If you are looking to buy the best plasma TV then the Panasonic TC-PVT30 plasma TV is a serious contender. The choices for the best plasma TV is between the best Panasonic plasma TVs Vs the best Samsung plasma TVs, no other brands come close at the top end of the market. Currently the decision is between the Panasonic TC-VT30 and the Samsung PND8000. This Panasonic TC-VT30 review should assist you making your choice.
Available Models
The Panasonic VT30 is available with 2 different display sizes, other than screen size they are identical in specification and performance.
Panasonic TC-P55VT30 – 55 Inch Plasma TV
Panasonic TC-P65VT30 – 65 Inch Plasma TV
Panasonic VT30 Overall Video Performance
In terms of overall video performance the Panasonic TC-PVT30 is a serious contender for the best HDTV on the market. It doesn’t beat all the competition for every single aspect of picture quality, but for its all-round performance it is hard to beat.
It produces superior black levels and shadow detail in comparison to its nearest competitor the Samsung PND8000. The Panasonic VT30’s color reproduction is spectacular but the PND8000 is marginally better in this regard. The video processing features and 3D TV performance of the VT30 are both excellent but the Samsung PND8000 plasma and the best Samsung LED TVs do a slightly better job at reducing 3D crosstalk. As you would expect from a top plasma TV the picture uniformity of the Panasonic VT30 is as close to perfect as you can get.
Panasonic VT30 Black Levels
When it comes to the black levels it produces, the Panasonic TC-PVT30 is superior to anything else on the market including other models of Panasonic plasmas, the Samsung PND8000 or any other brand or type of TV. The VT30 beats the Panasonic GT30 and Samsung PND8000 to the top spot for video performance of dark scenes, though all these models are excellent the VT30 outperforms them by a small but noticeable margin. The result is that dark scenes remain uniform in their blackness and fine details are preserved and not lost as with other inferior TVs.
Panasonic VT30 Color Accuracy
The VT30 produces stunning colors which are vastly superior to the all other HD TVs except the Samsung PND8000. This is by no means a criticism of the Panasonic VT30, it is simply one of the very best TVs available and it produces absolutely stunning colors, but in terms of the color accuracy the Samsung is very marginally better.
Where this can be seen is during pictures which contain scenes with lighter color tones, in a side by side comparison the VT30 can at time seem to have a very slight green hue in brighter scenes.
Don’t let this put you off the VT30 because it produces ultra realistic and natural colors which are better than 99% of all other TVs and it comes a very close 2nd to the PND8000 which is marginally better in certain conditions.
Panasonic VT30 3D TV
The VT30 is a top 3D TV, similar to the Panasonic GT30 it reproduces accurate and natural colors and the pictures as a whole look artificially enhanced as with some other brands and models of 3D TVs. The THX mode of the VT30 works particularly well with 3D sources. In comparison to the best Samsung 3D TV models the Panasonic VT30 produces a little bit more crosstalk, but only marginally.
As a bonus the VT30 includes one pair of the latest design of Panasonic 3D TV glasses as standard. The VT30 and the new 3D TV glasses are backwards compatible with previous generation of Panasonic 3D TVs, so if you already own a Panasonic TV the 3D glasses are interchangeable.
Panasonic VT30 Design
The VT30 has an improved design over previous generations of Panasonic TVs which have been criticised as being a bit lacking in the style department. The big improvement comes with the stylish glass front panel of the VT30 which covers the whole of the front surface so that there is no appearance of a raised bezel surrounding the display. It’s has a simple but classy design, whilst the VT30 might not be as spectacular as the aesthetics of Samsung TVs, its high quality design and construction is certainly appealing.
Panasonic VT30 Ease of Use
If you’re familiar with the menu system of Panasonics 2010 line-up then nothing much has changed really, which considering Panasonics clear and logical layout is not a bad thing. The menus systems of modern TVs, especially the feature-rich high end models can be quite complex because of all the features contained within them. However, the Panasonic VT30 menu system is logical, well presented and easy to use in conjunction with the well designed remote control.
The VT30 has an extensive range of user controllable settings relating to picture quality in comparison with other TVs. If you have no desire to be fiddling with these settings then the THX mode does a great job of doing it for you automatically.
Panasonic VT30 Viera Connect Internet TV
Like other brands, Panasonic has given it old VieraCast internet TV system an overhaul. It has been rebranded Viera Connect and it now comes with an expanded range of content thanks to the introduction of the Panasonic App store. Though it is missing a couple of apps such as Hulu and Vudu, the VT30 now has a wide range of standard internet content and optional apps available.
Though Samsung Smart TVs system includes a few more apps and features, it does not have the ease of use that Panasonic Viera Connect does. The Panasonic doesn’t come with an integrated web-browser, but this is no big deal as the web browsers included with most TVs are a bit gimmicky and are not particularly useable. If you want to surf the web you’re better off using your PC or laptop.
Panasonic VT30 Connections
The Panasonic VT30 comes with 4 HDMI inputs, 1 component connector, 1 composite connection and 3 USB ports.
It also includes a VGA PC connection to allow you to use it as a PC monitor at resolution of 1366 x 768. As well as having an ethernet port for connection to the internet the VT30 also comes equipped with a Wi-Fi dongle which connects to of the USB ports this saves you having to purchase one for $80 if you want to connect the VT30 to the internet wirelessly.
Panasonic TC-PVT30 Review Summary
The Panasonic is simply one of the very best HDTVs available today, it produces super blacks, vivid colors, 3D TV performance is solid and the internet TV capabilities are slickly presented.
The Samsung PND8000 plasma TV is comparable in picture quality and the value for money that the PND8000 offers might be the deciding factor for some buyers, but if you want the best picture that money can buy then the Panasonic VT30 get the vote for best HDTV.
Panasonic VT30 Best Price
For the best price of the Panasonic VT30 see the link below for massive discounts compared to Panasonic’s recommended retail price.
Panasonic TC-P55VT30 – 55 Inch Plasma TV
Panasonic TC-P65VT30 – 65 Inch Plasma TV
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