Panasonic Tau 36" Flat Screen TV $899 free delivery Circuit City

[mithrandir2001]

Am I the first to post this?

Hot deal if you want a flat screen NTSC TV. CC is advertising a 36" Panasonic Tau 2-tuner PIP TV for $899 with free delivery by next Sunday's Superbowl Game. I have a 27" Tau, my parents have a 24" Tau. They are as good as the Wegas, maybe more so.

This deal is through the retail stores only. "While supplies last".

This set cost $1399-$1599 a year ago...even some of the 32" flat screens go for $999 now.

A 36" 4:3 set offers about the same surface area as a 34" 16:9 TV in widescreen mode.

 

[trikster2]

WOW

This does look like a good deal!!!!!

Any major difference between the CT36SX31 and the CT36SX12 on Panasonics web site?

Assume this is "last years" model but at this price who cares?

 

[forgottenid]

Looking to upgrade from my pos daewoo (yes, Daewoo) 27". This seems nice.
Is this NTSC only? Higher resolution would be nice. What is your impression of the fineness/granularity?

 

[mithrandir2001]

This is the CT36SX31. I think the only difference between it and the SX12 is that it has the 2-tuner PIP.

The front page of the CC ad says "Special Purchase" and "Amazing Price".

Seems like consumers are opting for the HD sets when you reach the kilobuck level so some wholesaler might have gotten "stuck" with a large stock of these now out-of-favor, but still very nice looking sets.

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: mithrandir2001
This is the CT36SX31. I think the only difference between it and the SX12 is that it has the 2-tuner PIP.

The front page of the CC ad says "Special Purchase" and "Amazing Price".

Seems like consumers are opting for the HD sets when you reach the kilobuck level so some wholesaler might have gotten "stuck" with a large stock of these now out-of-favor, but still very nice looking sets.

HDTV is beatuful but the Panasonic flat screen 36 inch HDTV is over twice the price (CT36HX42). That's a hefty premium to pay when 95% of my TV viewing does not support HDTV.

Since I'm upgrading a non-flat screen 27" 9 year old magnovox that does not even have S-Video or component inputs I think I could be happy with this one if it is not OOS.

 

[Staples]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. I bought my 24"Tau for $500 in the Spring of last year. The picture is beautiful.

 

[alluu]

Great price...flat screens are getting so much cheaper. I picked up a Wega 27" FV300 for $550 8 months ago and would gladly trade it in for a 32" or 36" Wega or Tau.

 

[oLLie]

Does it do progressive scan? Does it have widescreen squeeze?

 

[kaborka]

Just thought I'd comment on the Tau -- I got the 27" for $440 from Goodguys after a posting here a year ago (later got a PM refund of $50 from Amex Blue, too!), and I'm thoroughly satisfied with it. PQ is great, and it has far more inputs than a Wega. I use the 480i component inputs for my DVD deck, and it's beautiful, plus, S-video from my Dish receiver, and there's still another S-vid and composite on the front panel, which I use occasionally for my VHS deck.

 

[ingenue007]

Yeah does it take progressive scan?

Should I wait and get a HDTV ready tv?

Also does free delivery mean up 3 flight of stairs to my apt?

 

[MemnochtheDevil]

Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

 

[lzpoof]

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil
Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

As far as I've read only the wegas do that

 

[alluu]

Originally posted by: lzpoof

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil
Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

As far as I've read only the wegas do that

Correct, only the 27" and larger Wegas do the 16:9 squeeze. Amazing with DVDs

 

[yakswak]

Sounds like a great deal, I bought the 27" version last year for $250 after BVG with Bestbuy at Circuit City. 36" would make DVD viewing more pleasurable...

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil
Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

I'm not sure about that first part, I thought Panasonic had something like EDTV? Or perhaps EDTV relates to the second part, the 16x9 squeeze. I don't think only Sony's can do 16x9 squeeze, I'm pretty sure I heard something about Panasonics and this EDTV thing, but too lazy to google it for you guys.

 

[AU Tiger]

.9 inches too wide for my entertainment center

 

[Yo2]

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil
Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

Nope - prog scan is required to use a prog scan dvd player.

They are not called prog scan though - it's a prog scan output on the DVD player into a 480p capable input. This may be what panasonic calls edtv. Can anyone who has this set confirm or deny that this set can display 480p(as opposed to 480i)?

Yo

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: Yo2

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil
Progressive scan only helps if you've got a HDTV, so you won't see any benefit from this TV...

Anyone know if it does the 16x9 squeeze?

Nope - prog scan is required to use a prog scan dvd player.

They are not called prog scan though - it's a prog scan output on the DVD player into a 480p capable input. This may be what panasonic calls edtv. Can anyone who has this set confirm or deny that this set can display 480p(as opposed to 480i)?

Yo

Don't have this TV (but considering it!) but the manual states:

"VIDEO 1input is a dual-purpose input. It is primarily intended for connection
with 480i devices such as a DVD player using the Y P B P R component video
jacks and Audio L & R jacks"

Note the 480i so I would say no to the progressive scan. Component inputs should look nice, but it will still be 480 interlaced.

Also reading the 32 page manual, and looking at the online descripitions there is no mention of 16:9 squeeze so I would not expect it to be suported.

I recently had a JVC 36" flat screen in my amazon "gold box" that claimed that feature so I don't think it is a sony exclusive.

I was at Circuit city recently and compared the panasonic with the lower (non HDTV) sony flat screens and to my aging eyes they both looked about the same. Panasonic has a better waranty than sony ( 3 months labor vs 12 months) so even if I was not saving 2 or 3 hundred off the Sony price I would probably choose the Panasonic.

Also consumer reports recenlty reviewed TVs. This TV was not in the roundup this year (though it was in an earlier TV review) but of interest was that for 35/36 TVs only Toshiba was (by a hair) more reliable than panasonic (in the past sony and others has beat out panasonic).

Consumer reports comments for this model:
"Good flat-screen model, but expensive. Remote more difficult to use than most. Headphone jack."

Note that the "expensive" price listed was $1,244

The S-Video input picture quality is rated very good (same as the sony Sony KV-36FV300 and Sony KV-36FS100) and sound is rated as very good while the cable/antenna input is only rated as good (sony's are very good).

The only non HDTV 36" TV rated excellent for S-Video image quality is the Toshiba 36AF42.

Finaly the number of video inputs is misleading if you read some of the online descriptions. They list 2 svideo, 2 component, 1 composite input.

I'm thinking great: Dreamcast, DVD player, VCR, Dishnetwork all into the back of the set.

Won't work.

This is according to the manual so if a CT36SX owner can comment great:

There are 3 inputs. The first can be standard component video OR composite video. The second two (front and back) can be component OR S-Video.

 

[Yo2]

Thanks for the extensive response.

Lookslike it does not support any HD at all not even 480p which is needed for prog scan

While I like consumer reports - in particular their reviews of household appliances and everyday product are invaluable - I don't follow their a/v reviews. I have an acquired taste and they tend to favor quantity over quality.

Yo

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: Yo2
Thanks for the extensive response.

Lookslike it does not support any HD at all not even 480p which is needed for prog scan

While I like consumer reports - in particular their reviews of household appliances and everyday product are invaluable - I don't follow their a/v reviews. I have an acquired taste and they tend to favor quantity over quality.

Yo

AMEN to that quantity over quality comment.

What's a good source for quality TV reviews?

People spend more time watching TV then they do on computers yet I could not find much information/reviews in my quest for a flat tube 36" tv. OTOH every little bolt and fan on a computer gets reviewed to death.

A google search on "flat tube Television review" turns up results consisting mostly of shopping sites

 

[rgwalt]

This is a really great deal for the set. I bought a 27" Wega a month ago, and I wish I would have waited. For another $300, I could have had this 36" set. I would have had to get another entertainment center though.

Also, CC will give you 12 months, no interest if you use your CC Visa.

Ryan

 

[saturnine]

Compare the 31 to the 12

 

[miniMUNCH]

I believe Panasonic and JVC flat screen feature anamorphic display (vertical squeeze w/ DVD) similiar to the sony WEGA's.

I just bought a 27" WEGA for my dad and I was looking at the JVC and Panasonic as well...I bought the WEGA for the sound quality because my parents don't have a convient home entertainment system hook up for TV sound. Otherwise I would have purchased the JVC...picture quality looked just as good if not better to me and was cheaper. Owner seemed to also report fewer problems with the JVC's.

I think the JVC model that I was looking at used a panasonic (Tau series) tube .

 

[thisisajob]

Just did this yesterday but got a better price. I called BB and asked their price - girl said $1499! I think she might have been mistaken but it didn't really matter. Did the math with BB's 10% PM policy and told the CC person I could get it for $839 at BB. She said hang on a sec and looked at her computer and said best I can do is $799.99! I said do I still get the free delivery? She said yes - SCOREBOARD! It's being delivered today - a great TV at an awesome price.

 

[Sanjoelo]

Just a comment on the quality of these Panasonic sets -- I recently bought the 27" Tau (27SX12) after doing a good bit of online research (as well as comparing the features and picture qualities of the two Sony lines, Toshibas, and the Panasonics at local stores.) I've gotta say, while the Sony sets are undeniably nice, I like the image quality on the Tau much better. Colors on this set are incredibly vibrant without looking oversatured, blacks are actually black, and the overall quality of the set is just very impressive.

My primary, 32" set is a Sony, but I find myself gravitating toward the Panasonic of late. Superb picture and sound. I've been a Sony guy for years (and had avoided Panasonic product of any kind due to some past negative experience with support), but I think I just turned a corner.

One note, though. These sets will almost certainly need some image tweaking out of the box. My experience was similar to many reported online -- Panasonic seems to ship these with brightness levels way too low, and red sat levels way too high. A little tweaking-to-taste, though, and you'll have yourself one incredible picture. Can't say enough about this set.