DVD's of anamorphic design, I get these "white line(s)" at the top portion of the letterboxing that the set performs when set to 16x9 mode. Poor remote ability to change from TV to Aux mode and vice versa. Inability to swap ANT/AUX in PIP mode.

I really like this set a great deal as it reminds me of what Sony's used to look like before they went silver on us (basically when it comes to TV, I always choose between these two brands). The cable picture is pleasing and the line doubling is not too intrusive; definitely has benefits. DVD's look outstanding on this set, though to dark without upping brightness & picture levels (no independent settings for inputs which is a drawback as who wants to keep altering these setups all the time).
As opposed to a full review, the one weakness I would like to address here is as stated before: With my current Pioneer DVL-91 combination player, when viewing DVD's of anamorphic design, I get these "white line(s)" at the top portion of the letterboxing that the set performs when set to 16x9 mode. I had service men come out and take a look and they stated nothing was wrong and that Macrovision was the culprit here. Fortunately it is only a problem with anamorphic DVD's and same setting on the TV. (I have a black belt that I velcrowed to the screen when watching movies to block out those annoying lines!) I can't be sure all of this is the fault of the TVh though, perhaps it is the pioneer DVL-91 that is at fault. Well I will know soon as I plan on getting a DVD-AUDIO player W/PROGRESSIVE SCAN next month and I "pray" that these lines go away with the new player.
Always wondered about the aspect controller, especially DTV-Auto mode. What does it do exactly? When fed a progressive DVD signal, I hope this set doesn't "lock" into anamorphic mode which could screw up the view of non-anamorphic DVD's if it does (hopefully DTV-Auto will solve that if set to off position).
Is it worth getting an ISF tech involved with calibrating this set? I don't know but am curious if anyone else feels that its worthwhile here. I here so many negative things concerning VSM, I wish there were an easy way to turn it off and see if the picture improves.
Well besides the white macrovision line problem, I am still quite blown away by the detail and clarity of DVD viewing on this set. The Sony XBR-400 are all the rage these days, but I wonder how DVD can look even better than what I have here.
In 2 weeks my first year of ownership is up and I have this time to decide whether to get a 3 year in home warranty for under $200. After the service horror story in one of the reviews here, I wonder if its worth it. Maybe I should just sit back, enjoy, and keep my fingers crossed!

Similar Products Used:

Older Sony XBR (circa 1991); Original Sony XBR-20 from the 80's (still works like a charm)

Awesome picture quality, stable display even on sudden color changes. (flashing).

Seems smaller than it is, and boxy design, not too comtemporary.

Very nice if you have a small room, or it is just you watching, Very sharp and crisp picture but that is because it's a 32" tube; this set replaced my sony 35" and I am a bit disappointed, I expected a movie experience, but everyone seems to sit just a little bit closer to the TV now.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 35"

High resolution picture, Multiple input jacks, Component Video Input, 3D filter, One person portable, SDTV set, 480P

Price, Remote control has awkward button layout

I was looking for the best picture in a CRT TV under $2000.
This Panasonic appeared to have the best set of features
I wanted and was below my maximum price. Since there don't
appear to be true 1080 capable direct view HDTVs under $2000, I got this Panasonic SDTV (Standard Definition Digital TV). I compared picture quality and features with Hitachi, Toshiba, Sony WEGA, RCA, and JVC.

There is 1 Component video input jack set, mainly intended for use with Panasonic's HDTV decoder, plus 4 A/V input of which 2 also have S video inputs, plus one coax antenna input. That allows 6 different input sources.

The TV weighs about 124 pounds so it is possible for an
average man to move it.

The picture quality is impressive compared to analog TVs.
I assume the progressive scan feature is a big part in
improving pricture quality. The maximum resolution on
this TV is 480 Progressive scan. It can't handle higher
resolution modes such as 1080i which are I consider
a real HDTV capable monitor would handle.

This TV is not as forgiving of weak channels as older
Panasonic TVs. If the channel's signal is too weak this
TV will blank the screen. Perhaps that was done intentionally so you could only use this TV in situations where it can show off its detailed pictured. Line level inputs from satellite, DVD, VCR, etc. look better than
analog TVs, but not as good as HDTV sets.

I didn't like the button layout on the remote. It is hard
to switch from one input source to another because of the
button placement and the shape of the remote.

If you are looking for a high quality CRT TV while you wait
for HDTV to become widespread, then take a look at this TV.

Most people buying this TV will use their stereo speakers
and not bother with the built-in speakers. Therefore I
don't see the need to promote features like simulated
surround and other audio features.

I found it hard to switch back and forth when changing
channels in PIP and the main picture. Perhaps I need to
read the manual more. I won't use that feature anyway so
I don't care.

While I am very happy with the picture quality, my 3 minor
gripes are the price is too high, the design of the
remote could be improved, simulated surround using the
built-in speakers is unnecessary.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic 27 Superflat

Progressive Scan, line doubling for NTSC

Only supports 480P

I bought this product after going back and forth between it , the Toshiba 36" HD ready and the 32"Sony XBR400. When my retailer had a demo unit available (I guess it said something that all of their demos for DSS, Progressive DVD and the such were this TV), the price made me jump. As of a week later, I could not possibly be happier. This unit has the best line doubler I have ever seen (beats Digital Reality from Sony in my opinion)which makes my digital cable and DSS look better than I expected, supports 16X9 mode, which the Toshiba set lacked and looks so stunning with my progressive DVD player that I can't imagine HDTV being much better (at least on a 32" set). It has enough jacks, but could use another set of progressive component inputs. After calibrating with the Avia and Video Essentials discs, I can not imagine a better set. In my opinion, 1080i is probably overkill on a direct view set in the 32-36" range. As long as the Panasonic box will do the honors of downconverting to 480P, I'll be pleased as punch.

Similar Products Used:

Sony Wega

Great image,exceptional tuner.

None so far.

I was in the market for a television that would fit my cabinet, yet be somewhat future ready. After much research, I went with Panasonic's CT-32XF56. WOW!, what a picture. I find myself re-watching my VHS collection, beacause this TV makes those movies shine. Detail is sharp (when properly adjusted), the factory settings are a joke. FYI, my setting for the "color temp" is COOL. Adjust the set with a good "color bar" signal, and then sit back, and enjoy. Another plus, the tuner. I never could get some channels that I get with this one. This set helps my antenna pull these far away channels in. And all this is just for NTSC signals, I can't wait to get a progressive DVD player to make this TV set one of the best out there. Sure there are a new crop of Sony's, Panasonic's, and Toshiba's coming out. But if space is an obstacle (ie.Depth), then this dis-continued model might fit your bill. Search the internet and you might find one. I got one of the last ones from Crutchfield. Speaking of which, they have exceptional customer service. And thats comforting to know, especially when you make a big purchase such as this one.