CNET Issues Statement Today on Panasonic Plasma HDTV (Read all about it)

[HIO]

Regarding the highly rated Panasonic TC-P50V10 Plasma HDTV

http://tinyurl.com/ly2onn

Editors' Note, February 4, 2010: According to user reports, which first surfaced on enthusiast Web site AVS Forum, this Panasonic plasma may lose black level performance noticeably over time. Panasonic has issued statement admitting to changes over time, but saying the display's performance is still "excellent." CNET reviewers have not been able to verify or refute either claim.

Panasonic admits plasma TV black level change but says picture quality still 'excellent'

Click here for more information.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10447329-1.html?tag=mncol;txt

 

[sdifox]

oh snap

 

[sivart]

Sounds like as long as you calibrate this set once a year, you should be fine. Kind of a neat idea. As plasma panel darkens increase voltage to "brighten" the set, thus the users doesn't notice the gradual dimming of the set. From their statement, it doesn't seem that the change isn't anything that can't be adjusted from the calibration menu.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Panasonic TVs, plasma or otherwise.

 

[Bonesdad]

The problem is, at least some sets are brightening much too fast and the much vaunted black level of these Panasonic sets becomes greyish black, within a matter of a few hundred hours for some. I have a G10, and have not personally experienced the issue, but I'm holding my breath. The excellent blacks of these sets is one of the main reasons I bought this model, and I'll be upset if it starts to brighten after a few hundred hours of use. Hopefully Panasonic will support their customers in this.

Here is the (rather lengthy) thread at AVS forum. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1167339