Panasonic Viera TC-P50VT25

There's plenty of hype surrounding 3D TV, much of it promulgated by the people at Panasonic, but the main reasons we like the TC-PVT20/25 series so much are contained by the traditional two dimensions. Yes, it beats the one other first-generation 3D-compatible TV we've tested, and yes, it actually includes 3D glasses, but with the scarcity of 3D content available today, the need to buy additional, expensive glasses for every family member, and the basic fact that 3D TV isn't for everyone, we think this TV's 2D prowess is the main reason to buy it.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons not to as well, chief being the company's black-level loss issue with 2009 models. Until the results of our long-term test of the VT25 are in we can't speak definitively to that, but in the meantime nay-sayers could also point to its hungry power use, some issues with 1080p/24 playback or the imperfection of its grayscale. But weighed against its excellent general color accuracy in THX, its improved antireflective screen and especially those inky black levels, the knocks against the initial 2D picture quality of the Panasonic TC-PVT20/25 series seem minor. Standard exceptions aside, it's the best 2D TV we've ever tested, although we'll reserve final judgment until we can examine the competitors' best 2010 HDTVs.
Editors' note, October 7, 2010: After about 1,500 hours the black-level performance of our TC-P50VT25 review sample has worsened, but not enough to affect our overall performance score. According to Panasonic it should not increase much further. Based on the strength of its performance against the competition, we have awarded the Panasonic TC-PVT25 series our Editors' Choice among plasma TVs for 2010.

Series information: We performed a hands-on evaluation of the 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50VT25, but this review also applies to the other screen sizes in the series. All models in the series have identical specs and according to the manufacturer should provide very similar picture quality. The same goes for the 50-inch TC-P50VT20, a 50-inch model exclusive to Best Buy. Aside from its bezel color and the fact that it lacks an RS-232 connection, it is the same as the others listed below.

Panasonic has equipped the TC-PVT20/25 series with an array of picture settings on a par with other makers' TVs, if not quite to the level seen on LG and Samsung's high-end models. The Pro Settings menu, available only in the Custom picture mode, offers niceties like a fine color temperature menu (a measly four points is still better than none), an array of gamma choices, and, unlike on the G20/25 models, a color management system (although it wasn't effective at correcting the color errors in Custom mode). We also like that, unlike on LG's so-equipped TVs, Panasonic's THX mode can be adjusted.

The new-for-2010 "blur reduction" setting affects motion resolution, but (happily) doesn't introduce any dejudder processing. Unlike the Samsung UNC8000 series, which offers an array of tweaks to 3D, the VT25's sole nonessential adjustments are a provision for swapping the right and left eyes, and a simple On/Off diagonal line filter, described as something you "Select when diagonal lines appear jagged" and "Turn off when the picture looks noisy." We never found the need to use it during 3D viewing.